Its funny how things change. Back in the 1990s Wipeout was an exciting futuristic racer, unparalleled for both speed and garishnes, the pride of the Playstation. Now, it feels like little more than a slice of nostalgia to fill the gaps in the release schedule in between RIDGE RACERS AND BURNOUTS!! (caps added by me, also, F*** OFF! Yes because every burnout is SO original and doesn't feel like the pile of crap the came before it in any way shape or form)
Going hands-on for the first time with the latest version, Wipeout Pulse, highlights just how much the cyber-racing franchise is starting to get cold and stiff. First, you must navigate through a bizarre career that’s laid out in a fiddly beehive style (each cell representing a race you need to complete).
Then your into the racing. As with all in its genre, Pulse starts out sedate and gets quicker. Competitors become more aggressive and use their weapon pick-ups more liberally, the tracks get twistier, the races longer.
But the excitement is sadly lacking. Choosing between any of the eight racing teams doesn’t make a difference when your out on the tracks (WRONG, prick) and the majority of the 24 new circuits have the same uniform, grey sheen we’ve seen a hundred times before.
It’s not all doom and gloom, though. Although we weren’t able to try it out, we have high hopes for Wifi multiplayer (I have high hopes of your being hospitalized) which lets you compete over a local or national connection in seven race modes.
The customization options look good too. You can personalize the skin of your craft, then post pictures of it online. Sony is promising downloadable music, tracks and ships too, after the games release in September, so as a package this is top portable fodder. Its simply a shame the core game is so dated
Little box at the bottom with stupid rating-based-on-heat-o-meter says:
There will be plenty on offer for hardcore Wipeout fans in Pulse, but the old and rather dated formula is unlikely to garner much favor with newcomers
Rating: Tepid, Warm, Hot, Boiling, Meltdown:: WARM.
Bits in brackets added by me I'd like to hurt the man who wrote this though, severely so.