Wipeout 64

Nintendo exclusive

WipEout 64 was released by Psygnosis as a follow-up to the racing game WipEout XL, taking place one year later in 2098. Like in previous installments players control highspeed hovercrafts, pick up weapons to damage the opponents' vehicles and try to finish the race in the first position. In many aspects, the gameplay is pretty similar to its predecessor, such as selection of hovercrafts, visuals or the handling system. Beside new racing tracks the main differences include a Split-Screen Multiplayer Mode (up to four players), Weapon & Super Combo Challenges as well as various Special Weapons for each Team!

Released: 3 November 1998
Platforms: Nintendo 64
Genres: Racing
Developers: SCE Studio Liverpool
Publishers: Midway Games
Series: Wipeout
Modes: Multiplayer Single-player
Perspective: Third person
Themes: Science fiction
Country: United Kingdom
Age ratings: ESRB E
Languages: English
Entry: #3 in Wipeout

About

Wipeout 64 is a 1998 racing video game developed by Psygnosis and published by Midway Games for the Nintendo 64. It is the third game in the Wipeout series and remains the only one published on a Nintendo console. At the time of the game's release, developer Psygnosis had been owned for five years by Sony Computer Entertainment, for whose hardware all subsequent Wipeout games have been released exclusively.

Set in 2098, a year after Wipeout 2097, Wipeout 64 introduced several new elements to the Wipeout series including analogue control which benefited from the Nintendo 64's controller, new weapons, teams, and tracks. The game received generally positive reviews from critics. Many critics praised the game for its individuality among the Wipeout series, its graphics, offering more tracks and racing craft, unique atmosphere and "superior track design", but opinion is divided whether Wipeout 64 is a 'true sequel' to Wipeout 2097.

Keywords

anti-gravity racing
split-screen multiplayer
future sport
greatest hits
retroachievements
nintendo 64 exclusive

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

Most aspects of the gameplay did not differ from the previous two titles. Wipeout is based on a futuristic anti-gravity setting where pilots would race against each other or computer-controlled AI opponents to finish in the highest position possible. Wipeout's gameplay takes inspiration from Formula One parallels; rather than using aerodynamics to increase wheel grip by down-force for faster turning speeds, Wipeout uses a fictionalised method of air braking for ever greater turning force.

Wipeout 64 provides most of the same features as Wipeout 2097 along with new weapons unique to each team. New additions to the weapons interface include the ability to fire three rockets at a time and rear-locking missiles. Returning weapons include the homing missiles, machine guns and electro-bolts. Exclusive to Wipeout 64 is an unlockable weapon power-up called the "Cyclone" which allows the player to strengthen the power of their weapons.

Development

Wipeout 64 was developed by Liverpudlian developer Psygnosis. After rumors that several publishers had approached Psygnosis about developing a Wipeout installment for the Nintendo 64, Psygnosis officially announced Wipeout 64 in April 1998. Development began in February 1998 and it took a total estimated amount of eight months to complete the game. Psygnosis originally intended to publish the game themselves with Sony Music Entertainment handling the distribution for Europe, but in September, Midway obtained publishing and distribution rights.

It is a rare N64 title with noticeable load times, disguised by the request 'Please Wait', due to sound decompression times. Wipeout 64 utilized the N64's analogue stick, making ships more responsive than the series' predecessors. Rather than creating a full-fledged sequel to Wipeout 2097, Psygnosis decided to use Wipeout 2097 and tweak its design. Senior producer Andy Satterthwaite stated that Wipeout 64 is a brand-new game and not a port of its predecessor, due to changes to the game structure, new race tracks, and new features.

Reception

Wipeout 64 received generally positive reviews from critics. The game received an aggregate score of 84/100 from Metacritic. Reviewers were generally impressed with the innovation and complexity the game offered; mostly stating that Wipeout 64 had "everything a futuristic racer needs, a large variety of tracks, well-designed craft, weapons, numerous game modes and speed".

The graphics were well-received from critics. IGN remarked that Wipeout 64 was a superior game to F-Zero X. IGN praised the game on its graphics, saying in the verdict that the visuals "are absolutely beautiful" and that the in-game soundtrack and sound-effects were "top-notch", and that it included clean boost audio and excellent "scrape" noises. Despite the considerable praise, a mixed review came from Joe Fielder of GameSpot, saying that regarding the graphics, the visuals in Wipeout 64 did not meet the par set by Wipeout 2097 that was released for the PlayStation two years prior.