WipEout Pure / US

WipEout Pure is a futuristic racing game developed exclusively for the Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP) and released at the console's launch in 2005. As part of the well-known WipEout series, WipEout Pure combines fast pace, stylish design and electronic music to create a unique gaming experience - this time on the move for the first time.

At the heart of WipEout Pure are high-speed races with hovering gliders that race over futuristic tracks suspended in the air. The controls in WipEout Pure are precise but challenging: if you don't glide optimally in the bends or miss the right moment for a boost, you will quickly lose touch. In addition to pure speed, tactics and responsiveness also play a major role in WipEout Pure, as various power-ups can be collected on the track - including rockets, mines, shields and turbo boosts. At the right moment, these can make the difference between victory and defeat.

WipEout Pure offers various game modes, such as single races, tournaments, time trials and the popular Zone mode, in which your own glider gets faster with every lap until your reflexes finally reach their limits. The scope of WipEout Pure is particularly successful: in addition to the already included race tracks and teams, Sony released numerous free download packs over time, which offered additional content such as new tracks, vehicles and music tracks - a pioneering feature for handheld gaming at the time.

Technically, WipEout Pure impressed on release with its high-quality graphics: The detailed gliders, futuristic environments and smooth animations showed what the PSP was capable of. The whole thing is supported by a rousing electronic soundtrack that perfectly matches the fast, stylish gameplay. Tracks by artists such as Aphex Twin and Photek create an intense atmosphere in WipEout Pure and underline the futuristic look of the game.

WipEout Pure also impresses in local multiplayer: several PSPs can connect to each other via an ad-hoc connection to compete in exciting races against friends - without an Internet connection.

All in all, WipEout Pure is not only a technical highlight of the PSP era, but also a well thought-out, action-packed racing game that still thrills many fans today with its pace, aesthetics and unmistakable style.