While the original game's graphics are inferior to the better-selling Playstation version, Wipeout XL takes advantage of 3D accelerators to produce one of the best-looking games on the PC (although it probably doesn't support all modern 3D cards released after 1996). With all the graphic effects turned on, the game is simply breathtaking – with transparent vapor trails spewing from the sterns of your opponents' rides, subtle colored light-source shading, and bilinear filtering. The DirectX mode for people like me who don't have a 3D card is still very pretty.

Graphics aside, it's the game that counts, and here Wipeout XL delivers plenty of satisfying destructive mayhem. The game is much more difficult and realistic than Wipeout. Whereas you can easily blow up your opponents in the original game with a well-placed missile or two, this time around all vehicles sustain more damage before they spectacularly explode. The selection of weapons has been expanded, and ranges from proximity mines to track-shredding earthquake bombs. If your energy is running low, just fly through one of the pit stops and you’ll be back in one piece. You can even turn the weapons off altogether if you prefer more pure racing.

The only quibble you can level at this game is the disappointing lack of network play, so you can't blast your friends on-line. Other than this obvious oversight, though, just about everything else in Wipeout XL makes it hold your interest into the wee hours. Two thumbs up, way up!