Novice mode isn't easy enough...

[PatrickH]

Maybe I made a mistake buying this game, but I can't seem to do better than come in last -- usually trailing by 2 to 7 seconds behind the next slowest contender. And that's at "novice" difficulty.

Now, I really enjoy the game, but I can't unlock more of the game without earning points, and I have to come in at least 3rd to get a Bronze. I've gotten a couple of Bronze medals as a fluke, but I can't repeat the feat. When I rerun races that I've gotten a Bronze in once, the next time I come in last (as usual.)

Is there a trick or, if need be, a cheat that will allow me to open up more of the game? Also, my right thumb is getting really sore from pressing hard on the "X" button for extended periods. It's amazing how fast the hours slip by when engrossed in this game. :)

All suggestions are greatly appreciated.

~Patrick
p.s. If a little background helps, I'm 52 and recently unemployed, so I'm spending a lot of time with my PS3 and HD TV.

[drell]

Hello Patrick.

From reading lots of things here before joining, common tips are:
Practise in speed lap mode first.
Set acceleration sensitivity to 10%.
Turn off Pilot Assist.
Set airbrake to L1 R1.

These really helped me get passed the campaign, now Elite AI is good for me. :)
Really all about practise, try racing until you do not hit too many walls.

[SaturnReturn]

It's a tough game to play at the start, but once you get used to it Novice mode is plenty easy. They actually made the game easier on Novice ages ago by offering a Novice setting for Speed Lap and Time Trial modes, which didn't initially exist. It seems WipEout was always challenging though. Since playing WipEout HD I've had a shot at the challenge modes in older games like Wip3out. HD is generally very easy compared to those, aside from one or two of the trophies. In reviews I've seen, novice is generally considered a bit too easy and Elite is then considered ridiculously difficult in comparison. But it depends on general familiarity with WipEout I guess. If it's all new then it's a bit daunting, as it was for me.

Anyway, welcome to the forum. There is lot and lots of help available. Please look around and have a search, particularly for trophy help and general tips. I'm not sure what a search for 'tips' would churn up, but it's bound to provide a lot of useful info.

EDIT: Also, no, there are no cheats for the game, just determination.

[PatrickH]

Well, here's my reply to the following:

"Practise in speed lap mode first."

-- Where's "speed lap mode"?
EDIT: OK, I found "Speed Lap" under "Racebox", Race Type --> Speed Lap. I'll practice here for a while. I'm guessing that I'll want to keep Speed Class to "Venom".


"Set acceleration sensitivity to 10%."

-- This got me placing above last place in my first attempt. So now I'm 5 seconds behind the leader instead of 5 seconds behind the last one. Good tip!


"Turn off Pilot Assist."

-- Are you out of your mind!? :eek I couldn't keep myself off the walls without the Pilot Assist.


"Set airbrake to L1 R1."

-- L1/R1 or L2/R2 doesn't seem to make much difference for me. I'll play with it a while longer and see how it goes.


Thanks!

~Patrick

[IH8YOU]

You may need the pilot assist - but that's akin to learning how to drive, while sitting in the back of a limo.

If you need it, use it - but don't become too dependent on it, otherwise you will have to completely re-learn how to "fly" in this game.

Also, welcome to Wipeout / Zone.

[Temet]

You MUST turn off pilot assist.
This is an option useful the first hours for persons that have never played to WO, but you have to get rid of it!

This is probably your first WO game but you know, AI in normal level is not very hard, you need practicing. You need to know all tracks by hearts (well, almost, I don't know them by heart but have a global idea for all of them), were are boosts pads and weapons pads, and where you can use barrel rolls ;)

Training is the key man, good luck! :D

EDIT : AI in Elite level is really really HARD to beat!

[PLazarou]

Hi Patrick, welcome to the forums.

Some people find that Pilot Assist helps them learn the tracks, but you'll find most people on here telling you to turn it off. You tend to rely on it too much to push you away from the sides, so it takes longer to get a 'feel' for the way the ships handle. Plus it reduces your acceleration to 90% every time it's used so it takes longer to catch the AI. I'd definitely turn it off. It'll be painful at first but you'll learn much faster.

Changing the airbrakes to L1 and R1 is an interesting one... I'm not sure about this. Personally I enjoy the analogue sensitivity of L2 and R2 (it allows you to carve very smooth lines around certain corners), but it largely a comfort thing. A lot of people don't like the triggers on the PS3 pads as they are convex instead of concave - the Gioteck triggers are an excellent solution to this: http://www.play.com/Games/PlayStation3/4-/5675248/Gioteck-Real-Triggers-For-PS3/Product.html It makes the triggers less slippery and makes the whole controller feel more comfortable for bigger hands.

As for general tips, I'd pick a good-handling ship like Feisar or AG Systems - these feel much more responsive to your turning inputs. Learn the locations of the pickup pads - these are more important than the speed pads. When there's an option, always go for the pickup pad. Learn to recognise the pickup icons, and use or absorb the unwanted ones (e.g. mines/bomb if you're in last place) immediately so that you can hit the next pad and hopefully get something better. Ideally you should be hitting and using/absorbing every pickup pad during a lap - when you improve you'll find there's rarely a need to 'save' a pickup, unless it's a Boost...

[Connavar]

Hi:

1) Be gentle on the steering, friends playing here oversteer a lot, and then hit
walls after walls, just try to keep your ship in the middle of the track

2) Always full thrust, and try not to use airbrakes too much

3) If you want to beat the AI on vineta-k, then practice this track on Speed
Lap until you can align perfect laps, and find a good place to boost ...
on vineta-k, the easiest place is near the end of the lap, just after the tunnel
there is a hill => boost there and barrel roll (BR) in the air, don't fly too high.

4) You're now ready to beat the AI on this track, repeat step 3 for every
other track/class combination.

NOTE: all this WITHOUT pilot assist of course, otherwise you won't learn
anything in phase 3, also, pilot assist slows you down

[PatrickH]

You MUST turn off pilot assist.
This is an option useful the first hours for persons that have never played to WO, but you have to get rid of it!

Never played... First hours... Yup, that's me. I bought it through the online Playstation Store and got hooked. When I select my ship my primary feature is "handling". It makes a big difference for me.

OK, I'll try it without Pilot Assist. (BTW, I did my first successful barrel roll yesterday. That was pretty cool. :D )

[LATER]
I forgot to click "Submit Reply" after typing the above message, so it sat on my screen while I played with the game a while. I'm having a real tough time without that Pilot Assist, but with what everyone has said about it, I'm committed to developing some proficiency to playing without it. I'm not there yet, but I'll keep trying.

~Patrick

[drell]

If it can be of any help, this was worth a lot to me.

WipEout HD Tutorials (http://www.youtube.com/user/HellfireWZ#grid/user/291994E3331211F5)

[Temet]

You know Patrick, as far as I remember, when I began playing to WO2097 (that was in 1997), I also had some hard time at the beginning, always hiting walls (and pilot assist didn't exist).

That's cool you turned the pilot assist off, be proud man, even if it's difficult now.

In few days, you should win in easy mode ;)

[PLazarou]

Give it a couple of hours tbh. I have confidence in this man's ability!

[PatrickH]

Have you ever seen a SciFi movie where the main character wakes up one day to discover that everybody else in the world has been replaced by an alien replica? And worse, the aliens have inhuman powers that make them impossible to defeat.

I figure anyone who can play this game withOUT the Pilot Assist must be some superhuman alien invader who is showing off their alien superiority in order to intimidate the last of us remaining humans into surrendering our planet to your inevitable conquest.

I guess I'm OK with it so long as you don't find out where I live and put a pod next to my bed one night. :p

~Patrick

[PLazarou]

Haha. You get it soon enough. The tracks are all short and easy to remember - you'll be able to play it blindfolded in no time!

[Temet]

Patrick, just imagine that yesterday I did 3 times a "99 laps speed lap session" to try to get under 23 seconds on Sebenco Climb.
Unsuccessfully ...
Eventually, I did a 22.70 seconds today after around 20 laps ^^.

You see man, training... more than 300 hundred laps on the same track, again and again... I sound as crazy as the guys I used to call crazy two weeks ago! :dizzy

PS : the link given by Drell is a great course on youtube, you should have a look ;)

[tug_14]

I figure anyone who can play this game withOUT the Pilot Assist must be some superhuman alien invader who is showing off their alien superiority in order to intimidate the last of us remaining humans into surrendering our planet to your inevitable conquest.



~Patrick

Well Patrick, you are in the X-Men's forum, didn't you know?

[leungbok]

You mean Lance is professor X ? :eek
:p

[OneAVGNFan]

It also helps to find a team that's natural to you.

Also, it helps to be versatile in more than one team due to the nature of the tracks.

[PatrickH]

Well, here are my biggest physiological problems with the game:

1st - When in a race I find that I stare unblinkingly at the screen and my eyes start to dry out. That leads to a burning/stinging in my eyes. Blink at the wrong time in this game and you're toast.

2nd - As I think I've mentioned earlier, my right thumb is getting really sore, and my hand is cramping up after a while. Right now, that's the biggest reason I don't play longer than I do; I get to where I simply can't keep going.


I looked at the YouTube tutorials. I think I need to develop some basic proficiencies before those videos will be particularly helpful.

I'm worn out. I've had enough for today. Well, at least for right now. I need to rest my hand.

~Patrick

[ProblemSolver]

There is nothing left to say. Oh wait! Welcome to the WipeoutZone! :beer

[PLazarou]

As I think I've mentioned earlier, my right thumb is getting really sore, and my hand is cramping up after a while. Right now, that's the biggest reason I don't play longer than I do; I get to where I simply can't keep going.
Now that you've turned the acceleration sensitivity to 10%, you should have noticed that the X button requires very little pressure in order to register max throttle. So relax (difficult in this game I know), and don't tense your hand so much. Those triggers I mentioned earlier might help if you're generally finding the controller uncomfortable also.

[Rezatron]

2nd - As I think I've mentioned earlier, my right thumb is getting really sore, and my hand is cramping up after a while. Right now, that's the biggest reason I don't play longer than I do; I get to where I simply can't keep going.



Change thrust to the one of the shoulder buttons (preferably digital r1/l1). Other than that, this game has a steep learning curve (depending on what you want to do) and the best way to improve is to just keep on playing... and playing and playing. :coffee I think you will ultimately find the game very rewarding but it requires a lot of hours. :robot

edit: PLazarou beat me to it

[eLhabib]

When in a race I find that I stare unblinkingly at the screen and my eyes start to dry out. That leads to a burning/stinging in my eyes. Blink at the wrong time in this game and you're toast.~Patrick

I love that statement! This alone totally defines wipEout :lol

Keep at it, Patrick, in a couple of weeks you'll be cruising and laughing at your starting troubles!
Oh and welcome to the 'Zone! :)

[blackwiggle]

I've been playing Wipeout for 15 years since when we only had the original D-Pad and L1R1 triggers for control.
I've tried the alternatives with the PS3 controllers and get hand cramps if I have all my fingers spread out around the controller, that's with using the sticks for steering and L2R2 for the air brakes,which judging by what you posted sounds like your setup.

Try using the D-Pad & L1R1 air brake setup,plus adjusting your air brake sensitivity to 70%.[less % = more sensitive in wipeout]you might find it less painful on your hands,plus you might find steering easier with the D-Pad [?]
You haven't said which racing view you are using ,Close,Far or Internal,which is something else you might want to test out [a lot of the old timers use internal,mainly for the most realistic feeling of speed :) ,plus you get a more immediate feeling for the different handling of each craft and any air brake adjustments you make]


2 tips.
A the start you have a countdown,if you slam on the X button exactly when it reaches GO! you will get a boost start.

If you think of wipeout in a musical sense,like playing a guitar, it is easy to pick up and become good at it.
The tracks are your sheet music [song] and always stay the same,the different speed classes are different tempos,the craft are your instruments.
A barrel roll is like using a tremolo arm,air brakes like hammer-on's or pull-off's, and side shifts like a string bend.
Once you have chosen your instrument [craft] and set it up [controller]you then start to learn the song,once you know it and can play it fluently you can the improvise and make it your own.

[YouAreFubar]

To be honest if youve gone for a ship with excellent handling and your playing it on Venom, that could be a problem as well. I use Harimau on Phantom and I have a tendancy to oversteer with that every now and again, ive got to be quite light with the controls. Maybe try a ship like Auricom to see if less handling helps you take the lines better. You could always change to another better handling ship as you move up the speed classes.

[Z°ⁿε]

Just try to squeeze in a barrel roll where ever you can.

[Dark_Phantom_89]

I completely understand the difficulties that you are having Patrick, as I experienced similar problems when I first played HD. I'd been out of the Wipeout saga for a while, not having played Pure and Pulse and needed to get used to things again.

The best advice I can give is to practice a few races with Pilot Assist on until you learn the tracks and can consistently win.

After that, you'll be ready to take the plunge and turn it off. Your knowledge of the track from having Pilot Assist on will help you greatly here. When turning, use a combination of the analog stick or D-Pad (whichever you find easier,) and the airbrakes. Remember not to press down on the airbrakes so much if the turn is only slight.

I know this may seem a bit confusing and a lot to take in, but keep trying and I guarantee that you wil improve and grow to love this game as I did.

[mic-dk]

I agree in finding a slightly less handling ship. The AG-SYS can be quite a bit twitchy little thing and hard to keep on a straight line.

Maybe more stable craft like Assegai or Mirage will suit you better in the very hard beginning? They have the extra bonus that they're a bit faster in a straight line as well :)

Good luck on your practice, and with PA off, look forward to that achievement it feels like when your hear "Perfect Lap" for the first time!

[Xavier]

You mean Lance is professor X ? :eek
:p

No, that's me! :D Or maybe Darkdrium. :g

Seriously, though, Patrick, WO is a very unforgiving game at the beginning, but eventually you'll start getting it. I agree with the other posters who recommend doing Speed Laps as you get a feel for each course. Speed Laps to get ready, then Single Race against opponents, then Time Trials as you perfect your technique.

Also, I find some courses to be harder than others. I can't place above third on Novice in Sebenco Climb at any speed class... it's just impossible! Yet I can get the gold in Novice in just about everything else, including supposedly-tough courses like Chenghou Project, and even have a few Elite golds here and there. If one course is really frustrating you, move on to another one -- you don't need to get all golds in an event to move on to the next one; you just have to get most of them.

The game doesn't do a good job of explaining how the sensitivity works -- lower is more sensitive. And I like L1/R1 for airbrakes because you can press the button instantly, unlike the analog L2/R2 which take an extra fraction of a second to press down. Or you could assign L1 or R1 to thrust -- I did this in Fusion and it worked great. Good controls that you can handle easily are all-important -- I never placed above 4th or 5th in any race in the original Wipeout, and then I picked it up again a decade later and did just fine with an analog controller. (Still looking for my first first-place finish, though!)

The EG-X and Assegai handle very well IMO, but if you're getting banged around, their shields might not be enough. The Feisar is good for beginners but is slow; it can be frustrating to see other ships always out of reach ahead of you. Find a ship you like, with controls you like, and start practicing!

[okam]

Ahh, I remember my first time playing WipeOut. It was the Wip3out demo on the cover disc of one of those PlayStation magazines. Hated it! No matter what I did, my ship (the taxi! :) would turn right into the side of the track and scrape along for a bit before exploding. Worst game ever! Then at some point something just "clicked" and I managed to steer pretty well, even doint the bendy bits underground on that demo track (which name I have forgotten) without hitting the walls.

I usually play with the left thumb leaning forward on the left analog stick, then just gently push it to the side as I turn. Try that if you aren't allready; placing my thumb on top of the analog stick is too "wobbly" for me, and I dislike the directional buttons because they are too far apart. You might want to set pitch to motion control if you do this though. Playing like this, I usually "steer" all the time, even when going straight. By that I mean I never let go of the analog stick, I always keep it pushed forward. Soon you will find that your thumb sort of automatically controls the ship along the track, kinda like driving a car. You look at the road up ahead, and your hands control the wheel and you don't "think" too much about it.

Learn to airbrake at sharp turns (not so useful at venom maybe, but get into the habit of using them and learn to control the pressure). Sideshifting is also useful for avoiding walls in those "oh sh!t" moments (double tap the airbrakes). Hitting the walls means a major drop in speed, so try to avoid that at all cost. You can also sideshift while turning. Do a few laps and just practice these things, then incorporate them into your racing; it's a lot easier than it sounds.

You don't have to push X so hard, just find a comfortable position and let your thumb rest on it (that's why you set the sensitivity so low; even if you just gently touch it you get max effect). You can always set the thrust to some other, more confortable, button. If you are new-ish to console controllers you will likely need some time to get used to them. If you have very big or small hands you might want to concider getting a different controller.
I have small hands and struggle with the xbox-controller. I get pretty bad pains around the knuckles at the base of the fingers from reaching "around" the controller all the time.

Don't be afraid to blow up the leading ship *wink* Rockets, quakes, plasmas, BOOM, right up the rear. Don't forget to wave as you fly past them. Oh and drop some mines in their face if you've got them.

Also... relax! :) I am at my best when I am relaxed; comfortable sitting position, elbows resting on something, trying not to think too hard - just go with the flow. Observe and react, don't over-think it.

Umm, that's what I got for now. Let us know how it goes!

[PatrickH]

Just try to squeeze in a barrel roll where ever you can.

Question: What's the deal with barrel rolls? Well, besides the fact that they're fun, is there a practical reason for doing them?

~Patrick

[SaturnReturn]

This thread has covered a lot of ground that has been answered before and is more along the lines of other recent threads than the title suggests it should be. Please use the search function. Also read Hellfire's FAQ here:

http://www.wipeoutzone.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6308

http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/ps3/file/938148/57613

Also, as it's not lead to any actual discussion about whether Novice AI is actually too easy, I'm probably going to merge it with another general beginner help thread, just as soon as I find the right one. That way all these tips, difficulties and frustrations can be shared in one place.

[Handmadelion]

I too have been revisiting my first time playing WipeOut since recently getting my friend into it. "Ooo what do I do? What do I set my sensitivities at? What ship do I use? When do I sideshift?" There is far more distance and material than I ever remember covering. I suppose I got too riled up in him enjoying and relishing in his first victories, awesome recoveries and whatnot to realize he had Pilot Assist on this entire time. And suddenly, he's playing the game for the first time again. Ugh!

Remembering the tracks, where the BRs (barrel rolls) are, making your lines; It is frustrating! I'm sure. It was when I did it, and it is as my friend's going through it. But like Temet says, be proud you're off Pilot Assist. Sure training wheels were cool, but the two-wheelers are where it's at!

Everyone's storytelling and helpfulness is always a pleasure to read, and something of a treasure in Wipeout HD that can go unnoticed if you let it, by not giving yourself the chance to play with these fantastic pilots here on WipeoutZone. Friends to be made, rivalries, a wealth of things to keep you coming back to this game for more. I especially loved your time capsule of a post Blackwiggle. 15 years is a lot of wipeouting (v.)!

There are going to be two things that come at you during this game Patrick, frustrations, and wondrous moments. And one is never far from the other. You will win races that get your heart pounding and you will explode in first place, meters before a finish line.

Buenas Suerte, and roll with the changes!

yours truly,

HML

[Aeroracer]

just keep playing and it will become easy...in six months you will do elite and win most times..

i was crap when i started and when i finally beat event 3 on novice i thought i would go online to show the world how hot i was ...lol..idnt quite work out..

but i was persistant and i did the whole lot in the end cos as the other have said, practice and read all the top tips the pros have put here...

:guitar:dizzy:guitar

[okam]

Question: What's the deal with barrel rolls? Well, besides the fact that they're fun, is there a practical reason for doing them?

~Patrick

You get a speed boost, like if you were to race over a speed pad. Oh btw, you are hitting as many speed pads as possible, yes? You are aiming for last place if you don't ^^

[Rubix42]

Some people mentioned these briefly, but I figured I'd expand on them a bit.

In regards to control, I am the same as you, if I use the X button for thrust, I generally have trouble. My current set-up for a controller is R1 for thrust, L1 for fire weapon. X for left airbrake, O for right airbrake. Makes it much easier for me that way.

I also use d-pad for steering, but that is 100% a personal preference. I learned WO on the PS1 and can't bring myself to use a joystick.

Keep pilot assist off. At first it's tough, but the PA slows you down a lot and makes it hard to learn how to play the game. Riding the edge of the track is impossible and taking turns tight is also not happening with it on.

Turn motion assist off for now if you haven't already.

Try not to worry about pitching the craft up/down much at this point. Focus on making the turns with airbrake and sideshift for now. You want to learn how to steer before you learn how to fly.

Some general racing tips.
Novice is not too bad. At first I would suggest not trying to focus too much on using weapons. Use the ones that require no thought or aim. Absorb the machine gun for example, but definitely use Quake and turbo. That way you can focus on just getting around the course.

As others have said, speed lap is good to learn the game on. Plus, I think there is a trophy for completing a 99 lap speed lap session. So there is that if you're into that kind of thing.

Zone is a fun break if you want to just play. Let's you focus just on steering and nothing else.

[Dan Locke]

I also use d-pad for steering
How do you set that up? I tried several times, but I couldn't figure it out.

[Rubix42]

You just use the d-pad. Nothing special needs to be done that I can remember. If there is though, you would want to go into the options menu and tweak the control options.

Although if you have one, I highly recommend trying to play with a arcade stick. The arcade stick offers a very nice degree of control but takes a while to get used to.

[YouAreFubar]

How are you getting on Patrick, is there any of the advice youve been given that youve found useful?

[ksc6000]

I don't know if Patrick is finding anything useful, but I certainly am :) .

The only thing I'm confused about is the Thrust. Some on here seem to say that you should NEVER let go of the thrust, but even when using a feisar on rapier or phantom speeds, I can't make certain turns with just the stick and the airbrakes. I just can't make them without letting go of the acceleration for a few secs. Is there something I'm doing wrong?

Thanks.

[SaturnReturn]

ksc6000, welcome to the forum. You had already asked that last question in its own thread. If someone knows the answer or can help in any way then they will answer it there. There was no need to post it again here, so I have deleted it to avoid taking this thread off topic.

[ksc6000]

Thanks saturnreturn

[Aeroracer]

im sure many races can be won or nearly won by using pilot assist and a blob of blu tak on the acceleration button on novice...but i cant say for sure...

maybe worth a try

[Xavier]

KSC, I take my finger off the acceleration a lot when trying to make sharp turns. Not sure if it's the best technique -- maybe you don't have to and I'm just using it because I'm not skilled enough -- but it certainly helps on sharp turns!

[YouAreFubar]

Ill be honest I never take my finger off the accelerate button on Phantom. I find the only corners that cause a problem sometimes are the hairpins and IMO scraping the wall is better than the speed loss incurred by letting go of accelerate.

The trick is making sure youve got the right racing line going into each corner and also mastering air-braking followed by side shifting.

[Handmadelion]

@YouAreFubar That is a (bad?) habit I brought over from Pure. I never let off the acceleration there, thus I knew I wouldn't be letting off on WOHD. I may do it in extreme cases, a turn here, a turn there on Sebenco R, but the belief structure has always carried through with me to never give up, never surrender! -- never stop.

[LOUDandPROUD]

Yah, I definitely take my thumb off the accelerator often for some of the hairpins, if only for a split second. However, I know for sure that I don't have to, as a flawless racing line coupled with perfectly time airbraking and sideshifting has gotten me through unscathed under full acceleration before...it's just that my racing lines are so inconsistent that I find myself releasing the accelerator to compensate quite a bit. And that's in a Feisar! I still do ok for myself though. ;)

For the folks driving the not-so-good-handling ships, but who are still able to make it through those hairpins perfectly without letting off the gas, you have my utmost respect! :clap

[YouAreFubar]

I second that! I know I can do it but the ship still needs to have pretty good handling for me to get away with it.

[yeldar2097]

IMO scraping the wall is better than the speed loss incurred by letting go of accelerate.

Fact.

*AHEM*Chenghou Hairpin*Ahem*

:P

[YouAreFubar]

lol! :p Its unfortunate when someone is on the outside of that corner when im going round it, ive planted plenty of unsuspecting opponents into that wall!

[amplificated]

im sure many races can be won or nearly won by using pilot assist and a blob of blu tak on the acceleration button on novice...but i cant say for sure...

maybe worth a try

I lol'd... and I actually don't doubt that for a second.

[yeldar2097]

Yeah it works, mate of mine did that when he couldn't be arsed :lol

[MiguelX69]

Guess you have to be pacient... It's hard to get used to it, same happened to me when I first played my first Wipeout (Wip3out).

Start doint some trials on the race tracks, to get used to the layouts, then go after the real deal.