BallisticNG
- December 14, 2018
- Neognosis
- 21h median play time
Get on Steam"BallisticNG is a Sci-Fi racing game with split-screen local multi-player and single-player modes, featuring 2159 Anti-Gravity League's deadly combat races. With a vast selection of tracks, ships, and customizable speed classes, the game caters to all skill levels and play styles. Its compelling mechanics, exceptional graphics, masterful music, and high replayability make it a must-try for racing enthusiasts."
Reviews
- BallisticNG is the best anti-gravity racer available, capturing the essence of the classic Wipeout series with modern enhancements.
- The game features extensive mod support, allowing players to create and share custom tracks and ships, adding to its replayability.
- The soundtrack is fantastic, filled with high-energy electronic music that complements the fast-paced gameplay.
- The difficulty curve can be steep, especially in the campaign, making it challenging for newcomers to progress without significant practice.
- Some players have reported issues with the AI being overly aggressive or rubberbanding, leading to frustrating experiences in races.
- The user interface can be confusing and unintuitive, making navigation through menus and options cumbersome.
- music383 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with many players praising its energetic and nostalgic soundtrack that captures the essence of classic racing games like Wipeout. The soundtrack features a mix of electronic, drum and bass, and techno tracks, enhancing the fast-paced gameplay and immersing players in the racing experience. Additionally, the game allows for custom soundtracks, enabling players to personalize their audio experience further, which many find to be a significant and enjoyable feature.
“The anti-gravity rush, the driving music, the brutal conquest to grab the lead on every single track, or push the limits of a challenge -- it's all here, waiting for you to pick it up.”
“The soundtrack is an awesome collection of drum and bass jungle; this stuff makes you feel ethereal while you speed through tracks.”
“The music is fantastic, although at some point it starts to mesh together.”
“The music is repetitive and devalues the game; they tried to go with some kind of retro house/progressive music that feels distracting while playing. Personally, I think some trance or synth-wave would have been a better choice.”
“The soundtrack included in the game just simply isn't my cup of tea, and I honestly had a hard time feeling the thrill of the race.”
“The soundtrack sadly is not as good as those of Wipeout and Wipeout 2097, but as long as you can play some Cold Storage or Prodigy instead, it does the trick.”
- graphics348 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are a nostalgic homage to the PS1 era, featuring low-poly models and pixelated textures that evoke classic titles like Wipeout, while also offering modern enhancements for improved performance. Players appreciate the option to toggle between retro and modern graphics, allowing for a customizable visual experience that caters to both nostalgia and contemporary standards. Overall, the aesthetic is well-received, with many praising its stylish design and vibrant colors, although some feel it lacks the high fidelity of more recent racing games.
“The graphics can feel like the retro games of old, but with a few tweaks, can look like a modern interpretation of the original art style from the Wipeout games, with pretty great effects to boot.”
“Graphically, BallisticNG goes for a low poly 'PS1-like' aesthetic and nails it perfectly.”
“The graphics are stylish and nostalgia-inducing.”
“The graphics are simple and effective.”
“If graphics are very important for you then pass on this because the graphics are subpar.”
“Graphically ballisticng looks like shit.”
- gameplay183 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this title is widely praised for its tight mechanics and nostalgic feel, closely resembling classic titles like Wipeout, while incorporating unique features such as an airbrake system and the ability to trade shielding for speed. Players appreciate the steep learning curve that rewards skill mastery, with a variety of ships and tracks that enhance the racing experience. Despite some criticism regarding graphics and UI, the overall consensus is that the gameplay is smooth, engaging, and offers a satisfying challenge for both newcomers and veterans of the genre.
“The gameplay is silky smooth, and after 26 hours of playtime, I've yet to notice a single bug.”
“As you get used to the mechanics of how to maneuver your ship smoothly around bends and adjusting your pitch in anticipation of elevation changes, you will begin to feel the immense satisfaction of entering a flow state for your given ship and track.”
“Once the initial nostalgia wears off, you start to realize how clunky some of the mechanics are, especially for such strict requirements for achieving higher ranks.”
“Gameplay feels incredibly tight and responsive, with each ship feeling very distinct.”
“The learning curve of its mechanics can be steep at times, but if you play the campaign and are even halfway decent at games, this will feel immensely rewarding rather than frustrating.”
- optimization29 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with users reporting excellent performance across a range of hardware, including older systems like Chromebooks and integrated GPUs. Many players noted smooth gameplay at high frame rates, minimal stuttering, and no crashes, highlighting the game's ability to cater to both modern and retro graphics settings. Overall, it is praised for its tight controls and well-optimized performance, making it accessible to a wide audience.
“The optimizations done for this game are nuts; I mean, I made this run on my old Chromebook.”
“Very well optimized.”
“Graphics, performance, all technical metrics are excellent.”
“And to say the least, I refunded Redout 2 because of the bad performance of the game on my system and already put 6 hours of gameplay into Ballistic NG.”
“The word 'optimization' is not about this game.”
“Oh yeah, and the game is badly optimized.”
- story17 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is generally viewed as lacking depth, with many players expressing a desire for a more substantial narrative beyond the series of increasingly difficult missions. While there is a wealth of lore available, it is not directly integrated into the gameplay, leading to a sense of vagueness that some players find unsatisfying. Overall, the focus remains on gameplay mechanics and mission variety rather than a cohesive story experience.
“The game also provides a ton of lore (although it's not directly provided in the game), and even uses the development of the game as plot points for the story!”
“(I do enjoy vague storytelling, but there still needs to be a solid foundation for the vagueness to stand on.)”
“I would literally pay $60 for a proper story mode because the campaign is just increasingly difficult challenges, essentially.”
“I'd like to see more than just a series of missions.”
“The only real con, if you could call it that, is the lack of story; but nonetheless, it's a great game.”
- stability15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with many users reporting frequent bugs and crashes, particularly during the beta phase. While some players have experienced smooth performance on specific hardware, others have encountered graphical glitches and controller issues, especially in VR. Overall, while the game shows potential and can be enjoyable, it suffers from stability problems that may detract from the experience.
“Runs great on the Steam Deck and base M2 Mac Mini (even if it's compiled for Intel as I write this, so there's a performance hit).”
“Looks great, runs great, plays great.”
“It's extremely polished and runs great.”
“I can't not love being able to basically play Wipeout again, but the interface is a mess and the game crashes quite a lot & is generally quite buggy, which is a shame as it's glorious when it works.”
“Can't get any controllers to work in VR, extremely buggy, would not at all recommend!”
“I noticed random half-second long freezes occurring mid-race that really hurts at times.”
- replayability13 mentions
- 77 % positive mentions
- 8 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The game offers exceptional replayability, primarily due to its extensive modding capabilities and custom content from the workshop, allowing players to create and share tracks and ships. With a high skill ceiling and numerous customization options, players can enjoy a varied experience that encourages repeated playthroughs. The integration of VR support and user-friendly modding tools further enhances its longevity, making it a standout choice for those seeking a game with lasting appeal.
“Once you start playing around with mods and custom content, you open a treasure trove of replayability!”
“Tracks are well designed and very replayable, and the different ships add great variety to the experience. Having access to custom ships and tracks from the workshop only adds to this.”
“Heavily moddable and extremely replayable, the definitive Wipeout experience.”
“The barrier to entry is high and the learning curve has an overhang, but if you're willing to stick through it, you will find a game that is both rewarding and packed with replay value.”
“One of the few VR games that actually has a lot of replayability!”
- humor10 mentions
- 90 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The game's humor is characterized by a mix of community-driven content, including custom tracks and meme-inspired ships, which adds a lighthearted touch to the racing experience. However, the official community can be toxic, often embracing "edgy" humor that may alienate some players. Overall, while the game offers a fun and entertaining atmosphere, the balance between challenging gameplay and humorous elements can be inconsistent, leading to both laughter and frustration.
“The game is more expansive than Wipeout, with an entire workshop page full of custom tracks and funny ships.”
“Modding community is both funny and interesting, with some players making what are essentially original characters for the game, and others creating meme ships (I am partial to the invisible boat mobile).”
“The game has a funny stats screen and great leaderboards.”
“The AI is either so slow that it's not funny, or it's fast to the point that you can't catch up with them because you're being shot by missiles every time you try to pass someone.”
“The jokes feel forced and often fall flat, making the humor feel more like a chore than a source of entertainment.”
“I expected a lot of laughs, but the humor is so hit-or-miss that it often misses completely.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious over time, particularly during campaign modes, though they acknowledge the presence of multiplayer content to alleviate some of the monotony. Many recall spending extensive hours on specific challenges, such as time-trials, indicating a mix of frustration and engagement with the grinding mechanics. Overall, the game offers a wealth of content, but the repetitive nature of grinding can be a drawback for some.
“The campaign does get tedious after a while, but I'm aware that there's multiplayer content too.”
“I vividly remember grinding away at the Tenrai Ishtar Citadel time trial for hours to get the gold medal.”
“Teeth-grinding arcade with loads of content.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of Wipeout resonates deeply with players, as the franchise's closure evokes a sense of heartbreak and nostalgia, particularly for those who connect its fast-paced gameplay and music to their personal experiences and emotions.
“Wipeout, a unique and adrenaline-pumping franchise, heartbreakingly came to an end after the closure of Studio Liverpool, also known as Psygnosis.”
“It really hits me and my musically and emotionally driven brain to go fast and win.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Redout is praised for its visually intense atmosphere, enhanced by impressive weather effects that contribute significantly to the overall experience. The game's satisfying controls further complement this immersive environment.
“Redout is an atmospheric, visually intense game with satisfying controls.”
“The weather effects really add a lot to the atmosphere.”
