DESCRIPTION

Wipeout 3 is the third installment (fourth if you count Wipeout 64 as a new edition) in the futuristic formula-one racing series that has graced three platforms generating well-earned praise on each. Staying faithful to the series, it delivers much of the same heart-pounding, explosive racing that has kept fans glued to their consoles and personal computers ever since the franchise was born. Prepare to enter the F7200 anti-gravity racing league and take up the challenge facing 2117 veterans.

Wipeout 3 features a total of eight brand new tracks set across trademark futuristic locations, such as the Megamall Spiral Loop. There are also eight different racing teams, each with its own anti-gravity aircraft. Goteki 45 has a low-speed craft with a lot of shield energy; Pirhana-A handles and accelerates well, but suffers in defense; and Auricom IND's craft is well balanced in all categories.

Among the various gameplay modes are Single Race, Time Trial, Challenge, and Tournament. Single Race is self-explanatory (a one race match with various options) and the Time Trial is a race against the clock and/or a ghost from the previous or best effort. Challenge is split into three modes — race, time, and weapon — featuring 24 unique assignments set over the game's eight tracks. In the Tournament mode, points are awarded for finishing in the top six positions in a race. Whoever has the most points at the end of a season wins the tournament and qualifies for the next round.

The game is split up into three difficulty levels including the Vector Class, Venom Class, and Rapier Class. As players become experts at each class, a hidden (also the hardest) class will present itself. Weapons and power-ups also play a major role in Wipeout 3 including new additions and old favorites such as auto-pilot, cloak, gravity shield, reflector, energy drain, force wall, mines, multi-missiles, plasma bolt, quake disrupter, and basic rockets.

There are five selectable languages including English and German as well as Dual Shock Analog Controller and NegCon support. Wipeout 3's design has again been handled by the Designer's Public while the soundtrack incorporates electronic outfits and DJs including The Propellerheads, The Chemical Brothers, Sasha, and Underworld. ~ Brad Penniment, All Game Guide