Technology rumbles on. Nowhere is this more emphasised than in WipEout 2048’s glorious intro video, which charts a piecemeal history of the Feisar brand; from 60’s racing cars so real Stirling Moss himself might have just missed out on them through to modern day Formula One vehicles, near future hybrid machines and – finally – ships more closely resembling the WipEout rides we’re used to.
It’s a smart, knowing slice of video. Racer competition gets tougher, the vehicles faster, and, ultimately, wheels morph into anti-grav jets with a clunk and a whirr that begs to be listened to via a decent set of headphones. Indeed, playing the game itself through the Vita’s tiny speakers, with its distinctive buzz and whine, is something of an injustice. I’ve never before had a constant grin on my face just from a game’s audio design.
[drop2]2048, then, is WipEout’s first venture, the first races. The setting, New York, resembles the Big Apple enough that major landmarks are instantly recognisable (and in the case of the Empire State Building, raceable) and yet simultaneously provides a skeletal framework for bolted on sections of track and spectator-filled grandstands.You’ll race through Times Square, for example, but you’ll do so under a Blade Runner-esque neon glow.
The setting works brilliantly, never before has the WipEout series felt so grounded, so real. The trademark elements seen in older (but chronologically later) games are found here and there over 2048’s three year career mode – huge air-filled characters, giant advertising screens – but they’re far less obvious, showing perhaps a sport’s struggle to find sponsorship during it’s début outings.
Visually the game is just as powerful as it is aurally. Much improved from an already impressive E3 showing, 2048 is now sharp, smooth and lacking any sort of compromise apart from the game dimming to 80% brightness as the countdown ticks over to Go! (like some other Vita titles, WipEout’s on what developers are calling a ‘Power Budget’) – this is a stunning, often breathtaking example of what Vita can do.
The controls are near-perfection, too. The analog stick provides precise adjustments but the d-pad, if you’re used to the tap-tap-tap digital steering from earlier games, works brilliantly. The default settings offer just a single airbrake and a simpler set-up, but switching back to ‘WipEout’ mode will instantly satisfy the hardcore. With airbrakes on the triggers, throttle on Cross and weapons on Square, all is well.
[drop]But above all this is a game that just oozes masses of content.From the stark, crisp splash screen with chunky square buttons through to the pinch-and-scroll campaign map (which offers plenty of non-linearity) and pop-up sub-menus (where you can change your craft, check your friend’s times and move between modes) everything is designed to ensure players feel comfortable within the WipEout system.
Each element of the single player grid can be any one of a number of modes, and these can be distilled further: races start off without weapons, for example, but the game now splits offensive and defensive items, and either or both can be on or off. There’s time trials, battles and the wonderful Zone mode too, the latter of which offers some of the best graphics I’ve seen on any platform for months. Running Zone at A+ speed is a mesmerising delight.
Negatives? The load times are lengthy, the Time Trial modes don’t offer a ‘best time’ ghost which makes perfecting your run trickier than necessary and you’re never told what you need to get for the ‘Elite Pass’ until you’ve tried a level and got the regular ‘Pass’, which can mean jumping back to the menus and then re-loading. Hopefully these niggles can be patched out, though.
In short, WipEout 2048 is fabulous. It’s been my go-to game for the last few days (nudging the brilliant Uncharted out of the way) and all this is without the multiplayer portion being activated yet. I’ve shown the game to a few people, and all have either added it to their pre-order list, or thought seriously about grabbing themselves a Vita – that’s how good this game looks, sounds and feels.
TSBonyman
So, it’s set Feisars to stunning then! :)
yogdog
Hehe! :D
jikomanzoku
very nice bony :)
FriendlyFiend
Played this at the Eurogamer Expo and it was very, very lovely indeed. Despite being, er, “not that good at all” at Wipeout, I’ve loved it since the very first game. This version probably plays the best of any of them, with lots of thought given to the newer player (wider tracks, more control options). I can hardly wait.
nofi
Final version is massively better than the EG build.
sparkyscrum
This was always a day 1 for me. But what are the trophies like on it?
Sympozium
Evil I guess?
colmshan1990
Beat Zico level of evil?
lewis815
*Polishes platinum trophy* :p
nofi
Beat Zico is back…
The Trophies are really smart, there’s a series of them locked to specific parts of the single player, really neat.
colmshan1990
Wipeout Pure was the first title I got with my PSP, Wipeout HD my first trip to the PSN Store, and Wipeout 2048 will be downloaded to the Vita day 1. Along with Uncharted, and hopefully (if I’ve any money left) Escape Plan too.
But it’s Wipeout I expect to dominate my Vita time.
There’s simply nothing else close to racing along the tight bends in a track in a Phantom class race.
The only problem is every other racer feels too slow afterwards. Then again, that’s not a problem for Wipeout…
jikomanzoku
You are obviously a scholar and a gentleman of impeccable taste colm :D
colmshan1990
Haha!
Was there any doubt? :P
JBoo
The Video of the game running(i saw somewhere, i can’t remember where i saw it)looked AMAZING:P + I didn’t like WipeOut in the PS1 & PS2 days but the PS3 version was brilliant(it seemed easier to play i thought) ;)
wuntunzee
Can it do custom soundtrack?
colmshan1990
All Vita games have custom soundtracks if you want to use them.
Jambo
Can not wait.
Moshbag
So does anyone know if this is coming to PSN? I assumed it must if there is cross platform play. And will it be at the same time as the Vita release?
sparkyscrum
It’s not coming to PS3. The Cross play is between Wipeout HD on the PS3 and 2048 on the Vita.
Klart
Anyone an idea whether this going to have the same buy 1, get 2 policy as Motorstorm RC (you know, paying for one game & getting both the Vita and PS3 version)?
shields_t
Colour me very excited.