Windows

Wipeout XL

I visited my local arcade this weekend and I can easily envision Wipeout XL as one of those games that you have to insert 50 cents (remember when it was a mere quarter?) to play. The graphics, music, sounds, and gameplay are all excellent and are arcade quality and above. Wipeout XL is a great game of mindless flying and shooting. Good multiplayer modes will certainly help increase the longevity of this title, as would extra tracks, but this is a fun game even without those extras. You might conquer Wipeout XL fairly quickly, but it is one hell of a ride while it lasts.

Despite one major disappointment, the lack of the promised soundtrack, I found Wipeout XL to be an excellent and refreshing arcade racer. The graphics are stunning to say the least. The sense of speed captured by this game surpasses that of any other game in the past or present as far as I'm concerned, and the sound effects are perfect. If you have the system with the guts to handle this game, and even a system with the minimum requirements, this game rocks. The only thing keeping this game from reaching even a higher score, despite the music issue, would be more tracks to race. Six is plenty, but I WANT MORE!!!

Wipeout XL requires a 3D accelerator and as a showcase for cutting edge 3D technology, it's an unqualified success. As a gameplay experience, its long-term play value is hindered by a lack of gameplay options, vehicles and tracks. But it serves a purpose, and serves it well - it'll humble the most devoted PlayStation or Nintendo 64 owner.

Originally released for the PlayStation in 1996, Wipeout XL is a futuristic racing game involving speeding antigravity ships, winding tracks, and powerful weapons. The PC version's Direct3D support gives this new release a nice face-lift, while still keeping intact the fast action and stylized graphics that console players have come to know and love. All in all, Wipeout XL is a good racing game that makes great use of the Direct3D API. It delivers the kind of fast moving gameplay that until recently was only available on console systems. Game-starved 3-D accelerator owners should definitely check it out.

Das eigentlich Bemerkenswerte an wipEout 2097 ist, daß Psygnosis die Mankos des Vorgängers nicht entfernt hat. Wieder sind die Gegner etwas unfair, wieder ist die Steuerung zu ungenau. Zwar gibt es neue Waffen und Strecken, eine nennenswerte Verbesserung fand nur bei der grafischen Umsetzung statt - das an und für sich flotte Actionrennspiel hätte Besseres verdient gehabt.

Acht verschiedene Level sind nicht die Welt. Vor allem nicht in Anbetracht der Tatsache, daß die letzten beiden nur von wirklich versierten Fahrern erreicht werden. Schließlich gilt es nicht nur, gegen elf beinharte Computergegner zu bestehen. Zudem kämpft der Spieler gegen die störrische Steuerung, die ihn viel zu oft in die Randbegrenzung schießen läßt.