PERHAPS the future of transportation lies in us floating above ground - at least, that's what the developers of Wipeout Pulse would have us believe.

In the game, you pilot a blazing fast floating craft as it speeds around different circuits.

Races have you competing against seven opponents with a multitude of power-ups and weapons like bombs and mines to help you come in first, or you could opt to blast them silly in the new Elimination mode.

I thought Wipeout Pulse was similar to the Burnout series' Eliminator mode at first, where the last person in every lap is eliminated. Instead, it resembles a race deathmatch, where you aim to be the last man standing on the circuit.

If you feel like competing against yourself instead, there are always the time trials.

Despite vehicles racing at over 800 kilometres per hour, it's only in the later stages of the game that you can really feel the speed. In earlier stages, you just feel like a racer having trouble keeping in control.

At least there is the Zone mode - a hot favourite from its predecessor - where you keep your craft undamaged for as long as possible as you go faster and faster. It's one of the few modes that allows you to go at incredible speeds.

You'll have to get really familiar with the game to get the most out of it though. Most of the tracks in the game come locked, and can be unlocked only by scoring medals in the various events in a group.

It's not that hard, but it can be draining when you keep repeating an event until you get the medal and the required number of points to unlock the next group of events.

Apart from this though, Wipeout Pulse keeps its reputation as one of the best futuristic racers available on the PSP.