Official Website

Platform: PSP

Genre: Futuristic Racing

Number of Players: 1 - 8

Let’s take a step back in time for a moment, shall we?  Back to the heady days of the original Playstation, and the thrilling games that took the gaming world by storm.  It was time to forget everything we knew about what games were, what they could be.  Twisted Metal.  Warhawk.  Ridge Racer.  Wipeout.  All redefined what we did on a console, and how we did it.  The Gods of Gaming were smiling upon us all.

My friends, there is a new Playstation upon us, and a new Wipeout.  The Gods of Gaming are smiling once more.

In particular, I refer to Sony’s latest bid for world domination, the PSP, and the latest incarnation of a classic series, Wipeout Pure. 

The latest Wipeout does not try to once again redefine the series.  Other versions of the game have done that, and failed.  Instead, Wipeout Pure takes the series back to its roots- fast game play, beautiful visuals, and an almost perfect level of challenge, all hallmarks of the things that make a truly great game.

I have to admit, I was not sure I wanted to go over this oft tread ground once again when I got my new PSP.  “Been there, done that” is a phrase I can apply aptly to Wipeout.  But memories of many hours spent with the original tickled my brain, and the idea of a Wipeout launch title seemed a sort of homecoming.  I bought the game, took it home, and have been in love ever since.

For those youngsters reading who may be scratching their heads and saying, “What the hell’s a Wipeout?” let me give a bit of schooling.  Wipeout Pure is a sci-fi style racing game, much akin to the Nintendo classic F-Zero, only boatloads better.  The game takes you to the year 2197, and you are in the FX300 racing league, where brave souls pilot anti gravity racing sleds on narrow, winding courses through all manner of landscapes.  The racing is fast, the tracks wild, and if you are thinking to yourself that it all sounds all hat, forget it.  Wipeout Pure is the essence of why we play games. 

The game offers several modes of play, including single races and free runs, but the meat of the thing is in the tournament mode.  Here you race against seven AI opponents a series of races, collecting points based on your finishing position.  Gold, silver, and bronze medals are awarded for top three finishes, and collecting enough medals unlocks new, tougher tracks and tournaments.

The visuals while you race really highlight the power of the PSP.  This game is a joy to look at, with colorful environments and realistic looking lighting and particle effects.

Particle effects- did I forget to mention the weapons?

Yeah, Wipeout Pure is not limited strictly to going fast.  At various points on the track, you will see different icons.  These icons represent different kinds of weapons, such as missiles, mines, and bombs, as well as speed boosts and shields, and an autopilot.  These elements add a strategic depth to the game play not found in your average racer.  A well timed missile shot can make the difference between a podium finish or not, and you have to wonder if that ship you are trying so hard to pass is going to suddenly dump a bomb or trail of mines in your path.

The racing itself takes some skill.  As the racecraft are not on the ground, but above it, inertia can make or break your run.  Take the corner just right and you glide through like you’re riding a rail; miss your set up and you will careen off into the wall, slowing you down, or stopping you altogether, and taking precious energy away from your craft.  Take one too many hits, and your craft explodes in a rather pretty ball of flame, and thus ends your race.  Unlike a Gran Turismo game, walls and opponents do *not* make for good turn helpers.  New to this version of the game is the ability to absorb the energy from a weapon you have picked up.  Now, if you’re racecraft’s energy level is low, you have the option of giving it a small boost.  This adds another level of strategy to your game; take a shot at the guy in front of you, or risk him blowing you up if you pass him?  All the power is in your hands.

The tracks themselves include a variety of twists, turns, dips, and jumps, and knowing what’s coming next is the key to victory.  The races tend to be three or four lap affairs, just long enough to have fun, but not so long as to make you bored with any one environment.  There is no mini map on the screen, so it might take a few runs to get a handle on the tracks.  Once you have them down, you are in for serious fun.  There is a singular thrill to hitting a speed boost over a jump, and seeing your craft glide through the air over one or two opponents below you, or waiting until just the right second to dump a bomb you’ve been holding and hearing the explosion as the racer you just passed hits it full speed.  While the frame rate is not as fast as a home console might be, it’s fast enough for fun, and while there is occasional slowdown, it rarely interferes with your game.

The sounds of Wipeout Pure are reminiscent of classic Wipeout.  Nothing is overdone, but rather evokes a feeling as though this is exactly what you would expect to hear if this were the real world.  Weapon effects are particularly nice, with explosions that make you cringe a little when you hear them.  They have a sort of power that just gets you.  The electronic soundtrack, while not the greatest ever, features some memorable tunes, and goes well with the futuristic action of the game.

The game includes a wireless multiplayer option as well, for up to eight players.  As I am the only person I know where I live who has been fortunate enough to grab one of these little black beauties, I have not had the opportunity to give the multiplayer a test run.  However, based on the strength of the single player game, if your opponents have any skill, I can’t imagine it would be anything less than a blast to play.  There is also a “Download” section, ostensibly for grabbing new or updated content off the web via wireless connection.  Accessing this option gets you a “Coming Soon!” screen, so the content download option is not yet ready for primetime.  Hopefully, it will include new tracks and racecraft, but only time will tell.

Wipeout Pure was one of the more highly rated PSP launch title for good reason.  New life has been breathed into a classic series, and whether you are looking for a trick title to keep you busy, or something that demonstrates the power of your new machine to friends, this title fills the bill perfectly.  At a price of $40, it’s even priced less than most of the other launch titles, so you really have no excuse not to pick this one up.  If the idea of racing, combat, and strategy appeals to you at all, you really need to do yourself a favor and give Wipeout Pure a try.
 

-Ed-