F-Zero

Game Title: F-Zero “エフゼロ” 
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Release Date: 21/11/1990
Serial No: SHVC-FZ
Cart Size: 4 Mbit
Players: 2
Battery Back-Up: Yes
Game Info: Nintendo's showcase Mode 7 racer
Historical fact: First SFC title to showcase Pseudo-3D

The Story:

F-Zero takes place in the year 2560 when humanity's countless encounters with these alien life forms throughout the Universe expanded Earth's social framework to astronomic proportions. Trade, technology and cultural interchange are carried out between planets. The multibillionaires who earned their enormous wealth through this intergalactic trade were satisfied with their rich lifestyles. However, they also yearned for new entertainment to stimulate their lazy lives, so a new entertainment based on the old F-1 races was founded. People were at first outraged with the brutality of the competition, but eventually demanded more excitement. They soon after called these Grand Prix races simply, "F-ZERO.”

Let me first of all begin and state that F-Zero was one of the Super Famicom’s first launch titles and a precursor to Mario Kart. It surpassed people’s expectation during the time of its release. F-Zero influenced many Amiga 500/Mega Drive loyalists to sell off their systems and buy the Super Famicom.

So, you play the role of our hero “Captain Falcon” but you are not restricted to just playing him as you can select from 3 other characters with different crafts. Each craft has different capabilities, for example - speed, weight, handling and shield strength varies according to which craft you use.

There are a total of fifteen tracks divided into three leagues with 3 difficulty levels to choose from. As you progress through the game the tracks start to change and become more difficult. The tracks become extended and obstacles start to appear in awkward places of the track increasing the challenge. Your rivals become more difficult to beat especially when they are tail gaiting you! Watch out for all those hazards and tight corners. During each race you must finish in the top 4 in order to progress through to the next stage so watch the energy bar and remember to top-up your shield on the energy strip.

The time challenge can become an obsession as players can always try and beat their best lap records, I used to franticly try and beat my records and my friends too. During game play you cannot help and notice the amazing visuals and backdrops. The speed of this game complements the entire experience, both music and sound adds to the excellent atmosphere and you really feel you are living in the F-Zero universe.

Glitches:

Remarkably the game only slows down a few times when there are a certain amount of crafts on screen.

Availability:

F-Zero is a very common title and easily available from Ebay. Expect to pay around £14 for a (MIB), £10 (CIB) and about £3 for a loose cart.

Ratings:

Graphics: 91%
Sound: 95%
Playability: 95%
Lastability: 90%
Fun Factor: 90%

Total: 92%

Final Thoughts:

At the time of its release F-Zero was truly the ultimate race game. There was nothing similar at the time, I remember my friends quote at school; “F-Zero is a game of epic proportions.” For those that are below the age of 22, I cannot even start to explain what this game did for the industry and the impact it made on millions of kids, teenagers and adults around the world, it was revolutionary in every sense. F-Zero very quickly became the defining title for the Super Famicom showcasing the Infamous “Mode 7” effect. It was one of the most graphically/visually stunning games of its time. The game influenced Toshihiro Nagoshi head of Sega's AM2 who later on developed Daytona USA. F-Zero is nearly 18 years old and it still looks good even for today’s standards

Now go buy it!!

Reviewed by MO