Wipeout 64
Encyclopedia
Wipeout 64 is the third game in the Wipeout
series and the only for the Nintendo 64
. At the time of the game's release developers Psygnosis had been owned for 5 years by Sony Computer Entertainment
, for whose hardware all subsequent Wipeout games have been released exclusively.
Set in 2098, just a year after Wipeout 2097
, Wipeout 64 introduced several elements to the Wipeout series: analog control is embraced, thanks to the Nintendo 64's in-built analog stick, to the extent that digital control - familiar to players of the previous games - is disabled, even though the controller has a digital pad. Analog control left and right was only possible on previous games for owners of Namco's neGcon
controller and owners of the PC versions which would make use of an analog stick if available.
Split-screen multiplayer makes an appearance for the first time, as does Challenge Mode – where the player has to complete sets of challenges in predefined classes and tracks: either getting the fastest time (Time trial), the highest placing (Race), or eliminating the most opponents (Weapon).
Most of the tracks in Wipeout 64 feature mirrored layouts of circuits from select tracks in Wipeout
and Wipeout 2097
, set in different locations. Some conversions are not perfectly accurate, as some corners were eased or cut entirely, elevations were changed, and there were no split track sections. The only truly original circuit is the hidden Velocitar track, obtained by completing all 6 Race Challenges.
Wipeout 64 is one of the few N64 titles to have noticeable load times, disguised by the request 'Please Wait'. Load times are approximately 3-4 seconds long, and as read in an IGN Review of the game: "In case you're wondering why there is load-time in between levels: according to Psygnosis, the short break is needed for sound decompression."
Qoron IV
Sokana
Dyroness
Machaon II
Terafumos
Velocitar (Secret Course)
and Propellerheads
.
Race announcers bridge preceding Wipeouts and Wipeout 3 by having a male voice declare what weapons are about to be used against the player, and a female voice welcome players to the courses, announce in-race events and the result.
which came out a month earlier, with the general feeling that while Nintendo's
own futuristic racer offers more tracks and racing craft, Wipeout 64 has better track design and atmosphere. Despite being complimentary of Wipeout 64, both GameSpot
and Gaming Age recommend purchasing F-Zero X instead .
Opinion is divided on whether Wipeout 64 simply merges the good points of the previous two games or is different enough to be considered a sequel in its own right . Praised elements include 'prettier' and 'grittier' graphics compared to F-Zero X, although the 'explosions are hideous' ; and music that 'rocks' but, being short, can get repetitive . Popup and a slow frame-rate are repeatedly mentioned but only as becoming a problem when the screen is split to 3 or 4 in multiplayer .
Wipeout (video game series)
Wipeout is a series of futuristic anti-gravity racing games developed by SCE Studio Liverpool. The series is well-known for its fast-paced gameplay and high-quality 3D visual design, as well as its association with electronica and electronic dance music.-Gameplay:Wipeout is a racing series that...
series and the only for the Nintendo 64
Nintendo 64
The , often referred to as N64, was Nintendo′s third home video game console for the international market. Named for its 64-bit CPU, it was released in June 1996 in Japan, September 1996 in North America, March 1997 in Europe and Australia, September 1997 in France and December 1997 in Brazil...
. At the time of the game's release developers Psygnosis had been owned for 5 years by Sony Computer Entertainment
Sony Computer Entertainment
Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. is a major video game company specializing in a variety of areas in the video game industry, and is a wholly owned subsidiary and part of the Consumer Products & Services Group of Sony...
, for whose hardware all subsequent Wipeout games have been released exclusively.
Set in 2098, just a year after Wipeout 2097
Wipeout 2097
Track listing Saturn/Windows versions * CoLD SToRAGE: "Canada"* CoLD SToRAGE: "Body in Motion"* CoLD SToRAGE: "Kinkong"* CoLD SToRAGE: "Plasticity"* CoLD SToRAGE: "Messij Xtnd"* CoLD SToRAGE: "Tenation"* CoLD SToRAGE: "Surgeon"...
, Wipeout 64 introduced several elements to the Wipeout series: analog control is embraced, thanks to the Nintendo 64's in-built analog stick, to the extent that digital control - familiar to players of the previous games - is disabled, even though the controller has a digital pad. Analog control left and right was only possible on previous games for owners of Namco's neGcon
NeGcon
The neGcon was a third-party controller for the PlayStation manufactured by Namco.- Physical properties :...
controller and owners of the PC versions which would make use of an analog stick if available.
Split-screen multiplayer makes an appearance for the first time, as does Challenge Mode – where the player has to complete sets of challenges in predefined classes and tracks: either getting the fastest time (Time trial), the highest placing (Race), or eliminating the most opponents (Weapon).
Gameplay
Wipeout 64 provides exactly the same weapons as Wipeout 2097 - down to the fact that craft fire three rockets at a time, and missiles can rear-lock - using the same symbols to represent them. The exception being the Plasma Bolt which is incorporated into a new scheme of craft-specific Super Weapons (it becomes the Energy Sphere, exclusive to Auricom). These introduced devices such as cloaks and energy drains are later made fully available in Wipeout 3. Available in this Wipeout version is an unlockable weapon power-up called the "Cyclone". This power-up strengthens your weapons. There is also the inclusion of an elimination counter that gauges how many opponents were eliminated in a race by the player. This is what paved the way for the Eliminator mode introduced in Wipeout 3.Most of the tracks in Wipeout 64 feature mirrored layouts of circuits from select tracks in Wipeout
Wipeout (video game)
Wipeout is the first in a series of futuristic racing video games developed and published by Psygnosis. It was originally released in 1995 for Sony PlayStation and PCs running MS-DOS, and in 1996 for Sega Saturn...
and Wipeout 2097
Wipeout 2097
Track listing Saturn/Windows versions * CoLD SToRAGE: "Canada"* CoLD SToRAGE: "Body in Motion"* CoLD SToRAGE: "Kinkong"* CoLD SToRAGE: "Plasticity"* CoLD SToRAGE: "Messij Xtnd"* CoLD SToRAGE: "Tenation"* CoLD SToRAGE: "Surgeon"...
, set in different locations. Some conversions are not perfectly accurate, as some corners were eased or cut entirely, elevations were changed, and there were no split track sections. The only truly original circuit is the hidden Velocitar track, obtained by completing all 6 Race Challenges.
Wipeout 64 is one of the few N64 titles to have noticeable load times, disguised by the request 'Please Wait'. Load times are approximately 3-4 seconds long, and as read in an IGN Review of the game: "In case you're wondering why there is load-time in between levels: according to Psygnosis, the short break is needed for sound decompression."
Tracks
Klies BridgeQoron IV
Sokana
Dyroness
Machaon II
Terafumos
Velocitar (Secret Course)
Music
Despite the limited capacity of a game cartridge, Wipeout 64 managed to fit 9 music tracks, mostly by composers Rob Lord & Mark Bandola (credited as "PC MUSIC" in-game), with additional tracks by FlukeFluke (band)
Fluke are an English electronic music group formed in the late 1980s by Mike Bryant, Jon Fugler and Mike Tournier with Julian Nugent as the band's manager...
and Propellerheads
Propellerheads
Propellerheads were a British big beat musical ensemble, formed in 1995 and made up of electronic producers Will White and Alex Gifford. The term propellerhead is slang for a nerd, and when Gifford and White heard a friend from California use this in a conversation, they thought it the perfect name...
.
Race announcers bridge preceding Wipeouts and Wipeout 3 by having a male voice declare what weapons are about to be used against the player, and a female voice welcome players to the courses, announce in-race events and the result.
| Track listing | |
|---|---|
|
Reception
Reviews were positive - averaged by Metacritic at 84/100 - with an accompanying sense of surprise that Nintendo's hardware could present such high quality graphics and sound . Nearly every review compares the game with F-Zero XF-Zero X
, is a futuristic racing video game for the Nintendo 64 console. Developed by Nintendo's EAD division, it was released in Japan, Europe and North America, in 1998. In 2000, an expansion of the game was exclusively released in Japan providing numerous extra features not in the original game. F-Zero...
which came out a month earlier, with the general feeling that while Nintendo's
Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development
, commonly abbreviated as EAD, is the largest division inside Nintendo. It was preceded by the , a team of designers with an art background responsible for many different tasks, which Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka originally belonged to...
own futuristic racer offers more tracks and racing craft, Wipeout 64 has better track design and atmosphere. Despite being complimentary of Wipeout 64, both GameSpot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
and Gaming Age recommend purchasing F-Zero X instead .
Opinion is divided on whether Wipeout 64 simply merges the good points of the previous two games or is different enough to be considered a sequel in its own right . Praised elements include 'prettier' and 'grittier' graphics compared to F-Zero X, although the 'explosions are hideous' ; and music that 'rocks' but, being short, can get repetitive . Popup and a slow frame-rate are repeatedly mentioned but only as becoming a problem when the screen is split to 3 or 4 in multiplayer .