PS3 Fanboy review: WipEout HD

There's been a lot of buzz around WipEout HD. The headlines of the game's epilepsy-inducing delay, combined with its genuinely good looks have created the perfect environment for hype to thrive. The long-delayed futuristic racer is the PlayStation franchise's first foray into the current generation, and it looks absolutely stunning. The bargain basement price point of $20 makes it an easy purchase, especially for those on the fence.

However, we wonder who WipEout HD is trying to target. There are three types of people in this world: those that love WipEout, those that are horrible at it, and those that simply haven't tried it yet. For those that love the franchise (us included), WipEout HD is perhaps, a bit too familiar. True devotees of the franchise have already played the sublime PSP games, Pure and Pulse. To find that every single track and every single song in the game comes from these two titles is a little disappointing. They're certainly great choices, but the wondrous effect of nostalgia doesn't kick in so soon -- Pulse came out less than a year ago. Instead, we're left with the feeling of "haven't we been here before?"

The second group of people -- those that are horrible at futuristic racing games -- won't find WipEout HD any different than previous iterations of the franchise. And the third group of people -- those that haven't ever played a WipEout game -- may very well find themselves displaced to the second group once they get their hands on this ferociously fast and relentlessly difficult racer. Sure, the new Pilot Assist feature will help beginner players steer away from the walls, but without the honed reflexes of a veteran, the game's learning curve is surprisingly steep.

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Perhaps that's why the game is priced so low. The game's incredible production values (beautiful 1080p, 60fps graphics and a stellar licensed soundtrack) certainly give the game a level of sheen unheard of for a downloadable game. At $20, it's easy to tell WipEout Purists to come back "one more time." However, at such a low price point, it becomes even easier to lure in those that somehow missed WipEout's trek onto the PSP. These are the ones, nerves untested, that will most want to fork over the money to see what they've been missing. It's a $20 experiment to see if newbies can not only survive, but enjoy, the futuristic racing WipEout has always been known for.

While 6 of the game's 8 tracks come from Pure, the progression system comes from the more recent Pulse. The campaign mode offers various grids for players to challenge. Each grid features a number of tasks to complete, and players will want to complete as many challenges to the best of their capabilities to progress forward. There are the self-explanatory Time Trial, Speed Lap, Single Race and Tournament challenges. In any of the time-based modes, players must simply beat the posted time to earn various medals. To earn points from races against the AI, players must simply place as high as they can.

One of the more forgiving aspects of the grid system is that it allows players to avoid challenges they may not be skilled at. Time Trial and Speed Lap challenges are, for the most part, very easy to clear. Getting enough gold medals in these events should minimize how many actual races players must compete in to unlock new tracks and new grids. To make things even easier, the AI Difficulty can be set before each race. Just like in WipEout Pulse, the AI difficulty and speed class aren't linked together.

However, even with the adjustable difficulty, the game may still be too challenging for casual players. Even on the easiest difficulty, we found players new to the series struggling to finish races. What makes the game's AI so hard to deal with (especially at the harder difficulties), is the game's rubberbanding system. Games like Mario Kart are notorious for their over-generous rubberbanding, which makes it easy for someone in last place to make it to the front of the pack (use a Lightning Bolt, a Blue Shell, etc). However, WipEout has the exact opposite phenomenon. Perhaps it's more realistic, but those that are in first place tend to lead the pack more and more. If you're behind by 3 seconds in the first lap, it won't be uncommon to drop to 7 seconds the next, and then 15 seconds the next. Posting continuously improving lap times won't even help.

Unfortunately, the game's weapons system is so fierce that many races become a fight away from last place. Opponent racers are constantly fighting, creating a virtual wall of carnage that players must surpass. Essentially, 3rd-8th positions will be in a persistent state of disarray, as the weapons hinder anyone in the back from progressing onwards. If you manage to make it in front of the mayhem, expect relatively smooth sailing.

This isn't to say the game is impossible. Rather, it just causes for some controller-throwing frustration. Perhaps that's exactly what veterans need, to compensate for the familiarity of these tracks. However, we do believe that even Easy difficulty isn't forgiving enough for series newcomers.

One of the best features of WipEout Pure makes a comeback in HD, and we're glad to say it's as fun as ever. The critically acclaimed Zone mode is back, and it works just like it did in previous iterations of the franchise. In Zone mode, players are strapped down in a vehicle that is constantly moving forward, constantly getting faster. The goal of Zone mode is to simply survive: as the vehicle reaches ridiculous speeds, reflexes must become incredibly well-honed to survive even the simplest of turns. What makes Zone mode even more special in this PS3 iteration is how much faster it can go. While the PSP games were limited to Phantom levels of speed, there are speeds well beyond that in the PS3 version. Just when you hit Zen, you'll realize that there's another class of speed above that. Already at that point, you won't be able to blink.

The color-changing tracks still pulsate to the beat of the music, although in a much more subdued fashion. It may have been changed to meet the requirements of epilepsy testing, but it's still undeniably beautiful. The incredibly stylized look of Zone mode is easily WipEout HD's most memorable -- and this is the one mode that everyone will be talking about once the game releases this week.

While Zone has made a glorious return, we're sad to say that another one of our favorite modes, Elimination, has not made the cut in WipEout HD. Featured in Pulse, this mode gave racers an enhanced set of weapons, limited shield rechargability, and a directive: kill as many other racers as you can. It was an incredibly fun mode, which changed up the gameplay quite a bit. It's omission is disappointing, and makes the game's feature set feel a little less substantial.

We're also sad to see the vehicle customizations of Pulse removed entirely as well. In the PSP games, players were able to create skins for their crafts online, and then download them into the game. It's strange that this PS3 version is missing two key features that we took for granted in the PSP game.

Yet, thanks to smart pricing on Sony's part, these omissions, repetitions, and flaws seem much more forgivable. At $20, it's hard to pass up. Ultimately, if you're part of the group that loves WipEout, you're going to buy HD, simply to experience the game in high-definition PS3 wonder. Yes, it's leaner and shorter than the PSP games -- but our PSPs were never pumping out 1080p graphics. Those that have never played a WipEout game will find HD a very exciting, eye-opening experience. The sublime presentation, the collectible Trophies, and the unforgettable Zone mode, make this an easy $20 purchase. But, when you're crying after an 8th place loss on Moa Therma, don't say we didn't tell you so.

PS3 Fanboy score: 8.0

See also:
PSP Fanboy review: Wipeout Pure
PSP Fanboy review: Wipeout Pulse