Date: Sun, 05 Apr 1998 13:28:19 +0000
N64 World's
X-Treme G Tactics Guide
Written by: Simon Watts
Version History : Appeared in Nintendo magazine on 14/1/98, revised
version on N64 World 20/2/98.
Disclaimer: This guide may be linked to and/or distributed freely as
long as it remains unchanged , this includes this section and the
thanks section at the bottom.
****For the latest Version of this FAQ and cheats for extreme - G ,plus
guides for 35 other N64 games try the N64 Worldweb site at:
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Castle/2716 ****
-----------------------------------------------------
Contents:
1: Fixed Weapons
2: Bike statistical information
3: The Bikes
---- Raze
----Rana
----Khan
----Grimace
----Mooga
----Jolt
----Maim
----Appollyon
----Roach
----Neon
4: Weapon pick ups
5: Beginers tips
6: Advanced tricks
7: The Tracks (what order they are raced in)
8: Desert (1, 2 and 3)
9: Mine (1, 2 and 3)
10: City (1, 2 and 3)
11: Space ( 1, 2 and 3)
12: People who made this guide possible.
Weapons
Fixed Weapon: The Gun that comes with your Cyber cycle. There are three
varieties, however the power of the weapon can depend on the bike on
which it is mounted. These are the pulse cannon, excel cannon and laser
cannon.
Pulse cannon: The weakest weapon of all. It fires one round a second
which does very average damage.
Laser Cannon: This fires about four shots a second and does a fair
amount of damage.
Excel Cannon: This monster fires dual blue rings from either side at the
rate of eight per second as well as doing a massive amount of damage.
Acceleration: How fast your bike speeds up when you hold accelerate. It
all equates to how quick you are off the mark and how quickly it can get
you out of trouble.
Speed: How fast the bike can go if it is given the opportunity. Ideally,
the top speed it would reach on a very long straight.
Turns: How well the bike can handle the twists and curves of the extreme
G tracks.
Shield: How much damage the bike can take, both from collision with
walls and other riders and from the weapons used on you.
Weapon: How powerful the fixed weapon on this bike actually is.
These are all rated using the following categories:
Excellent:- As good as it gets, only Roach and Neon could do better.
Good:- If used properly it is more than enough to win.
Fair:- You have to be an excellent driver to make use of such appalling
stats.
The Bikes
RAZE
Acceleration: Fair
Speed: Excellent
Turns: Good
Shield: Fair
Fixed Weapon: Laser cannon
Raze has poor acceleration but more than makes up for it with excellent
speed. However, as it is a light bike, it's handling suffers. Good
weapons make it one of the better bikes. Raze is also excellent at
handling turns and curves.
Rating: 2.5 / 5
RANA
Accelaration: Fair
Speed: Excellent
Turns: Good
Shield: Good
Fixed Weapon: Pulse Cannon
Rana can reach extremely high speeds, but low acceleration means this
takes a while. It turns well and has good shields making it ideal for a
player who can out manouver their opponents without relying on weapons.
Drive Rana well and you needn't fire a shot.
Rating: 3 / 5
KHAN
Acceleration: Excellent
Speed: Good
Turns: Good
Shield: Excellent
Fixed weapon: Excel Cannon
When driven by a true master, Khan can outmanouver any bike. It has
amazing acceleration and strong sheilds. It is small , quick and easily
manouvered making it one of the best bikes around. An ideal beginners
bike.
Rating: 4 / 5
GRIMACE
Acceleration: Excellent
Speed: Excellent
Turns: Good
Shield: Excellent
Fixed Weapon: Laser Cannon
Grimace is a truly outstanding machine. It has great speed and is
excellent for passing your opposition. It can also take quite a
pounding. It is a good beginners bike with average handling which
becomes amazing in the hands of an expert. Its only fault is its fixed
weapon. The laser cannon on Grimace actually does less damage than
normal laser cannons.
Rating: 4 / 5
MOOGA
Acceleration: Fair
Speed: Good
Turns: Good
Shield: Excellent
Fixed weapon: Pulse Cannon
Mooga is a heavy bike ideal for people who like good defense. Mooga has
excellent handling, but its acceleration is poor. The top speeds can be
good but they require long straights. Forget the track, Mooga is the
ultimate machine for arena combat. However, it is also quite good for
races if you are a good driver.
Rating: 2 / 5
JOLT
Acceleration: Fair
Speed: Excellent
Turns: Good
Shield: Good
Fixed weapon: Excel Cannon
Jolt is a lighter version of Mooga. It makes up for its acceleration
with top notch
speed. It has average handling which combined with a high top speed make
it a great bike. However, although Jolt has a high powered weapon, its
fixed weapons run out quickly making item pick up essential if you are
going to win.
Rating: 3.5 / 5
MAIM
Acceleration: Excellent
Speed: Good
Turns: Good
Shield: Fair
Fixed Weapon: Laser Cannon
Maim's high acceleration and average handling make it perfect for
fighting. Its top speed is not the best, but its weapons a very good. It
has good speed while taking turns, but be careful not to get hit as you
will slow right down. Good racing skill will make Maim an excellent
choice.
Rating: 2 / 5
APPOLYON
Acceleration: Excellent
Speed: Excellent
Turns: Fair
Shield: Fair
Fixed weapon: Pulse cannon
Appolyon possesses a very good top speed and good acceleration. However
its performance, especially on corners leaves something to be desired.
Its fixed weapon is very powerful making it advisable to use a hit and
run technique. Shoot your opponent and then flee as fast as you can.
Rating: 2 / 5
ROACH
Acceleration: Excellent
Speed: Excellent
Turns: Excellent
Shield: Excellent
Fixed weapon: Excel Cannon
There are two ways to get access to Roach. One is through the use of a
password, the other follows. To gain this super bike you must finish all
twelve tracks in Extreme contest mode. If you do this first time Roach
becomes accessable.
Roach is the ultimate killing machine. It is amazingly fast and
powerful. In the hands of a master Roach can destroy all challengers.
The handling on this bike is smoother and superior to all but Neon.
Rating: 4.5 / 5
NEON
Acceleration: Excellent
Speed: Excellent
Turns: Excellent
Shield: Excellent
Fixed weapon: Laser Cannon
To gain Neon you must finish Extreme - G. You must beat all twelve
tracks in extreme contest with the settings to Meltdown and extreme
difficulty. Do this and Neon will be your prize.
Neon is by far the best bike in the game. It is so good that it makes
the mighty Roach look like a child's toy. However, Neon is so fast and
powerful, that to ride it properly you need to be a champion driver.
Neon takes curves perfectly, its flexibility is awe inspiring, its speed
is unmatched. When racing any track on any world Neon can not be matched
by any other bike.
Rating: 5 / 5
Weapon Pick Ups
ION Side Cannons: These fire two bursts of white hot electricity out of
either side of your bike, preventing anyone from passing you. Ideal for
use when you are about to be overtaken.
Power Shield: This shield protects you from any attack and will force
any opponents rash enough to attempt to pass you into the crash
barriers.
Invulnerability: With this shield up and running you a free to hit what
you want without fear as you will take no damage, whatever the attack.
Invisibility: This makes your bike invisible to all but you for a period
of 15 seconds allowing you to pass your unsuspecting foe with ease.
Phosphor Flare: Blind your opponents and send them hurtling to oblivion
with this handy device.
Rocket: A front mounted missile which can cause a fair amount of damage
if it hits home.
Homing Missiles: This rocket will lock onto the nearest opponent and
chase them until it makes contact.
Rear firing Missile: Exactly the same as the Rocket except it fires
backwards. Extremely useful for taking out anyone who is trying to
follow you.
Multiple Needle Missiles: Launches a set of ten small, yet deadly
rockets towards the leaders.
Mortar Rocket: Fire this into the distance and watch as it rains
missiles onto anything in its range.
Nitro Haze: Fire this bolt directly in front of you to disrupt your
target's electrical system, and render their weapons useless. This
temporarily reverses their steering.
Tractor Beam: Locks onto the nearest bike and begins to pull it
backwards while you shoot past. Guaranteed to really annoy your mates.
Wally Warp: This cunning weapon comes in two parts. The first id the
exit warp, the second is the entrance warp. Drop the exit warp first,
then drop the entrance warp further round the track. Now when your
unsuspecting opponent hits the entrance warp they'll be warped backwards
to the exit warp. If used right you can warp the wally every time.
Proximity Mine: Go anywhere near one of these and you'll be scraping
your bike off the walls for the next week.
Laser Limpet Mine: When you fire this weapon it'll attach itself to a
wall and detonate when someone drives past.
Morning Star: This is a mine with a spining detonator, touching the
detonater results in the mine going off.
Flame Exhaust: This handy item will give you a huge speed boost as well
as toasting anyone who is too close behind you.
Shield Recharger: Recharges your shields and when those are full, your
fixed weapon.
Beginner's tips
Try to finish in first place on all of the earlier tracks as this will
allow you to place lower on the later, harder tracks.
Choose the bike right for you. If you think you can handle all of the
turns choose a bike with a high top speed. However, as a novice it is
advisable for you to use a bike with faster acceleration.
Sprinkle as many mines as you can over the track. Drop them in places
which are most likely to hinder your opponents, like thin tunnels or
narrow strips.
Try to shoot your rear-firing missiles as soon as you get them. This
will take care of any bikes behind you.
If you are lagging behind try to get some homing missiles or a static
pulse. Use these to slow the leaders down allowing you to cruise into
first.
Do not use a rocket when you are close to an opponent as the explosion
will slow you down as well. Instead use your primary weapon to slow them
allowing you to pass.
Don't waste your Nitro's. If you are lagging behind use your weapons to
slow the opposition. Try to save all of your Nitros for the final lap
when you can unleash them all and storm into first.
X-treme Tips
At the start don't begin accelerating until Go appears on screen for the
best possible start.
Pick up shield icons, as when your shields are lower your bike will go
slower.
Don't fire special weapons while turning or you will end up damaging
only yourself.
Learn the alternate routes, they may be longer but you will get better
weapons.
Blast your opponents as much as possible, with your fixed weapon when
you are close to the finish line as your ammo will be recharged when you
cross the line.
Use your nitro just before you go through the red nitro curtains you
find dotted about the level. You'll get twice the boost and will hit
speeds which will turn your knuckles white.
Use the slide with caution when going into a sharp corner. See how far
the bike will turn just using the stick before you begin to skid. This
stops you from smashing straight into walls. This will take some
mastering as each bike is different.
Use your weapons wisely. One good technique is to drop a mine near the
top of a ramp over a pit. This will cause your opponent to slow down and
plumet to their doom.
Try to stick to missiles and mines, as mortars can do more damage than
good. Stay away from obstacles like walls when using a mortar.
You get bonus points on the tally screen for conserving all your nitros
and keeping away from the walls. This will give you extra points meaning
you don't have to perform so well in the future.
In Extreme Contest mode you do not get to choose what tracks you do.
Instead they are presented to you in a set order. This varies from
difficulty level to difficulty level. On Atomic setting you will only
play four tracks while on Meltdown you will play the full twelve.
(excluding the hidden bonus track)
* Indicates a save point.
Atomic (easy)
Desert 1
Desert 2 *
City 1
Mines 1 *
Critical Mass (medium)
Desert 1
Desert 2
Desert 3 *
City 1
City 2
Mines 1 *
Mines 2
Space 1 *
Melt Down (Hard)
Desert 1
Desert 2
Desert 3 *
City 1
City 2
City 3 *
Mines 1
Mines 2
Mines 3 *
Space 1
Space 2
Space 3 *
Tracks
Desert 1
The opening track to the game is by no means easy. It introduces you to
the sharp turns that you will, by now have become accustomed to and even
contains a leap over a bottomless pit. The track itself darts through
ancient ruins, and cave systems, while ancient statues litter the
background.
Alternate Routes:
1: Just after the long tunnel there is a junction, take the left hand
route. This route is ever so slightly longer but takes you through two
Nitro Curtains, each of which will give you a short speed boost. Use one
of your Nitros just before the second one and The G-force will Knock you
flat.
Desert 2
This course now has you delving deeper into the desert. It begins with a
few bumps leading up to the largest dip you are ever likely to see. In
places the track becomes very narrow and you may even find your way
through some sewage outlet pipes. A relatively tricky course at the best
of times.
Alternate Routes:
1: After the long tunnel, which follows the huge Dip there is a fork in
the track. The left route is shorter and safer, but the right route
leads through a nitro curtain, which if used properly, can put you miles
ahead.
In addition there is a second Nitro Curtain directly infront of the
starting Grid giving you a well deserved speed burst.
Desert 3
The race now moves on to a derelict scrapheap, with space ships rusting
along the edges of the track. The first of many corkscrews makes an
appearance, as does the first hidden short cut. However, this track
isn't plain sailing. The dunes limit visibility making it any mans guess
as to what lurks over the next ridge.
Alternate Routes:
1:About halfway around the course, just after the bit with pipes blowing
smoke over the track, the course will split in two. The right hand route
has more item pickups and is slightly quicker, but is more dangerous as
it includes a leap over an imposing chasm.
Hidden Shortcut:
Just after the corkscrew there is a jump ramp. To hit this you need to
stay on the right after the corkscrew and take the ramp at a slight
angle. Hit this ramp at a high speed and use it to jump the wall on the
right, landing on some new track.
Mine 1
Now enter the awe inspiring mines. Any expert will tell you that the
mines are probably the hardest tracks. There are lots of straight bits
of track but also lots of obstacles to avoid. This track begins with a
long straight before dipping into the depths of the earth. Don't be
distracted by the machinery in the background as there are several
chasms which need to be crossed and a corkscrew to be negotiated. There
is no easy way to win, use your nitros wisely and pray for good items.
Mine 2
As you begin to climb the steep path back up to the surface, watch the
conveyor belts overhead. A cavern with falling rocks awaits you as does
a hidden shortcut, before you pop out into the fresh air before dipping
back down below again. Watch out for the metal scaffolding in some of
the tunnels, hitting this can stop you dead.
Hidden Shortcut:
Just after you first reach the blue and white checked path you will see
a yellow and white ramp to the right of the track. Drive up this to the
right onto another piece of road. This isn't much faster, but you will
find better items, including the coverted Wally Warp (laps 1 + 3).
Mine 3
Possibly the hardest and definately the most frustrating track in the
game, now awaits you.
This course has you darting through the crater of an active volcano.
Lava surrounds you on all sides and the lack of crash barriers means
that one mistake is fatal. Extreme caution is definately advised.
However, once mastered this can be one of the most enjoyable tracks in
the game. An expert won't fret if an opponent is trying to take them on
the outside. Instead they'll gently nudge their foe off the edge and to
their firey doom in the lava below.
City 1
Anime fans will notice how the city stages look just like something out
of Akira. It is probably best if you go through the city tracks a few
times, in time trial s first so that you can gaze on the apocalyptic
scenery. When you have got it out of your system race the tracks
properly. This way you will be paying proper attention to the course and
will be able to evade the obstacles that greet you.
Alternate routes:
1: There is a fork just over halfway around the course. Just after the
loop, the track divides in two. The left route is longer , but will
provide you with weapons such as the proximity mine. The right route is
more direct and therefore faster.
City 2:
You will now find yourself in the depths of the city. The track winds to
and fro before heading through an awkward chicane. A small loop the loop
will take you to the finish line. The many wide roads make this track
ideal for combat situations. But if you are riding a bike with little
power or your shields are low, use your speed to get away .
Alternate routes:
1: After you pass through the chicane made up of yellow and black
striped blocks the track splits in two. Both routes run parallel to each
other and as they are very straight all it really comes down to is
preference. Take the one you are comfortable with and accelerate hard.
City 3:
The final race of the city circuit is one of the most spectacular of
all. This track has you dipping through a comercial centre before
shooting off through a scrapyard and over several large jumps.
Alternate Routes:
1: Right at the beginning of the course, just after the first tunnel,
you are given the choice of two paths. One up a ramp to the right and
the other staying on the ground to the left. There is a nitro curtain up
the ramp so take this route for an extra speed boost.
2: After the first divide you will pass through several turns through a
scrapyard. As soon as you emerge from the other side you are confronted
with another junction. The left route goes down into a tunnel, while the
right continues straight on. The tunnel is slightly slower but will
equip you with better weapons. However if you are using a nitro or under
fire don't stray from the road.
3: Shortly after this you will see a huge ramp to the right, go up it to
take advantage of a shortcut, but be careful to avoid the buses.
tracks
Space 1
The first of the awesome space levels awaits. This course takes us
through a lethal asteroid belt, with lumps of debris , space ships and
satellites zooming past at a high speed. It is very easy to loose your
orientation. It is easy to fall into combat mode on these large levels,
but it is probably wiser to zoom away as in space no one can hear you
scream....
Alternate Routes:
1: Just after the track dips for the first time there will be a
junction. Neither route is faster, but the right hand route will give
you access to the power shield.
Space 2:
A wierd purple mist constantly cloaks the course, obscuring your view
and making every turn a step into the unknown. Strange spirals twist
into each other as you zoom round the course popping through strange
portals and coming out in a different environment. An extremely
confusing course.
Alternate Routes:
1: After passing through the fourth portal (the green one) you will
reach a large series of loops. There are several different routes on
offer to you, however, the best one is left, right, right this will take
you through 3 nitro curtains, catapulting you towards the line so fast
you'll have to pick up your teeth next lap.
Space 3:
The final course twists and turns through a bizarre Alien countryside
before entering a zero G town. This course is easy enough as long as you
don't get disorientated.
Hidden Path
1: After the second sharp, vertical U-bend there is a ramp. Stay on the
left hand side and you will hit the ramp allowing you to reach a high
tunnel, which leads to a nitro curtain and shaves off vital seconds.
For more Extreme - G info and loads of other excelent Guides and
exclusive stories go to N64 World at
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Castle/2716
Thanks to:
Simon Clays (NMS)
Alex C (NMS)
Simon Smith - Wright (Acclaim)
Daniel Plantin
