Wipeout is one of the game series that made the PlayStation platform what it is today, but actual games have been sparse of late. Wipeout Rush is the latest entry into the storied series but the mobile game, developed by a company called Rogue, is a far cry from anything like the iconic futuristic high-speed racer.
Actually, Wipeout Rush sounds appropriate
On the surface, it looks as though Rogue has nailed everything. The music (it’s not The Chemical Brothers, but very little is), the robotic voice that will tell you what your weapon pickups are, the visuals… it should all be perfect. Except for one little thing.
If you play Wipeout Rush, which is due out on Android and iOS later this year, then you’ll find out that you’re not actually in the driver’s seat. Instead, you’re just the team manager, which means that you get to watch other (AI) people piloting high-speed racing hover vehicles around well-designed tracks. But it’s okay, because there’s loads of lore to accompany the card-based gameplay and… and… how is this better than actually controlling a Phantom-class craft around a track while launching homing missiles at your opponents, again?
At this point, Sony could just re-remaster the Wipeout: Omega Collection and release that and we’d be happy. But a Wipeout title where you don’t actually get to pilot anything seems like it misses the entire point of what made the series such a beloved part of the Sony catalogue over the decades.
Still, we’ll check out Wipeout: Football Manager Edition when it launches later this year. Maybe we’re being too harsh. Right now, we don’t think so but maybe it’s actually fun. Even if it is, it’s not Wipeout.
