 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Wipeout 2048
- PlayStation Vita
- Price: $39.99
- Genre: Racing
Common Sense Media says
Sci-fi racer delivers high-octane thrills, fantasy violence.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Wipeout 2048 is a futuristic fantasy racing game where players pilot extraordinarily fast hover cars armed with a variety of deadly weapons. Like most racing games, high-speed collisions simply result in lost time. Weapons -- rockets, machine guns, mines -- can damage and destroy the game’s cars, but vehicles respawn almost instantly. Parents should also note that while this game supports Internet-based competitive play, there’s no avenue for player communication, making it a relatively safe online gaming experience.
What's it about?
Sony’s long-lived futuristic racing franchise makes its debut on the PlayStation Vita in WIPEOUT 2048. Fans of the series know what to expect: Sleek hover-vehicles armed with a variety of powerful weapons racing through the streets of the cities of tomorrow to a thumping background score. As usual, players unlock new vehicles as the game progresses, each suited to particular kinds of races. Some are speedy, some are tough, and some are jacks-of-all-trades, masters of none. Players can steer using the Vita’s analog stick or by tilting the device left and right, controlling thrust with the rear touch pad. The single-player mode offers plenty of challenges to work through, and players interested in testing their mettle against human opponents can play against up to eight others locally or online over WiFi. There’s even a cross-platform mode that allows Vita players to race against friends playing on a PlayStation 3.
Is it any good?
There’s not a lot here that Wipeout fans haven’t seen before, but it’s been done well. Stunning city spires slide past slick as butter on a hot pan as our hovering racers zip through curving avenues at a breakneck clip. The sense of speed is excellent, and the frame rate never stutters. Plus, there’s probably no better experience on Sony’s nascent handheld for fans of multiplayer gaming.
The only serious problem is the same one that plagues all Wipeout games: Things end up feeling a bit repetitive after a while. There may be plenty of race modes and different vehicles to choose from, but everything feels just a little same-y. Still, it always remains fun to revisit for a quick race now and again. Wipeout 2048 is fine -- but not exceptional -- fun for fans of fantasy racing.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about driver safety. What are some of the consequences associated with high-speed driving? Do you know anyone affected by a car accident? Could that accident have been avoided if the drivers were more cautious?
Families can also discuss violence in media. Violence, even when it only involves the destruction of inanimate or mechanical objects, can still be scary and have an impact on the viewer. How do you decided what’s safe for your kids?
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AGE
High speed racer should be for everyone
I don't exactly know what CSM is talking about on this one. The violence is extremely minimal, as the worst that happens is a car explodes, and subsequently reappears. Online safety is not a real concern, as you cannot communicate with others. I only say 7 and up as the extremely fast movement can be hard for younger players to control.
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AGE
Makes use of the Vita's functionality.
Awesome graphics,nothing more to say.Five stars.I say this was a great choice for my expanding my Vita game library.Recommended for all ages.
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| Topics: | cars and trucks |
| Platforms: | PlayStation Vita |
| Available online? | Not available online |
| Genre: | Racing |
| Developer: | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| Release date: | February 22, 2012 |
| Price: | $39.99 |
| ESRB rating: | E10+ for Fantasy Violence |
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