Game Reviews: Wipeout HD

As someone new to the Wipeout franchise I wasn’t really expecting that much. I was aware of the previous incarnations in the series and I had noted that it was critically acclaimed and had a dedicated fan base, but at the same time neither the visual style nor techno soundtrack appealed to me. The fact that Mario Kart is my favorite racing game speaks volumes about my experience in this genre. Despite this I did download Wipeout HD from the Playstation store and I was pleasantly surprised with how enjoyable the experience was.
And that is one of its most appealing factors; the experience it provides. The presentation in excellent, especially considering that it is a downloadable game. The music, the visuals and the feel of the vehicles all merge seamlessly to form a pulsing action racing game. The simple, elegant designs of the ships and the tracks are complimented by some excellently chosen color schemes. Add in the psychedelic lights that emerge in some levels (and particularly the zone levels) and you have a hypnotic game that is very aesthetically pleasing. But don’t think that this a sleep inducing game; thanks to the liberal scattering of boost pads and interesting futuristic weapons, this game bears more similarity to the aggressive multiplayer fun that you would find in Mario Kart. However the computer is less blatant in its need to crush anyone looking to open up a decent lead at the front. This game does rely far more on ability than luck and no single item in the game is going to see you move from last to first. The game is actually very accommodating to novices like myself, as it has a steering aid option. This addition helps to prevent the ship from running into the wall barriers, and whilst veterans may balk at the idea of dumbing down the controls, newcomers will appreciate it as a way to ease them into the unique weight and drift of a hovercar.
Considering it is just $20 (or ¥1800 on the Japanese Playstation store) it has an incredible number of tracks and content. The varieties of races from the time trials, speed laps, zone mode and the tournaments mean that things rarely get stale. And the online mode will ensure that this game has legs. As a word of warning though the competition there is pretty stiff.
It’s quite hard to rate this game given that it is so cheap. That may sound strange but it really has so much more content than you would expect that I recommend any one to give it a try if they have a bit of cash in their account and time on their hands. If you hate any form of racing game feel free to give it a miss.

8.5/10