BallisticNG

Played this one since it was a free in early access on steam. It has been constantly updated and gradually got better and better. By now there is an absurd amount of varied maps available, many different crafts to choose from and a descent number of skins to customize them. As someone who doesn't really play racing games (at least not those with regular cars) I can't really compare it to any modern racing games, but as already stated in the title, anyone who likes wipeout games, especially old psx ones is bound to give this one a try. Its certainly not for everyone, the difficulty curve in campaign may by quite steep and even slowest speeds require some getting used to ( learning the tracks is very important here). Also cant speak much for multiplayer as i mostly play solo, but it seems to my that it certainly received attention throughout the patches.

Back in the late 1990s I used to game on an Amiga computer and one of my housemates had a Playstation game console. After a few nights playing Wipeout 2097 (and Tekken 3) with him on his Playstation I went out and bought one of my own, primarily for Wipeout 2097. I was utterly useless at it to begin with but gradually I improved. I won't say I ever fully mastered it but once I'd got good a Wipeout session was almost like meditation. The game required total concentration but almost no concioous thought. It's a couple of decades since I last played Wipeout 2097 but ever since I got my first PC I've been looking for a game like it. I've tried a few antigrav racers over the years and BallisticNG is the only one which, for me, has the same feeling, the same sense of "flow" once you get into it, the same just-one-more-go addictiveness, and the same burning dry eyes because you're going so fast you can't take your eyes off the track for an instant - not even to blink. There are variations on the races, lots of challenges to complete, loads of tracks and lots of customisation options so you're unlikely to get bored. Tracks and ships are unlocked as you win medals. The DLCs are cheap so if you're enjoying the base game I recommend getting them all. The soundtrack is great (and you can add your own) but the graphics aren't going to win any awards. However, that means the demands on the GPU are not huge and most machines should be able to play smoothly, which is important for a high speed racing game. You won't be able to take your eyes off the track to admire the scenery anyway (although I think it does actually look quite nice with all the graphics settings maxxed out). I use an XBox One game controller and it works great. I think this might be a tricky game to play well with keyboard and mouse. I've been playing BallisticNG on Steam for several years. It's great to see it here on GOG at last. I just wish my friends still gamed so I could race against them.

I'm a huge Wipeout fan since the 90s and am always hungry for more. When I came across this on Steam I was so excited. This game manages to capture that same energy and take it further. Way further. Don't be fooled. It's not a Wipeout clone. It stands on its own feet. But absolutely does well with the inspiration it has taken from the classic WO series. Gameplay gets brutally fast as you progress. You'll probably rage quit a bunch too, but the real fun begins when you come back to kiss and make up and get back to practicing. Speedlap mode will be your best friend. There is so much customization. If the campaign got you down, you can enjoy racing however you want in custom racing. If you get into the nitty gritty you can even design your own custom campaign. If you've ever wanted to create your own tracks and ships, this game will let you. It does require some additional knowledge of modeling, as well as the use of Unity, etc, but its an excellent playground for these things. For me it was a dream come true to be able to do this stuff when all I knew was Wipeout. (if only i had more time as an adult) The music is freakn sweet, but you also have the option to create your own playlist folders to race to your own tunes. This is especially nice when you want to hone your skills on Speedlap mode. There is so much added content from what it was even a few years ago. Pretty sure the dev has no chill when it comes to getting things done. Also rumored that he does it all for peanuts, but I cannot confirm this. Again, expect to get beat down when you get further in the game, but these challenges are humanly possible to overcome with practice. And if you do practice it's very rewarding to be able to pilot through tracks at blazing speeds. Hopefully you find it enjoyable like I did.

First off I must state that I own this game over on Steam, and I currently have about 80 hrs of playtime. Easy to learn, hard to master. BallisticNG is a game for those of you who like high speeds and power-ups. You have the ability to play multiplayer via splitscreen, LAN or online. The campaign mode is very basic, but it's great for learning the ropes, as well as giving you a sense of progression. The retro-style is perfectly captured, both in general feel, sound design and visual style. The title is getting actively updated as well! And with modding support, you could potentially have endless Anti-Gravity racing-content. We're talking custom maps, custom ships, custom liveries, custom HUDs, audio and more ;-D On the online multiplayer side of things; this is a niche game. Don't expect to find 24/7 online races going. But there is an active community over on Discord that host races regularly, and they were very friendly when I hopped into their session. The game was already DRM-free before coming to GOG, so these are devs have their hearts in the right place :-D