This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
Wipeout on motorbikes is the best way to describe Extreme G3
and the reason the game became one of the highlights of the week at DVDfever
was not because the game's lead designer, Nick Harper, was one of my
best friends at school but it's the fact that it brings shit-hot arcade
racing action to the PS2. If this had been a launch title, it would have crapped
all over the competition.
While we wait for Sony to release the third in their popular air-skimming
series with Wipeout Fusion, Acclaim have beaten them to the starting
grid with a race against eleven other bikers. You can play the usual arcade
mode or enter into the league which is where the the competition begins as
you race on three tracks through each league, scoring 25,000 points per league
in order to graduate to the next one. Points make prizes too and you can
upgrade your vehicle as the game progresses.
I hit upon what I thought was a problem at first since I didn't do quite as
well as I could on my first goes at the first two races in the initial league,
meaning I had to come second out of twelve bikers in race three. I very nearly
managed it, but just as I was about to overtake the guy in second place, I
crossed the finish line. Grrrr! Then I went back, played the first two races
again, doing much better and thus only had to come fourth in the last one
which, after all that practice, was a piece of cake. Be prepared for lots of
practice to begin with though.
Both the graphics and sound are first-rate - something which, so far, only
snowboarding sim SSX
has achieved. Yes, screenshots in magazines looked nice and colourful, but it
was when I saw footage of the tracks in motion on Cybernet (broadcast
on ITV and the Sci-Fi Channel) after several cans that was a real mindfuck.
It's fast and furious fun with no pop-up and the only time it slows down is
because you've crashed into the track sides. Practice makes perfect though
and you'll learn where to make sharp turns and by how much, as well as using the
left and right shoulder buttons to turn more steadily.
While we also wait for the first PS2 game to be released entirely in Dolby
Digital 5.1, the Dolby Surround sound in Extreme G3 is fantastic. The
engines of the bikes roar at full power, weapons can be fired fore and aft
and it's topped off with many other ambient noises in keeping with the game.
Whereas a DD5.1 soundtrack would provide specific cues of where the bikers
are behind you as they creep up, there are arrows at the bottom of the screen
to indicate where they are. You can use the rear-view monitor to confirm their
position, but not for too long because you need to concentrate on where you're
going too!
One tip to try, particularly when starting a race is to nudge the other bikers,
but it depends on where you hit them as that will decide whether it pushes
them or you just slightly behind, or right far back in the pack. Also, it's
something slightly different to note that when firing at an opponent, the shots
don't "stick" to the track like in Wipeout, so you need to be accurate.
What are you still doing reading this review? Go and buy it!
GRAPHICS SOUND EFFECTS AND MUSIC PLAYABILITY ORIGINALITY ENJOYMENT
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.