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"Amazing near-launch PSX game that holds up surprisingly well."

Wipeout was one of the first games I got for my PlayStation, and one of the first that really drew me into the system. As a fan of Nintendo's F-Zero on the SNES, I salivated when I first saw this game. The screens showcased a racing game with graphics beyond those of normal racing games, and the futuristic setting added to my interest, since it would give me an instant flashback to F-Zero. The biggest question I had in my mind at the time was, “Will this game be able to live up to my expectations?” Thankfully, the answer is yes, and then some. Much like the original F-Zero, the original Wipeout stands the test of time wonderfully. The fast-paced gameplay is still fun and the graphics are still surprisingly good.

Wipeout features some of the fastest racing action you will ever see in a console game. You'll be zooming around the tracks and notice that the background stuff is just a blur. Thankfully, the sense of speed in this game is fantastic. The first time I played it, it was like being on a roller coaster thanks to the sensational sense of speed in the game. Wipeout added something that F-Zero lacked which made it stand out just a little bit more: the use of weapons. The weapon use in this game is kept pretty simple. You drive over a lighting effect-filled colored star, and get a weapon that corresponds with the color of the star. You've got your standard variety of missiles, rockets, shields, and the like. How and when you use these weapons will determine, in part, how well you do in a race. If you use a weapon at the wrong time, you'll run the risk of inadvertently screwing yourself over, and that is never good. Thankfully, a little bit of trial and error goes a long way in this game. After a few races in which you'll make a mistake here and there, you'll get the hand of how and where to use the weapons, and then you'll be set.

The course designs in this game are built for two things: speed and rough racing. The constant twists and turns, and the many downward spiral sections and loop-de-loop-ish things do a fantastic job of showcasing the game's sense of speed. The narrow tracks help ensure that the player will have a tough time passing other drivers, and that leads to a lot of bumping into drivers and grinding into walls. As time goes on, you'll learn to compensate for the bumping and grinding by turning perfectly into, or away from, the point of impact on your vehicle.

Wipeout's controls are as smooth as silk. The d-pad movement is as precise as one could realistically expect, which makes controlling the vehicles that much easier. The controls definitely work with the player, instead of against them. The button configuration is also flawless, every button is mapped to a logical function, and the button configuration's logical layout makes it easy to remember what button does what function during the heat of a race.

The graphics in Wipeout are still fantastic. The rather dark and dingy colors used in the game help to portray a post-Apocalyptic world that really adds a nice bit of atmosphere to the game. You'll see many shades of gray, dark blues and reds, along with other dark colors throughout your trek in this game. Hopefully you'll get sucked into the game's mood due to them. The vehicles used in the game also look great, even today. They've got a solid look to them which helps them stand the test of time. The many little lighting effects used in the game also help the game maintain a beautiful look. The lighting effects do a great job of highlighting the great parts of the graphics, while at the same time, masking the flaws.

The sound in the game is also fantastic. The electronica and techno music used throughout the game, much of it is licensed music, fit's the dark vision of the future that the game has, and helps to add to the atmosphere of the game. The sound effects are also great. There's a pretty wide variety of them in the game. And all of them, from the sound made from each and every weapon, to the sound of the vehicles colliding into each other, and into walls, sound stellar. The sound effects used for these aspects, in particular, are crisp, clear, and do an admirable job at conveying the damage done by the collisions.

Wipeout is the kind of game that you will play for years to come. It's a very difficult racing game, probably the toughest one I've ever played, but it's a rewarding game. You'll unlock new ships and courses, and get a sense of accomplishment for doing so since you will have earned it all. The difficulty of the game never impedes the amount of fun you will have. Of course, if the game wasn't fun to play, it would be all for naught. Thankfully, this game is fun to play. The extra difficulty in it just makes going through the game a joy, instead of a chore.

All in all, Wipeout is one of the finest racing games out there. Sure there have been sequels to it, but the original game is still a treasure in gaming. The difficulty of it hasn't been matched yet since the games got easier and easier as the series progressed. The game is still fun to play after all these years, and the sound and control are still stellar despite the sequels improving upon and refining them a bit. Even if you aren't a fan of futuristic racing games, or tough racing games, I implore you to give this game a shot. Hopefully, you'll find it to be an amazing game that helped pioneer one of the best racing game series ever. If you don't, you'll only be out about $10, and by the time you get tired of it, you'll have gotten your money's worth out of it.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 01/01/03, Updated 12/13/04