Wipeout Pulse

Last updated

Wipeout Pulse
Wipeout pulse cover.jpg
European cover art
Developer(s) Studio Liverpool
Spiral House (PS2)
Publisher(s) Sony Computer Entertainment
Designer(s) Studio Liverpool
Series Wipeout
Platform(s) PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 2
ReleasePlayStation Portable
  • AU: 13 December 2007
  • EU: 14 December 2007
  • NA: 12 February 2008
PlayStation 2
  • EU: 24 June 2009
Genre(s) Racing
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Wipeout Pulse (stylised as wipEout pulse) is a futuristic racing video game developed by Studio Liverpool and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation Portable. It was released in December 2007 in Australia and Europe, and in February 2008 in North America. A PlayStation 2 port was released in Europe in June 2009. The game is the seventh installment of the Wipeout series and serves as a sequel to Wipeout Pure . It takes place in 2207 and revolves around players competing in the FX400 anti-gravity racing league.

Contents

The game was developed by Studio Liverpool. Production was centred around focusing on the feedback left by fans regarding Wipeout Pure, and improving on aspects where the development team thought they had failed in with the predecessor. The game features sixteen licensed music tracks from techno artists, including Kraftwerk. Wipeout Pulse received positive reviews upon release. Critics praised the graphics and presentation, although some criticised the repetitiveness and high difficulty.

Gameplay

From left to right clockwise, the interface displays the number of laps, the teams of competing players, speedometer, shield strength, current playing song, and lap time. Wipeout Pulse gameplay.jpg
From left to right clockwise, the interface displays the number of laps, the teams of competing players, speedometer, shield strength, current playing song, and lap time.

Wipeout Pulse is a racing game set in 2207, ten years after the events of Wipeout Pure . As with its predecessor, the game revolves around players competing in the FX400 anti-gravity racing league. Players pilot anti-gravity ships owned by racing corporations (collectively referred to as "teams" in-game). There are eight teams in Wipeout Pulse, with one ship available for each – although the player eventually gains the ability to change the appearance of their ships. [1] Each ship has different characteristics; depending on the team chosen, its ship will vary in terms of handling, speed, acceleration and shield strength. [2]

Every ship is equipped with an energy shield which will protect the player from damage sustained from weapon fire or colliding with walls, although energy is taken away if this happens. If the shield completely runs out, the ship will explode and the player will be eliminated from the race. [3] In addition, the player's ship is equipped with air brakes which can be used for manoeuvring through difficult corners at high speed. [4] [5] The game features a number of weapons which can be utilised to destroy other opponents or for self-defence. Defensive weapons range from shields—which make the player's ship invulnerable to damage for a short period—to land mines and stationary bombs. [6] Offensive weaponry vary from machine guns, missiles, plasma bolts, and a "quake" – which comes in the form of a devastating earthquake that will damage all opponents. [7] [5]

The campaign mode features sixteen grids divided into cells, each containing a separate event which varies from ordinary races to tournaments. Once the player finishes the event in a single cell, they will earn "completion points" needed to progress to the next grid. Clearing a cell will unlock additional cells adjoining it. [8] [5] Returning game modes from Wipeout Pure include single races, tournaments, time trials, and the "Zone" mode, which involves the player's ship automatically accelerating to extreme speeds. [9] [5] [10] A returning game mode from Wipeout 3 is "Eliminator", which revolves around a group of competitors attempting to destroy each other the quickest in a set amount of time. [5]

While the game only ships with twelve tracks, these can be driven both forward and backwards; the race's direction is marked by the suffix "White" or "Black" on the race's title (i.e. "Talon's Junction White") and may show subtle variations depending on which way they are driven.

The game features a number of extras. Players can take screenshots of in-progress races at any time from the Pause menu in the PSP version. Players are rewarded for using the same team's ship over and over via a "Loyalty" system which unlocks new ship skins. Players were able to create custom skins for any ships at the game's central website using an Adobe Shockwave-based client, which could be downloaded to the PSP by the creator and/or the public at large. Lap times and other records could also be uploaded to the game's website which features a global ranking leaderboard. Both features are no longer available as the site and the game servers were shut down.

A demo of the game was also released on the PlayStation Store on 13 December 2007, which included one track (Moa Therma) and one team (Feisar), as well as Ad-Hoc support for playing with users who purchased the full game (or owned the UMD). [11]

Expansion packs

Wipeout Pulse, like its predecessor Wipeout Pure, also has downloadable content packs that include new ships and tracks as well as new campaign grids. A total of four packs were released, each including a new ship, two track variants (i.e. a "White" variant for a track and a "Black" variant for another track, and in order to get all variants one has to obtain all four packs) and a new campaign grid named after the downloaded pack. These packs were available to download for the PlayStation Portable version for a price from the PlayStation Store in the European region only. All downloadable packs are already included with the PS2 port.

Development

Wipeout Pulse was developed by Studio Liverpool. Colin Berry, the lead designer of the game, stated in an interview that the team had received a lot of positive feedback from Wipeout Pure , and was willing to use parts of the feedback to "help shape some elements of Pulse". [12] According to Berry, some people had felt that the previous game was too difficult; the ships were considered too fast and the artificial intelligence (AI) too advanced, whereas others thought that the game was too easy and they wanted "something more challenging to keep them coming back". The development team also took steps to decrease the feeling of repetition, which was often cited as one of the main complaints of Wipeout Pure. In addition, the team altered the game's difficulty settings so that players were given the choice to change the speed of the game at any time, in the event that they "got stuck". Reflecting on this, Berry said: "We want the people who buy it, to see all the game, we do not want to lock them out". [12]

During development, the team decided early on to focus on creating new content rather than bringing back old race tracks which were featured in previous Wipeout games. Berry, however, acknowledged that classic tracks "went down well" and sought out the possibility of introducing them through future downloadable content (DLC). [12] Berry stated that by the end of Wipeout Pure, Studio Liverpool had designed almost 100 tracks as potentials to include in subsequent games, although the team were only satisfied with 32 of them. The remainder of the tracks were either disregarded or amalgamated into other games. [12] Berry reflected that the tracks using the same 3D computer graphics software as its predecessor meant that certain repetition appeared and caused the team to "dry up on ideas". The developers recognised that track design was an important aspect to the game, and also accepted the difficulty in designing a track that is both memorable and enjoyable. Berry felt concerned that the team were starting to repeat design features, and thus decided to create new variables to the track design: as a result of this, the team conceptualised the "mag strip" – a section of a track which would feature artificial gravity so that a player could safely circumnavigate loops, steep slopes, and upside down sections. [12]

After the release of Wipeout Pure on the PlayStation Portable, rumours circulated that a port was in development for the PlayStation 2. [13] In January 2009, Sony issued a statement saying: "There are over 9.5 million PS2s in the UK and we will continue to support this large userbase with software on an ongoing basis". [14] The PlayStation 2 version was released exclusively in Europe in June 2009, featuring enhanced graphics, two-player splitscreen mode and all of the DLC. [15]

The game also features sixteen licensed music tracks in addition to customisable soundtracks from techno artists, including Aphex Twin, Kraftwerk, DJ Fresh, and Skream. [16]

Reception

The game received positive reviews upon release. It holds an average score of 82 per cent at Metacritic, based on an aggregate of 40 reviews. [17]

Critics unanimously praised the game's visuals and presentation. Jeff Haynes of IGN stated that the game was "Wipeout at its purest", praising the visual presentation of the courses, cities, and other environments. [5] Gabe Graziani of GameSpy thought the graphics were beautiful and also commended the design of the tracks. [21] Eduardo Zacarias of GameZone stated that Wipeout Pulse was a "very visually pleasing game with some solid visual effects", and also praised the detailed tracks and ships. [22] A reviewer from Game Revolution considered the game's level of detail to the tracks and smooth frame rate to be "staggering" on a handheld. The reviewer also praised the "meticulously constructed" backdrops and "incredibly styled" presentation. [20] Guy Cocker of GameSpot said that the visuals were "superb", though he thought that many aspects were similar to its predecessor, Wipeout Pure. [10] A reviewer from Edge described the visuals as "even smoother, brighter, and sharper than Pure's". [18]

The various aspects of gameplay were mostly praised, although some reviewers criticised the game's repetitiveness and difficulty. Tom Bradwell from Eurogamer praised the new "Elimination" mode, stating that it was initially "alarming" and frustrating, but admitted that it "grows to be rather good". [19] Cocker enjoyed the new tracks, the difficulty levels, and the promise of downloadable content, although he noted that it had not been made available in the United States at the time of his review. [10] Game Revolution's reviewer surmised that Wipeout Pulse was a more refined version of Wipeout Pure, stating that despite all of the solid and reliable gameplay, the game did not revolutionise the series. [20] Regarding general gameplay, Zacarias opined that Wipeout Pulse "doesn't deliver" despite the variety in the game modes and "racetrack front". [22] Haynes similarly gave a negative opinion on the gameplay, stating that the repetition of tracks and balance of weapons for the AI was disappointing. [5] Graziani criticised the game's difficulty, saying that it was "extremely challenging to the point of being impenetrable for the uninitiated". [21] Edge's reviewer described the game as simply another installment of Wipeout . [18]

Related Research Articles

Wipeout is a series of futuristic anti-gravity racing video games developed by Studio Liverpool.

<i>Wipeout 2097</i> 1996 racing video game

Wipeout 2097 is a racing video game developed and published by Psygnosis. It is the second installment released in the Wipeout series and the direct sequel of the original game released the previous year. It was originally released in 1996 for the PlayStation, and in 1997 for Microsoft Windows and the Sega Saturn. It was later ported by Digital Images to the Amiga in 1999 and by Coderus to Mac OS in 2002.

<i>Wipeout 64</i> 1998 video game

Wipeout 64 is a 1998 futuristic racing game developed by Psygnosis and published by Midway Games for the Nintendo 64. It is the third game in the Wipeout series and remains the only one published on a Nintendo console. At the time of the game's release, developer Psygnosis had been owned for five years by Sony Computer Entertainment, for whose hardware all subsequent Wipeout games have been released exclusively.

<i>Wipeout Fusion</i> 2002 racing video game by Studio Liverpool

Wipeout Fusion is a futuristic racing video game developed by Studio Liverpool and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 2. It is the fifth instalment in the Wipeout series and was released in February 2002 in Europe, and in June for North America. It was the first Wipeout game to be published on the PlayStation 2. The game takes place in 2160 and revolves around players competing in the F9000 anti-gravity racing league.

<i>Wipeout Pure</i> 2005 video game

Wipeout Pure is a futuristic racing video game developed by Studio Liverpool and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation Portable. It was released in 2005 on 24 March for North America, on 7 April in Japan and on September 1 in Europe. In North America and Europe, it was a launch title for the platform.

<i>Lumines: Puzzle Fusion</i> 2004 puzzle video game

Lumines: Puzzle Fusion is a 2004 puzzle game developed by Q Entertainment and published for the PlayStation Portable by Bandai in Japan and by Ubisoft elsewhere. The objective of the game is to arrange descending two-colored 2×2 blocks to create 2×2 squares of matching color. A vertical line known as the "time line" sweeps across the field, erases completed squares, and awards points. Each stage has a skin that affects the background, block colors, music, and the speed of the time line.

<i>WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006</i> 2005 professional wrestling video game

WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006, subtitled Exciting Pro Wrestling 7 in Japan, is a professional wrestling video game and developed by Yuke's that was released on the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable by THQ in 2005. It is part of the WWE SmackDown vs. Raw video game series based on the professional wrestling promotion World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), and is the successor to the 2004 game of the same name. SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006 was also the first game in the series to be released on PlayStation Portable and the last game in the SmackDown!/SmackDown! vs. Raw series that was PlayStation exclusive.

<i>Formula One 06</i> 2006 video game

Formula One 06 is a racing video game developed by Studio Liverpool and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable. It is a sequel to the 2005 video game Formula One 05 and was based on the 2006 Formula One World Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Psygnosis</span> British video game company, 1984–2012

Psygnosis Limited was a British video game developer and publisher headquartered at Wavertree Technology Park in Liverpool. Founded in 1984 by Ian Hetherington, Jonathan Ellis, and David Lawson, the company initially became known for well-received games on the Atari ST and Amiga. In 1993, it became a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) and began developing games for the original PlayStation. It later became a part of SCE Worldwide Studios. The company was the oldest and second largest development house within SCE's European stable of developers, and became best known for franchises such as Lemmings, Wipeout, Formula One, and Colony Wars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Wright (Welsh musician)</span> Welsh video game music composer

Tim Wright, known professionally as Cold Storage, is a Welsh video game music composer most known for his work in video game soundtracks such as Shadow of the Beast II, Agony, Lemmings, Wipeout and Colony Wars. As company director of Jester Interactive Limited, Checkmate Solutions Limited and Tantrumedia Limited he also designed and developed Music Sequencing Software titles including MUSIC™, MTV Music Generator™, MTVMG2™, MUSIC 2000™, MUSIC 3000™, Pocket Music™ and several eJay™ titles.

<i>Wipeout 3</i> 1999 video game

Wipeout 3 is a futuristic racing video game developed by Psygnosis exclusively for the PlayStation. The title is the fourth game in the Wipeout series, and was released in Europe and North America in September 1999. Players control anti-gravity ships and use weapons to force other contenders out of the race.

<i>Wipeout</i> (video game) 1995 racing video game

Wipeout is a racing video game developed and published by Psygnosis. It is the first game in the Wipeout series. It was originally released in 1995 for PlayStation and DOS, and in 1996 for Sega Saturn, being a launch title for the PlayStation in Europe. It was re-released as a downloadable game for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable via the PlayStation Network in 2007.

<i>Quantum Redshift</i> 2002 video game

Quantum Redshift is a video game for the Xbox console, developed by Curly Monsters and published by Microsoft Game Studios in 2002. The game is a futuristic racing game with the addition of combat and character rivalries influencing the dynamic of competitive races. Developed by several former staff of the Psygnosis game Wipeout, Quantum Redshift was conceived as a spiritual successor of the game for the Xbox. Publication of the game was troubled, with Curly Monsters staff voicing creative differences on packaging and marketing decisions made by Microsoft Game Studios. The game received mixed to average reviews from critics, with praise directed at the game's visual presentation and smooth framerate, and criticism towards the lack of distinctive and original features in its design and gameplay compared to its contemporaries. The game was commercially unsuccessful, leading to the discontinuation of a planned sequel and the dissolution of Curly Monsters in 2003.

<i>Wipeout HD</i> 2008 racing video game

Wipeout HD is a futuristic racing video game developed by Studio Liverpool and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 3. It is the eighth installment of the Wipeout series and was first released on the PlayStation Network on 25 September 2008 in both Europe and North America, and on 29 October in Japan. A major expansion pack titled Wipeout HD Fury was released worldwide via the PlayStation Network worldwide on 23 July 2009. A retail version was later made available in Europe on 16 October. Both Wipeout HD and its HD Fury Expansion are playable in 3D when connected to a 3D TV.

Creative Vault AB is an independent video game developer based in Gothenburg, Sweden. The company was founded by Staffan Langin and Olof Gustafsson in the summer of 2005 with the desire to develop games for multiple platforms. Its first game was Crash Commando (2008), an online shooter for the PlayStation 3. In 2012, Gustafsson left the company, which was renamed Creative Vault Studios. Under the guidance of Langin as sole CEO, the company has worked on several projects with Sony Interactive Entertainment, beginning with the virtual reality port for Hustle Kings in 2016. The following year, the studio collaborated with XDev and Clever Beans on Wipeout Omega Collection, a remaster of Wipeout HD, Wipeout HD Fury, and Wipeout 2048.

<i>Wipeout 2048</i> 2012 video game

Wipeout 2048 is a racing game in which players pilot anti-gravity ships around futuristic race tracks. It was developed by Studio Liverpool and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was a launch game for the Sony PlayStation Vita hand-held console, released worldwide in 2012. It is the ninth instalment of the Wipeout series and the last game to be developed by Studio Liverpool before its closure in August 2012. Wipeout 2048 is a prequel to the first game in the series and is set in the years 2048, 2049, and 2050.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Firesprite</span> British video game developer

Firesprite is a British video game developer formed in 2012 by former members of Studio Liverpool based in Liverpool. In September 2021, Sony Interactive Entertainment acquired the company, making them a first-party developer for PlayStation Studios.

Pacer, originally titled Formula Fusion, is a futuristic racing video game developed by British independent studio R8 Games for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. It was initially set to release on September 17, 2020. However, it was delayed until the end of September 2020. On October 19, R8 announced that the game would be released on October 29.

<i>Wipeout Omega Collection</i> 2017 video game compilation

Wipeout Omega Collection is a 2017 futuristic racing video game compilation co-developed by XDev, Clever Beans and Creative Vault Studios and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment for the PlayStation 4. It was first released in North America on June 6 2017 and in Europe a day later.

<i>Hard Rock Casino</i> (video game) 2003 video game

Hard Rock Casino is the title of several gambling video games released between 2003 and 2007, and based on the Hard Rock Cafe brand. The first Hard Rock Casino game, developed by MumboJumbo and published by Jamdat Mobile for Microsoft Windows, was released in the United States in 2003. The game was subsequently published by MacPlay for Macintosh in the United States, in January 2004. Later in 2004, Jamdat Mobile developed and published a version for mobile phones in the United States.

References

Citations

  1. ↑ Studio Liverpool 2007, pp. 4–6.
  2. ↑ Studio Liverpool 2007, p. 9.
  3. ↑ Studio Liverpool 2007, pp. 10–11.
  4. ↑ Studio Liverpool 2007, p. 11.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Haynes, Jeff (12 February 2008). "WipEout Pulse review". IGN . Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 1 July 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  6. ↑ Studio Liverpool 2007, p. 13.
  7. ↑ Studio Liverpool 2007, p. 12.
  8. ↑ Studio Liverpool 2007, pp. 6–7.
  9. ↑ Studio Liverpool 2007, p. 14.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Cocker, Guy (1 March 2009). "Wipeout Pulse for PSP review". GameSpot . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 1 March 2009. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  11. ↑ "WipEout® Pulse Demo | Official PlayStation™Store UK". 28 September 2018. Archived from the original on 28 September 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 Shea, Cam (14 June 2007). "Wipeout Pulse AU Interview". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 1 July 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
  13. ↑ de Matos, Xav (27 January 2009). "Rumorang: WipEout Pulse for PS2 still in development". Engadget. AOL. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  14. ↑ Bramwell, Tom (27 January 2009). "WipEout Pulse may be heading to PS2". Eurogamer. Future plc. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  15. ↑ Goyon, Frederic (19 June 2009). "Test Wipeout Pulse sur PS2". Jeuxvideo.com. Webedia. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  16. ↑ Yoon, Andrew (20 June 2007). "Complete Wipeout Pulse soundtrack listing". Engadget. AOL. Archived from the original on 1 July 2018. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  17. 1 2 "Wipeout Pulse for PSP". Metacritic . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 14 May 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  18. 1 2 3 "Wipeout Pulse". Review. Edge. No. 182. Bath: Future plc. December 2007. p. 90. ISSN   1350-1593.
  19. 1 2 Bramwell, Tom (21 November 2007). "Wipeout Pulse review". Eurogamer . Future plc. Archived from the original on 15 November 2016. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  20. 1 2 3 "Wipeout Pulse Review". Game Revolution . CraveOnline. 2 December 2008. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  21. 1 2 3 Graziani, Gabe (11 February 2008). "GameSpy: WipEout Pulse review". GameSpy . IGN. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  22. 1 2 3 Zacarias, Eduardo (17 April 2009). "WipEout Pulse review – PSP". GameZone. Archived from the original on 17 April 2009. Retrieved 5 December 2016.

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.