PSP Software On Show In Leipzig: Wipeout Pure, Sticky Balls, Free Running and More
Selection of PSP games show their form
Original PSOne Wip3out
The Leipzig Games Conference has been the latest venue to enjoy a cameo appearance from the PSP and a modest collection of accompanying software. With many concerned about the state of the handheld’s potentially lightweight launch-time line-up, there was obviously great interest shown at seeing the likely contenders at a more advanced state of development.
Sony’s own offerings were headed up by Wipeout Pure: which could prove as popular as the original Wipeout title that helped define the PSOne brand. Other first party titles on show included: Medievil, This Is Football 2005, WRC and Hardcorps.
Warthog laid its Sticky Balls on the table, impressing with its well-rounded puzzler gameplay: and Ignition also had an interesting looking puzzle title, Mercury, involving a spot of ‘plasma-morphing’. Argonaut, on the other hand, is catering for the more traditionally violent end of the market – with Zero offering some fairly standard third person action blasting.
Metal Shell, courtesy of Tantalus, provided some interesting looking tank-shooting action too. However, there will be inevitable comparisons to Sony’s own PSP tank title: Hardcorps, and Metal Shell could suffer weaker sales as a consequence.
Perhaps the most intriguing new title on show was Eidos’ Free Running. Just like the urban-Gallic subculture it takes its name from, this involves scaling buildings without safety equipment before leaping across roof-tops and bounding around city skyscapes. It’s got to be one of the most extreme sports that’s been defined as anything other than a straight suicide attempt: and thusly we’re greatly looking forward to trying out the digital interpretation.
Expect more PSP goodness as and when it becomes available.
Sony’s own offerings were headed up by Wipeout Pure: which could prove as popular as the original Wipeout title that helped define the PSOne brand. Other first party titles on show included: Medievil, This Is Football 2005, WRC and Hardcorps.
Warthog laid its Sticky Balls on the table, impressing with its well-rounded puzzler gameplay: and Ignition also had an interesting looking puzzle title, Mercury, involving a spot of ‘plasma-morphing’. Argonaut, on the other hand, is catering for the more traditionally violent end of the market – with Zero offering some fairly standard third person action blasting.
Metal Shell, courtesy of Tantalus, provided some interesting looking tank-shooting action too. However, there will be inevitable comparisons to Sony’s own PSP tank title: Hardcorps, and Metal Shell could suffer weaker sales as a consequence.
Perhaps the most intriguing new title on show was Eidos’ Free Running. Just like the urban-Gallic subculture it takes its name from, this involves scaling buildings without safety equipment before leaping across roof-tops and bounding around city skyscapes. It’s got to be one of the most extreme sports that’s been defined as anything other than a straight suicide attempt: and thusly we’re greatly looking forward to trying out the digital interpretation.
Expect more PSP goodness as and when it becomes available.
Companies:
Argonaut Eidos Ignition Entertainment Sony Tantalus Warthog
Games: Archer Maclean's Mercury Free Running Metal Shell Sticky Balls wipEout Pure
Games: Archer Maclean's Mercury Free Running Metal Shell Sticky Balls wipEout Pure
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Comments
Joji 23 Aug 2004 11:50
1/5
No mention of a price tag for the thing yet then?
Free Running sounds cool, a nice risky titile for all the base jumping Pilotwings fans. So many other extreme sports that have yet to be covered, so I guess it has has some potential.
Some of those games sound a bit similar to stuff we know. Three ports and a few originals. Not bad but will need more soon.
Despite my negativity, I still want one though.
Free Running sounds cool, a nice risky titile for all the base jumping Pilotwings fans. So many other extreme sports that have yet to be covered, so I guess it has has some potential.
Some of those games sound a bit similar to stuff we know. Three ports and a few originals. Not bad but will need more soon.
Despite my negativity, I still want one though.
NiktheGreek 23 Aug 2004 13:23
2/5
I seriously hope that they change the name of Sticky Balls. It's giving me nightmares about the question "What have you been playing?".
Wipeout Pure, now that I cannot wait for. I'm a huge fan of the series, and would have taken it over any F-Zero incarnation until GX came along. However, I still enjoy Wipeout 3: Special Edition as much as Sega's game, so it'll be interesting to see just how good Pure is - in all honesty, it's the make or break game for my PSP purchase plans.
Wipeout Pure, now that I cannot wait for. I'm a huge fan of the series, and would have taken it over any F-Zero incarnation until GX came along. However, I still enjoy Wipeout 3: Special Edition as much as Sega's game, so it'll be interesting to see just how good Pure is - in all honesty, it's the make or break game for my PSP purchase plans.
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Funky 23 Aug 2004 13:55
3/5
Wipeout Pure is one of the reasons I want a PSP...
Joji 23 Aug 2004 14:11
4/5
I can see the innuendo in that. "Hold on a mo while i play with my Sticky Balls", LOL. So you have a PSP and Stick Balls, weird indeed.
As for Wipeout it gave the PSone something special and I suppose is okay in it's own right and looks cool, but has never really been my cup of tea. I guess my reasons are the PS0ne bad draw distance, and it's unbalance of shooting and racing. I always felt the game could never decide if it wanted to be a racing game or not because of the weapons. Combine this with some of the bad track design, and it put me off. I expect it'll do well n PSP because it's Wipeout, but Wipeout will always be a pretender to the F-Zero crown.
F-Zero is a better racing game with edge and focus. Your objective is to win amongst 29 other racers, so things are already fierce. Ramming opponents from the side doesn't detract your attention from the race ahead, which means a better race and more focus on the fiendishly designed track that also wanna kill you. Thus there is no need for weapons.
As for Wipeout it gave the PSone something special and I suppose is okay in it's own right and looks cool, but has never really been my cup of tea. I guess my reasons are the PS0ne bad draw distance, and it's unbalance of shooting and racing. I always felt the game could never decide if it wanted to be a racing game or not because of the weapons. Combine this with some of the bad track design, and it put me off. I expect it'll do well n PSP because it's Wipeout, but Wipeout will always be a pretender to the F-Zero crown.
F-Zero is a better racing game with edge and focus. Your objective is to win amongst 29 other racers, so things are already fierce. Ramming opponents from the side doesn't detract your attention from the race ahead, which means a better race and more focus on the fiendishly designed track that also wanna kill you. Thus there is no need for weapons.
tyrion 24 Aug 2004 07:44
5/5
Did you ever play Wipeout 2097, Joji? 'Twas much better that the original, in my opinion. Much better handling, much more forgiving colisions, more involving in general.
And on the subject of weapons, there is nothing like poping off a quake to knock your opponent off his stride and steal first place, right on the line. The addition of weapons gave you another chance and added another factor to the game, go for the boost or go for the weapon?
I hope the PSP version lives up to 2097 and Fusion, they were the best in the series to my mind.
And on the subject of weapons, there is nothing like poping off a quake to knock your opponent off his stride and steal first place, right on the line. The addition of weapons gave you another chance and added another factor to the game, go for the boost or go for the weapon?
I hope the PSP version lives up to 2097 and Fusion, they were the best in the series to my mind.