Line #59 YMMV/Wipeout


1	!!The Video Game
2	* AudienceAlienatingPremise: ''[=WipEout=] Rush/Merge'' already had the misfortune of being a mobile-exclusive revival of a CultClassic franchise, but then the gameplay trailer reveals that everything that made the console games fun would be stripped down and automated, leaving players with... a card merging game. To say fans were miffed would be the understatement of the century. If it's any comfort (and depending on how you look at it), [[NoExportForYou this never left the UK]], so players outside of Europe weren't missing out much there.
3	* SugarWiki/AwesomeArt: One of the reasons why the series is much loved is the [[RuleOfCool cool stylized art]] and solid visual design. The first three games [[DesignStudentsOrgasm stand out in this department]], courtesy of The Designers Republic. Their return as artists in ''VideoGame/FormulaFusion'' is the reason why many a ''Wipeout'' fan got extremely hyped for its release.
4	* BrokenBase: The fandom doesn't talk about it much given the direction this series has taken, but there's a divide between those who prefer the slower, more difficult handling of the 3 first installments and those who prefer a more fluid and faster pace from ''Pure'' onward. Then there's ''Fusion''...
5	* CultClassic: Although the series is remembered for its amazing gameplay, visuals, and music, the series hasn't really caught on in the mainstream, but it maintains a '''very''' devoted cult following. This proves why there are some fan-made games in development: to fill the void that the series left after ''2048''.
6	* DemonicSpiders: The AI crafts can be this [[DifficultySpike depending on difficulty]]. Especially if they use the [[AdvancingWallOfDooM Quake]], [[HomingProjectile Missile]], or even the Rocket items. Heaven forbid you get hit with a Plasma bolt, or else you're cooked.
7	* EnsembleDarkhorse:
8	** [[GloriousMotherRussia Qirex]] is the most popular team in the series, rivaling [[MultinationalTeam FEISAR]] and [[JapanTakesOverTheWorld AG-Systems.]]
9	** [[http://www22.atpages.jp/wipeout/wipeout/report/wo1003.html Arial Tetsuo]], one of the Auricom pilots from the first game had a quite large popularity back in the day. The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHMzCpy0fXc music video]] of one of 2097's soundtrack explained how.
10	** Curly, the announcer in [=Wip3out=] is also widely loved. To this day many fans actively make demands to make a return for her in ''VideoGame/FormulaFusion''.
11	** Although [[TheMafiya Tigron Enterprises]] were one of the most ruthless teams in AG racing history, their craft, the "BULL-666", was one of the most popular ones in ''Fusion'' thanks to [[LightningBruiser its impressive speed, handling, durability, firepower]], and [[KillItWithIce its overpowered Super Weapon.]] Their popularity skyrocketed when it was confirmed that they would return to ''Omega Collection'' along with Van-Über. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9mf1DBwr2o Even their newest K-VSR craft is available as a media kit for the limited edition of the game itself]].
12	* EvenBetterSequel: ''2097'' introduced a load of innovative concepts that were so highly praised by critics that they still remain in the series' modern iterations, namely the ability for ships to be destroyed, a few game-enhancing weapons and pick-ups, such as the auto-pilot, the plasma bolt, and the quake disruptor, and of course, Phantom class. It also made touching walls more forgiving than the original, which would bring the player to a dead stop every time.
13	* FanNickname: In the early games, there are rescue droids that grab your ship and place you back on the track, should you fall off. The fanbase has nicknamed them "Wuss Wagons".
14	* FriendlyFandoms: Back in the day, there used to be a major FandomRivalry with ''VideoGame/FZero'', but as time went on, the two fanbases began overlapping. It further helps the fact that both series are currently laying dormant.
15	* SugarWiki/FunnyMoments:
16	** Icaras originally dissolved after ''wip3out'' due to the death of its eccentric owner, Burnston Burns. How did he die? [[CrossesTheLineTwice He accidentally swallowed a balloon at a children's party!]]
17	** [[https://youtu.be/PHMzCpy0fXc?t=3m8s At the 3:08 mark]] of Music/{{Fluke\|Band}}'s "Atom Bomb" music video, Arial [[DeadlyHug ends up hugging two men]]; one of them seems to have been [[CrossesTheLineTwice easily choked to death]]!
18	** Due to the GoodBadBugs in ''Pure'' mentioned below, Citta Nuova can be either one of the hardest tracks in the series since Silverstream from the first game... or one of the easiest if you make liberal use of Quakes and Bombs and watch as every other racer on the track drop like flies. The end result is nothing short of hysterical if you're the last racer on the track.
19	* GameBreaker:
20	** Each game had one from ''2097'' onwards. The ''Piranha'' ship in ''2097'', the ''Assegai'' in ''3'', yet again the ''Piranha'' in ''Fusion'', the ''Triakis'' in ''Pure'', again the ''Assegai'' in ''Pulse'', the ''Goteki 45'' and ''FEISAR Fury'' in ''HD'' and the ''AG-Systems Speed'' in ''2048''.
21	** As for the Super Weapons in ''Fusion'', we have Tigron's [[KillItWithIce Nitro Rocket]], which was deemed overpowered since it deals some nasty heat and [[InterfaceScrew screws up the victim's controls]].
22	* GoodBadBugs:
23	** Triakis's cornering deceleration rate in ''Pure'' is bugged, making it quite agile for a heavy craft. ''Pulse'' factored this bug (and its fixing) into the lore by noting that Triakis had installed an illegal reverse-inertia deceleration system on their [=FX300=] craft.
24	** Continuing from ''Pure'', it's possible to invoke an InstantWinCondition on certain tracks (Sinucit, Citta Nuova, Cardcity Run, and Paris Hair) in Phantom class by making liberal use of Quakes, Bombs, and everything in-between. You can even fire the Quake backward if you're in first place and occasionally be treated to the amusing sight of wiping out ([[TitleDrop heh]]) the rest of the competition. Though actually attempting it is more of a LuckBasedMission than anything given how weapon pick-ups work in ''Wipeout''.
25	** Certain events in ''HD'' allow you to wreck yourself early and still get Gold Medal for it.
26	* HilariousInHindsight: The game was considered to be Sony's answer to Nintendo's ''F-Zero'' series - and then Psygnosis went and teamed up with Midway to release ''Wipeout 64'' on the Platform/Nintendo64. And ''in the very same year'' that ''F-Zero X'' was released.
27	* MeaningfulName: Hi-Fumi in ''Wipeout 3''; it's Japanese for "1,2,3".
28	* MemeticMutation:
29	** ''[=WipEout=]'' predicted Brexit.[[note]]Before the events of ''Pure'', the United Kingdom splintered from FEISAR to resurrect Icaras. Come 2016, with the UK holding a referendum on whether they should stay in the European Union or not, with the "leave the EU" side narrowly winning.[[/note]]
30	** "[[ThatOneLevel Oh my god, this course is HORRIBLE!!!]]"[=/=]"[[BerserkButton Those BLOODY]] [[ScrappyMechanic bulkheads!]]"[[note]]Mentioned by Charlie Emery AKA [=HellfireWZ=] while [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNSNHiCmA7A&t=1019 discussing about]] [[ThatOneLevel Temtesh Bay Course 2]] from ''Fusion'', which is notorious for it's tricky corners and the use of [[ScrappyMechanic bulkheads]].[[/note]]
31	** Pilot Assist: "[[ScrappyMechanic DON'T USE IT!!!!]]"[[note]]Another one from [=HellfireWZ=], in regards to an optional MercyMode the player can enable in the game, during his [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxzYkTralIA Wipeout HD Fury tutorial video]]. [=HellfireWZ=] make a reference to the meme in [[https://youtu.be/HpM8qOhpoPU another tutorial video]] for ''Wipeout 2048''.[[/note]]
32	** "Baby got an atom bomb! Twenty-two megatons!"[[note]]One of the first lyrics from "Atom Bomb" by Fluke, in which the music video features [[EnsembleDarkhorse Arial Tetsuo]] from the first game.[[/note]]
33	** "[[CollisionDamage Do]][[WebVideo/{{Caddicarus}} nk]]."
34	** "SHAKE IT! DON'T BREAK IT!"[[note]]The lyrics from "Shake It" by Addiktion, the song most often associated with the ''Omega Collection'' and [[TheMafiya Tigron Enterprises]] themselves.[[/note]]
35	* SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome: Scoring a plasma bolt hit in ''2097''. Made anticlimactically easy in the third game and in the games after that, the weapon no longer did instant kill damage.
36	* SugarWiki/MostWonderfulSound:
37	** "CONTENDER ELIMINATED." Unless it's happening to ''you,'' that is.
38	** In ''Pulse'' and ''HD'', "GOLD MEDAL AWARDED." It's especially awesome if you're playing on [[NintendoHard Elite difficulty]]. Same story goes for its ''2048'' equivalent: "ELITE PASS."
39	* NightmareFuel: The series doesn't have a lot of creepy content, but the song [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pC8CLyuCt_0 "Zulu"]] by Hybrid in VideoGame/{{WipEout}} Pure is pretty unsettling, this is [[SubvertedTrope subverted]] if you're trying to feel like a badass. Also, it got sampled in VideoGame/MetalGearSolid4GunsOfThePatriots.
40	** The Zone mode can be considered this to some players, because of its DifficultyByAcceleration.
41	** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNXopiH70WU The intro from ''Wip3out'' is pretty much this]], which features the reversed animation of the Goteki 45 craft causing a [[SuicideAttack suicide explosion]] towards the FEISAR and AG Systems crafts in the finish line, blowing them up. Considering how violent Goteki 45 was during the [=F7200=], suicide attacks would've been right up their alley. Also, the intro also featured a [[DroneOfDread creepy drone]] (even though it uses a sample of "Piranha" by DJ Sasha) throughout the entire cinematic cutscene.
42	** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnhqqnRLtxM Fusion's intro is even more of a doozy.]] Not only does it feature [[SensoryAbuse sudden flashing lights]] that would cause a JumpScare, but it also has a sample of a [[CreepyChild child laughing]] in both the beginning and the end of the opening. And it gets worse from there: the fall of F9000 not only led to a massive global recession but there were also [[CrapsackWorld riots]] and [[WarIsHell war all over the globe]]. It only took many decades to stabilize, and many more to recover from before the events of ''VideoGame/{{WipEout}} Pure''.
43	** Well, [[SarcasmMode this is an odd one]]. [[https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8427/7840533268_91ced29186_b.jpg The promotion art for the very first game]] is [[ParanoiaFuel downright unsettling]]. It features two teenagers with [[DeadlyNosebleed nosebleed]] as [[BloodSplatteredInnocents their clothes has been soaked with blood]]. It's just like if the developers of the game kidnapped them and tortured the poor bastards as an attempt to force them to promote the game. Also, the other version of the art refers to the game itself as "[[BloodSport a dangerous game]]". Thankfully, the unsettling art is staged, but still...
44	** The Qirex announcer from ''2048'' may count as this, due to its CreepyMonotone.
45	* PolishedPort: ''[[SuperTitle64Advance Wipeout 64]]'' is one damn fine port of both the original and ''2097'' to the Platform/Nintendo64, bringing with it fully integrated analog control for better steering accuracy, and a tighter control altogether for a distinct feel while retaining the high speeds the series is known for, only dropping frames in any notable way during the new split-screen mode. It had to compete with ''[[VideoGame/FZero F-Zero X]]'' and ''VideoGame/ExtremeG'', and it managed to damn well hold its own ground.
46	* PortingDisaster:
47	** The PC port of the first game loses the light effects, which wouldn't be so terrible if they weren't what made it such a graphically awesome title in '95. It also acquired a peculiar kind of flickering track bug. Lastly, the opening cinematic had a random probability of locking up certain [=PCs=] while playing...
48	** The PC port of ''Wipeout XL/2097'' lacks a speed limiter, causing the game to run out of control on top of the line back in '97, never mind today (this can be fixed with a CPU-killer program, but then you will find out the hard way that Windows Vista/7 require a lot more CPU to run properly than the game!). The game also has a different soundtrack ([[ScrewedByTheLawyers Possibly due to licensing problems]]) that's nowhere near as good as the original's.
49	** While the Platform/PlayStation2 port of ''Pulse'' may look visually better than the PSP version, it suffers from a [[GameBreakingBug nasty glitch]] which corrupts your memory card data beyond repair. Even turning the autosave off doesn't prevent the said glitch as well! If you really want to play the game, stick to the PSP version instead.
50	* ReplacementScrappy: Unlike the far better-received ''Fusion''-debuting teams [[TheMafiya Tigron]] and [[BewareTheNiceOnes Van-Uber]] teams, G-Tech ended up being far and away the most loathed team in the franchise for being a replacement to AG Systems.
51	* RonTheDeathEater: Despite [[HeelFaceTurn turning good]] by the events of ''Pure'', quite a few fans wanted Goteki 45 to retain their AxCrazy [=F7200=] persona even after their reinstatement, even though their newer, lighter crafts have become extremely popular in the ''Pulse''[=/=]''HD Fury'' multiplayer scene.
52	* TheScrappy: G-Tech. They likely represent ''Good Technology'' (Currently known as ''VML London''), the graphic designers of ''Fusion''. They're also loathed for replacing one of the fan-favorite teams, [[JapanTakesOverTheWorld AG-Systems]], ripping off [[EnsembleDarkhorse Qirex]]'s color scheme and their craft ''REVVER'' being inferior compared to the other crafts such as FEISAR's [[JackOfAllStats "LS-59"]], Auricom's [[MightyGlacier "T-808"]], Tigron's [[LightningBruiser "BULL-666"]], or Piranha's [[GameBreaker "Swiftkiller"]].
53	* ScrappyMechanic:
54	** The rescue droids from the original to ''[[VideoGame/WipEout Wip3out]]'' were loathed for taking precious time when the players accidentally fell off the track. As a result: Since ''Fusion'', you will instantly respawn on the track, with the rescue droid only appearing when [[CriticalExistenceFailure your craft is destroyed]], saving the pilot inside.
55	** The bulkheads from ''Fusion''. [[MemeticMutation Those BLOODY bulkheads]]! (See ThatOneLevel)
56	* [[ScrappyWeapon Scrappy Craft]]: It may look cool, but GOOD GRAVY! G-Tech's ''REVVER'' from ''Fusion'' is terrible! It's notorious for its poor stats compared to Van-Über's ''ZR-320'', its super weapons may deal some moderate damage, but the craft itself can be easily [[NoPunIntended WIPED OUT]] if the player isn't careful enough.
57	* {{Sequelitis}}: While it may be [[SoOkayItsAverage a little bit well received]], ''Wipeout Fusion'' was criticized for being [[VideoGame/StarWarsEpisodeIRacer Pod Racer-ish]], having different graphics compared to ''[=Wip3out=]'' and [[TheyChangedItNowItSucks the gameplay being vastly different]], placing an emphasis on its needlessly over-complicated weapons system compared to other titles. The track design was also derided by critics and fans alike.
58	* SurprisinglyImprovedSequel: ''Wipeout Pure'' was a welcome improvement after the poorly-received ''Wipeout Fusion''.
59	* ThatOneLevel: A nice cross-section of some vicious tracks from the series inception through to ''HD Fury'' can be seen [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNSNHiCmA7A here]]. Highlights include:
60	** From the very first game, [[SlippySlideyIceWorld Silverstream]]. A tight, very technical track with alternate routes at two points where choosing the wrong path meant you were effectively out of the running. It is so notoriously brutal it's still considered one of the (if not THE) hardest courses in the series.
61	** [[LandDownUnder Temtesh Bay]] Course 2, from ''Fusion'', is a veritable checklist of horrible track design decisions. It was so bad that it became part of a major in-universe race disaster when the backstory to ''Pure'' was released. According to [=YouTube=] user and series veteran Charlie Emery AKA [=HellfireWZ's=] video "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNSNHiCmA7A&t=1019 Wipeout - Circuits from Hell]]", Course 2 is a [[NintendoHard travesty of a circuit]] filled with tricky corners, rock pillars and those [[PrecisionFStrike fuckin']] [[ScrappyMechanic annoying bulkheads which will NOT OPEN until you are VIRTUALLY ON TOP OF IT]]!! Also, [[FromBadToWorse it's even worse when played in reverse]], making Temtesh Bay Course 2 itself the most difficult course in the entire series, making Silverstream from the original game look like a walk in the park.
62	--->'''Charlie "[=HellfireWZ=]" Emery (reacting to Temtesh Bay 2)''': Oh my god, [[ThisIsGonnaSuck this course is]] HORRIBLE!!!
63	*** TakeThatScrappy: Its bad reputation among the fandom was almost certainly the reason it was chosen by the Devs as the SacrificialLamb for ''Fusion'' as a whole lore-wise; the aforementioned disaster involved an up-gunned version of Feisar's Superweapon causing a massive cave-in, killing several competitors as well as spectators, which helped lead to the domino effect that led to the League collapsing in turn.
64	** From ''Pure'', Citta Nuova. This track boasts a nasty hairpin at the halfway point, but what makes it especially difficult on the faster speed classes are the undulating chicane series following said hairpin that are so great that they're liable to throw you off the track (or worse, ''flip your craft upside down'') if your racing line isn't pitch-perfect. And to add insult to injury, if you're on Phantom class, [[GoodBadBugs weapons do unusually high damage]] both to you and the other contenders, meaning you can't afford to have a margin of error lest you want to be eliminated and end the race prematurely.
65	** While it doesn't seem hard to navigate, Sebenco Climb in ''Pure'' and ''HD'' is full of sharp corners in which you'll need a perfect timing while speeding up the mountain until you start plowing into the tunnel, where you'll have to be careful while racing in the chicane section in order to avoid ramming the walls.
66	** From ''2048'', there's [[LevelInTheClouds Sol]]. A predecessor to Sol 2 from the [=FX300=]/350 League (''Pure/HD)'', you'd think you wouldn't expect such a challenge, but unfortunately - no, that's not the case. It's one thing for the track to be very tight, technical, and ruthlessly testing of your reflexes, but there are absolutely ''no borders'' anywhere on the track, making it extremely easy to fall off the course. And to add insult to injury, the track can only be raced on A and A+ Class (aka, Rapier and Phantom, respectively) in the ''Omega Collection'', meaning that like in Gare D'Europa and Spilspinake back in ''2097'', you ''have'' to throw yourself into the deep end to be able to practice the course.
67	* SugarWiki/VisualEffectsOfAwesome: Right from the very first game, ''[=WipEout=]'' has always pushed the envelope when it comes to visual fidelity and performance. The original 1995 release to this day is still one of the Platform/PlayStation's signature {{Killer App}}s owing to its unique atmosphere and visual style provided by the folks at Designers' Republic. Fast-forward to 2017 and the ''Omega Collection'' is bar none one of the prettiest games on the Platform/PlayStation4 in a system that's flanked by games like ''VideoGame/HorizonZeroDawn'' or ''VideoGame/GhostOfTsushima''. Mind you, that's without mentioning that the ''Omega Collection'' is a remastered compilation of ''HD'' and ''2048'', which still look incredible and hold up really well on their native systems to this day.
68	* TheWoobie:
69	** The backstory for ''Icaras'' for ''Wipeout 3'' will surely make you feel bad for them. It might overlap with JerkassWoobie if you count that they were created as a publicity stunt and their {{scrub}}bish attitude during the championship.
70	** [[TheIdealist Auricom]] also count as this during the F9000 League (''Fusion''), as they're mocked by [[AxCrazy Xios]] and were the remaining team to defend Belmondo's philosophy right after AG-System's downfall.
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Context YMMV / Wipeout