Check out the changes in the Ford Explorer 4X4 XLT 4.6L from 2005 to 2006. Just one of the many things possible with the 4-Car Compar-A-Graph!

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Wipeout 3 Playstation Publisher: Psygnosis Developer: Psygnosis Players: 1-4 Difficulty: Medium Camera: Rear Chase, Far Rear Chase, Cockpit Additional Pictures Screen 1 Screen 2 Screen 3 Screen 4 Screen 5 Screen 6 Screen 7 Screen 8 Screen 9 Screen 10 Screen 11 Screen 12 Screen 13 Screen 14 Screen 15 Screen 16 Screen 17 Screen 18 Screen 19 Screen 20 Screen 21 Screen 22 Screen 23 Screen 24 Screen 25 Screen 26 Screen 27 Screen 28 Screen 29 Screen 30 Screen 31 Screen 32 Screen 33 Screen 34 Screen 35 Screen 36 Screen 37 Screen 38 Screen 39 Screen 40 Screen 41 Screen 42 Screen 43 Screen 44 Screen 45 Screen 46 Screen 47 Screen 48 Screen 49 Screen 50 Screen 51 Screen 52 Screen 53 Screen 54 Screen 55 Screen 56 Screen 57 Screen 58 Screen 59 Screen 60 Screen 61 Screen 62 Screen 63 Screen 64 Screen 65 Screen 66 Screen 67 Screen 68 Screen 69 Screen 70 Screen 71 Screen 72 Screen 73 Screen 74 Screen 75 Screen 76

Power-Ups Are Obtained By Flying Over These Squares On The Track The Graphics Have Yet Again Been Upgraded And They Look As Stunning As Usual Lighting Effects, Particle Effects, And Trails Have All Been Added To Wipeout 3 TACH- O -METER Control: (4.5) Graphics: (5) Sound: (5) Replay Value: (4.5) Overall: (Not The Average) (5)

The Wipeout series has been around since Playstation games came in those big black boxes. The super fast racing, beautiful graphics, and outstanding soundtrack have kept racing game fans coming back for each sequel. First, it was Wipeout. Then, Wipeout XL. Now, Psygnosis brings us Wipeout 3, the best game of the series.

Wipeout 3 adheres to the general template of the last two games, but it has advances which make it stand out from its predecessors. The game is again set in the 21st century, where a league of anti-gravity ships race in and out of futuristic environments. You choose to race in a ship owned by one of 8 teams. The 5 racing teams from Wipeout XL have been included in this game, along with three new ones (Icaras, Assagai Developments and GoTeki 45). Each team's ship has its strengths and weaknesses, but they are all pretty balanced, so finding one to suit your skills shouldn't be too hard.

The control in Wipeout 3 is slightly better, but the turns are still difficult to take at high speeds. The control is probably a lot more forgiving with an analog controller, but I don't have one, so I can't comment.

As I commented before, Wipeout 3 follows the same rules as the past two games, so the actual racing aspect hasn't changed very much. 400 km/h races with missiles flying is a very common thing in Wipeout 3. The weapons aspect to the game is probably the most enjoyable. Many of the weapons from Wipeout XL return, with some new ones thrown into the mix. The missiles and mines have returned, but new are the Energy Drain and Force Wall. These weapons raise the stakes on a normal tournament race, making a single homing missile the difference between first place and last. This was a good feature in the past two games, and is a better one in Wipeout 3.

One thing nobody liked about Wipeout XL was its lack of a 2 player versus mode. The only way to race a human competitor was over a link cable. Now, in Wipeout 3, you can race the second player using a split screen. This is arguably the best advance in Wipeout 3, as the speed stays fast, and you can kick your opponent when they hit you with a land mine.

Throughout the three Wipeout games, graphics have been crisp and beautiful, without sacrificing game speed. And Wipeout 3 doesn't disappoint. All of the ships are very highly detailed, making them seem very realistic. The tracks are also beautiful, though you might now slow down enough to see them. Instead of just sitting there as in some games, the environments are very immersive. When you race the MegaMall track, it actually seems like a 21st century retail center. The game runs in high resolution mode, which helps these things along a bit. "Yes," say the skeptics, "But shouldn't a game with that great of graphics have dirt speed?" The answer is yes, but Wipeout 3 does not adhere to that hypothesis. The speed in Wipeout 3, as in its ancestors, is blazing, without a hint of slowdown. Even with 12 ships on the screen at once, the game is silky smooth.

The Wipeout series is known for using notorious musicians and musical groups to provide the soundtrack to the 21st century racing experience. Wipeout 3 continues with this trend. Bands such as Orbital, The Chemical Brothers, Underworld, and Propellerheads have all contributed to the soundtrack of Wipeout 3. The result are futuristic beats which make the racing experience all the more realistic.

Sounds in the races are outstanding as well. Ship sounds, weapons firing, and your craft careening off of a wall at 300 km/h are all presented in ambient glory. Psygnosis has really outdone themselves on this one.

This game features all of the good points of Wipeout and Wipeout XL rolled into one package, with extra goodies added on. Fans of the Wipeout series would be crazy not to pick this one up.

-Andrew Sturgeon