The original Wipeout really broke the boundaries when it came to conventional racing on the home console. Here was a game that done away with conventional racing, and instead focused on speed - and lots of it. Wipeout 2097 continued the formula for incredible speed and offensive weaponry. Now there is Wipeout 3, and it is a whole different beast instead. While Wipeout 2097 was an incredible game, there were some coasting problems, and the game felt like you were racing past a rainbow blur, with every colour being shown, to show off what the Playstation was capable of. While this was great for eye candy, it became distracting. Wipeout 3 is set in the year 2150, and yes, we still listen to pre-2000 music in that year! The music is mostly techno with performances by people like Chemical Brothers and Propellerheads. However, the style is much more urban in its look and feel with the game. The speed has been retained, everything else is brand new. There are 8 tracks, with indoor and outdoor environments, and wide environments. The ships speed past at amazing speeds, through all manner of areas, from shopping centres through forests and throughout the city. While all tracks are seperate, they all take place in the one city. The game starts off with an incredibly trippy intro video that will have you racing, and then you're in the extremly primitive menu. The menu system is bad. Very bad. It reminded me of a time when gaming was more hard core and less accessible. The font and type is too small and the background is boring and plain. This may have been the intention, but it does the game no favours. The crux of the game is still the Tournament, and this is at first, easy. You must race on four tracks and come first. It isnt hard and is achievable. However, Psygnosis didnt do enugh playtesting or something, as the next 4 tracks are unbelievably hard. Instead of a general learning curve, the game starts off easy, then takes a break and becomes very difficult, to the point of insane. The best new addition to the game is 2 player split screen. In the original, you needed the link cable and 2 copies of the game. Not anymore, you and a friend can play on the same screen. The single player game has been beefed up as well, with the Weapon mode being of mention. This mode requires you to take out as many opponents as possible within a time limit. This also gets you used to the tracks, and is a welcome addition. In all, Wipeout 3 will appeal to fans of the series who want more. But its hard learning curve will put off many players, as there isnt enough here to gain new members who would love to feel the speed.
Wipeout3 features great gameplay, nice physics, impressive techno soundtrack and overwhelming graphical effects. Wipeout3 doesn't give you that chaotic feeling the previous two gave. It's a challenging game, with some... Read Full Review
This is an amazingly fun-filled, adrenaline rush inducing game! Its futuristic pod racing, at its finest! The gameplay is excellent, and all the physics of a real life pod racer can actually be felt when trying to man... Read Full Review
