A more polished Extreme-G sequel. The new engine makes circuits clearer to read, the weapons hit harder and the bike roster has grown. The speed sensations are as wild as ever, and the confidence with which you string lines together is highly satisfying.
Your verdict
Category
Racing1 player7+
Split screen
Description
Sequel to Extreme-G with new, more elaborate futuristic circuits and even more devastating weapons. Published by Acclaim, released in 1998 in Europe, North America, and Japan. New tube arenas, improved visuals, additional unlockable bikes, and 2-player multiplayer.
Extreme-G XG2 review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
Extreme-G XG2 launches anti-gravity bike racing into a hyper-charged neon future: luminous tubular tracks, speed trails and streamlined machines in a flamboyant sci-fi aesthetic. The art direction favors the sense of extreme velocity and the vertigo of impossible layouts. A nervy, flashy art direction, a worthy heir to futuristic racing on the N64.
The electronic soundtrack pulses to the beat of extreme speed: techno pads, tense beats and swells that accompany the roar of the anti-gravity bikes. The music reinforces the neon sci-fi mood and the adrenaline of high-speed vertigo. An energetic, hypnotic accompaniment, built for futuristic racing.
Acclaim North American December 1998 pressing, second entry in Probe Entertainment's futuristic racing series. The US version retains the original licensed music references, notably some tracks composed by Cold Storage that the PAL release would partially replace due to divergent rights. That audio specificity makes it the favored version among Extreme-G racing fans nostalgic for the original soundtrack.
Is Extreme-G XG2 still worth playing in 2026?
Extreme-G XG2 refines its predecessor and gives N64 futuristic racing real backbone. Circuits gain readability through a new engine, the weapons hit harder and the bikes feel more distinct. The sense of speed stays dizzying, almost hallucinatory at top tier, and the confidence with which you string corners delivers real reward. Without quite matching F-Zero X for purity, it holds its place as a punchy, colourful arcade racer. For fans of the genre, it remains a defensible detour today, worth a few sessions on original hardware.
