WipEout HD

[Largo]

Some of the later time trials seem way out of reach for gold, wonder if theres secret pathways in the maps or so, perhaps using the boost to leapfrog bits hmm

"Use the boost to get thro!"

[Dogg Thang]

Well it wouldn't be secret paths but getting a clean run, hitting as many boost pads as you can and using your boost well would be key. But also remember the barrel roll. If there is any sort of air at all, you can barrel roll to get a boost. If there is no obvious jump, remember if you use your boost in the right place, you can get air and then do a barrel roll, getting an extra boost.

[Profit]

Also key to time trials is save your boost until the end of the track, so you go through start at a faster speed and also gain a boost for the new lap.

[PrayforMojo]

I can't believe I've been gaming for about twenty years plus and I've never played a WipEout game before. Flying spaghetti monster almighty, I've missed out on a hell of a lot of fun. Never really been a big fan of traditional racing games, but this is something else entirely. Words really can't describe the awesomeness of spinning your pod racer 360 degrees in the air at 300 mph, while at the same time shooting rockets at the dude in front. This has the potential to be hysterically funny online, but I could really do with some tips first. For example, what are the best ships, any crafty maneuvers etc? I mean, even against AI opponents I'm left choking on fumes at the start of races. So far I've hardly used the left/right brake, but when the time comes when I finally feel brave enough to venture online, I assume that is something I will really need to get to grips with? One last thing, can you use the auto-pilot function online, because without it I envisage massive phail?

[Dogg Thang]

To be honest, you're actually on the right track by hardly using the air brakes. It seems one of the biggest mistake for new wipers (and certainly me) was overusing the brakes where they weren't needed.

As for best ships, when you're starting out, the best ones are the ones with the stats straight down the middle, especially when it comes to handling. Higher stats on handling actually make the craft quite twitchy and tough to control. Too low, and they are hard to take around a corner. So go for handling around the middle. What might be worth looking at is getting a craft that has a high thrust. That means, when you do invariably hit a wall, you'll get back to speed without too much waiting. But, really, it's a case of trying them out and seeing what suits you.

You can use the assist function and autopilot online but the assist should just be used while you get used to the basic system. Ultimately, it will actually slow you up.

For the very basics, there aren't really any secrets you won't already know. The best thing to do it to go to time trial mode, so you aren't having to deal with enemies, pick one track and practise it. That will get you used to the handling and help you learn a track. The biggest asset you can have in any Wipeout game is knowing the track layout. That will make or break any race. In the early WOs, I got to a point where I flew entirely on instinct - no thought process whatsoever. In this one, Vineta K and Moa Therma are great tracks to learn on.

Once you've got the basics of maneovering your craft and got to know the tracks, the next thing is to pick where you use your barrel rolls for maximum effect, while being sure not to leave your shield too vulnerable. Another thing many people miss out on is the sideshift. Double tapping an airbrake will do a sideshift - a great way for getting to boost pads and even for taking certain corners. But you're probably best ignoring those until you have the control basics down.

Good luck!

[PrayforMojo]

Good luck!

Thanks, I could play this all weekend long. It's insanely addictive. But with all the different game modes, I think it will be a while before I feel confident enough to hit the multiplayer. I'm currently struggling to get to grips with the Tron-like one called Zone mode, I think. I really want to like it but I can't figure out what the hell is going on. I'm guessing that you're racing yourself, because that's the only thing I can think of that explains the ghost ships that suddenly appear?

[Dogg Thang]

With Zone mode, the idea is that it gets faster and faster and faster until you eventually hit a point where you'll be bouncing across the walls and your shields won't take it and you'll explode. The faster you go, the higher zone you are in. Eventually you'll lose but it's about how far you can go.

It was the one single aspect of Fusion that was actually good.

Zone is tricky because the handling varies across the speeds. You may be better off getting to grips with the other modes first.

[MrMarbles]

Another thing many people miss out on is the sideshift. Double tapping an airbrake will do a sideshift - a great way for getting to boost pads and even for taking certain corners.

I found this a great way to do shallow chicanes on Wipeout Pure, but I've been reticent to use it in Wipeout HD because of the mapping of airbrakes to the triggers - is it as easy to do on the spongy triggers of the DS3 as it is on the clicky shoulder buttons of a PSP?

Or have you remapped the airbrake buttons to L1 and R1?

On a similar vein, do you do barrel rolls with the thumbstick or with the d-pad?

[Dogg Thang]

At the moment, I'm using the default control for the triggers and find the sideshift to work fine. But as for the thumbstick vs d-pad, well, I'm still varying between the two to find which one I like. I'm having a hard time being consistant on the barrel rolls with teh thumbstick right now but it might just take a while to get used to.

[MrMarbles]

Yeah, that's the problem I've been getting too - nothing more frustrating than seeing the jump go to waste with the tip of your vehicle just nosing left and right.

I'm tempted to try moving my thumb from thumbstick to d-pad on jumps and see if I can get a handle on that, as the stick is definitely the way forward for steering.

Might give the SIXAXIS feature a trial too - if it lets you use the stick to steer even when it's turned on, it might be handy to give a quick shake to roll.

[SuperBeatBoy]

Is there any tricks to gain faster speed on the magnetic electric bits of a track? It feels alot slower when i'm racing on them.

[Eight Rooks]

You do go slower on a mag-strip. There's sometimes an alternate route where you can avoid the strip, or depending on what mode it is you can use a boost.

Oh, and I hated the shoulder buttons of the PSP for sideshifting. One reason I haven't touched the PSP games in so long... I actually prefer the PS3 triggers.

[Profit]

Declined the EULA agreement by mistake and now I can't get online at all, and the 'agree' option isn't available anymore. Any suggestions for getting the agreement again?

Thanks.

[watusi]

Declined the EULA agreement by mistake and now I can't get online at all, and the 'agree' option isn't available anymore. Any suggestions for getting the agreement again?

Thanks.

You tried deleting the save game?

[Profit]

I'm thinking of that (already have about 15 golds), but wondering if there's another way.