The Wipeout racing series

[kainemaxwell]

Anyone else here a fan of the Wipeout racing series? I just got Wipeout XL today and I love it!! Has anyone here played Wipeout Fusion for the PS2 yet?

[digitalpress]

Are you kidding?

The first Wipeout was my favorite PlayStation game for ages until XL came out - and XL is arguably the best in the series. The music, the speed - the firepower. Awesome games, especially when playing 2 player.

Wipeout 3 was viewed as a disappointment to many but I really enjoy it. It's the most polished of the bunch and has a ton of wicked cheats.

Wipeout Fusion really just seems like more of the same - no major advance on the PlayStation versions. It's a solid title IMO but nothing more.

I have a complete set of Wipeout "team logo" T-shirts that is simply TOO cool to wear! I'll take a picture if anyone wants to see these.

[kainemaxwell]

I'd love to see them! Heck been playing XL and listening to XL's music since I bought it at the mall today!

[josekortez]

The Wipeout series is great. Right now, I have Wipeout 3 and Wipeout Fusion, and I just picked up Wipeout 64 today.

BTW, anybody willing to trade a sealed PS2, GC, or Xbox game for a sealed copy of Wipeout Fusion for PS2? I know this isn't the trade forum, but I've got a copy lying around here...

[Gunstarhero]

Awesome graphics, Awesome music, BUT I just couldn't get use to the gameplay. I absolutely abhorred coming to a complete stop everytime I bumped a wall. I just couldn't get into these probably because I couldn't get good enough to not hit any walls. Once you get up to speed though the game is awesome, with an outstanding sense of speed with great framerates.

[Tritoch]

I bought a PSX JUST FOR WipEout. I was able to hold off until May 1996, but I simply couldn't resist the call of WipEout any longer.

Well, the fact that FF VII was headed to the system didn't hurt...but I definitely wouldn't have bought one until then if WipEout was never released.

[kainemaxwell]

One the reasons I got it (besides being 7.99) was I really wanted some new action game to play so i could take a break from rpgs for a bit. One my friends has it and I enjoye dit so i bought it. i hadn't played a racing game I liked this much since F-Zero actually. The music rocks too.

[TVs Hasselhoff]

Gotta agree with DigitalPress, Wipeout 3 is a stunning game for the psx. Gorgeous graphics, great control, stellar tracks, and the soundtrack couldn't be more appropriate.

Wipeout Fusion is dirt cheap now ($15 at Gamestop) but it was dull. Graphics are fine, music is fine, and there are a ton of abilities in the game to upgrade your vehicle, but the game just isn't engaging.

For $15, though, it is worth picking up to have all the Wipeouts.

I have to give a nod to the N64 version. Somehow they were able to put an actual soundtrack into the game. Not as many songs as the psx versions, but still...

Not too bad of a game either, despite being released by Midway.

[Gunstarhero]

Gotta agree with DigitalPress, Wipeout 3 is a stunning game for the psx. Gorgeous graphics, great control, stellar tracks, and the soundtrack couldn't be more appropriate.

Wipeout Fusion is dirt cheap now ($15 at Gamestop) but it was dull. Graphics are fine, music is fine, and there are a ton of abilities in the game to upgrade your vehicle, but the game just isn't engaging.

For $15, though, it is worth picking up to have all the Wipeouts.

I have to give a nod to the N64 version. Somehow they were able to put an actual soundtrack into the game. Not as many songs as the psx versions, but still...

Not too bad of a game either, despite being released by Midway.

Nothing against you Hasselhoff, but I got to step in and defend the N64 and Midway. I believe Midway was one of the stronger publishers on the machine, in both releasing superb, near perfect ports of MEGA popular arcade games, and in releasing some original titles that make most peoples' 'best of N64' lists.

Games like NBA Hangtime, and the NFL Blitz series were nothing less of perfect home ports of the arcade games, and Blitz 2000 even utilized the expansion pak for enhanced hi res graphics. Even though the games are wore out now, at the time of release they were peaking in popularity both at home and in the arcades. Also Midway is responsible for bringing home awesome versions of San Fransisco Rush and Rush:2049, which are both great translations, just with more features and tracks. Plus the original Rush 2:Extreme Racing USA, which is basically an expanded San Fransisco Rush game with even more options, but without any graphic enhancements.

Some original titles from Midway which get much praise from some on these boards were Body Harvest, Space Station Silicon Valley, and World Driver Championship, and you even admitted Wipeout64 was something of an achievement. Micro Machines 64 is another decent original thanks to Midway, I haven't played it much, but hey, it wasn't bad in any sense, it reminded me of the original NES version and thats great.

Well, I've tried to defend Midway a bit, but only for the N64, because they are my favorite publisher on the machine. I don't really know how well Midway had faired on the other 32-bit consoles, maybe you had some bad games from them on another system? I just don't think the case can be made that Midway is a mediocre publisher, at least for the N64. Thats my 2 bits. Sorry if I dragged this off topic.

[ClubNinja]

I also purchased a PSX specifically for a Wipeout game - Wipeout 3, to be exact. I already had the first one on the Saturn, of course. I absolutely adore the Wipeout games... just recently picked up an N64, with Wipeout 64 being one of the few driving factors. I still remember the first time I fired off the quake weapon, yanking the track out like a rug from underneath the other goons. Fantastic.

As already mentioned, the only thing that bothers me about Wipeout is losing all momentum when coming in contact with a wall. That's where FZeroX gets some bonus points - grinding against the wall instead of just crapping out. I still need XL for the PSX... there's a beat to hell copy sitting at the local EB for $2.99, but I bet it wouldn't even play.

Oh yeah, I even have the PC version of Wipeout - I'm hardcore ;)

[BenT]

I seem to alternate with this series.

Didn't care much for WipeOut, though I mastered its toughest league (and hidden track). That was the first PSX game to hard-lock on me, I think. And on the hidden track no less. :P

Liked XL. A lot.

Didn't care for 3 much. Using your shield for a boost meter is a bad idea IMO. The whole aesthetic was too spartan, too.

Fusion's pretty cool, I think. Nothing amazing, and the focus on combat can be off-putting, but the tracks are cool, the speed is fast, and it's just nice and easy to sit down and enjoy. Works for me!

[TVs Hasselhoff]

I don't have anything against Midway. I just meant that Midway published the N64 game instead of the usual publisher.

Midway is fine in my book. I loved SpyHunter for PS2.

Now if Midway could make a game about Achika's feet.

[Daniel Thomas]

Ah, Wipeout. Now there's the definitive racing game of the 32-bit era. I was a little late coming to the Playstation, but it was Wipeout that hooked me. I'll be bold enough to say I liked the Saturn version just a little more, if only because the vehicles didn't come to a complete stop when they hit the railings.

Wipeout XL is my fave PSX game of all. Insane tracks, great weapons, the best electronica soundtrack of all time (if it only had Prodigy with vocals!). A soundtrack CD was released seperately, but why bother when you can just pop your PSX disc into the stereo anyway?

I never played Wipeout 3, thanks mainly to the harsh review in Next Gen. Seeing as how they were so gung-ho for the series to begin with, I assumed they were onto something. One of these days I'll find out for myself. And the new one -- who made Fusion? I thought Psygnosis was gone? If so, who was responsible for the new one? It looks good, but I'm still waiting for that game that takes it to the next level.

[petewhitley]

I have a complete set of Wipeout "team logo" T-shirts that is simply TOO cool to wear! I'll take a picture if anyone wants to see these.

Good god man, post the pix! Designer's Republic and their art direction MADE the Wipeout series what it is (or arguably was...). Where did you score those???

[petewhitley]

Does anyone remember the commercial for Wip3out? It featured the Sasha "Xpander" track (quite possibly the best song in the series) and some super-sexy sounding girl counting down... I lined up outside Game Bros. the morning it was released thanks to that commercial.

[NE146]

You know I remember this very clearly, but have yet to encounter anyone else who has seen it. I distinctly remember seeing a Wipeout arcade game! This was hmmm maybe late 1998-1999 while on vacation in the Bay Area and was at the Great Mall of Milpitas (they had an arcade room there which is now gone. Now they have a Dave and Busters on the other side).

Anyway, this was a red sit-down game and I think the seat might have moved while you played as well. I didn't play it but I stared at the screen for a while. I remember I never saw the word "Wipeout" (actually from what I recall I never saw a name at all and thus I thought it was weird). But it was definitely Wipeout! It was right at the entrance to the arcade.

Now before you start rattling off a couple of possible arcade racers it might have been, let me just say that I'm no spring chicken to the arcade/games scene.. and what I saw was most definitely some version of Wipeout. Everything was a step above the Wipeout 1, and I even remember the weapons matched the ones from the first psx Wipeout like the shield, mines and shockwave. However what was strange was the sit down cabinet as well as the game itself seemed almost generic (as if it was some pc game). The game played a demo mode, but I didn't really see any words or attract mode etc. It was as if the whole game was sort of a "kit". :?

Anyway, after checking it out for a bit and wondering why I hadn't heard of a arcade Wipeout game and why I couldn't find a name. I had to leave. I eventually left the Bay Area and that's the last I've heard or seen of the game. Now whenever I bring it up, all I get is "there was no Wipeout arcade game" or "Maybe it was <insert futuristic arcade racer here>" .. But I swear to god as a game veteran.. it was Wipeout! And if it wasn't.. it was one heck of a clone racer :hmm:

Anyone else seen this? :D

[Gunstarhero]

NE146 wrote:

Anyway, after checking it out for a bit and wondering why I hadn't heard of a arcade Wipeout game and why I couldn't find a name. I had to leave. I eventually left the Bay Area and that's the last I've heard or seen of the game. Now whenever I bring it up, all I get is "there was no Wipeout arcade game" or "Maybe it was <insert futuristic arcade racer here>" .. But I swear to god as a game veteran.. it was Wipeout! And if it wasn't.. it was one heck of a clone racer

Anyone else seen this?

The game you described sounds like the game that is played between the two main characters in the film HACKERS. They play some kind of Wipeout game in the Cyber-Cafe. Maybe if you watch Hackers, you can try and see if you can make out the name of the game.

[kainemaxwell]

Wow, I started a great topic! ^_^

Anyhow, i'm still loving Wipeout XL- got Golds on the 2 beginner tracks so far and Silvers on the 2 tricky tracks with the Auricom racer. One the mainr easons I got XL was I really needed a new action game to play with along with some my other titles to take a needed break from RPGs.

Is Wipeout 64 a port of any the PSX Wipeouts, or its it its own original title?

[petewhitley]

Is Wipeout 64 a port of any the PSX Wipeouts, or its it its own original title?

It's a completely original title exclusively for the N64. At the time of it's release I felt it somewhat one-upped the two prior PS1 titles thanks to it's buttery-smooth analog control.

[BenT]

W64 is actually a port of the first WipeOut. I haven't played it extensively so I don't know what extras it might have, though.

[petewhitley]

W64 is actually a port of the first WipeOut. I haven't played it extensively so I don't know what extras it might have, though.

Having played it extensively (as recently as today for nostaligia's sake), I can say it is most definitely NOT a port of the first Wipeout. In includes seven original tracks and some surprising good music for a cartridge.

[kainemaxwell]

Yeah I later read that Wipeout 64 has it's own original tracks and music not by the artists that did the music in 1-3.

[BenT]

Hrm, I did not know about extra tracks. When testing my copy, I specifically remember playing the second track from the original WipeOut.

Having new music doesn't really count as anything special, IMO, since that was a given thanks to the N64's crap sound capabilties. I may be wrong on the tracks, though. My bad, if so.

[kainemaxwell]

Right now trying to pass the 2 tricky tracks with a Gold and least try to break 3rd place on the hard tracks in XL.

[kainemaxwell]

Thinking of getting Wipeout 3 shortly now after playing a bit more of XL this afternoon.

[DJ_DEEM]

its deffintly a early or just a video made for hackers, but you can deffinitly see in the background the sony logo and the ships are deffintly the whipeout ships

[Jive3D]

The W1p30Ut series is my favorite among all series.

Wipeout was excellent at the time, the music tracks created by Cold Storage make up for at least half the reason I loved the game, though it's kinda hard to play it now, since the series has advanced so much.

XL is awesome, a soundtrack by some quality (popular but not TOO mainstream at the time in the U.S.) names in electronic music, excellent level design and more of what I love - The Designers Republic - this game is how I found out about RedBull - and searched for it something like 6 years before it came to the states. This is one of the few games that I can boast that I have done EVERYTHING in. I played it to death.

Wipeout 64 is great, original tracks, great control, farther draw distance and 4 player mode! I like the 1p mode the best though. It's held high among my N64 games - the most important part is that unlike Fusion, Wipeout 64 FEELS like Wipeout.

I dont care what the reviewers say - Wipeout 3 / Wip3out tops XL in my book. The entire Soundtrack was done by Sasha (no not all the songs, but he arranged them, remixed them and chose them for the game) The Designers Republic returned with a more streamlines and minimalist look - which was awesome.

Wipeout Fusion however is complete crap IMHO. The gameplay is more akin to Pod Racer than anything else. It was developed by different people, the music is far too close to that of SSX 3 (yeah there's some good electronic beats, but it's way too mainstream, Wipeout 3's soundtrack was at least a little bit more leftfield). The only thing that I like about Fusion is the big Loop-de-loop. Other than that I have no reason to play this game over Wipeout 3 (or over F-Zero GX for that matter)

I can't wait for Wipeout Pure, I really hope that it gets the series back to it;s roots - Wipeout Pure is the only reason that I'm interested in the PSP, and it's a launch game!

JOE - did you get your Wipeout Team shirts from www.thepeoplesbureau.com back when they had them in stock? Their shirt supply is far and few between these days, but I order from there too from time to time - they have great art as well - worth framing.

Curley Says GO!

[Steven]

I'm cool with WipEout. I think it's a cool series.

I own the Saturn versions of WipEout and WipEout XL (non-US release).

XL on Saturn is a bit of a bitch to find, and will likely run you over $30. I have never played the PSX WipEout but some prefer the SAT version over the PSX b/c the controls were tightened up a little for the Saturn version, and as someone mentioned, you don't come to a complete stop if you hit a wall.

[Kid Ice]

I played XL for the first time in a couple years over the weekend. The game has held up extremely well. I still think it's the best game in the series.

One thing I noticed that I never check out before is the sound options...the options are mono and stereo, but for some reason the mono sounds better. Could just be my sound system. Mono or not, the sound in the game is incredible...the announcer ("misseyel"), the purr of the engines inside a tunnel, the checkpoint buzzer, the explosions, not to mention the music.

Speaking of the music, the soundtrack in the game is much different from the CD soundtrack. Maybe the Euro version had a different soundtrack? (I know the Japan version does and it sucks)

I think there's another thread out there where everyone ranks the games in the series. Too lazy to search it at the moment.

[Jive3D]

Speaking of the music, the soundtrack in the game is much different from the CD soundtrack. Maybe the Euro version had a different soundtrack? (I know the Japan version does and it sucks).

Really? The japanese version had a different soundtrack? Woah. I am still burned that they only released Wipeout 3 Special Edition in the UK. Its got a few NEW extra tracks as well as 2 (I think) classic tracks from Wipeout 1 as well as an extended Soundtrack. I found an ISO a while ago but it does not work very well since it's PAL and the conversion patch cuts off half the screen when you play - it's just not enjoyable. >_<

I continue to pray that Wipeout Pure brings the series back from the hell that fusion brought it to & that the PSP button malfunction debaucle doesnt interfere with gameplay too much. (maybe in light of that problem, developers will not map that button in question to have priority functionality in games)

[Tatsu]

WipeOut is my favourite racing series. I like the first two parts on the PS1, the third one is not that great. Somehow it didn't fit me, can't exactly tell you why. I haven't played the PS2 game but as soon as I find it in a second-hand store I'll buy it.

[Vroomfunkel]

I have Wipeout 3 Special Edition .. and it is the one game that keeps me coming back to my PS2.

It has all the tracks from Wipeout 3, plus 8 selected tracks from the previous Wipeout games, but with all the Wipeout 3 weapons & accessories. Plus extra prototype tracks and the like. It kicks major ass!!!

Man, I love that game so much! IF you like Wipeout, do yourself a favour and pick up Wipeout 3 SE ... you won't ever regret it, I promise!

Vroomfunkel

[kainemaxwell]

If I can find Wipeout 3 SE, then I will!

[digitalpress]

JOE - did you get your Wipeout Team shirts from www.thepeoplesbureau.com back when they had them in stock? Their shirt supply is far and few between these days, but I order from there too from time to time - they have great art as well - worth framing.

I'm not sure where they originally came from but I got them in a trade with T&T Editor-in-Chief Chris Bieniek a few years back. They're definitely worth framing, they're not the standard black or white T's you see all the time - each team has its own color shirt to match the logo.

Yep, some day I'll take a photo.

[jdc]

Wipeout....F-Zero.....Xtreme G......Kinetica etal. Gotta love the blistering speeds of ANY of the futuristic racers.

[Jive3D]

Man, I love that game so much! IF you like Wipeout, do yourself a favour and pick up Wipeout 3 SE ... you won't ever regret it, I promise!

It's impossible to find!

Even if I imported it, how could I get it to play on my US ps2 (or PS1 / PSone) without the crappy side effects of PAL conversion? (cut off parts of the screen and funky frame rate) - a method aside from gettng a PAL PS2...sometimes the euro gamers are very lucky - Sometimes!

[Vroomfunkel]

Ask nicely and thou shalt receive. I could probably track down a copy if anyone really wants it. It crops up on ebay now and again .. and the price really does vary. I've seen it as low as £10 ($20) recently though, which is a bargain IMHO! (Well, I paid more than that for my copy, so I am bound to think that is a bargain I guess!)

About the PAL issue ... I'm afraid I don't know about how to get PAL games to work on an NTSC set-up, only the other way round.

Vroomfunkel

[Dire 51]

Anyone ever see the video for the song "Atom Bomb" by Fluke (a remix of which was on XL's soundtrack)? Interesting mix of live action, animation, and footage from the game - although oddly the video focused on one of the pilots from the first game rather than XL.

[kainemaxwell]

Picked up Wipeout 3 this evening and liking it so far actually!

[MegaDrive20XX]

First WipeOut I loved to death

I played it too many times on N64 as well

Great series, smooth soundtrack...I cannot WAIT to play the PSP version!

[kainemaxwell]

I know all the Wipeout game discs can be played as audio cds (right?) but be cool if a total Wipeout ost ever did come out. EDIT: Wipeout Pure has its own ost, sold in stores.

Been able to play more Wipeout 3 and enjoying it as much as I do XL. Very much enjoy the fact that there's more to do in 3 like the Eliminator and the Challenges, then you can do besides race in XL.

[kainemaxwell]

I just got Wipeout 64 yesterday. Really enjoying the different tracks, cars and music compared to the PSX editions. Not quite sure I like the Challenges instead of plain tournament racing in the different cups though.

[Kevincal]

The Wipeout series is one of the best videogame series of all time! That is all. :P

[Nebagram]

Man, I haven't thought about or even played Wipeout since Pure for the PSP... massively surprised there wasn't one accompanying the PS3 on launch actually. The second game will always be my favourite though. :)

[Kevincal]

I'm partial to the original on the Playstation myself... :) I also think Fusion is very underrated...

[Overbite]

I have a complete set of Wipeout "team logo" T-shirts that is simply TOO cool to wear! I'll take a picture if anyone wants to see these.

oh my god where did you get those i want them :(

I love Wipeout. Best racing games ever made ever 100% true

[kainemaxwell]

Spent some more time with Wipeout 64 today and finding it a great entry in the Wipeout series, though not as well known as its Playstation brothers.

Anyone here have the Wipeout Pure (PSP) soundtrack?

[Kid Ice]

Anyone here have the Wipeout Pure (PSP) soundtrack?

It's on napster.com. Set up a free account and you can listen to it five times.

[Vectorman0]

Anyone here have the Wipeout Pure (PSP) soundtrack?

http://gh.ffshrine.org/soundtracks/1210

[RegSNES]

How could I not know about this thread? WipeOut rocks hard. I have complete copies of Wipout, WOXL, WO3, and WOF. Personally, I enjoyed all three games. WO3's visauls still impress me to this day. That game really showed what the PS1 could do.

Weapons in this game are top tier. The aforementioned Quake is just too good. If only we could do that to people in traffic.

The music in the games is just as good as the gameplay. Orbital, Chemical Brothers, DJ Sasha, so many dope artists have done music for the series. My fav WO XL song? Tin There (Edit). My fav WO3 track? Xphander. Stuff is golden.

Another great thing about the WO games for those of us that still use CD players: the first 3 games can be put in a CD player and you can hear all of the game's tracks! Just skip the first track (which is the game data) and let the good tunes rock out!! I was happy to know about this considering the WOXL OST has been out of print for some time now.

[kainemaxwell]

It's on napster.com. Set up a free account and you can listen to it five times.

I picked it up at work last year when it first came out. Love it and even got one of my non-gamer co-workers (who likes dance and electronic music) to get it and he liked it as well.

[Kid Ice]

http://gh.ffshrine.org/soundtracks/1210

You are a gentleman and a scholar. And an officer. Or something.

[majinbuu]

Hi there,

I own wipeout on the original psx, however my psx has decided to bite the bullet and die a rather unceremonious death. I think you all know what I mean, the "click click" and funny noises it makes when it searches for game data. I was wondering if anyone has had success with emulation?

I own the system and the game, so I don't see any problem in using my PC to play this game. Can someone please tell me the best emu to use for using the S-Video out on my video card to my TV.

Thanks
Sam (aka the brandy sponge)