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Triakis Fury ship getting eliminated in a Plasma blast.

Eliminator (Combat in Wipeout 2048) is a game mode introduced in Wipeout 3. In Eliminator, the objective is to destroy as many contenders as possible.

Gameplay[]

In Eliminator, there is no limit on the number of laps, so players do not have to race. Instead, players have to rely on weapons, with the goal of destroying as many opponents and causing as much damage as possible.

As always, the player can only hold one weapon at a time. Any destroyed ships will respawn and be restored to full energy.

In Wipeout 3, the player can set the target score from 1 to 99. The player scores by destroying an opponent craft or completing a lap. In this mode, the pit lane is disabled, so the only way to restore shield energy is by using the Energy Drain. Any destroyed craft will respawn on the starting grid. The event ends when any contender reaches the target score. In Special Edition, this mode is only available in multiplayer mode. Any and all weapons are available from weapon pads here, including disruptive weapons and assistive items.

In Wipeout Pulse, the gameplay has been slightly changed. Weapons here are much more powerful than usual, and from this point onward, weapon pads provide only offensive and defensive weapons, with the exception of the Shield. Absorbing a weapon does not restore shield energy, but instead gives the ship a temporary shield that lasts for a few seconds, protecting it from any incoming damage. Besides the Leech Beam, another way to restore energy is by completing one full lap, restoring 20% of shield energy. In Wipeout HD Fury, players can also flip their ship so that they are able to fire weapons at oncoming opponents.

In Wipeout 2048, players have to at least reach the PASS target score as fast as possible within the allotted time to clear a Single Player Combat event. Victory is assigned to the pilot with the highest score once the time limit elapses. Unlike in the other games, all speed pads are removed. Players can even absorb weapons for health recovery, but only in Single Player Combat. Also, completing one full lap does not restore the ship health.

Ships[]

In Wipeout Pulse, each team has a metallic grey-colored ship for use in Eliminator. The ship is modeled after each team's ship model. This ship can be unlocked for use in the other game modes when the player accumulates a certain amount of loyalty points. In the PS2 version, the ships feature a colored, more detailed livery rather than a generic metallic grey livery.

In Wipeout 2048, Fighter ships are best suited for this event due to their higher Health and Firepower ratings compared to other ship types, as well as their larger weapons arsenal.

Scoring[]

In Wipeout Pulse, scoring is based on how many ships the player has eliminated (as indicated by a visual cue in the form of a green "Contender eliminated!" message). There are no penalties for being eliminated, unlike other games. When selecting this mode in Racebox, the target elimination count can be set from 5 up to 25, with an interval of 5. In campaign mode, the target count is always 10 eliminations for Gold.

In Wipeout HD Fury, the scoring system is much different, being points-based rather than elimination count-based, and as such, there is no fixed count of how many ships players must destroy. Players score by inflicting damage on opponents using weapons. More points can be scored by destroying opponent ships (a green "Contender eliminated!" on-screen message). Completing one full lap also gives players extra points. Points can be deducted upon being eliminated, or going off the track entirely.

An Eliminator session in HD Fury can have the target score ranging from 200 points up to 600, with an interval of 20 points on the original PS3 version or 25 points in the Omega Collection.

Theoretically, an Eliminator session with a 600-point target (maximum threshold in Racebox mode) could have a player eliminate over 18 ships on average. There is an actual trophy for that purpose.

The scoring system in Wipeout HD Fury is as follows:

  • Cannon hit: 0.15 points
  • Leech Beam: 0.35 points per energy transfer
  • Bomb hit: 3.6 points
  • Mines hit: 0.8 point
  • Missile, Quake, and Rocket hit: 3.2 points
  • Plasma hit: 8 points
  • Destroying an opponent ship: 20 points
  • Completing one full lap (while facing in the right direction): 5 points
  • Being destroyed: -5 points
  • Going off the track: -5 points

In Wipeout 2048, the scoring system is similar to that of Fury, although the points earned are lowered. There are no points limits as the mode is completely time-based. Also, when eliminating opponents, you will now get a green "Ship destroyed!" on-screen message.

The scoring system in Wipeout 2048 is as follows:

  • Cannon hit: 0.12 points
  • Leech Beam: 0.28 points per energy transfer
  • Bomb hit: 2.8 points
  • Mines hit: 0.8 points
  • Missile, Quake, and Rocket hit: 2.4 points
  • Plasma hit: 6.4 points
  • Qirex Prototype Minigun hit: 0.3 points
  • Destroying an opponent ship: 5 points
  • Completing one full lap (while facing in the right direction): 2 points
  • Being destroyed: -5 points

Standings[]

In Wipeout Pulse and Wipeout HD Fury, as well as Multiplayer Combat in Wipeout 2048, the standings can be seen on the right side of the screen. The uppermost part shows the target score. The rightmost part shows the contenders' names and their current scores, as well as their current positions.

Trivia[]

  • Starting from Fury, Eliminator is the only game mode where Quake can be fired backwards.
  • Weapon pads work differently in Eliminator, ignoring the "first-come, first-serve" feature found in normal races.
  • Ramming opponent ships in order to destroy them does not count as an elimination in this game mode.
  • In Pulse, attempting to fire backwards will immediately engage both airbrakes of the ship, preventing it from further going the wrong way. However, it is still possible to fire the Quake this way.
  • 2048's Combat mode in the Omega Collection is now retro-fitted with Racebox features, allowing for a Combat session with a maximum target of 600 points and no time limit (similar to HD Fury), as opposed to Combat events in the 2048 campaign, which previously had time limits.
  • Cut content from 2048 reveals that a similar mode to Pulse's Eliminator, focused on destroying ships rather than point-based combat, was originally planned, or intended to be used alongside the original Combat mode.
  • The Repulsor and Shuriken can only be used in this mode (only in Pulse).
  • Filpping the ship 180 degrees, or "combat spins" have been introduced in HD Fury, but chronologically, ships have been able to perform said maneuver since the AGRC, in their Combat events. It may suggest that this technique has since been banned during the F7200, and reintroduced in the FX350, only to be banned again in the FX400 much later for unknown reasons.
  • Lore-wise, because 2097, 64, Fusion and Pure had no Eliminator modes, it is assumed that the F5000, F9000 and FX300 never held such a kind of events.
    • Ironically, the F9000 was the most violent league in the history of the sport, with the largest arsenal of weapons available, and the fact that on-track combat and eliminations were responsible for either providing entertainment value to the races, or as means of race-fixing. This actually serves to justify the absence of the Eliminator mode in Fusion.
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