PlayStation 2

Wipeout Fusion

Overall, it achieves a unique balance no other game of the series can claim, while the racing venues themselves remain unique in their emphasis on strategy over speed. And of course, through it all you've got that funky WipEout vibe that makes it pulse and live. Ignoring all other considerations, WipEout Fusion is a guttural experience of sight and sound designed to rock you till your mortal mind is driven insane. Frankly, I can't think of a better way to lose it.

One word says it best: Wow! I said "wow" out loud more times than I could count. It is the most spectacular extreme racer ever created. Sony Computer Entertainment Europe has created a masterpiece that I will cherish for a very long time.

Wipeout Fusion is a game for 2 groups – the diehard Wipeout fans, and PS2 owners looking for a racer with a little spice and something different. The game presents a great challenge to newbies and veterans alike, and the wealth of unlockable things and the huge amount of races to complete on the way to 100% is staggering and raises the replay through the roof. The more graphically-tuned “gamers” will probably scoff at the 1st generation graphics, but if you look beyond that, you get a game that is highly playable and highly fun. A shame that the game probably won’t sell worth a shit again, because it means the probability of another Wipeout game in the US is much less likely. Still, you must give credit to BAM for taking the risk and publishing Fusion, because at least they had the sense to at least give the game a chance.

It's puzzling that Sony's U.S. division dragged its heels about releasing this game in the States it's been out for a while in Europe, where it was made by Sony, but a U.S. release was in question until BAM! Entertainment thankfully seized the opportunity. Back-room politics aside, if you're even remotely interested in racing games, you should grab a copy of Wipeout Fusion it's exactly the kind of high-octane fuel that feeds that need for speed.

I could go on for another 1000 words about the nuances of the gameplay, about the different pilots you can open up, about how the final league you get to build yourself, but I would just be reiterating a theme. Wipeout Fusion is a lot of fun. It is the best combat racer for the PS2 yet and it is possibly the fastest racing game on the system as well. There is so much to do and so many different ways to play that you will get at months of playing out of this game.

After years of waiting, it's obvious to me that WipeOut Fusion delivers, and it delivers strong. Studio Liverpool has done a fantastic job at crafting one fine sci-fi racing experience. The game is fantastic in every aspect. Visually, it stands strong. The game includes an excellent graphics engine, with a ton of eye-candy to behold. The gameplay will certainly have you addicted, and the value of the game almost feels never ending, with the dozens and dozens of extras that the game offers. If you have a nice audio set up, and a receiver with Dolby Pro Logic II, by all means use it. WipeOut Fusion comes out as a very recommended racer. Go out right now and pick the game up, especially if you love the genre and series!

All in all I have to say that Wipeout Fusion impressed me alot and it cannot be compared to f.i. the PC versions we’re used to in the past. If you’ve got a PS2 and are looking for a fast-paced race game where you can do some serious shooting, this is the number 1 game for you.

Wipeout Fusion is a perfect example of the saying, “If it ain’t broke – don’t fix it”. This game builds on everything that made the previous games great and aside from ruining the Quake effect, manages to improve just about every aspect of the game.

Auch wenn sich Wipeout-Fans vom 128Bit-Debüt der Serie technisch wohl noch etwas mehr erwartet hätten, macht Wipeout Fusion auf der PS2 eine gute Figur. Das Geschwindigkeitsgefühl ist nach wie vor beeindruckend und vor allem der immense Umfang sowie die motivierende Tuning-Möglichkeit und die abwechslungsreichen Spielmodi bieten lang anhaltenden Spielspaß für ballerfreudige Adrenalin-Junkies. Dank des ausbalancierteren Schwierigkeitsgrades muss sich auch der wohl einzige ernsthafte Konkurrenztitel knapp geschlagen geben, obwohl XG3 bei Technik und Streckendesign die Nase vorn hat. Doch Fans fulminanter Highspeed-Action kommen sowieso an keinem der beiden Titel vorbei, auch wenn Einsteiger und Gelegenheitsspieler bei Wipeout Fusion deutlich besser aufgehoben sind.

This incarnation of the racing franchise finally finds a home on a next generation console, showcasing just how ahead of the times it always has been. The technology has only now caught up with what the series is capable of. Fast gameplay and tons of features turn what could be an ordinary churned out sequel into a new benchmark for anti-gravity racers.

When it comes right down to it, the improvements in Fusion easily make it the best Wipeout to date. It is faster, more challenging, longer, and better looking (thanks to the PS2) than the previous games. Although it lacks the style of the earlier Wipeouts the additions to gameplay make Fusion shine. Wipeout fans will not be let down and newcomers will enjoy the game's speed and challenging competition.

Despite a few flaws, underneath the surface lies a very enjoyable game. It's odd that Fusion still feels like an unpolished product, given the length of time Studio Liverpool had on its hands. Nevertheless, I've spent extensive time with the game, and thus far, it's delivered hours of enjoyment as I am sure it will for any fan of the series willing to quell their skepticism. While XL and Wipeout 3 are excellent in their own right, Fusion offers an extensive level of features and flexibility that motivates me to play over and over again. Renting the game would be an injustice. You owe it to yourself, whether you're a casual fan or a purist, to add this to your collection, today.

Wipeout Fusion has its merits, but at this point, there's no question that the series peaked out at Wipeout XL. The game suffers from no singular crippling problem. Rather, Wipeout Fusion's biggest shortcoming is its age. SCEE has been showing off Wipeout Fusion in some form or another since the launch of the PlayStation 2, and that comes across in the end product.