This review was originally published on Gaming Horizon, GameBump's predecessor. Its format does not match our own but we support its content.

Wipeout has been a hit or miss franchise ever since its PSone days (Only one on the Sega Saturn). I’ve always enjoyed the series, but after the third one it started to go down hill. Sony and Studio Liverpool wanted to bring back the excitement for the launch of the PSP and overall I’m impressed with the outcome.

One word can explain Wipeout’s visuals – gorgeous. This title has to be the best-looking PSP game as of yet. I’d also come to say that it is the best-looking Wipeout title I’ve ever seen, even topping the PS2’s Wipeout Fusion. Studio Liverpool spent a lot of time trying to make its first Wipeout title on the PSP beautiful and they fully accomplished that. The shadows, the ships flying above, and the explosion impacts from the missiles that are fired from your ship are absolutely flawless.

Before you start a game, you must start a brand new profile that will allow you to pick a default tag name that it attaches your statistics too. This tag is three letters in which I picked, “Tim”. Very original, eh? Anyhow, once you complete a race you can go back to the main screen and check your score in the high score tables. After creating a profile, you can select the following modes to play in: Single Race, Tournament, Time Trial, Zone, and Free Play.

The modes are all linked into the high scores table. Single race allows the gamer to race against the opposition using the ship, track, and speed class of your choice. This option is mainly just a quick race if you want to not get involved with the tournament stuff. Time trial is another quickie that allows you to just time yourself on the track with no one around. Zone is a more interesting mode; as you speed through the track you’ll pass certain zone segments with a designated count (say, 1, 2, 3, etc). The count (and speed) rises the farther you go until your ship explodes. If you survive at a high zone (or count), you earn extras for the game. Free play is very basic and just allows you to play a track with no rules. As for the main enchilada, the tournament mode is pretty well-rounded. The gamer will have a chance to battle it out against several racers and the goal is to reach a higher position to earn higher points. The lesser your rank, the fewer points you receive at the end of the race. Although, you will get frustrated with the computer AI during several of the races, so just hang in there. This is fully explained in The Bad & the Ugly.

The ship selection is fairly ok. You can select from eight teams: AGS, Assegi, Auricom, Feiser, Harimau, Piranha, Qirex, and Triakis. Each team’s ship has its own advantages like handling, thrust, top speed, and shield. Hopefully, Sony will release more vehicles for download when they begin offering their downloadable content package.

The game’s background music is backed by several electronic producers and DJs. You have talents such as Tiesto, Jay Tripwire, Stanton Warriors, Cold Storage, and Freq Nasty. A total of eight licensed songs appear in the soundtrack and will keep your energy filled from start to finish. The weapon explosions also push out some sound power that is clear and crisp. Not much announcing goes on in the race except during the start and if your health bar is a bit low. I wasn’t too worried about that because your mind is set in this trance state while flying through the levels at an incredible rate of speed.

When I last played Wipeout Pure a few weeks ago in Washington DC, the game’s controls weren’t all too great. They lacked in response. Well, Studio Liverpool fixed the problem and the controls are very stable now. Very responsive and won’t lead you into the wall unless you just suck at handling the ship. Overall, a big improvement from the last time I had my hands-on.

As a secondary backup to its killer single-player mode, you have the multiplayer area. Unfortunately, Studio Liverpool didn’t include online play but only LAN play. So you will need to have your friend next to you with their own PSP to be able to play in multiplayer with them.

The major gripe to me in Wipeout Pure is the lack of multiplayer options. Gamers have the ability to play against one another if they are in the same area as you. Unlike NBA and Twisted Metal, you will not be able to play online with other people across the globe. Also, no downloadable content just yet—but it is expected very soon. No official date has been announced.

The computer AI is extremely difficult and if you don’t make it in the top three, you will need to start the race over to be able to win an award to unlock the next challenge course. It’s a bit frustrating knowing that you’re in seventh place on the last lap and realizing that you will need to start the race over to once again get owned by the computer. If the computer AI was just a tad bit easier, things would be a lot more balanced.

I’d almost go without saying this, but a drop of framerate on certain levels have come up that I have noticed. Although, it didn’t hinder my ability to race, it did catch my eye making me wonder. Again, this isn’t something to be alarmed about because it isn’t a big issue when I’ve only seen it a couple of times.

Overall, Wipeout Pure is pure satisfaction. You will not go wrong with purchasing this title on launch day. Even if you want to rent it, you will enjoy every aspect of the title. Although the multiplayer options is bit lacking you will still have several months of gameplay time in single-player mode. Sony has mentioned downloadable content, but only time will tell to see what those items will be. I guess they will be skins, tracks, and possibly extra vehicles. Sony did a fantastic job and this is a must-have title for PSP owners.

Very addicting and the tracks will keep you twisting and turning from start to end.

The best looking PSP title thus far. The environments are jaw-dropping.

Excellent soundtrack backed by popular electronic producers. Needs more though.

Single player mode will keep you busy for a bit. No online for multiplayer.

All you have is single player mode. Multiplayer will require a friend close-by.