WayForward recently ported the title to the Game Boy Color Extreme sports to the Nintendo Switch. The game was originally released in 2000, and being all about extreme sports, it definitely took me back in time. I was ready to watch some of them Rocket power AND On the verge while you play. WayForward was kind enough to provide me with a review code for the game, but the thoughts and opinions below are my own. You can buy Extreme sports through the eShop for $9.99.
Xtreme Sports lets players take control of the energetic Guppi or her radical boyfriend Fin as they travel to Xtreme Island in an attempt to become the new Xtreme Sports champion. There are obstacles to avoid, power-ups to use, and unique controls to master as you compete in five awesome adrenaline-pumping events:
Skateboarding: Run through courses performing grinds, grabs, spins and kickflips, then hit the halfpipe for even more chances to score!
Street Luge – A vertically scrolling obstacle course! Increase your speed, launch yourself from ramps, avoid dangers and watch out for sharp turns!
Surf: ride a huge wave, collect stars and flip off the crest while performing stunts and dodging enemies!
Inline Skating – A side-scrolling race against the clock! Grind the rails, jump or duck under obstacles and find the best path in each course!
Skyboarding: Jump out of a plane, then collect arrows to perform crazy stunts as you hurtle through the clouds!
When they’re not earning medals and challenging opponents like the mischievous Bonehead Gang, players will be exploring the tropical island looking for secret paths and hidden challenges in this unique mix of sports, action, adventure and RPG.
First, let’s talk about how WayForward handled the porting of Extreme sports. I think it’s really well done. When you start the game you are presented with a simple menu and then when you start playing it feels like you have downloaded the GBC version. You can access the system menus via ZL+ZR and here you can adjust the screen size, decide to apply a filter to make it look more like a GBC screen (it’s decent in my opinion), change the border, create a save state (3 slot) and load a save state. Beyond this menu and the main menu, everything looks like a solid port with no modifications that works fine. If you’re a fan of the original game, I think you’ll really enjoy it Extreme sports on the switch.
If you haven’t played Extreme sports, is it worth picking it up? Well, let’s start with the aspects I like about the game. First, I think the game is really good. Yes, it’s a GBC title and the graphics haven’t been upgraded beyond the 8-bit graphics of the original, but I think it’s really cool. The characters look funny, it really looks like you are participating in different sporting events. High marks in my opinion. Sounds and music are fun too. I was also surprised at how many NPCs you can compete against, over 400! One of my favorite aspects of Extreme sports it was the simple fact that after beating one of the other contestants, they sit down. I don’t know why, but it gave me immense pleasure to see him.
Unfortunately we have come to the difficult parts. The gameplay is a bit sketchy. While I am happy to have five different sporting events, I felt that most of them were very difficult for me to manage. I managed to win a fair number of races, but there are many others that I found too difficult just because the controls were a bit difficult. Also, although the game features over 400 competitors, the gameplay feels very repetitive since there are only five sports. While the objectives will vary slightly (time, score, flags), the gameplay of the events is the same.
At the end of the day, Extreme sports it’s a solid port that works best as a time capsule in my opinion. It really took me back to the late 90s and early 00s and I appreciate that. Again, if you like the original GBC game or want to revisit the days when extreme sports were at the forefront of pop culture, I recommend you get this. Especially since it only costs about 10 bucks. Just keep in mind that in my opinion the controls aren’t great and the gameplay gets really repetitive.
by Tommy Williams
Source: Geek Tyrant
Lloyd Grunewald is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. He is a talented writer who focuses on bringing the latest entertainment-related news to his readers. With a deep understanding of the entertainment industry and a passion for writing, Lloyd delivers engaging articles that keep his readers informed and entertained.
