WipEout Pure
A review of the game’s non-web browsing qualities
Tags: WipEout Pure Categories: PSP Reviews, Reviews
Posted by Jake McNeill on May 9th, 2005
| Title | Players | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| WipEout Pure (title page) | 1 - 8 | ||
| Developer | Publisher | Genre | Online |
| Racing | No | ||
 |
Perhaps the most interesting thing about Wipeout Pure is the “hidden feature” intuitive PSP owners have discovered that allows users to turn the PSP into a web browser through a little tinkering with Wipeout Pure and network settings. I say this not because it has any outstanding affect on the opinion of this review (especially considering the game was never intended to be used that way), but because it’s kinda’ sad that that may be the most interesting thing about Wipeout Pure.
 |
That’s not to say it’s a bad game, or even that the game has nothing else of interest. The graphics, for example, are exemplary, and probably the best of any PSP launch title except Ridge Racer. The game has detailed and lively environments, plenty of artistic creativity in the design (despite the tried-and-true futuristic racing genre), very nice lighting effects and, naturally, a fantastic sense of speed. Along with Ridge Racer, Wipeout Pure is one of the very best showpiece games of the PSP launch.
 |
Series fans will also be pleased to find the game has a much lighter emphasis on weapons and much more constricted track design than Wipeout Fusion on the PS2, returning to the ideals of the PSOne titles. Unfortunately, the series’ exaggerated physics seem a little too exaggerated on the PSP. Even the vehicles with the best handling seem to powerslide uncontrollably in tight turns, shedding speed to the point of stopping. Whereas Ridge Racer’s powerslide-crazy game mechanics were certainly intentional, in Wipeout Pure they just don’t mesh well with the rest of the game, making any tight turn a recipie for a collision with the wall.
 |
As for the rest, it’s pretty much just what you expect. You win races to go on to more races, which you win to go on to More. There’s little to see here that you haven’t seen before. At the very least, the game’s Zone mode is original, placing players on a cyclical track in a vehicle constantly increasing in speed, and seeing how long they can hold out before they rip the vehicle apart. Sadly, this only adds so much, and overall the game is largely formulaic. Even the promise of new level downloads (not available at this time) doesn’t really bring much more to the table, especially considering other futuristic racing games have had level creators built right into them.
 |
Even so, I’d still say it was good, if not for the damn controls. As a result, the game doesn’t feel responsive, and the racing doesn’t feel fun. As a result, Wipeout Pure is a great game to show off the PSP, and a title series fans will probably enjoy, but everyone else would probably be better off sticking with Ridge Race to fill their handheld racing fix on the PSP.
Oh, and for the record, the web browser sucks too.
| What Works | Score |
|---|---|
|
+ Looks fantastic + Returns to the series' emphasis on tight tracks and less weaponry. + Zone mode is nice |
7.2 |
| What Doesn't | |
|
- In the future, cars apparently drive like boats - Racing the same as always. Ho-hum. |
|
| Under the Shrink-wrap | |
| Wipeout Pure looks fantastic and sounds like it's loaded with sweet futuristic racing goodness. Unfortunately, the only "sweet" stuff under the hood is the sugar in the gas tank. | |
[ Post the first comment | View related posts ]
Tags: WipEout Pure
Posted by Jake McNeill on May 9th, 2005 and is filed under PSP Reviews, Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can post a comment, or trackback from your own site.
