Those expecting a revolution for the WipEout series are going to be disappointed as Wipeout Pulse sticks fairly closely to its predecessor. That said, it does introduce a whole lot of new features. A training mode has been added to teach beginners the basics of WipEout, including steering, weaponry and a few advanced techniques. There are now 8 teams available with a variety of racing machines – there is a pretty big difference in the way they handle, so it’s up to the player whether they opt for speed or manoeuvrability. All of the classic Wipeout weapons return, and are just as deadly as ever. The AI is a lot smarter than it was in Wipeout Pure, but Studio Liverpool has included multiple difficulty levels to allow the player to choose how threatening their opposition will be.
The Zone will test your speeding abilities
The full version of Wipeout Pulse will have seven different race types – Single Race, Head To Head, Time Trial, Speed Lap, Tournament, Zone and Eliminator. Most of the modes are self-explanatory, but the Zone mode is a new race type where players aim to clear sections of a race, without crashing, at the fastest speed they can – the longer you race, the better the rank you will receive. Race Campaign is the main single player mode of the game, and is essentially a mission mode – a grid will be shown with a series of race events. Earn medals and points in these events and you’ll be able to unlock more. Racebox allows players to customize their own races and campaign grids. Multiplayer modes can be played over ad-hoc and infrastructure mode, and it looks like gamesharing will be supported.
The new tracks in Wipeout Pulse really need to played to be fully understood – any explanation we give here won’t do them justice. The new Mag-track feature is really impressive – essentially your vehicle gets locked to the track, allowing for 90 degree turns, upside down racing, corkscrews and loops. It makes the game a bit more like F-Zero GX, though it’s not quite as fiendishly difficult as Sega’s racer. There are 24 tracks in the final version of the game, all of which can be raced in reverse. Like WipEout Pure, a wealth of downloadable content will be available, including new tracks, ships and music.
Eat your heart out, Captain Falcon
WipEout Pure was easily one of the most visually impressive handheld games when it was released in 2005, and WipEout Pulse looks just as good, if not a little better. The track designs are really impressive, boasting a very distinct futuristic style. A new photo mode allows players to take happy snaps during the race to upload and share with friends. The soundtrack consists mostly of the series' trademark techno music from acts such as Mason, Aphex Twin, Loco Dice and Stanton Warriors, but players can also opt to use their own custom MP3 tracks, read from a memory stick.
WipEout Pulse isn’t a drastic departure from the successful formula of WipEout Pure, but Studio Liverpool has packed the game full of content, so WipEout fans should be more than happy with it. The game is due to ship in a month, so we can’t see any major changes being made, but as it is, Wipeout Pulse could well be the best PSP game of 2007.
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