Wipeout HD

Infobox VG


title = Wipeout HD
caption = Logo for "Wipeout HD"
developer = SCE Studio Liverpool
publisher = SCEE
resolution = 1080p
released = 25 September, 2008cite web|url=http://blog.us.playstation.com/2008/09/15/wipeout-hd-officially-dated-priced/|title=WipEout HD Officially Dated, Priced|publisher=SCEA|author=Daimion Pinnock|date=2008-09-15|accessdate=2008-09-15]
genre = Racing
modes = Single-player
Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer
media = Download
platforms = PlayStation 3
input = Gamepad

"Wipeout HD", alternatively stylised "WipEout HD",cite web|url=http://wipeouthd.com/|title=Wipeout HD: Official Site|accessdate=2008-09-27] cite web|url=http://uk.playstation.com/games-media/games/detail/item75516/WipEout%E2%84%A2-HD/|title=PlayStation Games & Media - WipEout™ HD|accessdate=2008-09-27] is a downloadable entry in the "Wipeout" racing franchise, developed by Sony Liverpool for the PlayStation 3 video game console. The first entry in the series on the PlayStation 3, the game is largely a high-definition remake of past elements from the Wipeout series, including tracks and teams from the PlayStation Portable games, "Wipeout Pure" and "Wipeout Pulse", whilst adding some new features to the franchise. The high-definition upgrade allows the game to render graphics output at 1080p resolution with a frame rate of 60 fps, and combines a Dolby 5.1 surround soundtrack.

The game was released on the PlayStation Store in both the EU and the US in September, 2008. It was well-received by critics, who praised the game's presentation in general, including its graphics and audio, as well as its gameplay, even as a title that remastered existing content; value for money was also cited as a positive factor. Some concerns were raised in regards to the removal of some of the content that was previously available on the games from which it draws its assets, as well as to the implementation of online gameplay.

Gameplay

Gameplay is largely similar to that of previous Wipeout entries. The player pilots an anti-gravity craft, selected from one of several teams and, depending on the game mode, competes using speed and weaponry in an attempt to beat the competition.

There are five main race types in "Wipeout HD": Single Race, Tournament, Time Trial, Speed Lap, and Zone mode. Single Race is a straight-forward start-to-finish race against seven other competitors, and Tournament comprises a series of Single Races, won by having the highest aggregate score.cite web | url = http://games.kikizo.com/reviews/ps3/wipeout-hd-p1.asp | title = PS3 Review: WipEout HD | first = Edwin | last = Evans-Thirlwell | accessdate = 2008-09-23 | date = 2008-09-22 | publisher = Kikizo] Speed Lap sees the player attempt to beat a set time for one lap, whilst Time Trial sets a target for multiple laps. Finally, Zone mode, first introduced in Wipeout Fusion, returns in "Wipeout HD", and sees the player's initially slow craft becomes progressively faster throughout the race, passing through different numbered "zones", or categories of speed; the player must continue to navigate the course until their energy runs out and the ship explodes. Visuals also differ greatly in this mode, with environments stripped of texture, replaced with a single colour that changes continuously in waves, whilst graphic equalizers on the track and scenery display the waveform for the currently playing audio track.

Each of these race types can be found in the single-player campaign mode. The campaign mode is split into eight different events, each of which comprise a number of different races and race types, represented by a set of tiled hexagons. Starting from the slowest and easiest "Uplift" event, the number of races per event and the speed and difficulty of the opponent's AI increases as the event number increases, culminating in the final event, "Meltdown". To progress through the campaign, players win a certain number of points depending on their finishing position, which in turn unlock new races and ultimately, the higher-level events. Winning races in campaign mode also unlocks tracks and teams for use in the separate "Racebox" mode, in which players can play one-off arcade-style races, either in single-player or two player split-screen modes, and unlike the campaign mode, customise every race setting.

In addition to offline-play, "Wipeout HD" offers an eight-player online mode. A lobby system allows players to find races to join, which can comprise either single races, or twelve-race competitions. Should a player's ship explode due to loss of energy, unlike the single-player mode, the player's craft will reappear on the track some moments later. Voice chat is also supported for online racing.

A new introduction to the series is the Pilot Assist feature. Intended for beginner or intermediate players, it is a passive auto-piloting feature that assists players by nudging them away from the edges of the track, though its effects at higher speed settings, and it causing ship thrust to be limited to 88%, are less desirable. "Wipeout HD" allows players to control their craft by using the motion-sensitive features of the SIXAXIS controller. Motion control comes in two variants; pitch and steering, or pitch alone. The former allows the craft to be totally controlled by moving the controller, whilst the latter allows the player to control using the analog sticks but raise or lower the nose of the craft by tilting the controller.

Another new addition is the Photo Mode, which allows the player to take screenshots of the game and save them to the PlayStation 3's hard drive as full 1920x1080 resolution images. These photos can be manipulated after being taken, with such features as exposure, saturation, lens focus, depth of field and motion blur available for adjustment. Accessed under the Photo folder in the Cross Media Bar, these images can then be transferred to PC, used as wallpaper, sent to friends, and so on.

"Wipeout HD" also features 38 trophies, which range from the simple – such as merely using the Photo Modecite web|url=http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/12/joystiq-hands-on-wipeout-hd-race-ready-at-last/|title=Joystiq hands-on: WipEout HD race-ready at last|date=2008-09-12|accessdate=2008-09-12|last=Nelson|first=Randy] – to the difficult, such as reaching the high-speed Zone 75 in Zone Mode. Twelve of the trophies are hidden, with no description on how to obtain them visible to the player, whilst the final of the thirty-eight trophies is a Platinum Trophy entitled "Transcendence", obtained when all other trophies have been collected. [cite web|url=http://www.ps3fanboy.com/2008/09/17/trophies-wipeout-hd/|publisher=PS3 Fanboy|title=Trophies: WipEout HD|accessdate=2008-09-17|date=2008-09-17|first=Jem|last=Alexander]

Teams

Twelve teams are featured in "Wipeout HD", and their ship designs are inspired by those featured in "Wipeout Pulse":

*AG Systems
*Assegai Developments
*Qirex Research and Development
*Piranha Advancements
*EG-X Technologies
*Triakis
*Goteki 45
*FEISAR
*Mirage
*Icaras
*Harimau International
*Auricom Research Industries

Tracks

There are eight available tracks in "Wipeout HD", all of which are remastered versions of tracks from the two previous PlayStation Portable "Wipeout" games; six of the tracks are from "Wipeout Pure", and two are from "Wipeout Pulse". All tracks can be played forward and backwards, much akin to the "black" and "white" modes of "Wipeout Pulse", as well as in Zone mode. Some sections of track also feature Mag Strips, which return from "Wipeout Pulse"; these stick the player's vehicle to the track, and allow the piloting of sections that would not otherwise be possible due to gravity.

"Wipeout Pure" Tracks:

*Chenghou Project
*Sol 2
*Vineta K
*Sebenco Climb
*Anulpha Pass (from "Delta" expansion pack)
*Ubermall (from "Gamma" expansion pack)

"Wipeout Pulse" Tracks:

*Moa Therma
*Metropia

Development

"Wipeout HD" was first officially announced during E3 2007, where it was explained that it would be a downloadable title, available on the PlayStation Network, that would feature high-definition versions of old tracks.cite web|url=http://uk.ps3.ign.com/articles/803/803446p1.html|title=IGN: E3 2007: Wipeout HD PS3 Download|first=Daemon|last=Hatfield|date=2007-07-11|accessdate=2008-09-17|publisher=IGN] Later in the year at the Tokyo Game Show, Sony revealed to journalists that the game would be available before the end of 2007,cite web|url=http://uk.ps3.ign.com/articles/821/821816p1.html|title=IGN: WipEout HD Preview|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2008-09-17|first=Patrick|last=Kolan] and would include two further game modes that were ultimately not included for the final release: "Elimination" and "Head 2 Head".cite web|url=http://www.videogamer.com/ps3/wipeout_hd/news-6303.html|title=WipEout HD on PlayStation Store later this year|first=James|last=Orry|date=2007-08-27|accessdate=2008-09-17|publisher=VideoGamer] However, a 2007 release was not forthcoming; development continued through 2008, and a shifting release date (initially believed to be Summer, 2008cite web|url=http://uk.gamespot.com/ps3/driving/wipeout/news.html?sid=6191129&om_act=convert&om_clk=newsfeatures&tag=newsfeatures;title;3|first=Tom|last=Magrino|date=2008-05-16|accessdate=2008-09-17|publisher=GameSpot|title=Sony lays out '08, early '09 lineup] ) was eventually finalised in the middle of September 2008, for release later that month.cite web|url=http://uk.gamespot.com/ps3/driving/wipeout/news.html?sid=6197763&om_act=convert&om_clk=newsfeatures&tag=newsfeatures;title;1|title=Wipeout HD takes off Sept 25|first=Luke|last=Anderson|date=2008-09-16|accessdate=2008-09-17|publisher=GameSpot]

The delay from the initial summer time frame was widely reported as being due to a technical issue in development.cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=191929|date=2008-07-17|accessdate=2008-09-17|first=Tom|last=Bramwell|publisher=EuroGamer|title=WipEout HD delayed due to technical issue ] Explaining the problem, David Reeves, CEO of Sony Europe, remarked that it was "a specific technical problem with Wipeout that we have to solve", and that while he could not expand upon the point, "it is a really, really tricky technical problem that no region has been able to solve at the moment. [...] I think it will come out before the end of the year but it is something that was just very difficult to get to grips with". Reports soon emerged that the game had failed epilepsy testing, and that the game would have be to re-engineered before it could be released.cite web|url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=193765|title=WipEout HD delayed due to epilepsy test failure|publisher=CVG|first=Gavin|last=Ogden|accessdate=2008-09-17|date=2008-07-22] These reports were addressed by an SCEE representative, who stated that the delay was due to numerous improvements and added features, which included the reverse tracks, four extra ships, two new heads-up displays, the addition of two-player offline split screen mode, and Trophy support.cite web|url=http://www.totalvideogames.com/news/Wipeout_HD_Delay_-_Official_Response_13555_6787_0.htm|date=2008-07-24|accessdate=2008-09-17|first=Chris|last=Leyton|publisher=TVG|title=Wipeout HD Delay Response Confirms Trophies & Splitscreen News] Addressing the reports of health issues, they affirmed that they "take consumer safety very seriously and monitor it very carefully". A comparison video between the preview and final builds later showed greatly toned-down equalizer visuals in Zone Mode.cite web|url=http://www.dpadmagazine.com/2008/09/11/how-sony-changed-wipeout-hd-to-pass-health-tests/|date=2008-09-11|accessdate=2008-09-17|first=David|last=Scammell|publisher=D+PAD Magazine|title=How Sony changed WipEout HD to pass health tests] The issues were confirmed when the game's director, Tony Buckley, spoke about the tests, saying that although he felt the tests were subjective and the exact issues "difficult to pinpoint", they took them seriously and that the game has "come out the other end alright, with a lot more content", despite their initial fears that the game would "look poorer as a result".cite web|url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/videogame-epilepsy-tests-subjective-says-wipeout-developer|publisher=gamesindustry.biz|accessdate=2008-09-17|date=2008-09-17|first=Johnny|last=Minkley|title=Videogame epilepsy tests "subjective", says WipEout developer]

Future Developments

"Wipeout HD" will be updated at future intervals with downloadable content, including track packs and additional vehicles.cite web|url=http://www.thunderboltgames.com/reviews/article/wipeout-hd-review-for-ps3.html|date=2008-09-29|title=Wipeout HD - PS3 review at Thunderbolt Games|accessdate=2008-10-02|first=Patrick|last=Coakley|publisher=Thunderbolt Games]

Music

The soundtrack comprises nine tracks, presented in Dolby 5.1 surround sound.cite web|url=http://threespeech.com/blog/?p=905|title=Three Speech » WipEout HD Soundtrack Announced|date=2008-02-26|accessdate=2008-09-17|publisher=Three Speech] The game also allows use of custom soundtracks, so that any music stored on the PlayStation 3 hard drive can be selected during gameplay for use in races.

*MoveYa! & Steve Lavers: Chemical
*Stanton Warriors: Tokyo
*DJ Fresh: X-Project (100% Pure mix)
*Ed Rush, Optical & Matrix: Frontline
*Noisia: Seven Stitches
*MIST: Smart Systems
*Mason: Exceeder - Special mix
*Booka Shade: Steady Rush
*Kraftwerk: Aerodynamik (Alex Gopher/Etienne De Crecy Dynamik Mix)

Reception

VG Reviews
1UP = Acite web|url=http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3170202&p=37|title=Wipeout HD Review|publisher=1UP.com|first=James|last=Mielke|date=2008-09-26|accessdate=2008-09-26]
EuroG = 9/10cite web | url = http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=238638 | title = WipEout HD Review - Page 1 | publisher = Eurogamer | first = Dan | last = Whitehead | date = 2008-09-16 | accessdate = 2008-09-17 ]
GSpot = 7.5/10cite web | url = http://www.gamespot.com/ps3/driving/wipeout/review.html | title = Wipeout HD for PlayStation 3 Review | publisher = Gamespot | first = Guy | last = Cocker | date = 2008-09-19 | accessdate = 2008-09-23 ]
IGN = 9/10cite web | url = http://ps3.ign.com/articles/912/912822p1.html | title = IGN: WipEout HD Review | publisher = IGN | first = Chris | last = Roper | date = 2008-09-23 | accessdate = 2008-09-24 ]
rev1 = VideoGamer
rev1Score = 9/10cite web | url = http://www.videogamer.com/ps3/wipeout_hd/review.html | title = WipEout HD Review for PS3 | publisher = VideoGamer | first = Tom | last = Orry | date = 2008-09-16 | accessdate = 2008-09-17 ]
rev2 = TVG
rev2Score = 8/10cite web | url = http://www.totalvideogames.com/articles/Wipeout_HD_13798.htm | title = TVG: Wipeout HD Review PlayStation Network | publisher = Total Video Games | first = Chris | last = Leyton | date = 2008-09-24 | accessdate = 2008-10-02]
rev3 = IGN UK
rev3Score = 9.2/10cite web | url = http://uk.ps3.ign.com/articles/910/910419p1.html | title = IGN: WipEout HD Review | publisher = IGN UK | first = Martin | last = Robinson | date = 2008-09-16 | accessdate = 2008-09-17 ]
GR = 87%cite web | url = http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/938148.asp | title = Wipeout HD Reviews | publisher = GameRankings | accessdate = 2008-09-17 ]
MC = 87/100cite web | url = http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/ps3/wipeouthd | title = WipEout HD (ps3: 2008): Reviews | publisher = Metacritic | accessdate = 2008-09-17 ] Critical reception to "Wipeout HD" has been positive, with a Metacritic aggregate score of 87 out of 100, based on 27 reviews, and an 87% aggregate score at Game Rankings, based on 22 reviews.

Universal praise from reviews has been placed on the presentation and visuals of the game, with "sharp detail", "breathtaking lighting", and "strikingly artistic visuals that are gorgeous to see in motion"; Zone mode was also praised in this regard, being "nothing short of stunning" and ultimately creating an "immensely immersive experience". The audio and soundtrack were also well-received, being "perfectly put to practice". The low price of the game was also cited as a positive factor.

Criticism mostly stems from the game's porting of tracks and vehicles, as well as soundtrack, directly from the previous two PlayStation Portable games, with "little new for fans of the series to sink their teeth into". Some disappointment was also expressed at the "slightly undercooked" online mode, and that some competitive modes, such as Elimination, have not been carried over from the PlayStation Portable versions.

References

ee Also

*"Wipeout PS3"
*"Wipeout Pulse"
*"Wipeout Pure"

External Links

* [http://www.wipeouthd.com/ Official "Wipeout HD" site]
* [http://ps3.ign.com/objects/838/838996.html "Wipeout HD"] at IGN