Topic: Official WipEout HD Thread of ZOMG GRAFX

[NWR_Lindy]

Any of the PS3 players out there download WipEout HD?  Holy cow, it's amazing.  I know the WipEout series isn't everybody's cup of tea, but if you liked the older games or any of the PSP incarnations, WipEout HD is a must-own title.  It so good that they could have released it as a full-priced retail game.

[Nick DiMola]

Damn, just checked the price on this and for twenty bucks I'll have to pass. I like the WipEout games, but I've also bought all of them for less than ten dollars. Maybe if it ever gets price dropped in the store I'll check it out. Regardless of quality, I refuse to pay more than ten dollars for a downloadable game.

[Pale]

How's multiplayer?  This sounds like the kind of game I may pick up next time some people are over and we are looking for something new to play.

[vudu]

I haven't played a Wipe Out game since the original.  And while I enjoyed it in some respects, it always seemed like a poor man's F-Zero.

[NWR_Lindy]

I haven't played local multiplayer, but you can choose between horizontal and vertical split-screen, which impressed the hell out of me.  The online is amazing, there's literally no difference between online and off in terms of speed and performance.

I think this game is actually a bargain at $20.

[Djunknown]

I haven't played a Wipe Out game since the original.  And while I enjoyed it in some respects, it always seemed like a slick man's Mario Kart.

Fixed. Wipeout XL is considered the stellar game in the series, with 3 being a solid entry. Imagine playing Megaman 1 and stopped it at that.

Played the PSP version, and can't really complain about it, even though Psygnoisis(sp?) no longer develops it anymore.

What's the soundtrack like Silks? Still the same punchy, catchy techno beats?

[Dirk Temporo]

I liked it better when it was called F-Zero.

[NWR_Lindy]

Yup, the soundtrack is catchy techno.  Good stuff, not too overpowering but still nice to have going in the background.

[blackfootsteps]

I've downloaded it and I quite enjoy it. This is my first wipeout and so far it hasn't got close to usurping F-Zero's position as king of the antigrav racers.

[NWR_Lindy]

I think it's a lot different than F-Zero, really.  I think it's a little more accessible, and not as mind-blowingly difficult.  Battle isn't as big a component either.

[blackfootsteps]

I think it's a lot different than F-Zero, really.  I think it's a little more accessible, and not as mind-blowingly difficult.  Battle isn't as big a component either.

Really? I'm finding it a lot more difficult (to get golds, anyway) and I managed to unlock the AX tracks in GX. It's definitely a slick package, top marks for presentation.

[D_Average]

I think it's a lot different than F-Zero, really.  I think it's a little more accessible, and not as mind-blowingly difficult.  Battle isn't as big a component either.

I'm glad you brought this up.  I've been on the fence about getting it considering I haven't played Wipeout in a Loooong time.  Last I remember, it was very difficult NOT to run into a wall.  I'm a huge racing fun and love the look of the game, but would you really say its not as tough as F-Zero?  How about comparing it to F-Zero GX in particular?  That game drives me nuts as I'm constantly flying off the side. 

Basically, would I ever be able to enjoy the game w/o using the training wheels option it has?

[NWR_Lindy]

The tracks I've played so far are 98% rails, so there's not as much "flying off the track" type-stuff.  I don't think it's that hard to avoid walls, depending on the track and vehicle, but once you run into a wall you tend to bounce around.  Part of learning the game is knowing when to slow down and take it easy.  Success pretty much = not running into walls.

I'm running through it on Novice, and I've gotten gold medals for everything in Uplift, Warped, and Frenzy (levels 1-3).  Right now I'm doing Vertigo and the difficulty is ramping up, but not unfairly so.  From what I've heard from those that got deep into F-Zero GX, you pretty much got to a late point in the game where it became downright impossible to go any further.

[D_Average]

Awesome, sounds like my type of game!  I'll probably download it this weekend unless something else releases on Thurs I've got to have.  Additionally, I've heard the game supports custom soundtracks which is a major plus (even if the default tunes are great)!

[NWR_Lindy]

Yep, it supports custom soundtracks.  Nothing's better than blasting through levels to "Nuthin' But a G Thang".

[D_Average]

"cuz death row is the label that pays me..."

[NWR_Lindy]

I also highly recommend EPMD - Business as Usual, if your urban musical tastes stretch back that far.  This might be more of a personal thing for me, though.  "Heeeeeeeeeere's...the E-R-I-C-K S-E-R/M-O-N I'm dustin'/Pack a Mac-10/more minutes and I'll wreck the whole damn set/SMASH/You ain't seen **** yet..."

OK, I'm finished.

[D_Average]

I also highly recommend EPMD - Business as Usual, if your urban musical tastes stretch back that far.  This might be more of a personal thing for me, though.  "Heeeeeeeeeere's...the E-R-I-C-K S-E-R/M-O-N I'm dustin'/Pack a Mac-10/more minutes and I'll wreck the whole damn set/SMASH/You ain't seen **** yet..."

OK, I'm finished.

I'm surprised I actually haven't hear much by them, I'll have to check them out.  Given that you're from Atlanta I'd imagine you also pop in the classic Aquemini from time to time.  Gotta love those horns in SpottieOttieDopaliscious.

As for the game, I couldn't resist and I downloaded it last night to numb the pain of watching the Cubs blow game one.  And man oh man, the game really is all the reviews have said in terms of visuals.  To put it simply, its like "buttar".

For fans of F-Zero, this could easily be the killer app to lead one to the dark side...

[blackfootsteps]

This game is really growing on me. The only portion of the game that I don't like is time trial. Speed lap is great and extremely addictive, whereas time trial is so reliant on being perfect for longer than I can be. I'd prefer if there were more races and tournaments in campaign mode.

Does anyone know if there is a Mario Kart-esque turbo boost at the start of races?

[NWR_Lindy]

I don't believe so.  I've tried, but it's never worked.

If you want tournaments, hop online.  Playing in a 12-race tournament is just too awesome.

My favorite game mode is probably Zone...totally hectic, and the scenery is beautiful in a weird, animated way.

[D_Average]

Wow, for anyone with The Crystal Method album "Vegas", the melodies go with Wipeout HD as Dark Side goes with the Wizard.

Side Note:  What camera does everyone use?  I find the first person perspective the most satisfying, but I tend to get the best results w/ the 2nd 3rd person view.

Additional Side Note:  Anyone see the Wipeout HD interview on the last 1up Show?  They asked them if they'd ever consider making a track editor for players.  They said they have but have ultimately shot it down b/c designing a track that works correctly with all the vehicles is very difficult.

What do you guys think?  Cop out or are is it really just a bad idea?  Personally, I think its a cop out.  If indeed it is that challenging to create a great track, then all the more satisfaction to the player if they are able to do so.  Hell, we've already seen its no easy feat w/ LBP and they built the entire game around that!

[blackfootsteps]

A track editor would be cool. As far as the dev's reason for vetoing the idea, that's the deal with user created content, most of it is going to suck but there will always be the diamonds that make it totally worthwhile.

I use the default view, mainly because I wasn't aware you could change angles!

@ Silks, my first (and so far only) experience w/ online wasn't great, the host just wouldn't seem to start the race even though the lobby had been full for quite a while. This happended in two lobbies. Very annoying! (note to devs, implement an auto countdown when the lobby is full). However, an online tournament sounds like the kind of thing I'd enjoy, I'll check it out.

Zone mode is awesome, I can't wait to put some music on my PS3 just to admire its beauty.

[NWR_Lindy]

Them not having a track editor probably had more to do with the scope of the project than anything else.  Designing and testing a track editor is almost like creating another game unto itself.

Yeah, sometimes hosts just sit there forever waiting for a game to start.  I've had guys sit there fooling around with race parameters for two or three minutes, to the point where it got silly and I dropped out and found another race.

Zone mode gets crazy around zone 20+.

[Gylldas]

Just downloaded this today but I haven't gotten to play yet.  Zone mode sounds very fun and I can't wait to try! 

[IceCold]

Poor man's F-Zero is right. Pansy-man's F-Zero might be more accurate, though.

From what I've heard from those that got deep into F-Zero GX, you pretty much got to a late point in the game where it became downright impossible to go any further.

Nope. I unlocked everything and the best part was that the challenge was never frustrating. Pure adrenaline, that game.

For fans of F-Zero, this could easily be the killer app to lead one to the dark side...

FAT CHANCE.

I cry myself to sleep everyday that Nintendo doesn't announce an F-Zero Wii title