WipEout 2048 (PSV) – the future of motorsports

Ask any British, and we suspect European, gamer about the WipEout series and they’re likely to respond enthusiastically about one of the most iconic PlayStation brands ever produced, and one of the titles that sold the PSone in terms of not just its technical ability but also its dance culture credibility.

In terms of volume the franchise has actually sold more in America, but never seems to have had anything like the impact, which is no doubt why there hasn’t been a proper home console retail release since 2002.

The two PSP games, Pure and Pulse, were both excellent though and so too was PlayStation 3 download WipEout HD (which was eventually released on disc). WipEout still has a strong association as a launch title then, as well as a game that has thrived on the outer edges of the PlayStation Empire, but WipEout 2048 will hopefully see it return to real prominence.

The concept behind WipEout is not a complex one. Inspired by Nintendo’s F-Zero, the games are futuristic racers where you race anti-gravity vehicles around roller coaster like tracks. WipEout 2048 dials the clock back to the very beginnings of the fictional sport, so that rather than dealing with predominately abstract track designs you can see something that looks identifiably like a near future New York poking through the background.

Most tracks are tiered vertically, so that racing on the bottom level almost looks like a contemporary racer – if it weren’t for all the neon and lack of wheels. On the top level though things get genuinely sci-fi, which seems a relatively happy compromise between those that enjoyed the old visual style and those that were put off by it.

Of course it also allows for lots of interesting new tactics, as learning all the shortcuts and alternative routes begins to feel more like Mario Kart (another acknowledged inspiration) than ever before. This appears to be purposeful as the tracks are also wider than usual.

The wider tracks largely avoid the problem of pinging like a pinball from each side of the track to the other – a common complaint from previous games, by those who couldn’t get used to the handling mechanics straight away. But it also seems to be to encourage the more tactical use of weapons, so you’re not just firing and forgetting at whoever happens to be directly in front of you.

With power-ups now split between offensive and defensive types, and a new emphasis on using a rechargeable shield, there’s a clear attempt to refocus the game on battling and racing opponents rather than just the track. That’s a pretty major rethink for the series, but it works well and without compromising the series’ heritage.

If you’re desperate for all the hairpin turns of the original the tracks are filled with enough alternate routes to satisfy you, and if you take them well enough they can even give you an advantage. Even if other less practised players (virtual or otherwise) take the easy road.

Like most of the PS Vita launch titles the game tries to make as much use of all the different new inputs as possible, but the good news is that if you want to stay with analogue sticks and buttons you can do. Either with the original controls, that use left and right air brakes, or a newer simplified default set-up.

But if you’re feeling adventurous you can use the touchscreen for firing weapons, the rear touchpad to accelerate, and motion controls to steer.  We stuck to the analogue sticks for movement but the other options are more genuinely useful than most of the similar gimmicks in other games.

This alone makes the game a great showpiece for the console but the graphics are also amongst the Vita’s best. The more realistic style makes a direct comparison with WipEout HD difficult, but the final effect is at least as good and the track design expert enough to show off the vertiginous tracks to their best. It’s not 60 frames per second though, and even if there’s no slowdown expert players will notice the difference. The more complex backdrops can also be visually distracting, even when you think you know the tracks back-to-front.

Surprisingly though the biggest disappointment about WipEout 2048 is the multiplayer, despite having its own separate campaign. It’s all nicely varied, with in-race challenges (such as taking out a rival racer) that will reward you no matter where you place. But because it’s a pre-set campaign you have no control over the set-up in terms of track, speed class, event type or even weapons load-out.

The Ad Hoc wireless multiplayer is just the same and though it’s obviously been designed that way to be user friendly and stop elitist players lording over less experienced players, it feels very restrictive.

The CrossPlay feature that allows you to play against both other Vita owners and those on the PlayStation 3 is a great idea though and will hopefully help the portable through the difficult first few months, when the small userbase means there’s very few people online.

How much of a problem this is depends to a degree on how you intend to play the game, but the single-player campaign isn’t that long and the only other thing to do is play Zone races and Combat (aka Eliminator). In the end then we’d still classify WipEout HD/Fury as the better game, but this is still an excellent racer and one that dares to vary the series’ formula to interesting effect.

In Short:A great showcase for the PS Vita and at times as good as WipEout has ever been, despite a few questionable options and graphical issues.

Pros:Excellent handling and controls that find a good compromise between the demands of old and new players. Great presentation and excellent track design.

Cons:Multiplayer options are restrictive, even though the campaign mode seems a good idea. Single-player is a little short and graphics can be distracting. Not 60fps.
Score:7/10

Formats: PS VitaPrice: £34.99Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment EuropeDeveloper: SCE Studio LiverpoolRelease Date: 22nd February 2012Age Rating: 7

Video:Check out the WipEout 2048 trailer

Thoughts? Email gamecentral@ukmetro.co.uk or leave a comment below

WipEout 2048 (PSV) – gravity is for wimps

We have already got review copies of all the Sony-published PlayStation Vita titles, but we can’t give them a fair review until February when the online servers are turned on. What can we do in the meantime is let you know how the games work offline, in single-player mode. In terms of key launch title WipEout 2048, it plays as good as it looks.

Ask any British, and we suspect European, gamer about the WipEout series and they’re likely to respond enthusiastically about one of the most iconic PlayStation brands ever produced, and one of the titles that sold the PSone in terms of not just its technical ability but also its dance culture credibility. The franchise has actually sold more in America but never seems to have had anything like the impact, which is no doubt why there hasn’t been a standard home console retail release since 2002.

The two PSP games, Pure and Pulse, were both excellent though and so too was PlayStation 3 download WipEout HD (which was also eventually released on disc). WipEout still has a strong association as a launch title then, as well as a game that has thrived on the outer edges of the PlayStation Empire, but WipEout 2048 will hopefully see it return to real prominence.

The concept behind WipEout is not a complex one. Inspired by Nintendo’s F-Zero, the games are futuristic racers where you race anti-gravity vehicles around roller coaster like tracks. WipEout 2048 dials the clock back to the very beginnings of the fictional sport, so that rather than dealing with predominately abstract track designs you can see something that looks identifiably like a near future New York poking through the background.

Most tracks are tiered vertically, so that racing on the bottom level almost looks like a contemporary racer – if it weren’t for all the neon and lack of wheels. On the top level though things get genuinely sci-fi, which seems a relatively happy compromise between those that enjoyed the old visual style and those that were put off by it.

Of course it also allows for lots of interesting new tactics, as learning all the shortcuts and alternative routes begins to feel more like Mario Kart (another acknowledged inspiration) than ever before. This appears to be purposeful as the tracks are also wider than usual.

The wider tracks largely avoid the problem of pinging like a pinball from each side of the track to the other – a common complaint from previous games, by those who couldn’t get used to the handling mechanics straight away. But it also seems to be to encourage the more tactical use of weapons, so you’re not just firing and forgetting at whoever happens to be directly in front of you.

With power-ups now split between offensive and defensive types, and a new emphasis on using a rechargeable shield, there’s a clear attempt to refocus the game on battling and racing opponents rather than just the track. That’s a pretty major rethink for the series, but it works well and without compromising the series’ heritage.

If you’re desperate for all the hairpin turns of the original the tracks are filled with enough alternate routes to satisfy you, and if you take them well enough they can even give you an advantage. Even if other less practised players (virtual or otherwise) take the easy road.

Like most of the PS Vita launch titles the game tries to make as much use of all the different new inputs as possible, but the good news is that if you want to stay with analogue sticks and buttons you can do. But if you’re feeling adventurous you can use the touchscreen for firing weapons, the rear touchpad to accelerate, and motion controls to steer.

We stuck to the analogue sticks for movement but the other options are more genuinely useful than most of the similar gimmicks in other games. This alone makes the game a great showpiece for the console but the graphics are also amongst the Vita’s best. The more realistic style makes a direct comparison with WipEout HD difficult, but the final effect is at least as good and the track design expert enough to show off the vertiginous tracks to their best.

Together with Uncharted 3 this is clearly the best reason to buy the PS Vita at launch, and that’s before you even play another person at it.

Formats: PS VitaPublisher: Sony Computer Entertainment EuropeDeveloper: SCE Studio LiverpoolRelease Date: 22nd February 2012
Video:Check out the WipEout 2048 trailer

Thoughts? Email gamecentral@ukmetro.co.uk or leave a comment below

Xbox 360 – more than just the shooter box

Given what a financial black hole the original Xbox was it would’ve been easy to imagine Microsoft giving up on the console business after its first attempt. In terms of sales even the Xbox 360 (due to its leaper-like status in Japan) is likely to end up in third place against the Wii and PlayStation 3. And yet its influence on the games industry has been immense.Xbox Live is still the best online service by far and by continuously innovating seems able to comfortably keep its lead over Sony. But the Xbox 360′s most profound effect has been in empowering American publishers and developers, and causing a crisis in confidence in Japanese companies that has seen US tastes in gaming – and game development – become the dominant force in the industry.From a gamer’s point of view much of the Xbox 360′s early success was due to iconic exclusives such as Gears Of War and Halo, but in recent years the supporting cast of exclusives has fallen away to almost nothing. But even though Microsoft now seems to put more stock in exclusive downloadable content and Kinect this top 10 is still filled with classic Xbox-only games and in many cases the superior versions of multiformat titles.As always, feel free to laugh and point at any errors or omissions via the Inbox. You can’t get a list like this ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ but these are what we feel to be the best games on the Xbox 360…10. Deadly Premonition

Deadly Premonition – strangely good

As obscure as it may seem, as imperfect as it most certainly is, anyone that’s played and enjoyed Deadly Premonition will understand why it deserves its place on this list. The graphics may be awful and the controls almost unusable at times, but this is still one of the best narrative-driven games of the generation. Intended in part as a homage to Twin Peaks, this so masterfully recaptures the same sense of surreal tension that it becomes vastly more immersive than any photorealistic rival. But the game has some serious gameplay innovations too and the way it allows you to roam around the open world town, as the lives of everyone else continue on without you, has never been done better. It’s certainly a vastly more entertaining and ambitious game than the hugely disappointing, but similarly themed, Alan Wake.Publisher: Rising Star GamesDeveloper: Access GamesAge Rating: 189. Halo: Reach

Halo: Reach – the series that made the Xbox

We’ve never tried to pretend that Halo is one of our favourite game franchises here at GameCentral but it would be impossible to imagine any top 10 for an Xbox format that didn’t include one of the games. Although we’ve never found the insipid back story or repetitive locations very interesting (particularly in this needless prequel) that’s not really why Halo is such as an important game. No other title, not even GoldenEye 007, has had as much influence on the first person shooter genre on consoles – especially when it comes to online play. Whether you’re interested in the plot or not the multiplayer modes, and ancillary options such as the Forge level editor, are amongst the most polished and versatile in all gaming. The question for the franchise in the future is how it will fare without series creators Bungie…Publisher: Microsoft Game StudiosDeveloper: BungieAge Rating: 168. Portal 2(also on PlayStation 3 and PC)

Portal 2 – funny how it’s so good

Since Xbox Live Arcade also has Portal: Still Alive it really was a coin toss as to which of Valve’s masterpieces got to fly the flag for the company. Given how much better Half-Life 2, Left 4 Dead and Team Fortress 2 are on the PC – thanks to the mod community – we’ve again chosen against The Orange Box, in favour of Portal’s more recent sequel. All the same qualities are enshrined here, with one of the best, and funniest, scripts in all gaming married to some truly inspired spatial and physics-realted puzzles. If that doesn’t sound like much fun – and to be fair the game rarely looks that exciting in screenshots either – then all you need to do is play a few minutes to understand. Wheatley and GLaDos are not just comedy characters, they’re given a degree of depth and pathos in this sequel that other much more serious games never come close to.Publisher: Electronic Arts/ValveDeveloper: ValveAge Rating: 127. Child Of Eden

Child Of Eden – sensory overload

Apart from Dance Central in the best of the rest list this is the only Kinect-compatible game we’ve deemed worthy of mention. It doesn’t have to be played with Microsoft’s motion controller, indeed it’s a little more accurate with a joypad, but combined with a large TV and a decent sound system Kinect turns it into an almost transcendent sensory experience. As the spiritual sequel to Rez the gameplay is very similar and essentially an on-the-rails shooter. But not only does it exhibit Tetsuya Mizuguchi’s usual obsession with interactive soundtracks, it even purports to induce synesthesia . If you want to think of it as just a shoot ‘em-up then Child Of Eden is one of the best examples of the genre, but it’s also the best motion-controlled game on the Xbox 360 and one of the most immersive video games ever made.

Publisher: UbisoftDeveloper: Q EntertainmentAge Rating: 76. Gears Of War 2

Gears Of War 2 – engine of destruction

While Halo was the most influential console shooter of the previous generation, that accolade has now been passed onto Gears Of War on the Xbox 360. Just as almost every post-Halo first person shooter has copied its recharging health and two-gun inventory limit, the influence of Gears Of War’s third person cover system and co-operative campaign mode has been just as widespread. The Horde survival mode introduced for the sequel has also been adopted as standard by almost every subsequent shooter, including Halo itself. Consider also the importance of the Unreal Engine 3 graphics powering the game, the selling of which is developer Epic’s main source of income, and you could even begin to argue this is the most influential game of any kind.Publisher: Microsoft Game StudiosDeveloper: Epic GamesAge Rating: 185. Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition(also on PlayStation 3, PC and Nintendo 3DS)

Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition – fighting back

Responsible for revitalising not just Street Fighter itself but the whole of the one-on-one fighting genre, Street Fighter IV’s secret was to peel back years of over-complication and return the series to its rightful status as the best competitive multiplayer experience in gaming. Accessible to anyone, but mastered only by a dedicated few, the game’s extensive online options are almost as good as playing someone in the same room – and arguably better for learning the tricks of the trade. With pitch perfect presentation and graphics, this is not just the greatest fighting game of all time but also one of the most successful sequels/reboots too. Prospective owners should seek out the Arcade Edition, which is basically Super Street Fighter IV’s extra 10 characters plus another four (minor) fighters and rebalancing for the whole roster.  The Xbox 360 version does rank a little lower than on our PlayStation 3 top 10 though, given how awful the D-pad is on the Xbox 360 joypad – although a good arcade joystick or the Mad Catz FightPad will quickly solve that problem.Publisher: CapcomDeveloper: Dimps/CapcomAge Rating: 124. Batman: Arkham Asylum(also on PlayStation 3 and PC)

Batman: Arkham Asylum – The Dark Knight triumphant

Proof that licensed games don’t need to be third rate cash grabs, this stunning arcade adventure came out of nowhere in 2009 and instantly shot little known British developer Rocksteady into the big time. Whether you’re interested in Batman or not is irrelevant as it’s the mix of game styles and meticulously designed world that is the real draw. The visceral melee combat is a revelation and the stealth sequences, where you stalk villains from the shadows, is wonderfully open-ended given the relatively simple mechanics. Apart from the tepid boss battles there’s not an element of the game that doesn’t seem polished to perfection, from the Metroid-esque exploration and gadgets to the excellent graphics, superlative voiceovers (most using the actors from the animated series) and some truly surprising plot twists and set pieces.Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment/EidosDeveloper: Rocksteady StudiosAge Rating: 153. Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare(also on Wii, PlayStation 3, PC and Nintendo DS)

Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare – the king of shooters

Good arguments can be made for any of the last four Call Of Duty games being on this list (okay, maybe not World At War) but we’ve plumped for the first Modern Warfare. Not just because it’s the game that changed multiplayer gaming forever but because it still represents the best balance between single and multiplayer of any of the games. The plot still makes some vague sense and sequences such as the infamous AC-130 gunship attack has still yet to bettered in later titles. But it is the competitive multiplayer to which the series owes the majority of its success and longevity. The range of options and fast, accessible play that began in Call Of Duty 4 has not only been slowly evolved in subsequent sequels – it’s been imitated by just about every other multiplayer game on the planet, whether it’s a fellow first person shooter or not.Publisher: ActivisionDeveloper: Infinity WardAge Rating: 16+2. Bayonetta(also on PlayStation 3)

Bayonetta – bewitching combat

Thanks to a horribly sloppy port by Sega this only made the best of the rest list in our PlayStation 3 top 10, but the original Xbox 360 version is one of the most exquisitely constructed action games ever made. Produced by the creator of Devil May Cry this is very much a spiritual successor and roughly comparable to other roaming beat ‘em-ups such as God Of War. There are no block-pushing puzzles here though, but instead all the depth and accessibility of a good fighting game combined with an endlessly inventive string of boss battles and mini-game style diversions. The cut scenes do go on for far too long and the backdrops are sadly uninteractive but otherwise this is near perfect. And in these days of endless downloadable content the unending volume of unlockable extras seems almost unbelievably generous.Publisher: SegaDeveloper: PlatinumGamesAge Rating: 15

Mass Effect 2 – epic of our time

1. Mass Effect 2(also on PlayStation 3 and PC)Although no longer an Xbox 360 console exclusive this bubbles to the top of our list for a number of reasons, not least the way it uses your decisions and saved game information from the first title. Although technically referred to as an action role-player this takes inspiration from wherever it pleases, in terms of both games and science fiction. The third person combat is extremely solid, but what really makes the game is the genuinely affecting cast of characters. Chatting with them after a mission is often more rewarding than any of the actual action, and that’s regardless of whether you’re trying to romance them or not. Although the PlayStation 3 does allow for a useful facsimile of the experience, finding even relatively trivial decisions from the first game generating meaningful consequences in the second is a hugely impressive feat of game design and narrative sleight of hand. And one that makes the wait for the third game almost unbearable.Publisher: Electronic ArtsDeveloper: BioWareAge Rating: 15Best of the rest(in no particular order): Left 4 Dead 2, Fallout: New Vegas, L.A. Noire, Burnout Paradise, Grand Theft Auto IV, BioShock, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Rock Band 3, Splinter Cell: Conviction, FIFA 11, Assassin’s Creed II/Brotherhood, Bulletstorm, Fable II, Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit, Red Dead Redemption, Battlefield: Bad Company 2, Earth Defense Force 2017, BlazBlue: Continuum Shift, DiRT 3, Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise, DJ Hero 2, Crysis 2, Halo Wars, Marvel Vs. Capcom 3, Civilization Revolution, Dance Central, Skate 2, Borderlands, Forza Motorsport 3, Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2, F1 2010, WarTech: Senko No Ronde, Split/Second: Velocity, Vanquish, Crackdown, Top Spin 4, IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds Of Prey, Virtua Fighter 5, Prey, Dead Space 2, Deathsmiles Deluxe Edition, Toy Story 3, and Sega Rally.

The best of Xbox Live ArcadeNot only is Xbox Live the seminal online console service but Xbox Live Arcade remains the definitive download store. It pioneered the idea of small, often indie-developed downloadable titles at a budget price and its selection of titles remains second to none…5. Ikaruga(also on Dreamcast and GameCube)

Ikaruga – bullet heaven

As well as original games Xbox Live Arcade has become a haven for re-releases of cult games that would be impossible for the average gamer to afford on its original format. And yet now for just a few pounds you get one of the best 2D shooters ever made. The black and white imagery is stunning (you can switch your ship between either polarity, so that it’s immune to bullets of the same colour) and the puzzle-like level design that results is timeless… thanks to Xbox Live Arcade anyway.Publisher: Microsoft Game StudiosDeveloper: TreasureAge Rating: 34. Super Meat Boy(also on PC)

Super Meat Boy – prime slice of indie

One of the best examples of indie gaming, both in quality and the size and attitude of the developer, games like Super Meat Boy are exactly why Xbox Live Arcade is so essential a service. An ultra difficult 2D platformer about a lump of meat trying to rescue his girlfriend from a foetus in a robot suit is not the sort of game you’d find on a shop shelf for £40. Not that we wouldn’t pay that anyway, for this expertly crafted absurdity.Publisher: Microsoft Game StudiosDeveloper: Team MeatAge Rating: 73. Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2

Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 – two sticks, 100 clones

The original Geometry Wars was the first game to make people sit up and take notice of Xbox Live Arcade. A masterful homage to the golden era of coin-ops, the dual stick, top down action has still never been bettered – despite a legion of copy cats. Whether you prefer the stark simplicity of the original game or the much wider range of options, including multiplayer, in the sequel is unimportant – both are more than worthy of your time and money.Publisher: ActivisionDeveloper: Bizarre CreationsAge Rating: 32. Braid(also on PlayStation Network and PC)

Braid – rescue the princess

The pretentious Sixth Form style poetry that makes up the game’s story is an acquired taste but this remains one of the most important and influential downloadable games of all time. Certainly the 2D platforming and the consistently inspired use of time control effects is the most imaginative the genre has ever seen. With nods to everything from Super Mario to The Manhattan Project this is intelligent gaming at its very best.Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment EuropeDeveloper: Number None/Hothead GamesAge Rating: 12

Pac-Man Championship Edition DX – arcade gaming reborn

1. Pac-Man Championship Edition DX(also on PlayStation Network and Windows Phone 7)Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network are filled with retro remakes, reboots and plain old ports but Championship Edition DX surpasses all of those with ease. The basic gameplay and graphic design is the same as the ’80s original, except with a new emphasis on high scores and time attacks. New features such as a slow-mo effect and sleeping ghosts fashion a new game that perfectly balances the worlds of retro and modern gaming – and stands as master of both.Publisher: Namco BandaiDeveloper: Namco BandaiAge Rating: 3Best of the rest(in no particular order): From Dust, Bionic Commando Rearmed, Rez HD, Peggle, Perfect Dark, Limbo, Monkey Island 1 and 2: Special Edition, Trials HD, Plants Vs. Zombies, Tales Of Monkey Island, Castle Crashers, Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes, Guwange, Battlefield 1943, Lara Croft And The Guardian of Light, Darwinia+ Stacking, Beyond Good & Evil HD, Hard Corps: Uprising, Outland, Shadow Complex, Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, Puzzle Quest, Space Invaders: Infinity Gene, Bastion, Marvel Vs. Capcom 2, Bomberman Live: Battlefest, Bangai-O HD: Missile Fury, and Pinball FX2.

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