First: I am _not_ a "Wipeout God".  I loved the game, and would routinely get 
addicted to it (it's amazing: I can leave the game unplayed in my "games" box 
for a month, load it up, and get just as addicted as I ever had been; I 
can't think of any recent game that hooks me so easily), but I was never 
_that_ good at it.
When I was reading that "Wipeout XL" was coming soon, I went "oh, that's 
interesting", and went on with my life.  Last week, when I saw the "Wipeout 
XL" box sitting at the Software Etc., I suddenly found myself buying it.  I 
don't know _how_ it happened: just, suddenly, the box was in one hand, my 
credit card in another.  I dunno . . .
WOW!  First, the bad.  (1) The "Wipeout Gods" on rgv.Sony have commented 
that the feel of the controls have changed a little bit, but I haven't 
noticed it (note that I haven't played Wipeout for a little bit), and I'm 
still not that good at it; (2) I've noticed a lot more slowdown than I saw in 
Wipeout; (3) Now, we just select a team, but not a racer: hey, what happened 
to Sofia or Anastasia?  I liked them!  Finally, (4) the "autopilot" power-up 
is nothing but annoying -- I discard it whenever I get it (I find it too 
disorienting being not-in-control one moment, then suddenly in control the 
next).
The good?  Everything else.  The world is just soooo much more detailed and 
brighter this time around.  Special effects are great.  I love that Quake 
weapon!  The racing?  Every bit as addicting as the original was, if not more. 
I keep thinking about playing it.  I think I should be playing it now.  I 
wonder if I'll ever be able to do a "session" with Wipeout that _doesn't_ go 
over an hour!  My wife and son are sick of seeing me constantly replay the 
same tracks: they just don't understand that I MUST BEAT THAT TRACK!  THERE IS 
NO ALTERNATIVE!  RESISTANCE IS FUTILE!
Of course, this is Wipeout: very challenging, unless you are a "Wipeout God" 
or a "Wipeout God To-Be".  The computer players are all perfect, and they all 
hate you (although I have seen them go after each other on occasion).  But, 
the payoff for practice and patience is an amazing racing game, and an awesome 
sensation of SPEED.
One note: the first two tracks are with a slow "Vector" class ship (the 
"Wipeout Gods" don't seem to like the "Vector" class, but I do).  The next two 
are with the "Venom" class, as from the original Wipeout.  The last two tracks 
are with the "Rapier" class, fast and real good at going BLAM! into a wall.  
If you get "gold" (first place) in all these tracks, you get "Challenge 1".  
This requires you to race all six tracks with Rapier.  Now, I managed to get 
"gold" on the first four tracks, but the Rapier tracks (boy are they 
spectacular!) -- ferget it!  I, er, did the SOTOS cheat (at the menu, press 
L1+R1, hold it down and press "select"; holding all three down, now press 
SOTOS), which gives you the ability to race any ship on any of the six tracks. 
So, for the halibut, I did "Vector" class on the last two Rapier tracks.  No 
problem: gold medal on both.  After doing this, however, I get the message 
that now, I have earned "Challenge 1".  Of course, I _hadn't_ actually earned 
it, and I lost pretty easily.  Buuuut: now, this cheat has given me the 
ability to practice with Rapier on any of the tracks.  Cool!
Highly, Highly, Highly recommended!  
- Animesh Karna