Product ReviewsWipeout XL (Sony PlayStation 1, 1996)

A great game and my favorite of the series to date

The game is as close to perfect regarding fun factor as you can get in the WO series, i have read a review here that complains about no analog control support, disregard that, as theres only one commercially available supported control i would use with this game and its analog: the NeGcon, if you can get one you must try it with this game, its absolute gaming bliss.

The physics and speed in the game are unmatched by any other in the series, and the harmony between this, graphics, sound and music blend almost to adrenalinic perfection which leads to a high level of immersion without resorting to virtual reality devices, specially if you tried it around its launch date.

I will not try an orthodox review of it, because sometimes its not necessary to do a by-the-book analysis, its a game that shines purely by playing it, and trying to master it.
The fight for tenths of a second on time trials is one of the best sensations i had in a racing game, and the rush of playing it full grid in phantom class with weapons flying around is great.

One of my favorite racing games of all times, and a must try with the NeGcon.Read full review...

Best Wipeout Game ever!

This is my absolute favorite Wipeout game (known as Wipeout 2097 in the rest of the world!) The sound track is amazing and will get your adrenaline pumping and really get you into the game! The high speeds, the weapons and the easy as pie instructions.... it just takes some practice to learn when to steer at corners without hitting the walls... but once you get the hang of it it's fun and most of all VERY addictive! I used to have this game as well as Wipeout 3 but more often than not played this one!!! This is the type of game that you will simply not stop playing until your head hurts and your eyes can't focus anymore!

The higher levels do get very difficult but are a great challenge!Read full review...

Wipeout XL Put the Wipeout Series on the Map

### Background ###

Wipeout XL is the second game in the successful Wipeout series and it is by far the most popular and most widely recognized of the futuristic racing series. Because of it's popularity, Wipeout XL was also released for Sega Saturn, Windows, Mac and Amiga platforms but none were as successful as the PS1 version. In Europe, the PS1 version is known as "Wipeout 2097".

### Strengths ###

- Graphics -
Pushes the PS1's hardware to it's absolute limits but still manages to maintain a rock solid frame rate 99.99% of the time. Sometimes, friends of mine accidentally think this game is for the PS2 due the high quality of the graphics.

- Soundtrack -
Unmatched. Quite possibly, the best soundtrack ever made for a racing game. No joke. If you are a fan of electronica music from the 90's, then this game is for you!

- Racing Speed -
Describing the game's speed as simply "fast" would be a huge understatement, "Breakneck" is a more accurate description. Even blinking your eyes can cause you to loose a race. Honest, it happened to me once.

- Weapons & Items -
Adds another element to the otherwise standard racing concept. The weapons and items are very uniquely designed and can change the outcome of a race either to your frustration or your glee.

### Weaknesses ###

- Game Progression -
Initially, the game progression is very confusing and you are left wondering "Now what?".You do eventually come understand how to progress in the game but then you think to yourself "That's really weird." and your right, it is weird. Each track must be raced individually and a medal attained (by coming in first). Only when this is achieved on all the tracks can you advance. This is a trend that continues in the series to this day, but is implemented in a far more intuitive and easier fashion.In Wipeout XL this progression sequence is awkward and plagued by long load times due the constant need to back to the main menu.

- Flaws in Game Modes -
The game has the basics: single race, time trial and tournament modes. Unfortunately, the modes are missing serious depth and lack polish. Take the tournament mode for instance, it is not immediately available as it needs to be unlocked first.Why? Once you have completed the tournament it is no longer available, for practice or for fun, because it is completely replaced by the higher level tournament. There is no reason that the lower level tournament had to be removed. Minor,yes, but frustrating none the less and the game modes are littered with small frustrations just like that.

- Multi-player -
Get this, multi-player is only possible with 2 TV's hooked up to separate PS1's which then have to be connected together with a "PS Link Cable". Can you picture that setup? Just to play multi-player? It's obsoletely ridiculous is what it is. To put it simply, there is no Multi-player, 'forgetaboutit'.

### Final Thoughts ###

Wipeout XL is for gamers looking for an dynamic, intense and challenging experience. This is not the type of game you play to relax. Most decisions are made in a split second and are driven more by instinct than by thought thus requiring a significant amount of practice to master the game. Even though the game has only a few game play modes you can always find something fun and challenging to try. I still play it every now and again. Given the success of the Wipeout Series, especially Wipeout XL, the odds of not enjoying this title are slim and I would highly recommend purchasing this title.Read full review...

Wipeout XL A great, great game!

A great game!! Was my first Wipeout. I played it over and over in the 90's on my PS1. I'm so happy to own it again!! Works perfectly on my PS3!!

Awesome racer. You won't be disappointed.

First of all, let me start by saying that this is the second in the series of nine games. It is truly a classic and belongs in any racing fans game library. I play this on my Playstation 2 and turn on the texture smoothing option. This helps to smooth out the jagged edges on PS1 games. Frame rate is excellent. The weapons are great as well. The ships designs are realistic for racing hovercraft. Just like the cover. I also really like the team logos. The soundtrack is top notch with famous techno artists, so you can crank it up on the stereo while playing. All in all, a great futuristic racer. Highly recommend this oneRead full review...

Works perfect

This is really good. There are absolutely no scratches on the disc itself and the game works perfectly.

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: bestbuyitnow

Possibly the best in the Wipeout Series

This is the best futuristic racer you can find on the Playstation 1. I am a huge fan of the series, and therefore a little biased, but many people who are not fans of the series LOVED this game.
<br>The soundtrack is wicked, gameplay is fast, ai is decent and the controls are solid. This game feels fresh every time I pick it up and play it.Read full review...

Fun game

The game is exactly as 90s over the top, fun, and challenging as it looks. Immediate favorite

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: luerh70

Awesome product!

I use to play the first wipeout and love it. In 1996, Psygnosis launched Wipeout 2097/XL and it was even better. You can play with many teams and the Piranha Team! The music is amazing! It was fantastic to play this game listening to Prodigy song Firestarter instrumental and Body in Motion (I don't know who is the artist for this one). From all the wipeout game series, this one is for sure the best one!Read full review...

STAR WARS MIXED WITH OUR "REALITY" IN 2097 - AWESOME

If I remember a game since first purchase in 1996....then it's a 5 star game for me...I bought it again and won't get rid of it this time! Oct 1, 2012. Awesome Techno music, fast paced racing, destroying your opponents while racing....A+++. I love everything about this game! Game play,graphics, announcers voice, colors, weapons.... *****Read full review...