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 SPEED OVER SUBSTANCE XG3 : EXTREME G RACING Written By Shaun McCracken The Extreme G(XG) series was never a revolutionary series, but one that tried to improve on the genre. When XG came out in 1997 on the N64, it was a great ride. The courses were cool, it had a fairly good sense of speed, and it was different enough to separate itself from WipeOut or F-Zero. Of course seeing the limitations of the N64, the frame rate was never smooth, since Acclaim favored detail over fluidity. Also, the control was very stiff, almost impossible to bank complex curves. Then a year later, XG2 was released. It had a lot more courses and vehicles, as well as more detailed courses. But the frame rate was just unbearable. Trying to convey a sense of 500 mph with a frame rate hanging around the late teens is just not right. Even though they threw in every effect the console did, it was sorely overlooked by the poo-poo frame rate. Then after a 3 year hiatus, XG3 is released. Finally, the game reaches it's full potential in terms of design, but it leaves us wanting more. Why would you finally fix a game in the series to the way it was meant to be played, and not give you a whole lot to do? On paper, 10 courses sounds like a lot, especially when compared to other racers that may only have 6 or 8. But these courses go by so quickly, and always have the same feel to them, that you really get bored after awhile. While the championship mode does have a bit of depth to it, earning cash to upgrade your cycle, the same courses keep repeating, and in the same order. Too bad that they didn't randomize, or better yet, let you pick the next course you wish to do next, like in Wave Race Blue Storm. For a racing game, it feels very linear. Aside from the championship, you have a time trial mode, a practice mode, and a multilayer mode. All good in short bursts, but really doesn't make the game all that different. And as for multiplayer, 4 people can play this time instead of the two players that was offered in the PS2 version. The graphics are good, but recently we've seen better. XG3 does have an excuse, it was one of the first games for the system. XG3 moves faster and smoother than any other game in the series to date, which is a good thing. The frame rate is a solid 60 FPS, the speed is fast, and the graphics are sharp. While most of the textures are about on par with the Dreamcast version of Rush 2049, they look fine, and you really won't notice that often with all the motion blur and speed. I would have like to have seen a little more background detail on some stages, they were just too sparse. But the city ones are top notch. My only real gripe is with the motion blur: there's too much of it. Also, the graphics are smoother than the PS2's. The sound is great. The soundtrack is by Ministry of Sound (electronic music), and really keeps the theme of the game. The sound effects aren't too bad, either. I can't find any real problems with sound. And it also runs in Dolby Surround. It would have been cool to have a Soundtrack CD packed in with this, but oh well! The game play is fairly simple, race really fast and don't blow up. You can use weapons you buy to stall opponents, which may buy you time and space. The control is fine at first. A little sketchy, but not impossible. It does become harder later on however, since the speed becomes so overwhelming, it's difficult to turn. XG3 is great as a $20 game, which is pretty much how much it goes for most places now. There's just enough to keep you satisfied until the next racing game that comes out. Don't expect a lot of depth, just expect a lot of speed.
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  Published By : ACCLAIM Developed By: ACCLAIM Year Published : 2001 Players : 1-4 ESRB Rating: EVERYONE  OVERALL
SCORE
8.1
If the game had more depth and less repetition, it would have been an indespensible addition to the Gamecube library. But it's still a game worth experiencing.  WipeOut Fusion  F-Zero GX |
