Wipeout XL 1996

Is it still worth playing?

Anti gravity racing returns in the faster, more dangerous F5000 league, in this 1996 PlayStation sequel known as Wipeout 2097 outside North America and Japan. Ships race at high speed and use air brakes to turn. The game adds weapons, a damage interface and new tracks, and the Quake Disruptor sends a wave along the track that launches the rivals into the air. Difficulty classes are Vector, Venom and Rapier, and the teams include FEISAR, Auricom, AG Systems and Qirex, each with ships that handle differently. Gold medals in the first three classes unlock a full season mode. Designer Nick Burcombe says the first game's unforgiving collisions were the first thing solved here. The soundtrack mixes Tim Wright's music with licensed acts such as The Chemical Brothers and The Prodigy. Four teams with such different ships still give each run a reason to be repeated.