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Retro|Spective 059: Extreme G

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    Retro|Spective 059: Extreme G

    Yes! Activision developed this under the guise of being the Ultimate Racer, a lofty ambition it never achieved but for a while there the series was a notable one with a following eager to experience the forces of...





    Mainline Entry 01 - Extreme G
    Formats: Nintendo 64
    Taking its lead from Sony's Wipeout series more than any, the game saw players take to the futuristic courses against rival racers using high speed and offensive/defensive weaponry. Unlike Wipeouts hard banks and rippling tunnels, EXG made its courses play out more like a rollercoaster ride with dips and loops to navigate. With few other racers being out to match the games high speed experience it allowed the game to attract fairly positive attention to itself even if it never made its way off the initial host platform.



    Mainline Entry 02 - XG2: Extreme G 2
    Formats: Nintendo 64 and PC
    Following on the next year, the series still stayed mostly loyal to the Nintendo platform for a fairly iterative sequel. Largely the sequel was the same set up as the original but with more polish, that polish though didn't quite translate to glowing reviews. Instead the game wasn't knocked but by now the platform had had F Zero X and Wipeout 64 fully bed in for players and by comparison the XG games weren't holding up as well by comparison.



    Mainline Entry 04 - XG3: Extreme G Racing
    Formats: Playstation 2 and Gamecube
    The series didn't rear its head again until the next generation of consoles arrived and when it did it did so by breaking ranks and appearing on Sony's leading console as well. The game took on a more serious tone reflecting the era it was released in were sims were breaking out and weaponry was scaled back in comparison to the first two games. The result was an entry that was more favourably received than the previous title had been a little more lifeblood in the franchises veins despite the growing, high quality competition.



    Mainline Entry 04 - XGRA: Extreme G Racing Association
    Formats: Playstation 2, Xbox and Gamecube
    And so comes down the chequered flag on the franchise. The weaponry was re-expanded for this fourth game where you could be part of one of eight racing teams who's cycles have differing advantages and disadvantages. The game wasn't as well received however and fighting in a generation that was flooded with racing titles was enough to see the shutters pulled down on the XG machines for the final time.



    Share your thoughts and memories of the Extreme G franchise

    #2
    Enjoyed the first two at the time but don't really think about the series much any more. Unlike the much-mourned F-Zero and Wave Race, I don't care if we never get any more Extreme G games.

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      #3
      I remember thinking the first N64 game was OK, but ultimately not very inspiring. At least the speed was impressive. I've also played XGRA on the Xbox but found it quite dull.

      There have been far better futuristic racers than any of the Extreme G games.

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        #4
        Bam! Another winning franchise thread

        Next time we reach the sixtieth thread and the second developer focused special!

        Clue - Only a P away from Quarks obsession

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