WipeOut lets you choose your craft from 5 different type. Each one of these has
different characteristics : Acceleration, Top Speed, Cornering and Mass.
After choosing the craft, you can select your pilot.
Game options include :
======================
Time trial : Race one track (three laps) without opponents against the clock.
There is only one extra, a boost. 
Single race : Race one track with opponents and all extras.
Championship tournament : Race all tracks in consecutive order against
opponents with all extras. You have to finish at least as third (of eight) to
advance to the next track. You have three tries per track to achieve this goal.
The two player option works with two PSX's only. You can race one-on-one
against your worthy pal or as a team against the 6 computer opponents.
In-race characteristics :
=========================
The steering :
==============
You have normal steering and air brakes for banking. With these you can slide
through sharp turns, though you lose a little speed (and it is extremely
difficult to regain control).
The Extras :
============
The Extras are activated by passing over glowing tiles on the track. Extras
include a boost, shield, missile (heat seeker), a rocket (flies straight), a
shockwave and mines.
Graphics :
==========
Craft and track are beautifully animated, fully texture mapped and move at
high speed. Especially the feeling for mass and acceleration of the craft is
conveyed perfectly. When you race downhill, you almost feel the drop and pull
of
centrifugal force.
The courses consist of jumps, sheer drops, steep turns, ascents, switchbacks,
tunnels and bumpy sections.
Also, they differ in handling characteristics because of changing surface.
(blasted  sandstone, carbonic iron, ice ...)
There is also scenery alongside the track : cacti, animated mining machinery,
hills, billboards with ads for new Psygnosis games. etc. 
The sound :
===========
The techno-style soundtrack comes directly from CD and nicely enhances the
feeling for speed (not unlike the old Out-Run arcade game). Sound FX are being
mixed in and include the standard repertoire one would expect (warnings, crash
sounds, explosions, engine roar and a countdown).
Difficulty :
============
AARGH ! Extremely hard ! But with a little practice you can eventually make it
(someday). You almost have to memorize each track to succeed.
Nice bits :
===========
All records are saved on memory card.
Bad bits :
==========
Still to be found.
Our opinion :
=============
The ideas have been "assembled" from various other racing games into a truly
unique blend.
Fun to play. You can't keep from screaming : YES ! When finally making the
sharp turn without crashing or scraping the wall  or EAT THIS, SUCKER ! when
blasting the bugger that won't let you pass.
Ralf Hildebrandt, R.Hildebrandt@tu-bs.de (PGP Key @ request )
http://stahlw00.stahl.bau.tu-bs.de/people/rhildebrandt.html
Institute for Steelconstruction TU Braunschweig
Beethovenstr. 51, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany