If there were ever one game that is criminally overlooked, it's Wipeout HD. In my humble opinion, it is easily one of the greatest games of this generation. It's not exaggeration when I say this. No other game has given me such thrills and enjoyment. The Fury expansion elevates it to this level.
So why don't many people own it? If this were the only game available for PS3 I would still have been quite happy with my purchase. I know most of the people reading this probably don't have the game.
Difficulty might have put some people off. Well this version of Wipeout is easier than ever. You won't have any trouble getting at least a bronze medal in most of the events if you turn the assist on and the difficulty down. If anything Wipeout's campaign is a breeze for those who've had a bit of practice. The expansion also provides a couple of ways to make some of those trophies a little easier.
The fact that it is a download-only title and not a full release may have put others off. But don't be deceived - this game offers more content than most full games, including oft-neglected features such as split-screen. With its expansion, it boasts 12 full tracks (each with a reversed version) and 4 extra zone tracks. There are so many game modes as well;
Single Race
Time Trial
Speed Lap
Eliminator
Zone
Zone Battle
Tournament
Detonator
Wipeout HD as an arcade racer is unrivalled. No other game manages to provide the sense of speed and excitement as Wipeout can. If you are playing zone mode, with the track pulsating to your own tunes, speeding faster and faster around the track until your reactions can't take any more, the adrenaline will be pumping round your body faster than anything. Skillfully eliminating your opponent using weapons in a lightning-fast race is more exciting than anything any other franchise can currently offer.
Online is really a blast and there are still plenty of wipeout novices playing so it's more noob-friendly than you may think - of course there are many hardcore players out there as well. There is an online ranking system which nobody has reached the top of yet, as well as badges handed out after every race reflecting your performance. At one stage, the servers dried up and nobody was playing. But through excellent support, the addition of new features and game modes, I can see people playing this one for ages. As it stands, there is a really active online community.
I wish more people would bring up Wipeout HD when comparing graphics between systems. In its genre, it has no rival. I've attached some in-game screenshots of it, but in motion at 60fps it's simply gorgeous. The particle effects for weapons are also amazing. The graphics simply add to what is already an amazing experience. The presentation of Wipeout HD is also second-to-none. From the menus to the music to the HUD - it's all flawless.
Wipeout HD is easily worth buying a PS3 for. If I had to rate it out of infinity, it would probably get a 190*. Hopefully this blog can convince a few more people to pick up the game. As for me, well I just got my platinum trophy and I will see you online - Aspherex.
* See my "out of infinity" rating system. I know I slacked off doing these after my first review, but more will come eventually. For reference, Killzone 2 obtained a 100.
