Game Stats

Rating

Type
Racing

Players

Link

Optional
Analog/Modem

Mem.Card
1 Block(s)

Release
Nov, 2000

Price
$??.??

Age Rating
KA 6+

Learning Curve
Low

Difficulty Level
Medium

Although loyal to its original, Wipeout 2000 is a whole new ballgame in futuristic racing games. Wipeout has always been on the cutting edge in the graphics department, and luckily, this still holds. You have never laid eyes on anything as spectacular as this. From the subtle details of grass on the side of the track moving with the wind to the entire track morphing as a weapon from behind nearly hits you, but hits the embankment instead. Or the distortions coming from the heat of the engines of the players in front to the chrome and icy track in the Austrian alps. You gotta witness the shield effect or shockwave to believe how smooth it is. No more pixels or breif stuttering. It is SMOOTH!

The 10 tracks are like a dream come true for us die hard Wipeout fans. Longer, higher, tighter... Several of the tracks seem to be "alive". One use transparency in several layers to very successfully look like ice, chrome and metal in general. One contains MPEG2 live textures showing a stunning stretch of water, complete with water splashing from other ships. Another uses transparency to make huge sections almost completely transparent. Kinda like that Motor Toon Racing transparent track taken to the extreme. You have a jump into complete fog that lasts, until you suddenly escape the fog into a completely different environment. Again, no pause to load a new set of high-res textures.

Weapons keep much of their heritage, just looking better than ever. Remember the wimpy sparks in Wipeout XL when you hit someone with the shockwave. Wohoo, you're in for a treat! Talk about sparks!!! Another is a "time freeze", where it looks like the time "bending" effect from the Van Damme flick Future Cop, when you fire. Your opponent is then frozen for a brief moment, and you're allowed to pass right through him as he is slightly out of "phase" with our time. Funky stuff!

How do they do it? Music is top notch, easily matching the previous ones. This time in 5.1 surround, though. Same with sound effects. Fully directional sound effects, no simulation. You hear weapons and ships coming from behind. You gotta experience it to believe it. You hear a faint sound from behind. You look in the mirror and see your worst enemy rapidly trying to pass you on the left. You cut him off, noticing how the sound pans from left to right behind you as he tries the other side. Then "Blam!" he hits you from up close with a rocket. I can tell you right now, buy a Sub!! (Dolby Digital receiver/amplifier needed for full effect.)

So, gameplay still rocks, but the graphics ends up impressing the most. Even the brief Wipeout sequence in the movie "Hackers" seems bland compared to this. The feeling of speed is incredible, you get an immense rush of adrenaline as you're finally able to negate the second track at full speed without hitting the sides. One warning, have your fridge stocked before you hit the start button for the first time. You won't be leaving your house for quite a while..... Clearly the #1 showcase title for the next generation PlayStation!!

Sigh! Unfortunately, this is nothing but pure speculation. I certainly want it to happen! Screens on top are from Wipeout XL, still my favorite PS game!

Review(s)

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