Wipeout Fusion
Encyclopedia
Wipeout Fusion is a 2002 racing video game that has been the only original release of the Wipeout
series of racing game
s for PlayStation 2
(Wipeout Pulse
for PSP was ported to the system in 2009). Players compete in the F9000 anti-gravity
racing league, which is set in the year 2160.
to successfully navigate.
The basic single-race and league modes are still the core of the game, and the two-player split screen mode is continued from Wipeout 3
. The single race mode, called Arcade mode, is used to unlock new tracks. When a player wins a gold on a given track, either another course in that same track group, or another group of tracks, is unlocked. AG League mode has had some changes to it from previous Wipeout titles: instead of having league challenges which encompass the entire set of tracks in sequence, there is a progression of leagues, each with a selection of between 3 and 7 tracks. The outcome of each race is scored by points, which are awarded for both finish order and eliminations. Total points determine the winner of the league. A win on a given league challenge unlocks the next (more difficult) league, or in some cases, a personal challenge against one of the pilots of a new team. Beating a pilot's challenge unlocks the team for which that pilot flies.
Challenge mode, which was introduced in Wipeout 64
has been enhanced in Fusion. Each team has its own set of 6 challenges, selected from race, time, or elimination. Each challenge must be completed with a medal to unlock the next challenge in the sequence, and the final challenge for a team must be unlocked with a gold medal in each of the other challenges.
Fusion features an increase in the use of weapons; weapon pads are more plentiful, and the AI
pilots seem quite a bit more aggressive with weaponry than in previous Wipeout incarnations. New weapons have been added to the game, including the proton cannon, grav stinger, flamethrower, and gravity bomb, as well as super weapons, such as: super missiles, seismic field, bio snare, power swarm, and nitro rocket. Each team possess his own super weapon, which becomes available for that team's pilots when player obtains special super weapon license, awarded by completing that team specific challenges in the Challenge mode. Some of the weapons have also been modified (the 5 mines are now dropped individually, instead of in a single-fire sequence), and many weapons which normally fire forward may now be fired backward; in particular, the quake disruptor, a weapon that previously could only be fired forward, may be fired to the rear.
Another fairly large change from previous Wipeout titles is the addition of ship upgrades. AG League races, in addition to points, also net the player credits based on performance in race (finishing order), damage (to other players), skill, and time. These credits are used to upgrade the top speed, thrust (acceleration), lateral stability, brake force, weapon power, and shield strength of a single ship. The upgraded ship is available in Arcade mode as well, though is only available to the pilot whose ship it is; the other pilot on a team must have his/her ship upgraded separately. Upgraded ships are not used in Challenge mode; each challenge is played with the basic unmodified craft.
The in-game branding and menus were designed by Good Technology rather than The Designers Republic, who had worked on all of the previous titles.
Mandrashe
Cubiss Float
Alca Vexus
Vohl Square
Temtesh Bay
Katmoda 12
Devilia (Hidden Track)
make a return appearance in Wipeout Fusion (except AG Systems and Qirex) - FEISAR, Auricom, and Piranha.
This is the first, and so far only, Wipeout game that features two individual pilots for each team since the original installment.
The player initially only has access to the first three teams. The rest are unlocked by winning one-on-one races with the second pilot of that team during AG League mode.
Lead Pilot: Daniel Johnson (GBR
), a much-hyped, first year pilot who has just signed the largest rookie contract in FEISAR history.
Second Pilot: Carlos Beneto (BRA
), a veteran of over fifteen seasons who has been demoted from lead pilot in favor of popular rookie Daniel Johnson.
Lead Pilot: Songen Grey (USA), the founder of a religion known as "Gangoism". Grey is contemplating retirement at the end of the season.
Second Pilot: Nami Mishima (JPN
), a massively popular pilot often compared to the F3600 legend Arial Tetsuo, but has frequently been the victim of several sabotage attacks.
Lead Pilot: Roberto Sergio (ITA
), a former FEISAR pilot famous for his physical fitness and prior romantic links to notable female pilots in the league.
Second Pilot: Naomi Turner (GBR
), a long-time pilot prospect for AG Systems (which was later bought out by G-Tech) noted for her bitter hatred of reiging World Champion, Natasha Belmondo.
Lead Pilot: Pascale Rouser (GER
)
Second Pilot: Franco Gonzalez (ESP
)
Lead Pilot: Paul Cheung
Second Pilot: Alex Reece
Lead Pilot: Omarr Khumala (RSA
)
Second Pilot: Sveta Kirowski (RUS
)
Lead Pilot: Natasha Belmondo (FRA
)
Second Pilot: Zala Wollf (AUT
)
Lead Pilot: Myima Tsarong (TIB
)
Second Pilot: Jann Schlaudecker (GER
)
Wipeout (video game series)
Wipeout is a series of futuristic anti-gravity racing games developed by SCE Studio Liverpool. The series is well-known for its fast-paced gameplay and high-quality 3D visual design, as well as its association with electronica and electronic dance music.-Gameplay:Wipeout is a racing series that...
series of racing game
Racing game
A racing video game is a genre of video games, either in the first-person or third-person perspective, in which the player partakes in a racing competition with any type of land, air, or sea vehicles. They may be based on anything from real-world racing leagues to entirely fantastical settings...
s for PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
(Wipeout Pulse
Wipeout Pulse
Wipeout Pulse is a racing game for the Sony PlayStation Portable, sequel to Wipeout Pure. The game was officially announced on March 27, 2007 and was released on December 14, 2007 in Europe. A PlayStation 2 port was released on June 24, 2009 in Europe ....
for PSP was ported to the system in 2009). Players compete in the F9000 anti-gravity
Anti-gravity
Anti-gravity is the idea of creating a place or object that is free from the force of gravity. It does not refer to the lack of weight under gravity experienced in free fall or orbit, or to balancing the force of gravity with some other force, such as electromagnetism or aerodynamic lift...
racing league, which is set in the year 2160.
Gameplay
The game introduces the player to the F9000 Anti-Gravity Race League, which 6 years later after its "opening" in 2156 would be revamped. From that time, Anti-Gravity Racing was given mostly mixed reactions despite getting more aggressive. Tracks are changed somewhat from previous Wipeout games. Each track in Fusion is now a group of 3 tracks, each of which can be run in forward or reverse mode. Many tracks also contain a "trackless" section, generally a wide tree- or boulder-strewn field which offers several paths for pilots, making navigation tricky. Several tracks feature split sections, in which there are multiple paths for players to follow. A few tracks also contain shortcuts, which are hidden behind false walls, or require a turbo boost power-upPower-up
In computer and video games, power-ups are objects that instantly benefit or add extra abilities to the game character as a game mechanic. This is in contrast to an item, which may or may not have a benefit and can be used at a time chosen by the player...
to successfully navigate.
The basic single-race and league modes are still the core of the game, and the two-player split screen mode is continued from Wipeout 3
Wipeout 3
Wipeout 3, released as Wip3out in Europe and Japan, is a futuristic racing video game developed and published by Psygnosis exclusively for the Sony PlayStation. The title is the fourth game in the Wipeout series, and was released in Europe and North America in September 1999. The game was...
. The single race mode, called Arcade mode, is used to unlock new tracks. When a player wins a gold on a given track, either another course in that same track group, or another group of tracks, is unlocked. AG League mode has had some changes to it from previous Wipeout titles: instead of having league challenges which encompass the entire set of tracks in sequence, there is a progression of leagues, each with a selection of between 3 and 7 tracks. The outcome of each race is scored by points, which are awarded for both finish order and eliminations. Total points determine the winner of the league. A win on a given league challenge unlocks the next (more difficult) league, or in some cases, a personal challenge against one of the pilots of a new team. Beating a pilot's challenge unlocks the team for which that pilot flies.
Challenge mode, which was introduced in Wipeout 64
Wipeout 64
Wipeout 64 is the third game in the Wipeout series and the only for the Nintendo 64. At the time of the game's release developers Psygnosis had been owned for 5 years by Sony Computer Entertainment, for whose hardware all subsequent Wipeout games have been released exclusively.Set in 2098, just a...
has been enhanced in Fusion. Each team has its own set of 6 challenges, selected from race, time, or elimination. Each challenge must be completed with a medal to unlock the next challenge in the sequence, and the final challenge for a team must be unlocked with a gold medal in each of the other challenges.
Fusion features an increase in the use of weapons; weapon pads are more plentiful, and the AI
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence is the intelligence of machines and the branch of computer science that aims to create it. AI textbooks define the field as "the study and design of intelligent agents" where an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its environment and takes actions that maximize its...
pilots seem quite a bit more aggressive with weaponry than in previous Wipeout incarnations. New weapons have been added to the game, including the proton cannon, grav stinger, flamethrower, and gravity bomb, as well as super weapons, such as: super missiles, seismic field, bio snare, power swarm, and nitro rocket. Each team possess his own super weapon, which becomes available for that team's pilots when player obtains special super weapon license, awarded by completing that team specific challenges in the Challenge mode. Some of the weapons have also been modified (the 5 mines are now dropped individually, instead of in a single-fire sequence), and many weapons which normally fire forward may now be fired backward; in particular, the quake disruptor, a weapon that previously could only be fired forward, may be fired to the rear.
Another fairly large change from previous Wipeout titles is the addition of ship upgrades. AG League races, in addition to points, also net the player credits based on performance in race (finishing order), damage (to other players), skill, and time. These credits are used to upgrade the top speed, thrust (acceleration), lateral stability, brake force, weapon power, and shield strength of a single ship. The upgraded ship is available in Arcade mode as well, though is only available to the pilot whose ship it is; the other pilot on a team must have his/her ship upgraded separately. Upgraded ships are not used in Challenge mode; each challenge is played with the basic unmodified craft.
The in-game branding and menus were designed by Good Technology rather than The Designers Republic, who had worked on all of the previous titles.
Tracks
Florion HeightMandrashe
Cubiss Float
Alca Vexus
Vohl Square
Temtesh Bay
Katmoda 12
Devilia (Hidden Track)
Zone mode
A new and popular mode called Zone mode has become a hit with fans. The goal of this mode is to drive as many laps as possible on a track while the speed of the player's ship is slowly increasing; when the ship's energy shield is destroyed, the game is over.Teams
Only three teams that were featured in Wipeout 3Wipeout 3
Wipeout 3, released as Wip3out in Europe and Japan, is a futuristic racing video game developed and published by Psygnosis exclusively for the Sony PlayStation. The title is the fourth game in the Wipeout series, and was released in Europe and North America in September 1999. The game was...
make a return appearance in Wipeout Fusion (except AG Systems and Qirex) - FEISAR, Auricom, and Piranha.
This is the first, and so far only, Wipeout game that features two individual pilots for each team since the original installment.
The player initially only has access to the first three teams. The rest are unlocked by winning one-on-one races with the second pilot of that team during AG League mode.
- FEISAR (European ConsortiumEuropean UnionThe European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
)
Lead Pilot: Daniel Johnson (GBR
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
), a much-hyped, first year pilot who has just signed the largest rookie contract in FEISAR history.
Second Pilot: Carlos Beneto (BRA
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
), a veteran of over fifteen seasons who has been demoted from lead pilot in favor of popular rookie Daniel Johnson.
- Van-Uber Racing Developments (GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
)
Lead Pilot: Songen Grey (USA), the founder of a religion known as "Gangoism". Grey is contemplating retirement at the end of the season.
Second Pilot: Nami Mishima (JPN
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
), a massively popular pilot often compared to the F3600 legend Arial Tetsuo, but has frequently been the victim of several sabotage attacks.
- G-Tech Systems (JapanJapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
)
Lead Pilot: Roberto Sergio (ITA
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
), a former FEISAR pilot famous for his physical fitness and prior romantic links to notable female pilots in the league.
Second Pilot: Naomi Turner (GBR
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
), a long-time pilot prospect for AG Systems (which was later bought out by G-Tech) noted for her bitter hatred of reiging World Champion, Natasha Belmondo.
- Auricom Research Industries (North AmericaNorth AmericaNorth America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
)
Lead Pilot: Pascale Rouser (GER
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
)
Second Pilot: Franco Gonzalez (ESP
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
)
- EG.r Technologies (ChinaPeople's Republic of ChinaChina , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
)
Lead Pilot: Paul Cheung
Second Pilot: Alex Reece
- Tigron Enterprises (RussiaRussiaRussia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
)
Lead Pilot: Omarr Khumala (RSA
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
)
Second Pilot: Sveta Kirowski (RUS
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
)
- Xios International (FinlandFinlandFinland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
)
Lead Pilot: Natasha Belmondo (FRA
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
)
Second Pilot: Zala Wollf (AUT
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
)
- Piranha Advancements (BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
)
Lead Pilot: Myima Tsarong (TIB
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
)
Second Pilot: Jann Schlaudecker (GER
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
)
Reviews
- Official PlayStation 2 Magazine UK: 9 out of 10 (90%)
- IGNIGNIGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
: 9.0 out of 10 (90%) - GameSpotGameSpotGameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
: 7.3 out of 10 (73%) - Edge (magazine)Edge (magazine)Edge is a multi-format computer and video game magazine published by Future Publishing in the United Kingdom. It is known for its industry contacts, editorial stance, distinctive anonymous third-person writing style, yearly awards and longevity....
: 5 out of 10 (50%)