The future has never felt so smooth…
Format: PS3 Dev: Studio Liverpool Pub: Sony Out: 25/09/08 Players: 1-2, 2-8 online
Debuting way back in 1995, the original WipEout helped launch PlayStation when it was just in its infancy. More than a decade on and the developers at SCE Studio Liverpool have brought WipEout HD to PlayStation 3. Downloaded from the PlayStation Network, WipEout HD is not an entirely new edition, but more a compendium of the series’ PSP iterations – WipEout Pure and WipEout Pulse.
There are eight circuits in total, all remastered and boosted to a head-spinning level of detail. Requiring patience and steady alertness, WipEout is famous for pushing wannabe racers to the brink of their ability. There is always a learning curve when it comes to racing games, however, WipEout’s hairpin corners and anti-grav gliding has always been that bit harder to get to grips with. It’s not uncommon to be slamming into the track barriers like an out of control dodgem on your first few attempts.
Seeking to address this issue, the developers have included the new ‘pilot assist’ feature. With pilot assist switched on, the game will automatically adjust your steering if you stray too close to the sides of the track. Now and again it can react too violently if you enter a tight gap at the wrong angle, but it is remarkably useful – maintaining the purity of driving while making WipEout instantly more accessible.
Along with transfixing circuit racing, WipEout is known for its combat. There are several finely balanced weapons, like tracking missiles, mines and plasma quakes, ready to help you claim pole position. If you end up on the receiving end of a charge you can repair your ship by absorbing weapon pickups. We’ve seen this all before, yes, but the difference is how it all looks.
WipEout’s prediction of the future has never looked this good. The visual power of PS3 is on display everywhere you look. Traffic crowds the skylines above, hundreds of pulsating adverts, logos and banners surround each track and you can even see a HUD and pilot in the hovercrafts’ cockpits. By extension, lighting is also astounding – flashes of neon, the fizzing spirals of energy weapons and the solar panel-like magna strip holding you sideways above the ocean on Moa Therma’s track turn. Regardless of the race, there’s so much going on that you won’t want to tear your eyes away from the screen for even a moment.
Campaign is the primary single-player mode here. It’s split into eight sets, with a minimum number of points needed to unlock them chronological. Zone mode also returns, challenging you to maintain control as your craft automatically pegs to break its speedometer. With a graphic equalizer that changes depending on the pulse-pounding soundtrack (featuring Noisia, Kraftwerk and MIST), Zone mode has benefited greatly from the hi-def treatment. Split-screen and online modes are also supported, and racing over PSN is generally lag-free.
For all this, if you’ve played either of the PSP iterations, and the lure of seeing your favourite ships in 1080p doesn’t appeal to you, WipEout HD doesn’t offer anything you haven’t seen already in terms of race events and tracks.
Smooth gameplay and mesmerising looks are the game’s best features. There’s plenty to do and even race champs will be tested to their absolute limits – honestly, after playing phantom class events your hands may need reconstructive surgery. Packing more fireworks than the 4th July, WipEout HD is a real digital bargain.
Aaron Lee
