Wipeout Omega Collection

Wipeout Omega Collection brings together on PlayStation 4 the best of the futuristic racing series, specifically the content of Wipeout HD, its Fury expansion, and the handheld Wipeout 2048. Everything was reworked into a higher resolution and, above all, a smooth frame rate, which is absolutely essential at these speeds. You race with anti-gravity craft that hover above the track, flying through tunnels, vertical loops, and steep drops, with the speed so high that the player has to rely more on learned reflexes than on looking ahead.

The controls combine classic steering with so-called air brakes on either side, which turn the craft and let you take a sharp corner without losing speed. On top of that sits a weapons system, where you pick up rockets, mines, shields, or homing missiles on the track, and the same pickups can be sacrificed for an instant energy top-up. Energy also serves as the craft's health, so every wall impact or weapon hit drains from the same gauge, and when it runs out, the craft explodes. This turns the game into a constant back-and-forth between attack and survival. Different teams have different characteristics, from nimble and fragile to slow and durable.

Visually, the collection is one of the sharpest-looking titles of its time, with clean surfaces, bold colors, and a graphic design rooted in the tradition the series has cultivated since its beginnings. Music is an essential part of the experience, since the series has always built on the electronic scene, and here too a brisk dance selection accompanies the races. The reception was very favorable, with players especially praising the amount of content and the technical level. The tracks from the handheld installment also deserve credit, since thanks to the higher resolution and smoother frame rate they feel completely different from their original form. Given that a proper new entry in the series hasn't arrived in a long time, this collection remains for many the definitive form of anti-gravity racing. Newcomers, meanwhile, face a steep learning curve, since mastering sharp corners at the highest speed classes takes dozens of attempts, but once you do, it's one of the most intense feelings of speed on any console.