Wipeout Omega Collection

''Wipeout Omega Collection'' (stylised as ''WipE′out Omega Collection'') is a 2017 racing video game compilation developed by XDev, Clever Beans and EPOS Game Studios and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment for the PlayStation 4. It was first released in North America on June 6 2017 and in Europe a day later.

The compilation includes remasters of two entries in the series: ''Wipeout HD'' (2008), along with its ''Wipeout HD Fury'' expansion (2009), and '' Wipeout 2048'' (2012). Both games revolve around players competing in anti-gravity racing leagues. ''Wipeout Omega Collection'' is the first title in the ''Wipeout'' series not to be developed by franchise creators Studio Liverpool, following its closure in 2012. It received positive reviews upon release, with many critics welcoming the series' return and the upgraded visuals, as well as the preservation of its ubiquitous techno soundtrack.

Contents

''Wipeout Omega Collection'' is a remaster of the previous two titles in the ''Wipeout'' series: ''Wipeout HD'' (with its ''Wipeout HD Fury'' expansion) and '' Wipeout 2048''. ''Wipeout HD'' itself contains content from the PlayStation Portable titles ''Wipeout Pure'' and ''Wipeout Pulse''. In all games, players control anti-gravity ships which are owned by racing corporations (effectively referred to as 'teams' in-game). Every ship has different characteristics; for example, each ship's statistics vary in handling, thrust, top speed and shield strength. Each ship is equipped with an energy shield which absorbs damage sustained during a race; energy is lost whenever the player's ship collides with the trackside barrier, other ships, or is hit by weapon fire. If the shield runs out, the player's ship will explode and is consequently eliminated from the race. The player may replenish energy by absorbing unwanted weapon pick-ups.

Nine game modes appear in ''Omega Collection'': from ''HD''; tournament, speed lap, time trial and single races return, as does the "Zone" mode, in which the player must survive as their ship increasingly accelerates to extreme speeds. From the ''Fury'' expansion; "Zone Battle", Eliminator and Detonator features in the compilation, in addition the entire campaign from ''2048''. The games contain a total of 26 unique tracks and 46 unique ship models, and include local split-screen and online multiplayer. The campaigns for both games are split into three groups, in a similar manner to how the ''HD'' and ''Fury'' campaigns were separated in ''Wipeout HD Fury''.
The compilation is capable of running at a native resolution of 1080p on the PlayStation 4 and 4K on the PlayStation 4 Pro, both at 60 frames per second. In addition to new special effects and upgraded textures, it also has an optional HDR-compatibility mode which is supported on both consoles. An update to the game added support for PlayStation VR. The ''Omega Collection'' features 28 licensed soundtracks; if the PlayStation Music app is installed, players can use the "''Best of WipEout''" Spotify playlist to play tracks from older ''Wipeout'' games.

Development and release

The original developers of the ''Wipeout'' series, Studio Liverpool, was closed by Sony Worldwide Studios in August 2012. It was reported that around the time of its close the studio was developing a "dramatically different" ''Wipeout'' launch title for the then-upcoming PlayStation 4. Despite the studio's closure, its Liverpool campus at Wavertree Technology Park still houses Sony's External Development Studio Europe (XDev) among other departments.

In 2015, Sony Worldwide Studios President Shuhei Yoshida hinted towards a possible ''Wipeout'' title for the PlayStation 4, saying that the company would like to "balance" the number of games in their franchises. The following year Nick Burcombe, co-creator of the original '' Wipeout'', affirmed that enthusiasm towards developing a new instalment remained high among his team, should Sony decide to commission one. When asked about the potential revival of the ''Wipeout'' brand, Burcombe commented that any new title would be wholly contingent on demand and Sony's willingness to relinquish the franchise.

''Wipeout Omega Collection'' was formally announced by Sony Interactive Entertainment during the annual PlayStation Experience expo on 4 December 2016, with a slated release date in the summer of 2017. The game was available both via digital and retail format on 6 June for North America and 7 June for Europe. A virtual reality version of the game was released through a free patch in March 2018. Those who pre-ordered the game digitally were gifted a dynamic theme for their PlayStation 4 as well as access to an exclusive ship called the Van-Uber. Those who buy the game digitally after release also gain access to the Van-Uber ship. Those who pre-ordered the disc version in Europe were given an exclusive steelbook as well as customisable themes for the PlayStation 4.

Reception

''Wipeout Omega Collection'' received positive reviews upon release. It holds an average score of 85 percent at Metacritic, based on an aggregate of 53 reviews, and also appeared among Metacritic's top 30 highest ranked PlayStation 4 games of 2017.

The upgraded visuals of both ''Wipeout HD'' and ''2048'' received unanimous praise among critics. Martin Robinson from ''Eurogamer'' lauded the game's improved lighting, textures, and HDR-compatibility while remarking that the game "never looked better" despite its "greying roots". ''GameSpot'' Miguel Concepcion asserted that game was ''Wipeout'' "in its prettiest form", commenting that the visual fidelity of ''HD'' and ''2048'' demonstrated that it was not merely a direct port. David Meikleham of ''GamesRadar+'' likewise praised its "pristine" 4K visuals and heralded the compilation as a perfect illustrator for HDR gaming. Sammy Barker from ''Push Square'' noted that the exceptional presentation epitomised the appeal of the wider ''Wipeout'' franchise, concluding that the ''Omega Collection'' was a visually impressive remaster Frédéric Goyon from '' Jeuxvideo.com'' commended the compilation's "charismatic" aesthetic design and was enthralled over the remastered graphics. ''Wired UK''s Matt Kamen praised the visuals of both games and the intricate details of its textures, cementing that the whole experience was "glorious to behold", while Jordan Devore from ''Destructoid'' reckoned that the compilation's visual polish alone made it a worthwhile purchase, regardless of a 4K setup.

Although the gameplay was mainly well-received, some critics noted a sense of repetition despite the abundance of content. Devore opined that certain long-time players of the franchise may feel fatigued over the tracks that have been used repeatedly over the years, but nevertheless thought the overall experience was entertaining in its own right. Robinson observed that both ''HD'' and ''2048'' offer distinct personalities and offers a "purposely" aggressive and meaningful amount of substance for the player. Concepcion praised the compilation's consistent gameplay and its gradual progression in difficulty, while Meikleham felt that the ''Omega Collection''s recycled content did not matter in light of its quantity. Barker and Goyon found the controls to be fluid and responsive, with Barker commenting that its gameplay was permeated by an "eye-watering" sense of speed. Kamen enjoyed the combined elements of ''2048''s campaign progression system and ''HD''s more "down to earth" tournament structure, noting that both games contributed to an overall "smoothly" integrated experience.

''Wipeout Omega Collection'' became the first game in the series to gain the UK All Formats physical No. 1, and entered the download charts at No. 15. The game was nominated for "Racing Game" at The Independent Game Developers' Association Awards 2017, and for "Music Design" at the 2018 Develop Awards.

References

External links

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Wipeout Omega Collection
' on Clever Beans

{{Wipeout series

2017 video games
Clever Beans games
Creative Vault Studios games
Multiplayer and single-player video games
PlayStation 4 games
PlayStation 4 Pro enhanced games
PlayStation 4-only games
Racing video games
Sony Interactive Entertainment game compilations
Sony Interactive Entertainment games
Split-screen multiplayer games
Video game remasters
Video games developed in the United Kingdom
Video games set in Canada
Video games set in Italy
Video games set in Japan
Video games set in Kiribati
Video games set in the 22nd century
Video games set in the United Kingdom
Video games set in the United States
Wipeout (video game series)