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Review:

6th December 2003:
XGRA
The future is now, but is it any good?
Posted by Chris Barnett - PlayStation 2,GameCube,Xbox - UK and Europe

XGRA is the fourth game in the Extreme G series and we are surprised to see such a family tree as none of the games have been exceptional. Having said that, they have never been bad (although some criticised the second and third games) and have always offered entertaining racing for those who don't care for the present day.

So to make an update of such a series, Acclaim has simplified things to make them more enjoyable for players. The result is a racing game as simple as you could want. There are no complex power ups or speed charges; everything is straight forwards.

As the game is a futuristic racer, it obviously features futuristic technology; both the craft themselves (which are grouped into two ship teams as in Formula 1) and the weapons that they use. But instead of making these complex and distracting, Acclaim have concentrated on simplicity. So instead of a speed boost button as in the earlier games, you must pass over speed strips to gain speed. This creates a rather imposed racing line that can be either followed or ignored, which is rhetorical as you MUST use the speed strips to succeed. In addition to the speed boosts, the craft can also fire weapons, a primary (that is unlimited) and a secondary one. The primary weapon is upgraded by collecting upgrade orbs from around the tracks, making it 'level up' throughout a race. Each team's craft has a unique primary weapon and they include machine guns, rockets, bombs, energy weapons and electrical weapons. The difference in these weapons will probably determine your favourite craft, although each has pros and cons. The secondary weapons are generic for all teams and can only be used once they are charged up by collecting that power up's orbs. There are 10 of them in total and they are a little more exciting than the simple primary weapons, mainly because they look so spectacular.

On the subject of looks; the game does look very pretty throughout. The tracks are sufficiently detailed and the craft look sleek and futuristic. But this comes at the cost of frame rate, which often judders as action intensifies. This is a great shame as the effects produced by some weapons and events are potentially race threatening due to the fact that they obscure view of the track. One such feature is a motion blur that is produced when speed strips are passed over; it looks great and it even feels good when it comes off okay. But most times all that happens is that the moment of transition between clarity and blurring causes a loss of comprehension about when is going on. This is bad when you consider the speed burst is supposed to be advantageous.

Despite the problems mentioned, the game is very enjoyable to any level of gamer. The career mode allows a competitive nature to be employed to things, especially as the points system is now so simple. Instead of earning money for upgrades and progression fees, you simply earn points based upon your positioning as in modern day motor racing. In addition to the ranking initiative, you are also given a secondary task by your team on each race. These can take the form of beating a certain opponent or even destroying a dodgy collection of advertising boards, making the game so much more varied than standard A to B racers. These objectives are also relevant to the story that is progressive throughout the career mode, so rivalries will arise to create a more involving game experience. This mode is as complete as it needs to be and is where the bulk of the single player game lies. Since it's quite easy you can expect to replay in order to complete all the objectives, but apart from that there is little to keep you coming back since it is not the kind of racing game that plays well in time trial mode. The multiplayer mode is pretty pointless as the action is both hectic and inconsistent (the frame rate jumps up and down like a drunk Russian). The game is too detailed on one player to be justified fully in a split screen (once you have seen the graphics in one player mode you will not be impressed by the toned down multiplayer).

In summary though, the game is enjoyable. It was never going to be the best racing game ever and it never aims to be. What it does do is entertain while it lasts, and it is probably the best futuristic racing game on the PlayStation 2. Whilst that is only a small claim, it is one that is true and to fans of futuristic racing games (those people who can't stand modern day life and want to live in the future) this is essential - with no F Zero on the PlayStation 2.

Chris Barnett

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Review Summary:

If you like futuristic racing then this should be a serious consideration, if not you should at least try before you buy. Still the best future racer on the PlayStation 2 though.

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XGRA
for PlayStation 2

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