Controlling your vehicle will take some practice too. Of the 8 initial ships, you'll need to do some experimenting to find one that finally feels right to you. Braking around some of the banked curves properly takes some real skill. Besides the basics of turning and shooting, you can also perform a barrel roll once airborne to gain a brief speed boost. Missing it and landing wrong is going to cost you. It's a risky move with great rewards.
Much like everything else in the game, things don't look too spectacular initially, especially if you've spent time with something like "Ridge Racer." Where "Wipeout Pure" draws you in is with its color and background detail. No, the textures may not seem as sharp as some of the competition, but the sheer amount of buildings, shockingly effective weather effects, stunning weapon explosions (especially the warping effect), and decent sense of speed make this a nauseating experience, just like it should be. The frame rate is a little lower to compensate for everything, and it's worth it.
Packed with a variety of licensed techno music (a series staple), the music keeps with the rapid pace the game moves at. A little variety wouldn't hurt though. A female announcer alerts you to danger you otherwise might not be able to see. You can hear an opponent getting closer to you with a solid set of headphones, an important aspect that's handled quite well. The stereo effect is awesome too, especially as enemies start colliding with your ship.
This is a portable package that has more to offer than some home console games. There's a lot to love about this title and very little to hate. It was hyped as one of the premier titles for the launch and that was hype well deserved. It may not be your style of racing and that's the only reason for this game not to be purchased alongside the console.
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