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."
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Reviews
- Best anti-gravity racer out there, capturing the essence of the classic WipEout series.
- Extensive mod support and a variety of game modes, including custom tracks and ships.
- Challenging yet rewarding gameplay with a steep learning curve that enhances the experience.
- Difficulty spikes in the campaign can be frustrating, especially in time trials and certain events.
- AI can feel overly aggressive and rubberbanding can make races feel unfair.
- The UI and menu navigation can be confusing and unintuitive, detracting from the overall experience.
- music766 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers 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 supports custom soundtracks, allowing players to personalize their audio experience further, which many find to be a significant and enjoyable feature.
“The soundtrack is an awesome collection of dnb 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 soundtrack is killer, also.”
“The music didn't grab me and I was expecting something better.”
“The soundtrack included in ballisticng just simply isn't my cup of tea and I honestly had a hard time feeling the thrill of the race.”
“The music is pretty unremarkable.”
- graphics696 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of BallisticNG are a nostalgic homage to the PS1 era, featuring low-poly models and retro aesthetics that can be toggled between modern and classic styles. While some players appreciate the charming simplicity and the ability to replicate the look of older games, others feel that the visuals lack the fidelity of contemporary titles. Overall, the game successfully captures the essence of classic anti-gravity racing while offering customization options that enhance the retro experience.
“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 styling from the Wipeout games of old, 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.”
“Aesthetically, ballisticng can’t even compete with wipeout omega collection on ps4, much less redout 1 or 2.”
“If graphics are very important for you then pass on this because the graphics are subpar.”
“As much as I liked wipeout on the playstation, I would rather ballisticng had better fidelity in its graphics (without going for the type of graphics in later series).”
- gameplay366 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 reminiscent of classic racing games like Wipeout, featuring unique elements such as airbrakes and a boost system that enhance strategic depth. While the learning curve can be steep for newcomers, players find the experience rewarding as they master the controls and navigate well-designed tracks. Overall, the game offers a satisfying blend of speed, skill, and customization, making it a standout in the anti-gravity racing 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, the 'perfect lap' sound-effect pinging dopamine straight to your brain and 'contender eliminated' giving an almost sadistic sense of satisfaction.”
“Gameplay feels incredibly tight and responsive with each ship feeling very distinct.”
“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.”
“Completing the campaign is so far pretty fun, but the AI is disgustingly overpowered sometimes, especially if you are like me, not used to the fast gameplay.”
“I would not recommend this on a casual level because of the complexity of the tracks, vehicle stats, and the driving mechanics requiring hours of training with the controller in order to get used to the air braking system, but as a hardcore racing title, it's an absolute classic.”
- optimization58 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with players reporting excellent performance across a range of hardware, including older systems like Chromebooks and Intel HD 3000. Many users noted smooth gameplay at high frame rates, minimal stuttering, and no crashes, highlighting the game's ability to run well even on lower-end devices. However, some players experienced occasional micro-stuttering and suggested that reducing AI opponents could enhance performance further.
“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.”
“The word 'optimization' is not about this game.”
“I should state that at particular parts of a few maps, I experienced micro-stuttering.”
- story34 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is minimal, primarily consisting of a series of increasingly difficult missions rather than a traditional narrative. While players appreciate the lore and creative use of game development as plot points, many express a desire for a more structured story mode. Overall, the focus remains on gameplay variety and replayability, with the story being a secondary concern.
“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.”
“The devs took advantage of this and used this as a plot point by telling of an incident where a pilot disappeared for a few days because of the wormhole failing before reappearing in Greenland!”
“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.”
- stability30 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players noting significant bugs and crashes, particularly during the beta phase. While some users report smooth performance on specific hardware, others experience graphical glitches and random freezes that detract from the overall experience. Despite these issues, some players still find the game enjoyable and worth its price, especially for fans of similar racing titles.
“It's extremely polished and runs great.”
“Looks great, runs great, plays great.”
“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).”
“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.”
- replayability26 mentions
- 77 % positive mentions
- 12 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The game offers exceptional replayability, primarily due to its extensive modding capabilities and workshop integration, allowing players to create and share custom content. With a variety of well-designed tracks and ships, as well as numerous quality-of-life features, players can enjoy a highly customizable experience that encourages repeated play. While the learning curve may be steep, those who invest the time will find a rewarding and endlessly engaging gameplay environment.
“Heavily moddable and extremely replayable, the definitive Wipeout experience.”
“It has everything you would want and/or expect from a Wipeout game, with a fat stack of quality of life features (extensive control bind options, graphical settings, assists, physics tweaks) to boot, plus unlimited replayability thanks to the workshop integration (and insane efforts of the modding community), plus VR support, map editor, photo mode, full code-injection modding support... honestly, I don't know what more you could ask for.”
“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!”
“Once you start playing around with mods and custom content, you open a treasure trove of replayability!”
- humor20 mentions
- 90 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's humor is characterized by a mix of self-deprecating and edgy jokes within its community, which can be polarizing for players. The modding scene adds a layer of fun with custom tracks and meme-inspired ships, enhancing the overall experience. While the gameplay can be challenging and sometimes frustrating, many players find themselves laughing at the absurdity of certain mechanics and the chaotic nature of races.
“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.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly in the campaign, which can become repetitive over time. However, many appreciate the extensive content available, including multiplayer options and challenging time-trials that encourage prolonged engagement. Overall, while grinding can be frustrating, it is balanced by the variety of activities offered.
“The campaign does get tedious after a while, but I'm aware that there's multiplayer stuff 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.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional impact of the Wipeout franchise is profound, as its closure resonates deeply with fans who are connected to its fast-paced gameplay and distinctive music. The end of Studio Liverpool, which developed the series, evokes a sense of heartbreak and nostalgia for those who cherished the adrenaline and emotional highs the game provided.
“Wipeout, a unique and adrenaline-pumping franchise, heartbreakingly brought 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.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Redout is praised for its immersive atmosphere, characterized by visually intense graphics and satisfying controls. The inclusion of weather effects significantly enhances the overall ambiance of the game.
“Redout is an atmospheric, visually intense game with satisfying controls.”
“The weather effects really add a lot to the atmosphere.”
