Home

 › 

Articles

 › 

WipEout Pulse Review for the PlayStation Portable (PSP)

WipEout Pulse Review for the PlayStation Portable (PSP)

Sign me up to WipEout!

The best way to describe WipEout Pulse is as a marriage between two of my favorite franchises: Mario Kart and F-Zero. I know this sounds a little awkward, but let me explain. F-Zero is a futuristic racing series that is pretty fun. The only trouble with this series is that most people find it way too difficult to play, and most F-Zero titles seem inaccessible to most average gamers. That is where the Mario Kart comes in. Mario Kart is known for its approachable and fun gameplay. This marriage may seem a little strange at first, but once the awkward phase is through you’ll find yourself rather addicted to the joy that is WipEout Pulse.

WipEout Pulse screenshot

Much like the other WipEout games, WipEout Pulse has a vast array of ways to play. The main mode of the game features different “grids,” which represent subsequently more difficult tracks. You have four main levels, each with their own racing teams and stages. Tracks are shared between the different levels, but because there are so many different ways to play the tracks don’t seem repetitive. Tracks also feature boost pads and special weapons that you can pick up. The weapons selector is generic and completely random (much like the question boxes in Mario Kart), and you never know whether you’ll get a short supply of mines or a giant laser that zaps the energy out of your opponents.

Gameplay, as I mentioned before, is very accessible for a futuristic racer. That is not to say, however, that this game is easy. The game features speeds up to 700 MPH and tracks with steep hairpin turns. You’ll probably have to play through different levels multiple times before you get the hang of each level. But once you learn how to take the turns and find where all the different power-ups are, you’ll master the different courses in no time.

WipEout Pulse also features several different ways to race to keep the gameplay engaging. Of course you have your straight-up races where you and up to seven other opponents vie for the top spot. These races are probably the most exhilarating because you need a combination of speed and weaponry for success. But as fun as this mode may be, even I can admit it is a little generic. The most novel of the new modes is a survival type mode where your car is constantly upgrading speed levels and you have to clear different course “zones” and see how far and how fast you can survive.

WipEout Pulse screenshot

Another hallmark of WipEout Pulse’s gameplay is its speed class system. This system features different race teams that can race at different speeds. Although this might sound a little weird, it is surprising how much the different speed classes change the gameplay. When you are racing with a very high speed class, weapons become unimportant, and aggressive driving becomes a moot pursuit. But when you’re driving in a slower speed class, the opposite becomes true. In order to speed past the competition, you will have to drive aggressively and utilize all your boost and weaponry power to your advantage.

WipEout Pulse screenshot

But the best feature of the gameplay has to be its online functionality. Not only does WipEout Pulse have online capacity for up to eight players to compete in multi-level custom tournaments, but it will also be the first PSP game to feature downloadable content. Although there is none available as of the time of this review, there should be some on the way fairly soon. The game links directly to the WipEout Pulse website, so delivery should be pretty simple. In addition to the downloadable content that will be available at the website, you can also customize your favorite WipEout Pulse vehicles.

WipEout Pulse screenshot

Control for this game is pretty simple, and is actually a real departure from other games in the futuristic racing genre. While games like Fatal Inertia suffered from a control scheme that was a little too difficult to learn and very frustrating to play, WipEout Pulse has a control scheme that is the exact opposite. You use the X button to accelerate, the d-pad to steer (or the thumbstick if you so desire), and the shoulder buttons to make sharp turns. You also have a button that allows you to regain power by absorbing weapons you pick up instead of using them. And that is the extent of the controls. The control scheme feels very precise and responsive. There were very few moments where I felt that the controls were too much for me to master.

Visually, this game looks pretty good. Tracks look absolutely beautiful, and feature smooth environments that compliment the futuristic sci-fi feel of the game. The color in the game uses a lot of silvers and grays and uses some interesting lighting effects to showcase the most interesting parts of the course. The only facet of the visuals that does not look completely stunning is the different vehicles. They look a little rough, and seem to lack the polish of the tracks. But aside from this minor detail, the game is probably one of the best-looking games on the PSP.

WipEout Pulse is a pretty awesome racer for the PSP. It is one of the few futuristic racers that feels actually playable after a few minutes, a considerable feat considering the competition. It has great tracks, varied gameplay, and some pretty innovative online functionality. It is a blast to play, and I would definitely consider this a must-own for PSP owners who also consider themselves fans of racing games. Even if you’ve never played games like Fatal Inertia or F-Zero, you’ll almost certainly find something to love in this high-octane title.

RATING OUT OF 5 RATING DESCRIPTION 4.0 Graphics
Pretty good, although some rough edges could have been smoothed out. 4.5 Control
Vehicle control is very smooth, a huge improvement over other games in the futuristic racing genre. 4.0 Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Music has a great electronic sound, but the voiceover track intros are a little hokey. 4.4 Play Value
There aren’t too many tracks, but play mode variation, online modes and the promise of downloadable content is enough to keep you coming back for more! 4.3 Overall Rating – Great
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

  • Intense gaming experience loaded with high-tech weapons, high-octane speed, and futuristic anti-gravity combat racing.
  • 8 teams including the new EG-X team and 12 new reversible tracks.
  • Large variation of in-track design including loops, vertical drops, and 90-degree angled sections.
  • Pumping soundtrack licensed by top artists including Mason, Loco Dice, Stanton Warriors, and Kraftwerk.
  • 7 game modes including wireless multiplayer mode via Ad hoc and Infrastructure modes.

  • To top