Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

WipEout Fusion delivers thrilling anti-gravity racing action that pushes players to the very limits of speed and control. Piloting nine distinct hovercrafts through winding, high-altitude tracks, racers must balance raw acceleration with precise handling. The base Arcade mode allows you to unlock new tracks by winning single races, while the League mode challenges you to master a full season of F9000 competition, climbing from the back of the pack to podium finishes.

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The Challenge mode returns from WipEout 64, now divided into team-specific trials that require gold-medal performances to unlock the next level. Each of the eight international teams brings its own flavor of obstacles—be it narrow tunnels, sharp hairpins or weapon-heavy gauntlets—forcing you to adapt your style and upgrade strategy. Earning credits from these trials lets you upgrade thrust, shield strength, lateral stability and more, giving your craft that vital edge in later rounds.

A standout addition is Zone mode, a pulse-pounding test of reflexes in which speed increases steadily until one wrong move sends you crashing. This infinite-run format sharpens your skills and rewards split-second decision-making. For those seeking local multiplayer thrills, the two-player split-screen offers intimate showdowns, though it comes with the usual compromises in draw distance and frame rate.

Graphics

Graphically, WipEout Fusion leans hard into its sleek, neon-soaked aesthetic. Tracks feel alive with pulsing lights, dynamic shadows and reflective surfaces that accentuate the anti-grav theme. Sharp curves and long straights are framed by futuristic cityscapes and barren lunar landscapes, creating a diverse visual feast throughout the F9000 season.

The ships themselves are crisply rendered, each team’s craft carrying distinctive color schemes and sponsor logos that pop against the track environment. Particle effects for boost trails and weapon impacts add extra visual punch, though occasional texture pop-ins and clipping can occur during split-screen multiplayer. Still, these minor hiccups scarcely dull the overall spectacle.

The user interface is clean and functional, with combat HUD elements like lock-on indicators, weapon cooldown meters and shield bars presented unobtrusively. In races, translucent waypoint markers and subtle speed readouts help maintain immersion, ensuring you stay focused on the high-speed action rather than navigating menus.

Story

While WipEout Fusion doesn’t offer a narrative campaign in the traditional sense, it immerses players in the high-stakes world of the F9000 Anti-Gravity Race League. Each of the eight teams represents a global powerhouse—from Finland’s Xios to Brazil’s Piranha—adding a sense of national pride and rivalry to every lap. Contextual splash screens, team logos and loading-screen lore blur the line between racing sim and futuristic sport drama.

The concept of earning super-weapon licenses through Challenge mode lends an undercurrent of progression and prestige. As you unlock the Proton Cannon, Gravity Bomb or Flamethrower for a given team, you feel the narrative tension of an arms race on the track, where cutting-edge technology can turn the tide of competition in seconds. These subtle storytelling devices give purpose to each victory and defeat.

Complemented by an adrenaline-fueled soundtrack of electronic beats and techno rhythms, the atmosphere maintains a cinematic edge. Voice-over announcements, pit-lane chatter and in-race audio cues further build the sense that you are part of a living, breathing league—one where every race could be your ticket to glory or your final crash.

Overall Experience

WipEout Fusion stands as a robust entry in the storied anti-gravity racing franchise, offering a blend of intense speed, tactical combat and layered progression. The satisfaction of mastering a track’s every twist under enemy fire is matched only by the thrill of outpacing rivals at breakneck velocity. With multiple modes to explore and upgrades to fine-tune, the game offers depth that rewards both newcomers and series veterans.

The learning curve can be steep, especially in Zone and Challenge modes, but the credit-based upgrade system softens the blow by allowing incremental improvements to your craft. Split-screen multiplayer, while not as polished as the single-player experience, still provides frenetic evenings of sabotage and overtakes with a friend by your side.

For players seeking a futuristic racing title packed with style, substance and relentless pace, WipEout Fusion delivers. Its combination of polished visuals, sophisticated audio design, diverse game modes and team-based progression makes it a worthy addition to any collection and a high-octane journey worth taking.

Retro Replay Score

8/10