Wipeout XL (1996). Play online

Summary

Wipeout XL drops me into the year 2097, where the ultra‑fast F5000 anti‑gravity league has replaced the original F3600 circuit. The PlayStation version leans on analogue steering—especially the optional NeGcon twist controller—and rewards daring weapon use, from the classic plasma missiles to the new Quake Disruptor that ripples the track and lifts rivals into the air. Each of the four international teams—FEISAR, Auricom, AG Systems, and Qirex—offers a distinct balance of speed, handling and shield capacity, so the choice of pilot becomes a subtle part of the strategy as I slice through neon‑lit tunnels and massive industrial backdrops.

The soundtrack is a headline act: licensed tracks from The Chemical Brothers, The Prodigy, Underworld and other ’90s electronic legends turn each race into a club‑banger, and the disc even doubles as an audio CD for stand‑alone listening. Critics hailed the sequel for tighter controls, higher frame rates and richer graphical effects, cementing its reputation as a cornerstone of PlayStation racing and earning it placement on numerous "greatest games" lists. With around a million copies sold worldwide and the title ranking among the UK’s top‑selling PlayStation releases of 1996, Wipeout XL remains a high‑velocity milestone of retro gaming.