Extreme G 2 has the potential for fun, but a horrible framerate and some problematic track designs bring it down.
When F-Zero X came out, gamers were blown away by its super fast framerate, which wasn't something the N64 could ever handle before. Extreme G 2, on the other hand, disappointed a lot of critics who were expecting it to beat the first in terms of fun. After having played Extreme G 2 for the last month, I can see why. It's not bad, but not great either. The sad thing is, this could've been a blast, but its flaws bring the fun to a halt.
Features
.12 tracks with 3 variations each
.Weapons to shoot while racing.
.An arcade mode letting you shoot enemies
.A championship mode letting you unlock courses and variations
.Fully customizable controls and plenty of cheats
.Four player split screen racing mode
.Four player Deathmatch mode
.Practice Mode
.Multiplayer Cup
I remember that when I first popped in Extreme G 2, my friends and I thought the graphics were amazing (keep in mind this was a couple months ago). The amount of detail and fantastic lighting effects were simply amazing for an N64 game. It looks a lot better than F-Zero X's barely detailed tracks and environments.
Extreme G 2's tracks feature wide turns, loops, ramps, and tunnels. I like the game's branching paths, adding replay value to the game. With 3 variations for each track, it's quite a steal to have 36 tracks on one grey cartridge. It's fun to get speed boosts and catch some air. The lighting effects are also a plus; some of the best I've seen on the N64.
In addition, the game has a lot of features. The options are big for an N64 racing game, and you can customize the controls anyway you'd like, and that's good, because the default control scheme may confuse casual players. Aside from the grand prix mode, there's also a fun arcade mode where you shoot enemies, a multiplayer cup mode, and a time trial mode. You also have weapons! These include rocket launchers, homing missiles, and proximity bombs (which look like ORANGES).
This sounds like pure arcade fun, but Extreme G 2's flaws keep it from classic status. Big time. First and foremost, the framerate is HORRIBLE!! Especially in the Grand Prix mode, the framerate slows to a crawl. Sometimes you'll be in first place and the framerate will stutter and your game will be thrown off. Sometimes the odometer will say 400 GPH, but it looks like you're going FIVE!!! It looks like it's going in slow motion! Second, there are some stupid track designs than make you wonder what in God's green Earth Acclaim was thinking! In one of the tracks, if you catch too much air, you'll hit a wall and fall into a pit of lava! In fact, half the time you're racing, you fall into pits! Some turns appear without any warning, which means you'll crash into a lot of walls. This makes it really frustrating.
The multiplayer modes are better suited. The four player split screen racing mode is less sloppy than the single player mode, ironically, although it still has framerate issues. The battle mode is actually fun, and one of the levels looks like a level in the Beetle Battle Mode for Beetle Adventure Racing! Basically, you kill your opponents to win, and there's no respawns. It's very fun, especially with four players.
The graphics as I said before are good, with ominous backgrounds and detailed tracks, but the framerate sucks. The mellow techno music is top notch, and the crystal clear commentator sounds sexy as hell! When you rub your tire against a wall, however, it sounds heinous!
All in all, Extreme G 2 has the potential for fun, but a horrible framerate and some problematic track designs bring it down. Its graphics may look better than F-Zero X, but when it comes to gameplay, F-Zero X kicks Extreme G 2's ass in every corner! That said, the multiplayer mode saves Extreme G 2's grade from going down the toilet, and if you like multiplayer, Extreme G 2 has it. But with a completely flawed single player mode, you'll be disappointed. Get it for the multiplayer, avoid the single player modes.
Gameplay: 6/10: Battle Mode is good, but the single player mode is ruined by a awful framerate
Graphics: 6/10: They look great, but the framerate hurts it
Sound: 9/10: Great soundtrack and sound effects.
Replay Value: 6/10: The multiplayer is fun, but the single player mode has none of it! If you prefer single player racing, you shouldn't waste your time on this game.