[2] Despite the competitive landscape of Nintendo 64 racing games, Extreme-G received moderately positive reviews and achieved commercial success.
As with all Extreme-G games, players control futuristic racing pilots riding plasma-powered bikes in an intergalactic Grand Prix, reaching speeds of over 750 km/h.
From their newly discovered planet, human colonists observe as remote-controlled bikes wreak havoc through the remnants of ancient cities, battling to determine which racer can qualify for the competition.
[8] Critics particularly praised the track designs, which feature numerous loops, jumps, and corkscrews, along with the exhilarating sense of speed.
[19] A few critics remarked that the intense speeds create a steep learning curve; however, they concluded that the controls work well overall.
Several reviewers noted instances of slowdown and choppiness in the otherwise solid frame rate when four players are racing,[d] while Shawn Smith of Electronic Gaming Monthly described the tracks in the multiplayer Battle mode as dull and unimaginative.
[12] Next Generation stated that while four-player Extreme-G bike deathmatches was a decent idea, it ultimately fell short due to various flaws.
[f] Most reviews concluded that while a handful of shortcomings prevent Extreme-G from achieving top-tier status, it remains impressive enough to recommend.