Wipeout Fusion (also called WipEout FuSion) is a 2002 racing video game created by Studio Liverpool and released by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 2. It is the fifth part of the Wipeout series, following Wipeout 3 from 1999. This game was the only original Wipeout title made for the PlayStation 2. Another Wipeout game, called Wipeout Pulse, was later released on the same platform in 2009. The game is set in the year 2160 and features players competing in the F9000 anti-gravity racing league. When it was released, Wipeout Fusion received good reviews, especially for its techno music. However, some critics had different opinions about the game's graphics and track designs.

Gameplay

Wipeout Fusion is a racing game set in the year 2160. It is about players competing in the F9000 anti-gravity racing league. Players control anti-gravity ships owned by large racing corporations, which are all called "teams." The game includes 45 race tracks, 32 ship models, and 26 weapons. There are eight teams in the game, and each team has a main pilot and a backup pilot. Before a race, players choose which pilot and team to use. Each ship has different characteristics, such as how fast it goes, how quickly it speeds up, how easy it is to turn, how strong its shields are, how powerful its weapons are, and how heavy it is.

The game has four race modes. In Arcade mode, players race against opponents in a single race. Finishing first earns a gold medal, while finishing second or third earns a silver or bronze medal, respectively. The AG League includes ten tournaments, each with 3 to 7 races and 16 competitors. Money is given at the end of each tournament based on time, damage, and skill. Players can use this money to improve their ship's appearance and performance. The other two race modes are "Zone" mode, where players must survive as their ship automatically accelerates to very high speeds, and time trial mode, where players try to set the fastest lap times.

The game also includes a variety of weapons. Offensive weapons include rockets, plasma bolts, missiles, and grenades. Defensive weapons include deployable mines and energy shields. Every ship has a standard energy shield that protects the player from damage caused by collisions or weapon fire. If a shield runs out, the ship will explode, and the player will be eliminated from the race.

Development and release

The game was created by Studio Liverpool, which was previously called Psygnosis before 2001. After the success of Wipeout 2097, the studio aimed to make their next game for a more experienced audience. Shortly after Wipeout Fusion was released, chief designer Colin Berry mentioned in a later interview that he felt disappointed with how the Wipeout series was trying to copy games like Nintendo's F-Zero GX. Wipeout Fusion was planned to be published in North America by Bam! Entertainment in March 2002, but there was a delay in getting the publishing license from Sony's American division. The game was first released in Europe on February 8, 2002, and later in North America on June 18.

Reception

Wipeout Fusion received mostly positive reviews when it was released. It has an average score of 83 percent from Metacritic, based on the combined opinions of 21 reviews.

Critics had different opinions about the game’s graphics. Rick Sanchez from IGN said he was disappointed because the visuals had not improved since he played the game at E3 2001. He compared the graphics to those of an "early first generation PS2 game" and said that if the game had been released a year after he wrote his review, the graphics would not have looked so outdated. Louis Bedigan from GameZone praised the game’s attention to detail, saying the visuals had improved by "110%" compared to Wipeout 3 and that a lot of effort was put into making the graphics "something truly extraordinary." John Kauderer from GameSpy highlighted the game’s improved graphics as a major upgrade, calling them "cutting edge" and saying they made the game stand out from older titles. A reviewer from GamePro said the graphics looked "slickly renovated." Ryan Davis from GameSpot noted that while the track designs were more "flamboyant" than in Wipeout 2097, the game used its visual style sparingly. He also mentioned issues like occasional slowdowns and graphical glitches. Tom Bramwell from Eurogamer said the only major improvement over earlier games was the better graphics engine.

Critics generally liked the game’s techno soundtrack and recognized it as an important part of the Wipeout series. Sanchez said the soundtracks from previous Wipeout games, including Wipeout Fusion, were "good enough" to buy separately. He also praised the game’s sound effects and music, saying they were "dead on for a member of the Wipeout family." Bedigan enjoyed the soundtrack, calling every song "addictive" and saying it matched the game’s "extreme" feel. Kauderer said the soundtrack was exceptional and noted that the use of licensed music in Wipeout 2097 changed the industry, though he felt Wipeout Fusion had lost some of its original "cool edge." Davis praised the "hard hitting" techno soundtrack, saying it was enjoyable even when not playing the game. Bramwell criticized the music, saying it felt "like a practical joke" and that he often turned it off. A reviewer from Edge called the soundtrack "excellent, trance-inducing" but said the gameplay had not kept up with modern standards.