Lawrence.com

Originally born on the PS1, the Wipeout series has become known for its futuristic atmosphere and high octane mix of mach speed racing with weapon based combat. Now the series comes to the PSP with Wipeout Pure and the result is not only the finest racer for the console but possibly even the finest game for the fledgling system.

First and foremost, this game is fast. Real fast. The framerate rocks; it is very, very impressive, creating an incredible sense of speed, unlike any other PSP racer. Navigate your craft over two or three boost platforms or hit your turbo and you'll know exactly what I'm talking about, all without the slightest hint of slowdown, no matter how many ships are on screen at a given time or what kind of particle effect is created by one of the game's many weapons.

It doesn't end there, no sir -- there's not a more visually appealing game on Sony's small wonder. The high-resolution textures are vibrant and beautiful, and the racing horizon is almost infinite, allowing you to see what hairpins and tight turns await you and your craft. Each intricately designed course teems with movement and life. One track features an underwater section in which the course is encased in glass. Through the panes you can see all manner of ocean life go about their business as usual. Another level features large, moving billboards akin to something out of Blade Runner.

The sound is also rather impressive. The British techno soundtrack complements the futuristic tone of the game perfectly. The engine sound hints at how powerful your craft truly is, while your onboard computer assists you by warning of upcoming traps set by enemy racers or incoming missiles.

We all know that a beautiful looking game is merely eye candy without a solid gameplay element behind it all. Luckily so does developer Studio Liverpool, which ensured that the powerslide heavy, frantic action of the console versions remained intact. The game plays like a ballsy version of F Zero. Controlling your craft is a breeze with the two control set-ups (dual air brake and single). They're both responsive, it's just a matter of preference. The control is somewhat floaty at lower speeds, but the crafts handle responsively and its not an issue in the later, faster races.

Speaking of races, an average race consists of three laps against seven competitors. The courses are dynamic and multi-tiered, featuring hairpin turns, loop de loops, corkscrews and figure eights. Strategically placed throughout each level are boost platforms and weapon pickups. The use of the weapon system in the game is unique. With any of the game's ten weapons you are given the option to either use it for its intended offensive or defensive purpose or sacrifice to recharge your energy shields. This is an intuitive feature that may not factor into the earlier, slower circuits but is much more important to your survival later in the game.

This is a great game, but it's not with one glaring problem: a paltry amount of both single and multiplayer modes.

Tournament is the main single player draw, as it unlocks new levels and circuits, but once you've beaten all of those, there really isn't much else. Time Trial and Single Race are both pretty straight-forward racing standards; the only original mode the game features is called Zone.

Zone consists of driving a preselected craft around a course as it continually gains speed. The goal of Zone is simply to survive for as long as you can. Zone is a fun distraction for a while, but ultimately it's just that: a distraction.

The network games and tournaments are fun and play really well, but a true online mode would have been appreciated (I feel like I've been saying that a lot lately).

These are small gripes that don't directly affect the game, just its replay value. Wipeout Pure is a fun, fast and frantic racing game that plays as good as it looks. PSP owners looking for a game to really showcase their new toy's power, racing fans looking their next adrenaline rush and fans of good videogaming in general will all be more than satisfied with Wipeout Pure.

Graphics: A

Sound: A-

Gameplay: A

First Play: A-

Last Play: B+

Overall: A 94%