Along the same lines as the other games in the series, WipEout Pulse is a futuristic racing game in which players take control of a vehicle that resembles a hovercraft and is capable of traveling at very high speeds while hovering above the ground. The events of the game take place in the year 2207, and players compete in the FX400 Anti-Gravity Racing League on circuits located in different parts of the world.
Each car belongs to one of several teams (a total of twelve when adding downloads), and each team has its own set of characteristics depending on how well it handles, how fast it accelerates, and other factors. Moving over pads during a race grants the player a boost or a power-up that may be used either offensively or defensively. These power-ups can include shields, rockets, a wall of fire, an autopilot, a gun, or a turbo boost. It is no longer necessary to use weapons in order to restore energy levels; instead, they can instead be absorbed. Acceleration is controlled by pressing a single button, while other controls include standard steering and air brakes for particularly tight turns. Both the images and the soundtrack, which are characteristic of the series and comprise primarily techno tracks, move at a breakneck pace.
There are a total of twelve tracks in the main game, each of which can be driven in either way (designated by black or white in the title name). Drops that resemble waterfalls, loops, and corkscrews are some of the new features included in the circuit design. In order for the car to proceed through specific areas, it is fastened to the track. The redesigned progression system is something that is completely new to the franchise. To unlock additional circuits and faster models, as is customary, players must first win races. However, rather than being organized in a linear fashion, the tracks are now clustered into hexagonal grids and provide a variety of gameplay options. When it is available, players have the option of selecting any of the sections to compete in a time trial, single race, head-to-head competition, eliminator games (which made a return in Wipeout 3), or Zone games (which were first introduced in WipEout Fusion). In these competitions, the vehicle continually accelerates and transforms into faster models until all of its health is depleted. It is necessary to win a predetermined number of races before moving on to the next grid, however with this approach, it is possible to bypass or disregard particularly challenging races. When the cars’ energy reserves are expended, they are destroyed in all of the races. A bronze, silver, or gold medal may be awarded to the player depending on their performance, and there are three different levels of difficulty.
One receives points in a loyalty system for continuing to use the vehicle of a particular team on a frequent basis. Both Ad Hoc and Infrastructure access options are available for use in the game’s game sharing and multiplayer gameplay, respectively. There is a photo mode for taking screenshots during replays, and players can design their own car skins to use in the game by using a flash client on the game’s official website. Players can load up to 30 mp3 files onto a memory stick to use as the in-game soundtrack. Photo mode also allows players to take screenshots during replays. There are numerous expansion packs available, just like there were for the previous games, and these packs include new teams and tracks.
