Are you ready?
PS4 Exclusive, VR capable
Okay, hands up: Who remembers thrashing their siblings on a version of the WipeOut franchise? That deliriously trippy racing franchise, armed with breackneck visuals and an amazing Drum ‘n’ Bass soundtrack that got stuck in your ears? Well, it hasn’t gonme away, it merely… evolved. If you like great racing game mechanics, a kill-or-be-killed mentality whilst using aids and weapons, and one truly iconic soundtrack including some of The Prodigy’s best songs, then I highly recommend this game.
The History
The story behind this game is quite simple: WipeOut as a franchise had become iconic as a franchise that most people get a PlayStation to play. It is, to put not too fine a point on it, the ultimate in racing games for PlayStation gamers. Yes, Grand Turismo is good, don’t get me wrong, but put a kid beside you as you play, and inevitably, the kid will get bored. Play WipeOut: Omega Collection with them by your side, and I guarantee that the kid will be trying to wrestle your Dualshock Controller from your hands (and prior to the 2020 Pandemic, this happened to me)! As for the current generation, this is exactly what I got a PS4 for. When the developers (Creative Vault Studios) and publishers (Sony Interactive Entertainment) announced this game was coming out, the gaming corner of the internet had kittens. It’s not hard to see why, either.
The Visuals
The one thing that can make or break a WipeOut game is the visuals, but this game does not let you down as far as this vital part of this game is concerned. There’s Zone mode and a retro setting, for all those who remember the first entries, while keeping glorious visuals for the tracks for those who want to experience this game in glorious 4K. Vineta K and Sebenco Climb are particular feasts, and more to the point: this game looks even better in PlayStation’s VR. That’s no easy boast to make either people, as all the classic tracks we love from the original games get beautiful remasters worthy of the price tag (£24.99). Yes, this game is a bit heavy on the wallet, particularly with Christmas around the corner, but see this as an investment, as I guarantee you that once you’ve been in two or three races, you’ll be hooked.
The tracks
This game, in a lot of ways, is a celebration of the WipeOut games that have gone before, and this part is no exception: there are loads of tracks for you to race around with your friends, against the console or even against your friends on the PlayStation Network who own the game. All of the best tracks from WipeOut’s two decades of games have been lovingly recreated in 4K (if you’ve got the PlayStation 4 Pro), and the retro versions are still there on the Zone mode, which I’m so happy has made a comeback. Modesto Heights was my absolute favourite, with the recreated version having a nice reference to Isaac Asimov’s works. There’s a beautiful moment around turn three where you spot a neon sign reading “Robots build Robots” which awakened the inner sci-fi fan in me. So, if you’ve played the previous installments in the franchise, and want to race at breakneck speeds around your favourite tracks, have no fear: They’re on this game.
The Racers
Whilst we’re on the topic of the racing, the racing vehicles you’ve loved from previous games are on here. From the original few (I’m a Qirex man myself), to the the newer racing teams, they’re all here (plus a few new ones to add into the mix). The only gripe is that we didn’t get the construction video we saw booting up WipeOut Pure on PSP, but then, in a game that is jam-packed with callbacks to the past and goodies, is it reallyh needed? Would this masterpiece of a game work any better with a boot up scene like this? Probably not, in all fairness. There is so much packed into this game that to complete the single player aspects both on VR and without that it takes roughly 72 hours for the competent racing gamer. Rich Duffy, my non-racing gamer counterpart in this review, took well over a week to complete this aspect, which brings me nicely onto…
The Difficulty
The people who made this game were obviously aware of whom would be buying this game, because whilst the normal racing levels we get in previous installments don’t fuck about. The game gets all that more difficult as you battle and race through the racing leagues, yes, but there are also series of racing, encompassing all the great stuff we’ve raced around from years gone by. If you’re a seasoned WipeOut gamer reading at this and thinking that this will be easy: think again.
This game is very much the slap in the face to gamers who buy this game thinking that they’re going to Platinum this game in no time. It requires mastery, patience and laser-sharp reflexes. To be honest with you, I’ve got an issue with my left hand (cue Josef Stalin jokes), and really struggled to get round parts of. So much so, that I had to crack out my disability adapted controller. However, this is in no way as difficult as the sharp difficulty curve. It really is the Dark Souls of the racing games franchise, but be patient. The game gives you much better Anti-Gravity racing engines as you progress, and from all the teams. Pro-tip, get the special edition of this game from the PlayStation Store if you want to get a few of these earlier, as going “iron man” mode like I did took some getting used to.
The Soundtrack
The Soundtrack to this game is as beautiful as you’d expect. Music from a load of Acid House and Drum ‘n’ Bass artists I’ve never heard of before make their appearances here, as well as artists I listen to myself. That’s right, your friendly neighbourhood goth listens to acid house and dance music too! LCD Soundsystem, The Prodigy and Pendulum all make their appearances here, and I defy you not to be singing along as you race across Sebenco Climb whilst “Firestarter” blares out of your TV’s speakers. There’s not much else to speak about as far as I can see, as all the music is non-diagetic, and the engine sounds seem to be recycled but remastered from WipeOut Pure on the PSP.
The Verdict
WipeOut: The Omega Collection is definitely a must-buy, particularly if you have PlayStation’s VR or if you are using the PS4 Pro console. The game is difficult to master and very rewarding when you do get to grips with the controls. There’s nothing to really write home about as far as multiplayer is concerned, as it’s broadly speaking a remaster of previous editions, but view this masterpiece of a game as a sign of how far we’ve come with racing games, and where they can go. This game is essentially, a “greatest hits” of the original games, brought back to the current generation by people who are clearly fans of the original franchise. Get it if you’re a fan of racing games, and if you’re the parent of teenagers, this game would make an excellent stocking filler.
So, did you like the review? Am I going on too much about your mother? Have I got this back to front? Whichever way you see it, feel free to let us know down below, and you can talk to me on Twitter here= @heresdaibhi
Yours,
Davey
