Extreme-G 2
- May 2, 2017
- Acclaim Cheltenham
- 4h median play time
Get on Steam"Extreme-G 2" is a remastered classic racing game featuring 10 futuristic bikes and unique environments, such as cityscapes and underwater caverns. It includes various weapons and improved bike handling, as well as support for modern controllers. The game also offers a selection of original soundtracks and the ability to switch between them.
PC
Windows
Nintendo 64
Reviews
- The game includes the original soundtracks from all Extreme-G games, which adds significant value for fans of the series.
- Once the controls are properly configured, the gameplay can be enjoyable and offers a nostalgic experience for those who loved the original.
- The sense of speed and diverse track designs provide an exhilarating racing experience, making it rewarding for players who invest time in mastering the game.
- The controller support is severely lacking, with many players experiencing issues getting their controllers to work properly, especially in menus.
- The port is riddled with bugs and performance issues, including low frame rates and graphical glitches that detract from the overall experience.
- Many players feel that the game is a poor port of the original, lacking necessary updates and optimizations, making it frustrating to play compared to the nostalgia of the N64 version.
- music42 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received high praise for its extensive inclusion of soundtracks from all Extreme G titles, allowing players to select their preferred tracks, which enhances the overall experience. While some users noted missing songs from the N64 version and occasional issues with track replacements, the variety and quality of the music, particularly for fans of 90s drum-and-bass and early 2000s trance, make it a standout feature. Overall, many reviewers believe the soundtrack alone justifies the game's price, making it a must-have for fans of the series.
“The soundtrack alone may justify the price tag.”
“I love that they gave you the option to pick from all the music from Extreme G games.”
“Still, the inclusion of every Extreme G game's soundtrack alone may be worth the price of admission.”
“You can change the music, most times xg2 has the worst songs from the entire series. You can change to xg1, xg3, and xgra, but not all tracks change. Also, some xg2 songs in the N64 set still use the PC version, but okay, they don't make much difference...”
“Some of the songs from N64 are missing and you guys replaced the songs with different songs on certain race tracks that were never in the N64 version.”
“Before you play the game, you have to go through a launcher to set up display resolution, soundtrack, and control bindings.”
- graphics21 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received largely negative feedback, with many reviewers noting that it feels outdated and reminiscent of its original N64 release, lacking significant visual updates. Issues such as low resolution, low frame rates, and a lack of graphical configuration options have been highlighted, leading to a frustrating experience on modern displays. While some appreciate the nostalgic charm and variety of environments, the overall consensus is that the visuals do not hold up well by contemporary standards.
“The game works fine, is harder, the visuals are okay, and sometimes the graphics look better than N64.”
“If you can handle old graphics, you'll definitely enjoy the variety of environments in this game, each with a lot of character and soul.”
“The game also has lots of flashing graphical lights and explosions which may be a bit distracting, but I believe they are fine for this type of game for its time.”
“First of all, on modern displays, the low fps combined with low-res graphics are headache-inducing.”
“Graphics are just the same, no visual updates... they give you the option of 1080p but honestly, it barely does anything.”
“Time has not been kind to xg2's visuals and absolutely nothing is done to alleviate that.”
- stability10 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 90 % negative mentions
The game's stability is generally criticized, with users reporting various bugs, graphical glitches, and occasional crashes, particularly related to newer video hardware. While some players have found the game to be playable after initial issues were addressed, others still experience significant problems, including resolution issues and a buggy exit process. Overall, the game may appeal primarily to nostalgic players despite its ongoing stability concerns.
“Oh, and exiting the game is kind of buggy and leaves a big black square on the desktop.”
“Also glitches and crashes sometimes, and for an old game like this, there's not much excuse for that.”
“The initial release of Throwback's port was plagued with issues including graphical glitches and controller issues, but after ironing out the worst of its bugs, the game is finally playable, if barely.”
- gameplay8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The gameplay is noted to be more challenging, with increased bike responsiveness and damage effects compared to the N64 version, though some players find the PC version's bike handling less stable due to lower downforce. Additionally, keyboard controls are criticized for being unresponsive, while performance issues arise at higher resolutions. Overall, the game is seen as a departure from its predecessors, leading to mixed feelings about its gameplay experience.
“The gameplay is harder; the bikes react more, they fire more, and they race much more. The damage looks stronger, and the bike behavior is a bit different. In the N64 version, the bike reacts better and stays on the track more easily, while in the PC version, it feels like you have less downforce, as the bike doesn't have a spoiler, so you will take off more. The magnetic control from the track will affect your landing.”
“Overall, take my opinion on the gameplay with a grain of salt - my experience with racing games is pretty much limited to this and a few versions of Mario Kart - but trust me on the presentation and content of this game.”
“The gameplay is harder; the bikes react more, they fire more, they race much more. The damage looks stronger, and the bike behavior is a bit different. In the N64 version, the bike reacts better and stays on the track more easily, while in the PC version, it feels like you have less downforce, as the bike doesn't have a spoiler, so you will take off more. The magnetic control from the track will affect your landing.”
“Keyboard input doesn't work properly in gameplay, but controllers are recognized.”
“XG2 is sort of the black sheep of the series, gameplay-wise.”
- optimization6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with users reporting poor performance, clunky controls, and a lack of essential features from previous versions. Many express a desire for a more capable developer to improve the game's overall optimization and compatibility.
“The only thing I miss that is not visual is the full disc status information about the bikes during the machine selection. In N64, we could see it with R or L, but here we can only see the disc around the bike. We can see the performance, but it's not as precise as the full disc. If it's still here, I haven't found the button.”
“Extremely clunky port with poor optimizations and options.”
“I would really like to see a better studio/developer get its hands on this franchise and release 1 and 2 in the same game with online and better optimizations.”
“Terrible compatibility and optimization.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is noted for its creativity and unique environment, but players feel that the intense combat and challenging gameplay detract from the overall experience, leading to a low rating of 4/10.
“The game creates a truly immersive atmosphere that draws you in with its creative environment and unique design.”
“The atmosphere is filled with tension and excitement, especially when navigating through the altitude mazes and avoiding fierce weaponry.”
“Every moment in the game is enhanced by its captivating atmosphere, making each encounter feel intense and engaging.”
“I tried to like this game for its creative atmosphere, but it really falls flat when you control the clunky vehicle and get shot down by fierce weapons in the altitude mazes, leading to frustrating deaths.”
“Atmosphere 4/10”
- story1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The story has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it lacking in depth and engagement, while others appreciate its unique elements. Overall, it seems to fall short of expectations, leaving many feeling unsatisfied with the narrative experience.
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviewers express frustration with the monetization aspect, highlighting that despite claims of controller support, users are unable to effectively utilize controllers due to limitations in binding analog controls like joysticks and triggers.
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players express frustration with the grinding aspect of the game, noting that the requirement to win race cups to unlock tracks feels tedious and unfair. The difficulty of the races adds to the sense of monotony, making the experience less enjoyable.
“I can't say anymore; this game has a lot of fundamental problems that need to be fixed. It's not fair that you can't play the other tracks just for fun when you have to win the race cups. The races are difficult to handle, and it becomes long, tedious, and boring to play all the way through.”
“The grinding in this game feels endless and monotonous. It takes away from the enjoyment and makes it feel more like a chore than a game.”
“I find the grinding aspect incredibly frustrating. It feels like I'm just repeating the same tasks over and over without any real sense of progress or reward.”
