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Preview

Wipeout Fusion

Format PlayStation 2

Developer Sony - Studio Liverpool

Publisher Sony Computer Entertainment

Genre Racing / Driving

20-Jan-2002

"Futuristic Formula 1 with homing missiles"

Wipeout was the game that first made the PlayStation cool. Razor-sharp visuals, cutting-edge design and gameplay that left the racing genre for dead. Club culture, not to mention club music, brought right into your bedroom. It had a huge impact first time round, something Sony is hoping to repeat on PS2.

Better late than never?
But with just a few weeks left in development, Wipeout seems to have returned to the days of those early PS2 games that looked like shiny, hurriedly ported across PSone efforts. Far worse, though, is that Wipeout has lost its trademark sense of breathtaking speed.

As you pull Gs, throwing your ship into high-speed turns, corkscrews and jumps, gone is that feeling of corners flying at you and scenery just a blur of colour and texture that made you physically weave left and right on your sofa. The airbrakes no longer feel so important for safe cornering and being hit by enemy missiles doesn't seem so punishing on your speed. Even the track design conspires to make it feel strangely slow compared with PSone.

Weapons still play a big part (if you can't overtake, blow 'em away), but the missiles and guns aren't the explosion of effects we hoped for, although the Quake power-up is impressive as it rolls up the track, trashing all in its path.

At least piloting one of the distinctive craft used by league teams gives you plenty of racing options. Championship, Practice, Time Trial and multiplayer modes ensure there's no mix of track and vehicle that you can't explore. Furthermore, success in one league also lets you play different teams, leagues and tracks.
So, while work isn't finished yet, Fusion clearly has some way to go to live up to its prequels, and so many delays (it was originally meant to be a PS2 launch game) is ominous.

Les Ellis