Extreme-G 2

Extreme-G 2
Developer(s)	Probe Entertainment
Publisher(s)	Acclaim Entertainment
Engine	Extreme-G
Platform(s)	Nintendo 64, PC
Release date(s)	NA October 7, 1998 PAL December 4, 1998
Genre(s)	Futuristic racing game
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer
Rating(s)	ESRB: E
Media/distribution	N64 cartridge

Extreme-G 2 (styled as XG2) is the second Extreme-G game to be released on the Nintendo 64, but is the third game in the Extreme-G timeline (XGRA starts in 2080, while this game starts in the mid-22nd century). It is a third party game, with Acclaim's development out to Probe Entertainment department.

Gameplay

A screenshot of Extreme-G 2 gameplay on Nintendo 64 and PC.

This iteration, as with all Extreme-G games, is about futuristic racing: pilots race plasma-powered Tron-like bikes in an intergalactic Grand Prix at speeds that are over 999 mph. It is possible to break the sound barrier in this game, creating a sonic boom. While travelling at supersonic speeds, all game sounds are muted except the sound of the vehicle travelling. If the bike slows down to below supersonic speeds, another sonic boom can be heard and all game sounds will resume. The emphasis is on speed and creative racetrack design, with tracks looping through all three dimensions like roller coasters.

The game's controls are fairly sensitive, so players may have to practice with a given machine before diving right into the Grand Prix. Visuals as well as the level layouts contribute to the immense speed of the game.

Each of the machines have their own handling characteristics, with varying top speeds, armor values and traction values. All of the machines in the game have an energy meter – with two separate energy stores for protective shields and a basic primary weapon. If a machine loses all of its shield energy, it will explode on contact, causing the player to lose a life or the match. It is also possible for players to fall off the tracks when driving through jumps or similar obstacles. In this case, the player is simply teleported back to the track. Players are given three "Nitro" boosts per race.

Extreme-G has a championship mode ranging from novice to expert, shoot-em-up mode (named "Arcade Mode" in XG2), multiplayer racing, and deathmatch. In shoot-em-up/arcade mode, computer drones follow a lunar path while the player attempts to destroy them with Extreme-G's arsenal of weapons. The idea came from Tron and Atari's Tempest 2000.

Tracks

Every race of the game takes place in one of 12 environment, each gathering 6 tracks (3 actual circuits plus a mirror version of each).

The list below contains every environment, with the six tracks it includes.

Aquanor - An overpolluted aquatic planet where ships come to dock or to head out into the seaside colonies, the few patches of land are used for racing :

- The Harbour

- Submarine Bay

- Clifftops

- ruobraH ehT

- yaB enirambuS

- spotffilC

Sensara - Taking place in a city in the skyline, the famous "Skyline Drop" allows for speeds up to 900 and over :

- Skyline Drop

- Crybridge Pass

- Tubeway

- porD enilykS

- ssaP egdirbyrC

- yawebuT

Farron - A swamp/bayou like planet with same features but having larger version of swamp life on earth, the low visibility will present a problem :

- Fire Hazard

- Mushroom Chicane

- Corkscrew

- drazaH eriF

- enacihC moorhsuM

- wercskroC

Lumania - A lush but mountainous planet, the temples serve as beatuful backdrops to the racers, one of the racers is the prince of this planet :

- Fountains

- Pyramid

- Landing Bay

- sniatnuoF

- dimaryP

- yaB gnidnaL

Mesa Virs - A primal yet verdant planet, the resident of this planet has taken great care to keep their presence on the planet felt and has constructed large wind turnbines to power their society. The circuit is also built "organically" with loops and turns built according their own whims. :

- Wind Farm

- Harvest

- Gleams

- mraF dniW

- tsevraH

- smaelG

Canous - A frigid mountain planet with huge drops. The lesser developments on the planet means weapons are more basic for the racers :

- Mountain Pass

- Lower Village

- Chasm Crossing

- ssaP niatnuoM

- egalliV rewoL

- gnissorC msahC

Tethra - A lava planet with few inhabitants save the miners who harvest the minerals on this planet to ship off to remote worlds, there are 3 famous features on the course, the smelter tube, the shifter (a moving piece of track that threatens to drop an uncautious racer in to the molten lava) and the tunnels which requires lighting to navigate :

- G-Plains

- Fault

- Nocturne

- snialP-G

- tluaF

- enrutcoN

Anville - A bustling metropolis in the evening that serves as the backdrop of the course, the planet's highways serve as an excellent way for racers to complete. :

- Outlet 360

- Hangar

- Breakers

- 063 teltuO

- ragnaH

- srekaerB

Hydra Prime - Unlike Aquanor which takes place in a storm ridden harbor, Hydra Prime is located in Underwater Base's tube network which is use for commuting...and racing :

- Underwater Base

- Volcano

- The Abyss

- esaB retawrednU

- onacloV

- ssybA ehT

Tox City - A horribly industrialized city which is very much the antithesis of Anville and Lumania, Tox City will have the racers experiencing the underground shafts and the polluted city. :

- Ventilator

- Pulsar

- Apex

- rotalitneV

- rasluP

- xepA

Cordilon - A swamp planet that is hostile to both human life and racers, the lack of guiderails makes high speed driving extremely difficult. :

- Sulphur Lakes

- The Mire

- Crystal Forest

- sekaL ruhpluS

- eriM ehT

- tseroF latsyrC

Eschaton - The final planet which like Tethra is a lava planet. The planet is a source of ruins and pillars with extremely treacherous drops into the lava. :

- Glass Highway

- Infernus

- Burnout

- yawhgiH ssalG

- sunrefnI

- tuonruB

Reception

IGN gave N64 version 6.9 out of 10 with criticism of gameplay stating it was "nowhere near its competition" despite "improved controls and tracks". The graphics were also criticised for N64 version for "stuttering framerates and over-filtering" but got 10 out of 10 for the presentation.