Xtreme Sports (video game)
Encyclopedia
Xtreme Sports, also known as Sega Extreme Sports, is a sports game
developed by Innerloop Studios
and published by Infogrames
for the Dreamcast and Microsoft Windows
, but was developed by WayForward Technologies
for the Game Boy Color
. It was first released in North America on June 28, 2000 for the Game Boy Color, then later on Dreamcast in North America, Japan and Europe.
, skateboarding
, inline skating
, surfing
or skyboarding. At the start of the game, players choose between characters Guppi and Fin and set off on a trip sponsored by the Xtreme Cola Company, which has invited all extreme sports athletes to Xtreme Sports Island to compete in a tournament. Among the people players encounter are the members of the Bone-Heads gang, who are the antagonists. The player's objective is to unravel the mystery behind them and win the tournament at the same time.
There are two modes available: Practice or Xtreme Island Adventure. In the former, players can participate in 15 different challenges with 3 difficulty settings. In the latter, players move around the island participating in events and exploring the surroundings. Some of the people players meet will give the player clues to solving the mystery of the Bone-Heads while others will issue challenges to compete in various sports. Players collect medals as the player win events. Players must win a certain number of easier challenges before the referees will allow ythe player into the tougher ones. Along the way players can also find Twitchy Shakes, which are special drinks that will increase the player's abilities depending on the next event the player enters. Players may be able to attain higher speeds or even become invincible.
and skysurfing
. Players will have the opportunity to skirt down the side of mountain vistas and surf through the air on a snowboard
, barrel over rocky trails on an all-terrain vehicle
(ATV), hurtle off bridges on a bungee cord
, hang glide through canyon
s and crevices, and race on a mountain bike
.
Unlike other multi-sport games, which often has each event as a separate component, Xtreme Sports utilizes multi-event tracks, where players might snowboard down the side of a mountain and then get on an ATV that will take them to a cliff which they will sail off of on a hang-glider. There are 12 different tracks, each having a different order in which the various events take place, some incorporating each of the different sports. These tracks are situated in environments that seek to emulate real life locations, such as Mount Kilimanjaro
, Maui
, and the Himalayas
.
for the European release of the game for Dreamcast, but was delayed. It also was going to be released on Nintendo 64
as well, but was canceled. The original publisher of the game was to be Eidos Interactive
, but didn't work out, and Innerloop Studios were still looking for a publisher for the game. Infogrames chose to publish the game along with other games for Dreamcast. Laddie Ervin commented "Xtreme Sports is a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants virtual thrill-ride [...] Whether a player is hang gliding, snowboarding or bungee jumping, they will feel totally alive -- and totally out of control!" The game had official licenses for the gear worn by the main characters and the soundtrack for the game. It was to have a list of online options for players to upload and download high scores through a global server. It was also to have ghost riders and bonus tracks and was set for an October release.
stated "Xtreme Sports is a game aimed at a teen audience that doesn't go for normal sports titles, but the variety of events should appeal to almost anyone. The characters and theme are definite weak points, but all in all Xtreme Sports is a solid game. Besides, how many Game Boy Color games let you surf, skateboard, sky board, luge, and rollerblade in one package?" Allgame also stated "The cartoon-style graphics seem to be Disney's interpretation of what teenagers look like. The game's visuals may not appeal to some, but the action is still enjoyable". GameSpot
noted "Xtreme Sports is definitely going to be an unsung hit. Rare is a portable sports title this rich. Its premise is unique and its execution is artful. There is definitely some fun to be had with this". IGN
complained that "the biggest problem in Xtreme Sports is its maniacal pace -- the levels and game are well thought out, but all of them require a fast speed and a LOT of quick reaction on the buttons. Your characters are rather large on screen, and there's not much head's up when obstacles approach or when the platforms go in different directions [...] Lots of practice is necessary in Xtreme Sports. Maybe that's why they included a Practice mode right up front". Despite this, IGN praised the game's graphics, commenting "This is one of, if not the most beautifully-styled games I've seen on the Game Boy Color".
For the Dreamcast version, Allgame commented "Xtreme Sports looks good but doesn't play well, a classic example of effort being put into visuals but not enough into the game's heart. When it comes to video games, style is important, but substance that is paramount when it comes to rating a title. And while Xtreme Sports offers a distinct experience in the way it combines a number of different events into a single track, it doesn't focus enough on the gameplay of the individual sports to make the whole package compelling". GameSpot noted "If you're expecting six perfect games wrapped up in one title, you'll only find disappointment. However, if you're in the mood for a game where each event is reasonably well designed and integrated into a greater, meatier whole, then Infogrames' Xtreme Sports should prove satisfying". IGN stated "Certainly not the greatest game to ever slide down the pipe, Xtreme Sports is still not without some charm. Yes it could have been better had a couple of the events been tightened up in the gameplay department, and yeah it would have made a lot more sense had the characters been more diverse from one another (Is it me, or is EVERYONE five foot nine?), but I guess that's what sequels are for. A party game best set for rental, Innerloop and Infogrames gives it the old university try!"
Sports game
A sports game is a computer or video game that simulates the practice of traditional sports. Most sports have been recreated with a game, including team sports, athletics and extreme sports. Some games emphasize actually playing the sport , whilst others emphasize strategy and organization...
developed by Innerloop Studios
Innerloop Studios
Innerloop Studios was a Norwegian video game developer operating from 1996 to 2003. The company was founded as Innerloop Technologies in May 1996 by a group of ex-employees of the Oslo-based video game company Funcom...
and published by Infogrames
Infogrames
Infogrames Entertainment SA was an international French holding company headquartered in Paris, France. It was the owner of Atari, Inc., headquartered in New York City, U.S. and Atari Europe. It was founded in 1983 by Bruno Bonnell and Christophe Sapet using the proceeds from an introductory...
for the Dreamcast and Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
, but was developed by WayForward Technologies
WayForward Technologies
WayForward Technologies is a game development company based in Valencia, California. Founded in 1990 by technology entrepreneur Voldi Way, WayForward started by developing games for consoles such as the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and Sega Genesis, as well as TV games and PC educational...
for the Game Boy Color
Game Boy Color
The is Nintendo's successor to the 8-bit Game Boy handheld game console, and was released on October 21, 1998 in Japan, November 19, 1998 in North America, November 23, 1998 in Europe and November 27, 1998 in the United Kingdom. It features a color screen and is slightly thicker and taller than...
. It was first released in North America on June 28, 2000 for the Game Boy Color, then later on Dreamcast in North America, Japan and Europe.
Game Boy Color version
In the Game Boy Color version of Xtreme Sports, players compete against more than 200 computer-controlled opponents on 25 different tracks in sports such as street lugeStreet luge
Street luge is an extreme gravity-powered activity that involves riding a streetluge board down a paved road or course. Street luge is also known as land luge or road luge...
, skateboarding
Skateboarding
Skateboarding is an action sport which involves riding and performing tricks using a skateboard.Skateboarding can be a recreational activity, an art form, a job, or a method of transportation. Skateboarding has been shaped and influenced by many skateboarders throughout the years. A 2002 report...
, inline skating
Inline skating
Inline skating is a recreational sport practiced widely internationally. Inline skates typically have 2 to 5 polyurethane wheels, arranged in a single line. The in-line design allows for greater speed than roller skates and better maneuverability...
, surfing
Surfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
or skyboarding. At the start of the game, players choose between characters Guppi and Fin and set off on a trip sponsored by the Xtreme Cola Company, which has invited all extreme sports athletes to Xtreme Sports Island to compete in a tournament. Among the people players encounter are the members of the Bone-Heads gang, who are the antagonists. The player's objective is to unravel the mystery behind them and win the tournament at the same time.
There are two modes available: Practice or Xtreme Island Adventure. In the former, players can participate in 15 different challenges with 3 difficulty settings. In the latter, players move around the island participating in events and exploring the surroundings. Some of the people players meet will give the player clues to solving the mystery of the Bone-Heads while others will issue challenges to compete in various sports. Players collect medals as the player win events. Players must win a certain number of easier challenges before the referees will allow ythe player into the tougher ones. Along the way players can also find Twitchy Shakes, which are special drinks that will increase the player's abilities depending on the next event the player enters. Players may be able to attain higher speeds or even become invincible.
Dreamcast version
In the Dreamcast version, there are six extreme sports including bungee jumpingBungee jumping
Bungee jumping is an activity that involves jumping from a tall structure while connected to a large elastic cord. The tall structure is usually a fixed object, such as a building, bridge or crane; but it is also possible to jump from a movable object, such as a hot-air-balloon or helicopter, that...
and skysurfing
Skysurfing
Sky surfing is a type of skydiving in which the skydiver wears a board attached to his or her feet and performs surfing-style aerobatics during freefall....
. Players will have the opportunity to skirt down the side of mountain vistas and surf through the air on a snowboard
Snowboard
Snowboards are boards, usually with a width the length of one's foot, with the ability to glide on snow. Snowboards are differentiated from monoskis by the stance of the user...
, barrel over rocky trails on an all-terrain vehicle
All-terrain vehicle
An all-terrain vehicle , also known as a quad, quad bike, three wheeler, or four wheeler, is defined by the American National Standards Institute as a vehicle that travels on low pressure tires, with a seat that is straddled by the operator, along with handlebars for steering control...
(ATV), hurtle off bridges on a bungee cord
Bungee cord
A bungee cord , also known as a shock cord, is an elastic cord composed of one or more elastic strands forming a core, usually covered in a woven cotton or polypropylene sheath...
, hang glide through canyon
Canyon
A canyon or gorge is a deep ravine between cliffs often carved from the landscape by a river. Rivers have a natural tendency to reach a baseline elevation, which is the same elevation as the body of water it will eventually drain into. This forms a canyon. Most canyons were formed by a process of...
s and crevices, and race on a mountain bike
Mountain bike
A mountain bike or mountain bicycle is a bicycle created for off-road cycling. This activity includes traversing of rocks and washouts, and steep declines,...
.
Unlike other multi-sport games, which often has each event as a separate component, Xtreme Sports utilizes multi-event tracks, where players might snowboard down the side of a mountain and then get on an ATV that will take them to a cliff which they will sail off of on a hang-glider. There are 12 different tracks, each having a different order in which the various events take place, some incorporating each of the different sports. These tracks are situated in environments that seek to emulate real life locations, such as Mount Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro, with its three volcanic cones, Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira, is a dormant volcano in Kilimanjaro National Park, Tanzania and the highest mountain in Africa at above sea level .-Geology:...
, Maui
Maui
The island of Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at and is the 17th largest island in the United States. Maui is part of the state of Hawaii and is the largest of Maui County's four islands, bigger than Lānai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai. In 2010, Maui had a population of 144,444,...
, and the Himalayas
Himalayas
The Himalaya Range or Himalaya Mountains Sanskrit: Devanagari: हिमालय, literally "abode of snow"), usually called the Himalayas or Himalaya for short, is a mountain range in Asia, separating the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau...
.
Game Boy Color version
Laddie Ervin, director of marketing for sports and racing titles at Infogrames North America, Inc., stated "Xtreme Sports will get the adrenaline pumping for Game Boy gamers this summer [...] From skysurfing to skateboarding to street luge, Xtreme Sports will challenge even the most devoted sports addict". The game was known to not support Link Cable play and was set for a June 2000 release.Dreamcast version
The game was going to be a launch titleLaunch title
A launch game, or launch title, is a video game released to consumers synchronously with the release of its respective video game console, meaning they are the only available games at the time of the console's launch. Several of these games are also packaged with the console...
for the European release of the game for Dreamcast, but was delayed. It also was going to be released on Nintendo 64
Nintendo 64
The , often referred to as N64, was Nintendo′s third home video game console for the international market. Named for its 64-bit CPU, it was released in June 1996 in Japan, September 1996 in North America, March 1997 in Europe and Australia, September 1997 in France and December 1997 in Brazil...
as well, but was canceled. The original publisher of the game was to be Eidos Interactive
Eidos Interactive
Eidos Interactive Ltd. is a British video game publisher and is a label of Square Enix Europe. As an independent company Eidos plc was headquartered in the Wimbledon Bridge House in Wimbledon, London Borough of Merton....
, but didn't work out, and Innerloop Studios were still looking for a publisher for the game. Infogrames chose to publish the game along with other games for Dreamcast. Laddie Ervin commented "Xtreme Sports is a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants virtual thrill-ride [...] Whether a player is hang gliding, snowboarding or bungee jumping, they will feel totally alive -- and totally out of control!" The game had official licenses for the gear worn by the main characters and the soundtrack for the game. It was to have a list of online options for players to upload and download high scores through a global server. It was also to have ghost riders and bonus tracks and was set for an October release.
Reception
The game received generally positive reviews, with critics more favorable to the Game Boy Color version. For the Game Boy Color version, AllgameAllgame
Allgame is a commercial database of information about arcade games, video games and console manufacturers.Allgame is owned by All Media Guide, along with Allmusic and Allmovie....
stated "Xtreme Sports is a game aimed at a teen audience that doesn't go for normal sports titles, but the variety of events should appeal to almost anyone. The characters and theme are definite weak points, but all in all Xtreme Sports is a solid game. Besides, how many Game Boy Color games let you surf, skateboard, sky board, luge, and rollerblade in one package?" Allgame also stated "The cartoon-style graphics seem to be Disney's interpretation of what teenagers look like. The game's visuals may not appeal to some, but the action is still enjoyable". GameSpot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
noted "Xtreme Sports is definitely going to be an unsung hit. Rare is a portable sports title this rich. Its premise is unique and its execution is artful. There is definitely some fun to be had with this". IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
complained that "the biggest problem in Xtreme Sports is its maniacal pace -- the levels and game are well thought out, but all of them require a fast speed and a LOT of quick reaction on the buttons. Your characters are rather large on screen, and there's not much head's up when obstacles approach or when the platforms go in different directions [...] Lots of practice is necessary in Xtreme Sports. Maybe that's why they included a Practice mode right up front". Despite this, IGN praised the game's graphics, commenting "This is one of, if not the most beautifully-styled games I've seen on the Game Boy Color".
For the Dreamcast version, Allgame commented "Xtreme Sports looks good but doesn't play well, a classic example of effort being put into visuals but not enough into the game's heart. When it comes to video games, style is important, but substance that is paramount when it comes to rating a title. And while Xtreme Sports offers a distinct experience in the way it combines a number of different events into a single track, it doesn't focus enough on the gameplay of the individual sports to make the whole package compelling". GameSpot noted "If you're expecting six perfect games wrapped up in one title, you'll only find disappointment. However, if you're in the mood for a game where each event is reasonably well designed and integrated into a greater, meatier whole, then Infogrames' Xtreme Sports should prove satisfying". IGN stated "Certainly not the greatest game to ever slide down the pipe, Xtreme Sports is still not without some charm. Yes it could have been better had a couple of the events been tightened up in the gameplay department, and yeah it would have made a lot more sense had the characters been more diverse from one another (Is it me, or is EVERYONE five foot nine?), but I guess that's what sequels are for. A party game best set for rental, Innerloop and Infogrames gives it the old university try!"