You won't believe how good the controls are.  They're as close to perfection as an extreme racer can get.  Whereas before you only had one degree of turning left or right (the Dual-Shock 1 D-pad was not analog), now you have several.  The programmers did a superb job of creating realistic controls that are extremely responsive.  Every sharp turn that comes your way can be tackled like a pro once the controls are mastered.  It's not easy to master them, but it is one of the better challenges that you will find in a video game.

The track designs are outrageous.  There are so many twists and turns that it seems overwhelming at first.  But after a little practice, you begin to realize that while this game is very challenging, it is also very balanced.  The challenge is high from the start, and it steadily increases as you unlock additional leagues.  Your opponents are very skilled and they rarely screw up on their own.  As a huge fan of the original Wipeout, I embraced this challenge with open arms.  Without a doubt, this is the game that Wipeout lovers have been waiting for.  Does this mean that you have to love Wipeout to love Wipeout Fusion?  Not at all!  It doesn't matter what games you like, because Wipeout Fusion has universal appeal.

Wipeout Fusion takes the futuristic combat of the first game and expands it with new weapons and a new point ranking system.  Not only do you get points for winning races (12 points for first, 10 for second, etc.), but you also get points for eliminating (i.e., destroying) your opponents.  Two points are earned for every opponent that you eliminate.  These points can greatly affect the outcome of a race.  You could be in first place and cheer all the way to the finish line, only to find out that the guy in second place eliminated two other racers!  This means that he (or she) would have 14 points, whereas you, the first-place winner, would only have 12.  As frustrating as this may seem, it did not anger me.  In fact, it's moments like these that only helped to increase my desire to conquer the game.

Your health meter depletes whenever you bump the wall or get hit by a missile or some other weapon.  You can replenish your health by entering a special regeneration chamber that's located just before the checkpoint of each course.  It’s important to heal your ship whenever your health is low, because you'll be eliminated from the race if your meter is completely emptied.  There are no second chances in this game.  Each league is a one-way ticket to failure or success.  No matter what, you'll get to race every track in the league.  But if you're eliminated on the first course, it's unlikely that you'll be able to make a comeback and win the gold trophy.  You must be in first place on the final standings list at the end of the league or else you will not be able to move on.  However, you can still earn credits just by surviving any of the courses.  Credits are an important part of Wipeout Fusion, as you need millions of them to upgrade your ship (or all of the ships, if you want to complete your collection).

Wipeout Fusion is a polygon-pushing powerhouse.  First and foremost, the framerate is 98% perfect.  The framerate never dropped during a race, though it does tend to stutter during the intro.  That's one flaw I can deal with.

Of course, a fast framerate alone is not enough to make a game exciting.  That is why Sony crammed as much graphical beauty into the game as possible.  The futuristic backgrounds are drop-dead gorgeous.  Minute details are taken to a whole new level in Wipeout Fusion.  You move at such a fast pace that it is impossible to see everything, but the artists seemed to have a George Lucas-attitude about the visuals.  Their efforts are mind-blowing.  No, this isn't the most-realistic PlayStation 2 game available, but it uses the system's power to its fullest.  I honestly don't think that this game could have looked much better.  The vehicle models, lighting effects and real-time shadows are PS2 standards; but the Star Wars-esque feel of some of the tracks goes above and beyond everything else.  Just wait until you fly 50 feet into the air for the first time.  The track below is not visible at first.  As you begin to fall, the track comes into a view.  Dozens of buildings surround this fog and pop-up-free track.  It's one of the most spectacular things that you will ever see in a video game.  There are so many amazing moments in this game.  Words cannot describe them, nor can a picture, or a 4-inch QuickTime movie.  You've got to play Wipeout Fusion for yourself.  Believe me, you will not regret it.

Gameplay: 9.5
Could this game be more perfect?  I always want more tracks, but there are over 40 different track variations in this game!  The variations are different enough to make each one stand out.  Incase you didn't get the point, Wipeout Fusion is a must-buy for all PlayStation 2 owners.

Graphics: 9.2 
A lot of time was put into Wipeout Fusion's graphics, and the result is something truly extraordinary.

Sound: 8
I'm not a big fan of techno music, but I love Wipeout Fusion's soundtrack.  Every song is addictive, and they really suit the game's "extreme" feel.

Difficulty: Hard
Wipeout Fusion's difficulty is perfectly balanced.  It's long, it's challenging, and it will swallow your day faster than you can imagine.

Concept: 8 
Better gameplay + excellent track design and incredible racing physics = the best combination for an extreme racing game.

Multiplayer: 8.5
After playing Wipeout Fusion, you'll probably lock your doors and turn off the phone to avoid contact with any humans, but if one does happen to sneak its way into your room, don't be afraid!  Just plug in a second controller and enjoy the game's multiplayer action.

Overall: 9.5
One word says it best: Wow!  I said "wow" out loud more times than I could count.  It is the most spectacular extreme racer ever created.  Sony Computer Entertainment Europe has created a masterpiece that I will cherish for a very long time.