For years, Sony has been doing wonders with the WipEout racing brand, even though it hasn’t necessarily done anything new since its last releases on the PlayStation 3 and PS Vita. No matter – what still remains is a treasure trove of futuristic racing that has been unmatched, mainly because Nintendo hasn’t been doing anything with the F-Zero brand as of late. When it comes to fierce hovercraft racing across a neon-lit landscape, you just can’t beat a good WipEout game.
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And that’s why I enjoy WipEout: Omega Collection so much. Ever since its initial announcement at PlayStation Experience late last year, I’ve been feverishly waiting to get back behind the wheel with this franchise, especially with PS4 Pro boosted visuals that really do the 4K display some justice. You thought it looked great on the PlayStation 3? Hold on to your hats.
Omega Collection doesn’t necessarily have anything new – the word Collection should let on that it’s more about celebrating the past rather than the future – but it does have a lot of content going for it, including three specific releases – WipEout HD, WipEout HD‘s Fury expansion, and WipEout 2048. While I would’ve liked to have seen more content in here (like maybe the original PlayStation WipEout remastered?), there’s more than enough here to satisfy.
Going The Extra Mile
The game features a bevy of modes to choose from, but career is your best bet, as you’ll take on a variety of challenges in each game and eventually open up even more goodies, including challenging tracks, Time Trials, Speed Runs and, yep, vehicles. We’re talking the sleekest of the sleek when it comes to racing behemoths, and they all perform even more admirably than before, thanks to revised controls with a lot of options.
For instance, air braking feels better than it ever has, making your run into tight turns a lot easier than before, mainly due to the build of the DualShock 4 pad. (Ask me how much I struggled with the DualShock 3 back with the original WipEout HD sometime.) There’s also a neat little option that will help you get around turns with automatic braking, though it doesn’t always guarantee you’ll avoid a collision, especially if you’re coming off a boost or, worse yet, a collision with an opponent. For rookies, it’s worth trying out, but pros won’t need it.
The Collection also features a sweet “Racebox” mode where you can set up your own racing rules and go at it against other AI opponents or, better yet, against others. The online races we took part in were smooth (keep in mind it was pre-release), and the game also has a split-screen option, should you feel compelled to kick your buddy’s butt while you reside on the same couch.
Looking And Sounding Amazing
There’s even a statistics mode that keeps specific track of your progress in Omega Collection. Who would want to see this sort of thing is beyond me, but it’s kind of neat, especially if you want to see just how much time you’ve invested in the game as a whole. Wait, I did how many barrel rolls? Man, I’m an animal.
Aside from strong gameplay and a bevy of options and unlockable goods, WipEout: Omega Collection also has astounding visuals. Man, they’re really something. The game runs at a very consistent 60 frames per second, and even on a typical PlayStation 4, it looks beautiful. It nary misses a beat when it comes to track and vehicular detail, and the weapon effects are as stunning as ever, especially when you begin rolling up the track with a shockwave that throws other vehicles off with ease.
I’m also a big fan of the soundtrack, which features a who’s who of techno-based dance tunes and rock that really fits the motif of the WipEout series. You’ve got Prodigy and a handful of others that really contribute some great tracks here, even ones from the series’ past. It all comes together nicely, along with a somewhat muted (but effective) weapon announcer and little sound effects.
A Bit Tough, But Worth Taking On
If WipEout has a big problem, it would probably be the difficulty. Even on the Rookie settings, a lot of these AI drivers will give you a run for their money. And it’s kind of odd how they can shake off some of the weapon effects like nothing’s happened to them, but you get hit with the same thing and feel somewhat stilted. Plus, if you go for the extremely higher difficulty, you’re going to struggle quite a bit to complete these Speed Runs. No, really. I’m still going at it.
Minor difficulty issues and lack of new content aside, WipEout: Omega Collection is a celebration of everything that makes the racing series so great. It plays wonderfully, it looks incredible and the soundtrack makes you feel right at home. Plus, the various options and unlockables will keep you busy for hours, and the online racing is sure to be a big staple when it launches to the public this week.
Now then, Sony, since you’ve gotten this out of your system, aren’t we due for a new WipEout? We’ll be waiting for you in the future.
RATING: Four and a half stars (out of five).
Disclaimer: A review code was provided by the publisher.
A Bit Tough, But Worth Taking On
If WipEout has a big problem, it would probably be the difficulty. Even on the Rookie settings, a lot of these AI drivers will give you a run for their money. And it’s kind of odd how they can shake off some of the weapon effects like nothing’s happened to them, but you get hit with the same thing and feel somewhat stilted. Plus, if you go for the extremely higher difficulty, you’re going to struggle quite a bit to complete these Speed Runs. No, really. I’m still going at it.
Minor difficulty issues and lack of new content aside, WipEout: Omega Collection is a celebration of everything that makes the racing series so great. It plays wonderfully, it looks incredible and the soundtrack makes you feel right at home. Plus, the various options and unlockables will keep you busy for hours, and the online racing is sure to be a big staple when it launches to the public this week.
Now then, Sony, since you’ve gotten this out of your system, aren’t we due for a new WipEout? We’ll be waiting for you in the future.
RATING: Four and a half stars (out of five).
Disclaimer: A review code was provided by the publisher.
