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SEGA EXTREME SPORTS (DC)
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Publisher: SEGA.
Developer: Innerloop Studios. Released: October 2000. Genre: Extreme Sports. Other versions: PC. Posted 31st May 2023. By Shane Battams © 2023 |
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Jack of all trades, master of none: it’s a phrase normally applied negatively, the perception of quality spread thin and not excelling in any single element. But in the case of SEGA Extreme Sports, it can be applied in a more complimentary light. Mashing several disciplines of sports into a racer, while also mixing enjoyable track design and a lively personality, it proves an enjoyable time for those yearning for some extreme sports thrills. While some noticeable issues dampen the fun at points, those who can overlook them will find Innerloop’s effort is a decent addition to your Dreamcast library.
SEGA Extreme Sports attempts to plant several event types into racing. Rather than split these into separate events, each course sees a mix of these to form a sprint track. After selecting one of four characters, you can enter a track which takes place in a real-world locale. From the Himalayas to the Maui Island, each sees you competing with the remaining three characters while also dealing with a timer which is refilled with checkpoints. Character selection is largely superficial, as they all play identically, with only different taunts and nationalities to separate the protagonists. There are also no unlockable characters to add to the quartet. That said, there’s still a likeable personality to the game, with a cheery announcer adding to its charm.
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SEGA Extreme Sports throws a number of fun pursuits the player's way, delivering a fun and effective mix
There are six sports represented in total. The main crux of the racing comes from ATV, snowboarding and mountain biking. Mountain biking is probably the highlight, with a stamina system encouraging careful use of acceleration. But each handles well for the most part, though ATV physics can feel a touch quirky and snowboarding can suffer from stiff steering. You can perform a quick start by tapping the acceleration just after the countdown as well as performing tricks if you get enough air to earn more boost. There are also three more sports which focus on aerial movement. Bungee jumping sees you trying to latch on to iron bars, sky surfing sees you diving towards a target and speed gliding sees you attached to a plane with speed boosts gifted for hitting blue balloons. They serve as decent distractions, though these are usually the shortest parts of the race. Lastly, between each discipline, you must transition to the next with a frantic mashing of the A button speeding you up. Everything works as intended, even if no gameplay type is particularly deep.
It's more so how Innerloop pieces these together with excellent track design which helps Extreme Sports remain fun. There are twelve tracks in all, spread across three difficulty modes. Not only does the AI become more competitive on higher levels but races get longer, with additional sports added – so while you do revisit locations multiple times, they feel different across each difficulty. Tracks are spacious and offer some fun potential for shortcuts, such as a later trek to Scotland which allows you to bypass a chunk of the course by taking a certain turn. It’s worth exploring thoroughly as a token stashed in each level unlocks bonus stages. These time-based challenges are great fun, testing your endurance and direction skills without the constraints of competing against AI. Interestingly, two challenges required access to online functionality, perhaps making this an early example of downloadable content lost to time, but there’s still plenty to access.
It's more so how Innerloop pieces these together with excellent track design which helps Extreme Sports remain fun. There are twelve tracks in all, spread across three difficulty modes. Not only does the AI become more competitive on higher levels but races get longer, with additional sports added – so while you do revisit locations multiple times, they feel different across each difficulty. Tracks are spacious and offer some fun potential for shortcuts, such as a later trek to Scotland which allows you to bypass a chunk of the course by taking a certain turn. It’s worth exploring thoroughly as a token stashed in each level unlocks bonus stages. These time-based challenges are great fun, testing your endurance and direction skills without the constraints of competing against AI. Interestingly, two challenges required access to online functionality, perhaps making this an early example of downloadable content lost to time, but there’s still plenty to access.
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The roster of modes is decently sized. Championship sees you attempting a gauntlet of races against AI, with each difficulty completion unlocking the next. It can be tough going, as the AI is prone to some rubber-banding, but you can still win the Championship while losing one event as victory is tallied on your medals earned individually. It can be frustrating to fail due to landing a jump outside of the zone, but you do get three continues in that circumstance too. Single track – which is playable with a second person – lets you race on individual tracks unlocked from the aforementioned mode. Time Trial and Practice are both pretty self-explanatory, but prove handy for practising tracks before taking them on in Championship, as half the battle is knowing what event is coming next. You can also unlock a Pro Mode which makes the AI even harder. You’re looking at around ten hours to polish everything up.
SEGA Extreme Sports isn’t great on the visual front, sadly. Characters look decent enough, with them changing attire depending on the temperature of the race locale which is a cool touch. Tracks look large and benefit from solid lighting – sometimes resulting in glare as you drive towards the sun. But this one has a hard time with draw distance, seeing textures warp into position as you approach which can prove very distracting. Performance is also shaky, with some areas dropping noticeable slowdown which can affect input, though it’s not too common. It’s a shame, as a razor-fast performance could have aided gameplay. The sound side is much stronger, as the aforementioned taunts and announcer calls feel cheesy and over the top, but welcome, and the effects all sound crisp and well done. The music side is particularly fantastic, with electronic tunes licensed from Ninja Tunes which captures the zeitgeist of early 2000s sports well and is very catchy. Donkey Kong, Atomic Moog 2000 and Bridge all fit like a glove.
SEGA Extreme Sports isn’t great on the visual front, sadly. Characters look decent enough, with them changing attire depending on the temperature of the race locale which is a cool touch. Tracks look large and benefit from solid lighting – sometimes resulting in glare as you drive towards the sun. But this one has a hard time with draw distance, seeing textures warp into position as you approach which can prove very distracting. Performance is also shaky, with some areas dropping noticeable slowdown which can affect input, though it’s not too common. It’s a shame, as a razor-fast performance could have aided gameplay. The sound side is much stronger, as the aforementioned taunts and announcer calls feel cheesy and over the top, but welcome, and the effects all sound crisp and well done. The music side is particularly fantastic, with electronic tunes licensed from Ninja Tunes which captures the zeitgeist of early 2000s sports well and is very catchy. Donkey Kong, Atomic Moog 2000 and Bridge all fit like a glove.
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Insert Comment
SEGA Extreme Sports is a solid racer, bundling several sports into an enjoyable package and fitting into the arcade-centric library of this sixth-gen console. Great level design, decent mechanics and a lively personality make for good fun. It is a bit visually ropey, and parts of each element can suffer under serious scrutiny. But those looking for a good racer with no-frills action would do well to add this one to their collection. There’s a good deal of content to explore, plenty of airtime to be had and fun to seek out here.
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VERDICT
"SEGA Extreme Sports is a solid multi-sport racer with great level design, decent mechanics and a lively personality, even if certain elements suffer under more serious scrutiny." OVERALL: 7/10 |