Wipeout HD is part of Sony's large showing at eGames '07, and sits in a cargo container-like booth alongside another soon-to-be released downloadable title, Pain. The demo only features one track, which unfortunately limits the scope of any impressions of the title. However, the game is apparently made up largely of tracks from prior Wipeout iterations, so in a sense this does not present an issue. In short if you've enjoyed previous Wipeout games, you'll know what you are in for. If you haven't, expect lightening-fast racing in a Blade Runner-styled universe with enough weaponry to take down other players, should your racing skills be lacking.
Oh, the pretty colours.
As the name implies, though, the real attraction of Wipeout HD is the high-definition graphics that have been updated for the series' first current-gen entry. And the game does look very nice indeed. The game is smooth, slick, and polished, and looked impressive on the HD screen Sony provided. A decent frame-rate is key for any racer, and doubly so for such a high-octane title. Wipeout HD delivers on this account, as we never noticed any slowdown even though the game is still a work-in-progress, and essentially a port-up from previous titles. The neon-lit future of Wipeout HD slides past as smoothly as it has ever done, and the level we played was bright and packed with eye-catching background energy.
Controls, as usual for the Wipeout series, were up-to-scratch. The Sixaxis, with its improved shoulder buttons, somehow makes the air-braking that little bit more satisfying than usual. The enemy AI seemed adequate, though we appreciated the option to turn on the 'hard' setting.
Use the extreme force!
Overall, Wipeout HD will serve as an excellent warm-up for the series on next-gen hardware. We all know that the real game everyone is waiting for is Wipeout PS3, the next full installment due on the PS3 sometime next year. However, until that arrives in our hands, we are not altogether annoyed to have to play through some of our favourite tracks from earlier games in HD. This all comes with the usual caveat for downloadable games, however - price. Sony will have to set the right price for this game, which essentially comes with no new content (as yet announced), for it to be worth our dosh. We love the trip down memory lane, especially such a pretty trip, but paying through the nose to repeat passed experiences is not our favourite pastime.
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