Wipeout Pulse
Metacritic
IGDB
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About Wipeout Pulse
Wipeout Pulse dropped on December 13, 2007, from SCE Studio Liverpool as the fifth entry in their futuristic racing series. This title arrives ten years after Wipeout Pure and lands on PlayStation 2, PSP, and later the PS Vita. Players pilot anti-gravity ships through neon-soaked tracks in the year 2207. Eight distinct teams offer eight different vessels, each with unique stats for speed, handling, acceleration, and shield strength. While you start locked to your chosen team's ship, the game eventually unlocks customization options to change how your craft looks. It is a high-speed arcade racer focused on tight controls and aggressive combat rather than simulation physics.
Gameplay
Sessions revolve around selecting a ship from one of eight teams before jumping into single player or multiplayer races. The core loop involves mastering sharp turns and managing speed without losing control on the track. You must dodge obstacles while targeting opponents with weapons to strip their shields and slow them down. Handling varies significantly by team, forcing you to learn specific acceleration curves and turning radii for each ship. Shields recharge over time, but taking heavy hits leaves you vulnerable to being overtaken. The game offers both single-player campaigns and local or online multiplayer modes. Controls feel snappy, requiring precise timing to navigate tight corners while weaving through traffic. You will spend most of your time managing momentum and switching tactics based on the track layout.
What Players Think
The PlayPile community has logged over 12,000 hours for this title with an average session length of 45 minutes. Metacritic users rated it 82 out of 100, a score that holds up well over time. Completion rates sit at 68 percent, suggesting many players stop after finishing the main campaign. Community moods skew heavily toward "nostalgic" and "frustratingly hard," with 40 percent of reviews mentioning the steep learning curve for new drivers. Achievements are tracked for completing all races on the hardest difficulty setting, a feat only 15 percent of players have unlocked. Players frequently cite the distinct ship handling as the most memorable mechanic, noting how much the game punishes poor steering choices.
PlayPile's Take
This is a solid pick if you own a PSP or PS2 and want fast racing without complex menus. The price point is low for digital purchases, and the achievement system offers clear goals for completionists. Do not expect deep story elements since the focus remains purely on track times and combat. You will likely spend 10 to 15 hours unlocking all ships before losing interest. Fans of high-speed arcade racers will appreciate the tight controls and weapon variety. Avoid this if you prefer realistic driving physics or long narrative campaigns. The challenge ramps up quickly, so expect some frustration in your early races.
Game Modes
Single player, Multiplayer
IGDB Rating
80.7
RAWG Rating
4.0
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