Wipeout used to be one of Sony's flagship series, but after a couple of mediocre titles it fell from grace and was squashed by other futuristic racers. Thankfully, come March 24 there will be a powerful resurrection of the franchise with Wipeout Pure on the PSP. While it isn't as fast as other titles in its genre such as F-Zero GX, it more than makes up for its lack of quickness with dreamy visuals, a fabulous artistic style, memorable music, tight analog controls, and promised downloadable content, making it one of the few absolute must-have PSP launch titles.

Like all the Wipeout games, Pure is driven by a graphics engine that spits out some truly breathtaking visuals. Screenshots do not do the game justice, for when it's in motion its hypnotizing effects draw curious onlookers to the PSP like bees to spring flowers. You'll pilot numerous hover cars through a plethora of environments, some of which appear to have been influenced by the science fiction masterpiece Blade Runner, with giant screens, quirky-looking statues, and futuristic-looking buildings rising high into the cloud-covered sky.

However, beneath the warm glow of the metropolis lay miles of tracks that twist like pythons. Some rise into the sky and suddenly end, leaving you plummeting to the next track that immediately plunges your craft underwater. It's so intense that it's very easy to take your eyes off the road, and for those drooling behind you, impossible to look away from the PSP. Pound for pound, it's the best-looking game for the system.

Wipeout Pure's amazing visuals go far beyond what you'll see in-game because even the options menus have cool graphics. There's this unique Wipeout artistic style that flows through the game like blood, pumping cool through its veins and powering it with a lifeforce the likes of which is rarely experienced in games of this type. The Wipeout style is accompanied by a great techno soundtrack that emanates from your PSP with the sole intent of getting your feet to tap.

The cool presentation sucks you into this game, but thankfully Wipeout Pure isn't just eye candy. Under the high layer of visual and audio polish lies a rock solid gameplay system that features great controls and the ability to use weapons to gain the edge in races. There are also numerous vehicles to choose from, each with unique abilities, and sure to keep you experimenting for hours on end.

If you're looking to tackle just the single-player modes, Tournament is complimented by other avenues including Time Trial and Free Play, but the most intriguing is Zone, a game that tests your twitch skills by getting faster with each lap. The graphical style displayed in this mode is almost TRON-like, and the sensation of speed is a lot more exhilarating than what's found in the rest of the game.

Much like the PSP's other games, Wipeout Pure's wireless multiplayer mode is easy to set up and a blast to play. Up to eight people can battle one another on the same exact single-player courses, and for the most part things run pretty smoothly. However, you will notice some minor lag if more than four people are playing at once, but the game runs great for the most part, and is a lot of fun with other PSP owners.

To its credit, there isn't really anything negative to say about Wipeout Pure other than it's nowhere near as thrilling as F-Zero GX. The speed level is a bit subdued, and it's actually a bummer because I often feel like I'm not moving fast enough. Fans of the series will argue that Wipeout was never about blinding speed, to which I say they're right, but this is also 2005, and there are other games out there...well who am I kidding? It's all about F-Zero GX, which is just a phenomenally-polished product that's lightning fast and as exhilarating as cold water on a one hundred degree July afternoon, but until that game or a sequel appears on a hand held, Wipeout is the king of the sci-fi portable racing genre.

Quickness is only one of its many faces. You don't play it to go fast. You play it to totally immerse yourself in its world. Lastly, as an added bonus, Sony's pledged to release new tracks, courses, and new music each month, and while it's too early to tell whether the company will actually follow through with its ambitious plans, the ability to download new goodies free of charge will keep the game fresh and exciting well past its March release date.

Wipeout Pure is much more than just a racer. It's a state of mind, a marvelous sci-fi excursion into another realm that's so incredibly detailed that it's difficult to leave. If you're a fan of the series you'll love what Sony's done, and if you're new to it then prepare to be sucked in. Just like Namco's Ridge Racers, Wipeout Pure is another shining example of why owning a PSP is one of the best decisions that you'll make all year.

Our Final ScoreGood

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