======WipEout HD====== [{{ wipeout_series:covers:wohd_cover_art.jpg?200vh|WipEout HD Fury (Retail cover art)}}] **WipEout HD** is an original anti-gravity combat racing video game developed by [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psygnosis|Studio Liverpool]] for the PlayStation®3. It iterates on the gameplay established in [[wipeout_series:wipeout_pure|WipEout Pure]] and [[wipeout_series:wipeout_pulse|WipEout Pulse]], and features remade circuits and ship designs from both of these games. It is the seventh mainline installment in [[:wipeout_series|the WipEout series]], and was well-received when it first released. The player competes in the [[#Lore|FX350 Racing League]], piloting anti-gravity racing ships that float above the circuits at high speeds. These anti-gravity racing ships are able to obtain and use various [[#Pickups]] to disrupt other players or assist the pilot. Like all [[:wipeout_series|WipEout games]], **WipEout HD** focuses on delivering high-speed, high-thrills combat racing action. The [[#Gameplay]], rules and the objective differ based on the [[#Game Modes|Game Mode]] that the player chooses: **WipEout HD** offers 5 different modes, while the [[#Fury expansion]] adds an additional 3. Both **WipEout HD** and the [[#Fury expansion]] have their respective [[#Campaign|Campaigns]]. It was released on //September 25th, 2008//[[#References / Sources|[1]]] exclusively on PlayStation®Store in North America and Europe. The Japanese digital release came out on //October 29th, 2008//[[#References / Sources|[1]]]. On //July 23rd, 2009//[[#References / Sources|[1]]], it received [[#Fury expansion|the Fury expansion pack]].\\ The game, bundled with the **Fury** DLC, was also released on Blu-Ray: * Europe: //July 23rd, 2009//[[#References / Sources|[1]]], the same date as the **Fury** DLC; * Australia: //October 15th, 2009//[[#References / Sources|[1]]]; * Korea: //October 16th, 2009//[[#References / Sources|[1]]]. * The game was never physically released in North America. ---- =====Gameplay===== [{{ wipeout_series:wipeout_hd_cinematic.gif?350vh|High-skill piloting in WipEout HD}}] **WipEout HD** is fast and precise; it requires strategy and resource management with [[#Pickups]] and [[#Shield Energy]], and it rewards track knowledge with piloting skills. While **WipEout HD**'s gameplay differs based on the [[#Game Modes]], there are common elements that make up the WipEout experience in this entry. This section focuses on these common elements. ====Ship Handling==== Ships float in **WipEout HD**. This is an important distinction to make for anyone coming over from car racing games. A simple way to describe how **WipEout HD** handles is to say that it feels like an aircraft with ground grip. More specifically, ships behave like a box that's attached to a slightly bouncy spring, gliding along the track with little friction. There is a lot of focus on momentum and maintaining an angle, rather than micro-adjusting the craft.[[#References / Sources|[2]]] The handling consists of the following mechanics: ===Thrust=== Press and hold the **Accelerate** button (mapped by default to //Cross//) to speed up. Pressure-sensitive buttons are supported for fine throttle control. The sensitivity of this feature can be adjusted in the **Controls** section of the settings menu by changing the **Acceleration Sensitivity** slider (from 10%, where throttle is binary, to 100%, where throttle is fully analog). It is recommended to set **Acceleration Sensitivity** to 10%, as it improves throttle responsiveness, and a good pilot has no reason to ever release the **Accelerate** button. The player can also get a speed boost at the start of the race by performing a **Perfect Start**. The moment the countdown reaches "GO", press and hold the **Accelerate** button. ===Pitch and Steering=== Control your ship through //D-Pad// or //Analog Stick// inputs - **Steer** it left and right, and **Pitch** it up and down. * **Steering** is the basic way to control the direction of your craft. * **Pitching** is useful for getting more airtime or reducing it. More airtime may enable some [[#Barrel Rolls]], but excessive airtime loses speed. **WipEout HD** also offers the option to **Pitch and Steer** using DualShock®3's SIXAXIS® motion controls. This is controlled with the **Motion Sensor** option of the **Controls** section of the settings menu: * **Off**, where motion controls aren't used; * **Pitch**, which some players may enjoy, as it gives more freedom for [[#Barrel Roll]] inputs; * **Pitch and Steering**, which is not recommended for serious use due to its impracticality. ===Airbrakes=== **Airbrakes** are a way to turn more aggressively. When an airbrake is engaged, a flap is raised on one side of the ship, increasing that side's air resistance, which helps steer the craft in that direction. They are activated by holding down the **Left Airbrake** and **Right Airbrake** buttons (mapped by default to //L2// and //R2// respectively). At higher speeds, **Airbrakes** are essential to complete most turns. Ignoring them is a big mistake, but so is overusing them. Using both at the same time will slow the ship down like a normal brake; however, using them to simply turn doesn't drop the craft's speed much. ===Sideshifts=== **Sideshifts** push the craft to the side quickly. They are activated by quickly tapping either **Airbrake** button twice (the craft shifts to that **Airbrake**'s side). You can control the distance of the **Sideshift** by holding the button for longer, or releasing it quickly. **Sideshifts** are used to immediately and radically correct the race line. They're a situational tool that is often fired when undershooting a turn, missing a [[#Speed Pads|Speed Pad]], or recovering from a [[#Pickups|Weapon]] impact. ---- ====Pickups==== **Pickups**, also known as //Items// or //Weapons// (despite the category not being limited to them), are helpful power-ups that a pilot can obtain by going over a [[#Weapon Pads|Weapon Pad]]. Only one can be held by a pilot at a time; when equipped, they get the choice to either **Absorb** it (ditch it in exchange for some [[#Shield Energy]]), or to use it. **WipEout HD** has **11 Pickups**. Each one is unique - having their own use cases, varying degrees of usefulness, and even **Absorbing** for different amounts of [[#Shield Energy]]. They are split into categories based on their nature. ---- **Red Items**, **Offensive Items** or **Weapons** are fired at other pilots with the intent to damage or disrupt them. > **[[pickups:rockets#In WipEout HD|Rockets]]**\\ Three rockets that are fired forward from the ship - classic, simple and effective. > **[[pickups:missile#In WipEout HD|Missile]]**\\ Twin gyroscopically-stabilized homing projectiles that lock onto a pilot and bounce off and around walls during their chase. > **[[pickups:cannon#In WipEout HD|Cannon]]**\\ 30 rounds of precise, bite-sized punishment fired at the wielder's leisure. > **[[pickups:plasma#In WipEout HD|Plasma]]**\\ A very mean, heavy hitter that's tricky to aim, but pays off with dividends on a hit. > **[[pickups:quake#In WipEout HD|Quake]]**\\ A seismic wave that will go down the track from where it was fired. Tricky for recipients to escape. > **[[pickups:leech_beam#In WipEout HD|Leech Beam]]**\\ Lock onto another ship and steal its [[#Shield Energy]] for yourself. **Green Items**, or simply **Items**, assist the pilot that uses them. > **[[pickups:autopilot#In WipEout HD|Autopilot]]**\\ Let a computer take control of your craft for a moment. Take a breather, or take advantage of this state's supernatural agility. > **[[pickups:shield#In WipEout HD|Shield]]**\\ Protect yourself from any harm coming your way within the next few seconds. > **[[pickups:turbo#In WipEout HD|Turbo]]**\\ Get a temporary, immediate speed boost upon use. Overtake someone, or go to places you couldn't go before... **Blue Items** place unpleasant surprises for other pilots to find on the track. > **[[pickups:mines#In WipEout HD|Mines]]**\\ Deploy 5 small obstacles onto the track behind your ship. Hitting one is manageable, but hitting many will hurt. > **[[pickups:bomb#In WipEout HD|Bomb]]**\\ A singular, more powerful obstacle that will also deal splash damage to nearby pilots when triggered. ---- ====Shield Energy==== [[#Teams|Ships]] in **WipEout HD** have **Shield Energy**. It is a resource that represents the structural integrity of your ship. The starting point is //100% Energy//, and when it gets below //0%//, the ship fucking explodes lmao. **Shield Energy** is reduced by colliding with walls or other players, getting hit by [[#Pickups|Weapons]], going out-of-bounds, or by performing [[#Barrel Rolls]]. There are also ways to restore the craft's **Shield Energy**: for example, in [[game_modes:single_race#In WipEout HD|Single Races]], it is restored by [[#Pickups|Absorbing Pickups]]. **Shield Energy** management is an important skill in **WipEout HD**. Getting stingy will get you eliminated, setting you way back in the best case, or even failing the event entirely in the worst case. Having enough **Shield Energy** is also required to successfully perform [[#Barrel Rolls]], which are crucial for any high-skill pilot. It is displayed in percentage points to the player; however, internally, **Shield Energy** is measured in //units//. Each [[#Teams|Ship]] has a set capacity for energy //units//, with various [[#Pickups]] replenishing set amounts of these //units//. The only thing that relies on energy //percentage// are the [[#Barrel Rolls]], with them always taking **15% of your Shield Energy** when attempted. As such, ships with a lower **Shield Energy** stat are actually better for [[#Barrel Roll]]-heavy gameplay: each [[#Pickups|Pickup]] the player [[#Absorption|Absorbs]] restores a higher //percentage// of these ships' energy. ====Barrel Rolls==== [{{ wipeout_series:wipeout_hd_barrel_roll.png:?250x250|Spin!}}] **Barrel Rolls** are tricks that you can perform while your ship is mid-air, awarding a speed boost if completed before landing. By pressing //Left-Right-Left// or //Right-Left-Right// on your steering input when mid-air, you can attempt a **Barrel Roll** for **15% of your [[#Shield Energy]]**. Your ship will attempt a 360° barrel roll, and if it completes before you land, you will get a quick burst of speed, not unlike a [[#Speed Pads|Speed Pad]] or a [[pickups:turbo#In WipEout HD|Turbo]] boost. If the ship lands before that happens, you will get disappointment, and your [[#Shield Energy]] will be taken anyway. **Barrel Rolls** are essential for high-level gameplay. They can be performed in spots other than the obvious drops through precise and clever maneuvers for //just// enough airtime. They enhance the resource management element of [[#Shield Energy]] while testing the pilot's skill and directly rewarding them for good play. Additionally, **Barrel Rolls** are closely related to [[#Pitch and Steering|Pitch control]]: pitching up can enable **Barrel Rolls** that would otherwise be impossible, and pitching down will decrease unwanted airtime - landing faster, wasting less time in the air and getting the speed boost sooner. ====Speed Pads==== These blue arrow-shaped panels on the track's floor will give the ship a burst of speed when flown over. The speed boost is gained rapidly and will decrease back to cruise velocity over a few moments. In [[game_modes:zone_battle|Zone Battle]], they're substituted by similarly-functioning **Zone Pads** (FIXME add link). **Speed Pads** can be placed alone or in series, stacked horizontally or vertically, placed in challenging spots or next to [[#Weapon Pads]]. Hitting one likely won't change the outcome of the race, but hunting them reliably will give the skilled pilot a competitive edge. Combined with their [[#Weapon Pads|red counterpart]], **Speed Pads** also introduce an element of split-second strategy to the race. ====Weapon Pads==== When flown over, **Weapon Pads** give the player a random [[#Pickups|Pickup]]. They are red-colored and cross-shaped. In [[game_modes:single_race#In WipEout HD|Single Race]] and [[game_modes:tournament#In WipEout HD|Tournament]], they will be disabled for a few seconds after someone flies over them; in [[game_modes:eliminator#In WipEout HD|Eliminator]], there is no cooldown. **Weapon Pads** also introduce strategy to the race, along with elements of resource management and randomness. A lucky [[#Pickups|Pickup]] could single-handedly change the outcome of the race in a split second; neglecting them in favor of going faster will compromise the pilot's [[#Shield Energy]]. ====Mag-Strips==== These sections of the circuit use **Mag-Lock** technology to keep ships on the track, and enable pilots to fly along the walls, loops and bumpy track sections without falling or detaching. When locked onto a **Mag-Strip**, the ship is effectively pinned to the track surface without negatively affecting speed, acceleration or steering. All gravity effects from tilted track orientation are negated; also, both cornering drift when turning and pitch control are heavily reduced. Overall, though, the ships' handling feels largely the same on a **Mag-Strip**. **Mag-Strips** debuted in [[wipeout_series:wipeout_pulse|WipEout Pulse]] and have been largely unchanged in **WipEout HD**. They mostly serve an aesthetic purpose, however they have real gameplay implications: the inability to detach from these sections prevents barrel rolls and potentially enables blind spots for strategic [[#Pickups|Pickup]] use. **Mag-Strip** sections are pretty common in the track roster of **WipEout HD/Fury**. ---- =====Game Modes===== **WipEout HD** presents a choice between different ways to pick the **Game Mode**: * [[#Campaign]] mode, with a series of pre-configured events;\\ * **Racebox**, a way to configure a custom single player event;\\ * [[#Online]] mode, taking **Racebox** to PlayStation®Network with the limitation of only the multiplayer modes being available. **Racebox** and [[#Online]] allow the player to pick a [[#Tracks|Track]], while [[#Campaign]]'s [[#Tracks]] are preset. Regardless, the player gets to pick their [[#Teams|Ship]] and start the race. ---- **WipEout HD** offers 5 **game modes**. > **[[game_modes:single_race#In WipEout HD|Single Race]]**\\ Out-speed, out-smart and out-gun your opponents in the classic WipEout experience. > **[[game_modes:time_trial#In WipEout HD|Time Trial]]**\\ A full-length race against the clock. > **[[game_modes:speed_lap#In WipEout HD|Speed Lap]]**\\ Prove your skill by attaining the fastest single lap time you can. > **[[game_modes:zone#In WipEout HD|Zone]]**\\ Your ship will conveniently accelerate for you, perpetually. Survive for as long as you can. > **[[game_modes:tournament#In WipEout HD|Tournament]]**\\ Play multiple [[game_modes:single_race#In WipEout HD|Single Races]] in a row and get awarded points for finishing high. The [[#Fury expansion|Fury expansion pack]] adds 3 new game modes. > **[[game_modes:eliminator#In WipEout HD|Eliminator]]**\\ Take out your fury on other pilots, wreaking havoc and getting points for inflicting damage. > **[[game_modes:zone_battle|Zone Battle]]**\\ A multi-pilot take on the [[game_modes:zone|Zone]] mode. Hunt for pads and speed yourself up more and more, leaving nasty surprises for others and yourself, until you're on the podium. > **[[game_modes:detonator|Detonator]]**\\ Drive for up to 14 laps on a circuit, shooting through clusters of obstacles to score points and survive. ---- =====Teams===== [{{ teams:fx350_team_collage.svg?200x200|FX350's participants}}] **WipEout HD** features 12 **racing teams** competing in the [[#Lore|FX350 Racing League]]. Each participating **Team** has one ship in the base game (//HD ships//); [[#Fury expansion|the Fury expansion]] adds another ship to each team's roster (//Fury ships//). When picking a ship, the game's menu presents you with four of the ship's stats: **Speed**, **Handling**, **Thrust** and **Shield**. Though these //frontend stats// represent the ship somewhat, they are strong simplifications of the ships' //actual// (or, as the community dubbed them, //secret//) //stats//. //Actual stats// are more complex and precisely dictate how each ship handles and feels. This distinction is mildly confusing and introduces amusing situations: **Harimau**'s //HD ship// has the exact same //frontend stats// as **Assegai**'s //HD ship//, except for a 10 point reduction in **Thrust**, with no apparent gain; in reality, **Harimau**'s ship isn't inherently inferior to **Assegai**. In the same vein, //Fury ships// aren't inherently superior to //HD ships//, despite apparently having flat-out superior stats if judged by the //frontend stats//. Below is a list of the participating teams. Each title links to the section that describes the **WipEout HD/Fury** ships. > **[[teams:feisar#In WipEout HD|FEISAR]]**\\ The iconic team enters the FX350 with solid, reliable ships. > **[[teams:qirex#In WipEout HD|Qirex-RD]]**\\ The Russians' ships are heavily shielded, but no less nimble this season. > **[[teams:piranha#In WipEout HD|Piranha Advancements]]**\\ Once again entering the track with one of the meanest engines, Piranha also brings an added bite this season. > **[[teams:ag_systems#In WipEout HD|AG Systems]]**\\ This time, Japan's focus fell on thrust and maneuverability. > **[[teams:triakis#In WipEout HD|Triakis Industries]]**\\ With their rule-breaking reverse acceleration system banned by the committee, will the Australian tank hold up? > **[[teams:goteki_45#In WipEout HD|Goteki 45]]**\\ Makana's thrustiest enters the FX350 season with high hopes. > **[[teams:eg-x#In WipEout HD|EG-X Technologies]]**\\ The Chino-Finnish team will have to make up for their lack of experience in the FX300 this season. > **[[teams:assegai#In WipEout HD|Assegai Developments]]**\\ With their signature handling and the newly-bought Triakis shield tech, the Assegai HQ is expecting pilots to return with medals. > **[[teams:mirage#In WipEout HD|Mirage]]**\\ The Excellence Centre has developed perfectly balanced solutions to the tracks' challenges. > **[[teams:harimau#In WipEout HD|Harimau]]**\\ Now powered only by biofuel, Harimau will have to prove the force of nature to the world. > **[[teams:auricom#In WipEout HD|Auricom Industries]]**\\ In the FX350 season, speed and combat is the Auricom way. > **[[teams:icaras#In WipEout HD|Icaras]]**\\ You can't break the glass cannon if you can't catch it. ---- =====Campaign===== ... ---- =====Fury expansion===== ... ---- =====Lore===== The game takes place in the **FX350 Racing League**. Around the time of the final //2206// season of the [[wipeout_games:wipeout_pure#Lore|FX300 Racing League]][[#References / Sources|[3]]], the **FX350** held its first event[[#References / Sources|[4]]]. This transitional league was to get pilots accustomed to the upcoming [[wipeout_games:wipeout_pulse#Lore|FX400 Racing League]], allow the teams to test out their new craft designs in the field, and capture the audience's attention while the preparations were in progress. Aside from the fact that the **FX350** is the first globally-held professional AG racing league since the fall of the [[wipeout_games:wipeout_fusion#Lore|F9000]] in 2170, it is quite unremarkable due to its nature as a gap-filler. ---- =====Extras===== mention the community tab, badges, online ranks, music... ---- =====Development===== ... ---- ===== References / Sources ===== - According to [[https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ps3/938148-wipeout-hd/media|GameFAQs]]. - As originally described by Kabelsalat - a BallisticNG modder and contributor. - [[https://web.archive.org/web/20110826151235/http://www.wipeout-game.com/html/content/TeamInfo?team=AG_Systems|WipEout-Game.com's AG Systems overview]] mentions "their 2206 FX300 Championship title", implying that 2206 was the final season of the FX300. - [[https://web.archive.org/web/20110826151240/http://www.wipeout-game.com/html/content/TeamInfo?team=Assegai|WipEout-Game.com's Assegai team statement]] mentions their "strong performances in the FX350 League" enabling them to "vastly improve their race craft for the 2207 season of FX350 & FX400 Anti-Gravity Racing League events", showing that the FX350 had started by at least the year prior.