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53 of 58 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazingly Fun - Highly Recommended, April 3, 2005
Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars
Wipeout Pure is the Pod Racer game for the Sony PSP. Coming from a 10 year line of Wipeout racing games, the transition to PSP is almost flawless.
In essence you are one of 8 hovercraft racing ships that compete on looped tracks in a variety of arena styles. Your tracks take you through rural landscapes, through busy cities, in underwater tunnels and in high off-the-ground jumps. Whether you're used to this genre from the wipeout series or from the pod racing games, you know how full of adrenaline and fun this can be.
You get the traditional power-ups as you go around the loops, picking up speed boosts, mines, guns, laser blasts, shields and more. Much of the challenge here is to really memorize a track, so that you can whip around its courses with intuitive ease, sliding gently to grab that extra boost to go past your enemy.
The PSP screen might be small, but the graphics are so detailed in this game that you really don't notice. You get roaring crouds, rippling water, great lighting details, customized ships, legible signs. There's no problem at all seeing what the course is doing or where to dodge.
The sounds are going to appeal to some and not appeal to others. If you like dance / electronic music you will really enjoy this. If you'd rather have a hard rock blasting track, you might be disappointed. You can always turn the volume up or down based on your preference. The sound does come across much better in the headphones because of the high notes being played. Try the music that way before you make any judgement.
The learning curve is a little steep - even the first races are a challenge. Don't give up, though. You need to learn how to use the joystick, how to understand the tracks, how to use the brakes and ease up on the accelerator. You can't just blast around the track at full speed, missing the boosts, and expect to win. There is a fair amount of strategy here - when to slow down to negotiate the curves, when to slide left to grab that boost. Give yourself a number of laps to really learn the course - and then use that knowledge to achieve victory.
The sequential challenge mode is really great once you've used the training modes to study the tracks. You can take on 7 other racers and test your skills. It is GREAT with the wireless connections to play against 7 other friends who are on the bus with you or in the same room! That is where this game really shines. You get the great graphics, great gameplay, and now you're effortlessly racing against all of your friends too. You really couldn't ask for much more from a handheld game.
If I *had* to find something to improve for a sequel, I'd ask for a wider range of music selections. That's about it!
Highly recommended!
5/5
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32 of 37 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Worthy successor in classic series., March 24, 2005
Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars
It's hard to believe that the first Wipeout was released 10 years ago on the original Sony Playstation (One). Since then, there was one excellent sequel on the PSOne (Wipeout XL, known as Wipeout 2097 in the UK and on the Macintosh), a decent later sequel (Wipeout 3), a capable Nintendo 64 version (Wipeout 64), and a fun but dated Playstation 2 edition (Wipeout Fusion).
The newest game, Wipeout Pure, combines the best elements of all of these games. Like all of them, the action is fast, the framerate is smooth, the difficulty is high, and a pulsing techno soundtrack follows you wherever you go. You get the usual single race series, tournament series, time attacks, and practice laps, all of which open up more tracks and speeds as you finish first in races.
This version adds a bunch of extra ship classes, as well as a terrific Zone option right from the start without needing to unlock anything. In Zone mode, you just go faster and faster until you crash -- a sign of things to come on the later rounds.
The main limitations I've had with this game are because of the hardware. I find that the analog nubbin is not comfortable to use for long periods of time, and the built in speakers do not do justice to the great spatial sound effects and music. Fortunately, the digitial controls are solid and comfortable, and the PSP's stock headphones make listening to the game while you play an absolute joy.
This is a great game, and a showcase for both the terrific Wipeout series, and the brand-new PSP hardware. Even though both the Wipeout brand and the Playstation brand are old now, Pure and the PSP have breathed new life into this classic racer.
Get it.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
purE plEasurE, February 24, 2006
Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars
I bought a game in the Wipeout series for the PSX years ago. Its sense of speed was great, but it was too difficult for me (casual gamer) and I couldn't really get into it. Based on the reviews I read of this version, and since it was a gift and I had nothing much to lose, I thought I'd give it a shot.
Wow. I'm very happy with my choice. This game is to the PSP what a flashy DVD is to a home theatre: if you want to show off the hardware, the brilliant graphics and soundtrack, this is the game to get.
Besides that, it's wicked. It's a blast to play. They've managed to capture and convey a sense of blistering speed phenomenally. Aesthetically, it's a joy. The menus are slick and the in-game visuals are gorgeous.
So.. is it perfect? Err.. not quite. A wee note to casual gamers: While the game is easy to pick up and start playing, it's difficult to master. The challenge is a welcome one, but can get frustrating because the difference in difficulty between the first set of courses and the second is so great.
I know that only so much licensed music can be stuffed onto the little UMD, but still, the soundtrack (is brilliant but) gets kind of repetitive. Variety in tracks is lacking a little as well. It's a bit of a disappointment when one learns that in order to progress, one must be victorious in races that one has already.. err.. won, just at a higher level of difficulty. Myeh. Finally, unlockable goodies are rather anticlimactic. One gets nothing for a bronze or silver medal (well, except unlocking the next course/track to be raced) and upon winning gold, one unlocks... oh my goodness, artwork in the gallery! Double myeh.
In spite of the few shortcomings and nitpicks, wipEout purE is a worthwhile investment if you own a PSP and like racing games. I haven't spoken about the online racing aspect of the game because I've not had the opportunity to try it yet. No doubt that will greatly increase its replay value.
Finally, (free) downloadable extras from the developer add immense value to this purchase. The content can expire at any time, so be sure to grab it while you can. :)
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