A futuristic racing game where players compete in a high-speed hovercar racing tournament. In the year 2560, multi-billionaires with lethargic lifestyles created a new form of entertainment ... Read allA futuristic racing game where players compete in a high-speed hovercar racing tournament. In the year 2560, multi-billionaires with lethargic lifestyles created a new form of entertainment based on the Formula One races called "F-Zero".A futuristic racing game where players compete in a high-speed hovercar racing tournament. In the year 2560, multi-billionaires with lethargic lifestyles created a new form of entertainment based on the Formula One races called "F-Zero".
- Director
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaF-Zero for SNES was created in only 12 months, this was so the game could showcase the SNES's pseudo-3D mode 7 at launch
- GoofsThe F-Zero machines on the menu screens are erroneously referred to as "cars", despite that they can hover 12 inches above the ground and lack wheels.
- Quotes
Narrator: Congratulations, we hope you try Master level. See you again.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Gamesmaster: Episode #2.8 (1992)
Featured review
Zooming Start
This is one of my favorite racing games and games for the SNES console. The game was one of the consoles launch games and it really gave the SNES the running/zooming start it needed. But also it was one of the starts for another of Nintendo's big franchises and most importantly the Futuristic racing subgenre which has gone further since then.
The graphical presentation is very good, slightly revolutionary for its time as they really showed how console tech has really taken the next steps. Really like the designs of the tracks as each of them are unique and different, even the backgrounds are good as their an overview of the area below as the tracks take place above the air, though what can possibly make those tracks stay above for so long is anyone's guess; maybe it's the highly advanced version same technology as what keeps the Heli carriers in the Marvelverse up. It doesn't matter if it's a game, you just roll with it. The backgrounds I really like are the ones from the futuristic cities, though due to how flat they are they look more like circuit boards which just enhances the futuristic feel as the world of F-Zero is techno savvy.
I really like the use of the zoom in and out cinematography which was revolutionary for its time and a famous feature which was on most of the games for the SNES. This was to give a little of the third-dimension illusion but also the illusion of speed which it does so well. And that gets me to the gameplay which is solid, the controls are tight and simple which are all I want from racing games. As a kid from the 90's this game looked awesome as it looked and felt like you were going at super speed; from how fast you were going and how fast the action on the track was, it almost felt like I needed a seat belt while playing this game.
I really like the designs of each of the cars which really do look like they belong in the future, each of the cars have strengths and weaknesses. My favorite car of course is the Blue Falcon which I think is awesome looking as it looks like a jet fighter, let alone blue is my favorite color. But of course, there are the tracks which to me are the real star of the game, as I said before each are different, vary in difficulty depending on which modes you pick and there are enough to keep you going. I like that in the track there are a few thinks like light pads to jump and speed your car up which was a cool and unique feature for it's time before it became common place.
Also, there is their version of a pit stop when you slow down a little or stop there is a ship overhead that refills your energy gauge. This pit stop is the conservation and risk factor, despite replenishing you are also risking having your opponents pass you by but also losing race time which makes you opportunity for a bonus narrow, so make your stops carefully and when you really need them. And there is the element of jeopardy, as you have an energy gauge, if you bump into the edges of the track and the other cars too much, your energy level will drain and if it goes to zero then you explode.
And of course, there is the difficulty which is at a medium level, but can get really challenging depending on the modes you pick and tracks. And you can play the tracks again if you fail but you have only three chances of doing that, so don't waste them. Personally I don't mind the games difficulty as it's fair, when you lose most of the time it's because I just made an error in timing or the simple wrong turn and that just means I need to practice more to sharpen my skill skills and do better next time on the track.
The only speed bump for me with the game is there is no two player function, which is too bad because racing against another player is one of the best things about racing games and of course part of the point of them. Though may 'be it's because the split screen would've made the tracks seem too narrow, let alone that feature wasn't quite perfected yet at the time. The same could be said about a lot of other retro racing games for consoles and arcades, so I can't really hold it against the game and despite this feature lacking it doesn't deter my enjoyment.
Overall, I really like this game even though it's ranked lower on my personal list for the "F-Zero" franchise as I like the sequels even more as they took things further. But all the same this game is still worth a test drive just to see where it all began for the "F-Zero" franchise but also for the Futuristic racing genre in general.
Rating: 3 and a half stars.
The graphical presentation is very good, slightly revolutionary for its time as they really showed how console tech has really taken the next steps. Really like the designs of the tracks as each of them are unique and different, even the backgrounds are good as their an overview of the area below as the tracks take place above the air, though what can possibly make those tracks stay above for so long is anyone's guess; maybe it's the highly advanced version same technology as what keeps the Heli carriers in the Marvelverse up. It doesn't matter if it's a game, you just roll with it. The backgrounds I really like are the ones from the futuristic cities, though due to how flat they are they look more like circuit boards which just enhances the futuristic feel as the world of F-Zero is techno savvy.
I really like the use of the zoom in and out cinematography which was revolutionary for its time and a famous feature which was on most of the games for the SNES. This was to give a little of the third-dimension illusion but also the illusion of speed which it does so well. And that gets me to the gameplay which is solid, the controls are tight and simple which are all I want from racing games. As a kid from the 90's this game looked awesome as it looked and felt like you were going at super speed; from how fast you were going and how fast the action on the track was, it almost felt like I needed a seat belt while playing this game.
I really like the designs of each of the cars which really do look like they belong in the future, each of the cars have strengths and weaknesses. My favorite car of course is the Blue Falcon which I think is awesome looking as it looks like a jet fighter, let alone blue is my favorite color. But of course, there are the tracks which to me are the real star of the game, as I said before each are different, vary in difficulty depending on which modes you pick and there are enough to keep you going. I like that in the track there are a few thinks like light pads to jump and speed your car up which was a cool and unique feature for it's time before it became common place.
Also, there is their version of a pit stop when you slow down a little or stop there is a ship overhead that refills your energy gauge. This pit stop is the conservation and risk factor, despite replenishing you are also risking having your opponents pass you by but also losing race time which makes you opportunity for a bonus narrow, so make your stops carefully and when you really need them. And there is the element of jeopardy, as you have an energy gauge, if you bump into the edges of the track and the other cars too much, your energy level will drain and if it goes to zero then you explode.
And of course, there is the difficulty which is at a medium level, but can get really challenging depending on the modes you pick and tracks. And you can play the tracks again if you fail but you have only three chances of doing that, so don't waste them. Personally I don't mind the games difficulty as it's fair, when you lose most of the time it's because I just made an error in timing or the simple wrong turn and that just means I need to practice more to sharpen my skill skills and do better next time on the track.
The only speed bump for me with the game is there is no two player function, which is too bad because racing against another player is one of the best things about racing games and of course part of the point of them. Though may 'be it's because the split screen would've made the tracks seem too narrow, let alone that feature wasn't quite perfected yet at the time. The same could be said about a lot of other retro racing games for consoles and arcades, so I can't really hold it against the game and despite this feature lacking it doesn't deter my enjoyment.
Overall, I really like this game even though it's ranked lower on my personal list for the "F-Zero" franchise as I like the sequels even more as they took things further. But all the same this game is still worth a test drive just to see where it all began for the "F-Zero" franchise but also for the Futuristic racing genre in general.
Rating: 3 and a half stars.
helpful•00
- hellraiser7
- Apr 4, 2023
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