684: Wipeout series

[JaySevenZero]

Here's where you can contribute your thoughts and opinions for the Wipeout series for potential inclusion in the forthcoming podcast.

A friendly reminder that where the feedback for the podcast is concerned, we love it - but keeping it brief is appreciated. We do want to include a breadth of opinions where appropriate, but no-one wants a discussion podcast that’s mostly reading out essays. Better to save yourself time and cut to the chase if you can.

[BearFishPie]

Keeping brief for this one will be a challenge: it's one of my favourite series of all time. I'm so glad you're finally covering it

[Kentish1973]

My first and founding memory of the Wipeout series was walking into the Virgin Megastore in Sheffield City Centre and seeing 2047 running on one of their massive rear projection TVs. It was the blue vapour trails that sold me the dream of the 32-bit era. I was mesmerised by the effect, the sheer 'three-dimensionality' of it and the sense of racing through a fully realised futurescape.

It was enough to convince me to trade in my SNES and many, many pristine boxed games to fund a Playstation, along with 2047, Tekken 2 and Formula 1. Leaving aside my burning regret for doing that, Wipeout 2047 did blow my mind for a time, in that evolutionary way that F-Zero and MarioKart did the generation before. While I have dipped into the series since - from HD Fury to 2048 - for me, it's never recaptured that jaw-dropping sense that I was playing something at the far horizon of gaming technology.

[seansthomas]

I was lucky enough to grow up in a household as a kid where we had videogames around, but we could only afford cheaper end consoles once a new generation had launched. So as I discovered going out, gigs and adulthood my experience of videogames stalled at a few decent Amiga and Master System games.

And one night, on the walk home from a night in town, I saw two TVs in a department store window display playing Tomb Raider and WipEout 2097 on loop. I was gob smacked. I stood there watching them for ages. These games were witchcraft. They looked photorealistic and you moved into the screen, in proper 3D.

I bought a Playstation magazine the next day and read up on them. I used most of my meagre savings to buy a PS1 and both those games, much to my parents rightful disgust. And a renewed love of gaming was born.

It was WipEout 2097 that held my attention for most of the next year. In part because I was now skint and couldn't afford a ton of other games. Largely because I adored it. I got Gold medals on every track. I knew every bend off by heart. I'd haul my console over to a friend's house and we'd race each other using a link cable and two TVs on the blink into the early hours.

I'd listen to the soundtrack before going out. I even got into clubbing for a bit, I reckon in part down to this. It felt cool. And futuristic. And like gaming had grown up.

The games influence lingered long for me. I wrote my dissertation on the series at University,with very kind help from many of the developers at Psygnosis. I pursued graphic design for a career, based off of the game. I became obsessed with Underworld, my favourite band ever to this day.

I bought but never loved the original. Wip3out was good, as was the Special Edition. Fusion was poor and it's shameful they pitched that game out. I got the PS4 Omega Collection and enjoy a spin, but in a world as a 45 year old Dad with limited play time and a huge backlog, I can't see myself ever playing a track 30 times over to eek out 4 extra seconds like I once did.

But it's a series that means a huge amount to me. And for anyone keen to understand that time, the recently published Wipeout Futurism documents it to near perfection.

[BearFishPie]

My first impression of the original Wipeout is of a kind of sensory overload, particularly given the generational leap it represented over the Amiga 500. Shockingly solid looking polygonal craft zipping round convincing futuristic environments, a pulsing soundtrack that singlehandedly branched out my musical tastes, and an aesthetic sensibility that still ranks among my favorites to this day. Yes the handling of the original was fussy and unforgiving, but the craft were responsive and the physics really sold me on the antigrav racing premise, and with practice I got pretty damned good at clearing most of the circuits without clipping the trackside.

Although I never owned Wipeout 2097 everything about it seemed amplified; the visual design impeccably cool, eye-searing neon lighting effects and the music driving that much harder, exemplified by The Prodigy's incredible Firestarter.

Wipeout 3 didn't seem to garner much attention for some reason, despite to me representing a high point aesthetically, seemingly handing full rein to The Designers Republic to apply minimalist principles to the whole package, ships, environment and all. The soundtrack didn't initially grab me in the same way, but I grew to appreciate its cohesiveness and comparatively reserved attitude. The tracks were superb too, with the corkscrew descent of Mega Mall a standout.

I skipped Wipeout Fusion - the loss of The Designers Republic's singular graphic design sapped much of the appeal - but PSP Wipeout efforts Pure and Pulse comfortably recaptured the magic for me. Effortlessly cool visuals, a whole new musical palette I would again grow to appreciate, and some more sterling track design. Zone mode in particular was an inspired addition, tempting me to ratchet myself over and over into a flow state before everything inevitably came to a clattering end.

Wipeout 2048 and HD/Fury/Omega Collection, the last hurrah of the series, continued to deliver in visually spectacular fashion. Although I didn't feel these brought anything new to the series they were every bit as joyful to play as I could have hoped, and the extra grunt of the more modern hardware made everything feel more tangible.

Thank you Psygnosis, Psygnosis Leeds and Studio Liverpool, for creating a series that has meant a great deal to me for almost 30 years.

Three Word Review: Something very special

[Alabastermage]

Wipeout really has that timeless, futuristic vibe, doesn't it? The way it evolved over the years, from the original sensory overload to the clean, minimalist designs of Wipeout 3 and Pure, is something special. The music, too like, Firestarter in 2097? Iconic. I get why it's such a nostalgic favorite for so many. It was the perfect mix of challenge and style that made it feel like gaming had leveled up.

[The_reviewist]

I came to Wipeout late in life, only getting into racing games around the PS3 era. I picked up a copy of Wipeout HD, and was blown away. I blasted through it, training and perfecting my knowledge of the tracks, the ships and the shortcuts.
I was even happier when Wipeout 2048 came out, becoming the most played game on my PS Vita. Letting me connect the devices and practice tracks on the bus to work.

Sadly time and tide have pulled me away, and even though I now have the Omega to play on my PS5, I haven't managed to get back into it, my reflexes have atrophied and my memory of the tracks isn't what it once was. I tried playing it once with VR but my stomach struggled with it. A wipeout indeed! I'll always love it but like a fondly remembered romance, I know its time with me has passed.

[derek332]

Wipeout’s always had that perfect mix of speed, style, and challenge that’s hard to match. For me, the original was a revelation, racing through those slick tracks with the soundtrack pumping was something else. Over time, it evolved, but I think the magic never really disappeared. Even though I don’t play much anymore, every now and then, I still get that rush just thinking about the tracks and the music. It's one of those series that stays with you.

[Alex79]

Despite loving the general presentation and soundtracks, I never really got fully in to a Wipeout game until Wipeout 2048 on the Vita. And then only because my analogue stick had broken and I was looking for games I could play with the d-pad until I fixed it. But then, I really did get in to it and finally understood the appeal. The smoothness as you took those bends with just the right amount of air-brake, the furious combat and desperately trying to stay alive whilst on minimal health and the breakneck speed of the ships - I loved it.

Whilst it should never be a case of either/or, and bearing in mind they're actually quite different games, I've never managed to get in to F-Zero as much as I did Wipeout. After 2048 I went back and played the PSP games, the PS3 game and, via emulation, the original trilogy on PS1. Now I'd give anything for a brand new PS5 Wipeout, shame they've all but killed the series.

[TheAngryWalnut]

I was also fairly late to wipeout, being slightly intimidated by the PS1 entries as a kid, and not actually playing them until wipeout HD was given away for free on the PS3. It felt a little tricky to pick up at first, but before long I understood its power: its ability to submerge you in a state of flow. I still remember the moment I ‘got’ wipeout, emerging from a 20ish minute session on the fastest speed, rhythmically tapping directional buttons with absolute precision over and over in order to hit a fastest lap. I had completely zoned out, cleared my mind of everything else and didn’t even feel the time pass. I could see why this game had a certain reputation in the 90s!

Since then I’ve picked up physical versions of a few different wipeouts, from 3 to the PSP version of HD to the wonderful Omega Collection, and they are great to dive back into when I want to switch off - although on a much slower speed these days!