F-Zero GX Review

By Kristan Reed Published 31 October, 2003

Tired and emotional, Kristan climbs from the wreckage of the Blue Falcon...

Version tested: GameCube

F-Zero GX is nuts. Any game that can inspire the kind of blind obsession that has you glued to the gamepad for five straight hours playing the same track, heart rate at 140, pupils dilated, quit/restart technique perfected, is alright by us. Not since F-Zero: Maximum Velocity in the summer of 2001 has this kind of obsessive-compulsive madness prevailed, and frankly, I want to get this review in the bag as quickly as possible in order to get back on it. A sign of a very good game indeed.

In keeping with the series, the concept remains as utterly simple (and predictable) as ever. Set in an unspecified point in the future (isn't the future great? We can make all sorts of shit up!), pilots get to dress up in hilarious homoerotic costumes, pull Village People poses before climbing aboard unfeasibly fast antigravity units known as G-Diffuser Systems, and then drive at insane face melting speeds around colossal F-Zero circuits set on the outskirts of cities "situated high in planet atmospheres". So now you know.

A big prize

'F-Zero GX' Screenshot 1

At its core, the game structure remains almost identical to the SNES original, with the Grand Prix mode offering three cups to enter, each comprised of five progressively difficult races of three laps each. In addition, four pilots are available (before you eventually unlock the other 26), each with craft graded from A to E in their grip, boost and body/armour capabilities. After that you're given the further option to tweak your ship's acceleration/top speed by sliding the graph pointer between the two. Once you've made your choice, the game then offers up three classes to race in (Novice, Standard or Expert) and it's then a case of scoring enough points to win that cup. With an insane 30 riders per race, you score points related to your position, with 100 for finishing first, right down to 15 for finishing last.

As ever, you're also given five lives, allowing you a crucial second chance should you fall off track or end up losing all your energy. Again, boost and jump pads litter the track to enable you to cut corners and gain extra speed, while multicoloured shield recharge strips allow you to repair any damage you may have encountered along the way. After the first lap, you're then allowed to use the ship's energy to manually boost yourself, although it's often a risky trade off when the going gets tough, with the need to gain that tiny bit of extra speed always tempered by the need to actually stay alive.

Piloting the craft is straightforward enough, although can take an age to properly master. Just steering with the left stick might get you around the first few one star difficulty tracks, but very quickly you'll realise that mastering cornering techniques is the key to success. Hitting the appropriate shoulder button as you go into a corner allows you to pull off a useful slide turn, but negotiating the hairpins requires both shoulder buttons pressed down simultaneously. Without a basic mastery of these moves and an intimate knowledge of each course you'll be toast in no time. One of the hardest aspects of reviewing this game is the fact that it will take you literally weeks before you're good enough to unlock all there is to see - but that's a good thing, right?

Play dirty

'F-Zero GX' Screenshot 2

No futuristic racer would be complete without its attacking moves, and F-Zero GX has two dirty tricks up its sleeve if you feel like playing rough. The Spin Attack lets you bump your rivals off course by hitting the Z button and the direction of your nudge, although you lose speed so accuracy is advised. Meanwhile, the Side Attack requires the use of the X button and the direction, although both are fraught with danger, and in a game where you can lose by thousandths of a second, you'd better be sure it comes off. Winning is everything, and if you do happen to bag any of the cups you're rewarded with tokens to spend in unlocking a staggering array of ships, parts and modes.

It's the bewildering array of modes and options that demonstrate the effort that has gone into the package should have long term fans in raptures. An almost unbelievably hard Story mode is available to the brave who fancy spending some of their hard earned tokens on one of these one-off challenges, and each comes with an amusingly badly voice-acted sequence that will have those looking for an irony fix giggling long into the night. Elsewhere there's the usual Time Attack, Practice and Versus mode (for up to four player split screen) to sharpen up your skills for the real battles ahead, while the Customise mode lets you create your own unique ships, change existing ones, buy the body parts and even has a design tool to create your own logos and images to slap on the craft. For those who fancy creating the ultimate ship, it's an excellent addition and will serve to extend the lifespan of the game for ages once you really get into it.

Whether you do take to F-Zero GX depends on how much you've appreciated the series to date. Initially it can feel a little too hardcore, and much of the first ten hours with the game might be drenched in pain and frustration as you slowly tap into the control mechanics and commit every twist and turn to memory. But it's one of those games that reward persistence, and the more you put into it, the more you'll get out of it.

Rock steady

'F-Zero GX' Screenshot 3

As a visual feast, it's hard to imagine how Amusement Vision could have done a better job. Slightly dodgy pseudo super hero character models and amusing cut-scenes aside, the game pushes the Cube further than almost any other, with a rip roaring selection of varied tracks that are packed with detail and complemented by excellent camera work and a pleasing array of particle effects.

No matter how much is going on at any given time, the frame rate is a rock solid 60, and for a game as fast as this that's a godsend. Passers by will gasp at the chaotic scenes on screen and scarcely believe how you're managing to control the damn thing, never mind win, pausing to dramatically wince in pain of you happen to slip up and explode in a hail of metal shards and fire. For a ludicrously fast racing experience, only Burnout 2 stands comparable in recent years, although Criterion's classic was arguably ten times more accessible for the masses than this hardcore digital crack will ever be. In its genre it tops Quantum Redshift on the Xbox, but only just. If you're lucky enough to have a US copy of the game, Freeloader and a TV with progressive scan support, the visuals really come into their own. It's a shame that most PAL gamers won't get to see the game as Amusement Vision intended, but even on normal equipment it's one hell of a spectacle.

Getting back to it...

If you're unfortunate enough to be jaded by futuristic racers such as this, then the chances are F-Zero GX probably isn't going to change your mind. All the customisation modes and corny storylines in the world doesn't change the fact that you're racing around a track, largely playing by the same rules you did all those years ago, albeit with a shinier backdrop. On the other hand, if you're a racing game fan who's a newcomer to the series, then we'd advise you to do everything you can to get this game; even if that means splashing out for a Cube to do so. You too can then find out what it truly means to be hooked. Time to get my next fix...

9 / 10

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy
Picture of Kristan.

About Kristan Reed

Kristan is a former editor of Eurogamer, dad, Stone Roses bore and Norwich City supporter who sometimes mutters optimistically about Team Silent getting back together.

Read more articles from Kristan by visiting the Kristan Reed archive page.

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Comments (69) Latest comment 8 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • statix101 #1 8 years ago

    Haha!!!!!!.....i'm first.....

  • Razz #2 8 years ago

    1st post (after reading review)
    Edited by 1 at 31/10/03 @ 14:11

  • rainbows #3 8 years ago

    I want it i want it i want it!

  • rainbows #4 8 years ago

    I want it i want it i want it!

  • Razz #5 8 years ago

    I'm sorry, but this review is terrible. It's like reading the game manual, the only bits that seem like a review are the last 2 sections.

    Yeah, yeah I know I can't write better, it's just that I expected more. I'm throughly disapointed with you Kristen.

    :/
    Edited by 2 at 31/10/03 @ 14:37

  • speedjack #6 8 years ago

    Calm down.

  • st3ph3n #7 8 years ago

    I've not got any money to buy this.

    How shit is that.

  • speedjack #8 8 years ago

    Razz,

    My mini review... from the forum thread.

    Be gentle :-


    Picked this up yesterday. Got a chance to play it through last night.

    Well... its as fast as everybody says it is.

    My first thought was 'ahh... this i'll be the Super Monkey Ball engine then !'.

    May seem an odd thing to say but it does have a certain Monkey Ball feel to it with clear crisp textures, smooth frame rate and the fact that all the tracks hover in mid air above a city or forest. In fact the first time my ship came off the track I actually expected to hear the all to familiar scream and the speed gauge to rocket up as the ship fell out of sight.

    Maybe its just me but theres less of a cyberpunk and more 'happy Japanese' feel to it, like SMB2 had with some fairly pointless cutscenes and a weird 'interview' section after you complete a cup.

    Having said that, its got a style all its own, sure theres obvious wipeout comparisons but its far faster and more arcade-y feeling and has a really polished feel.

    Only other observation is it seems to start off easy (you'll breeze through the first 5 levels), then swiftly get 'bastard hard' - (I've yet to complete a lap on the sixth circuit). It also eats memory card space like no other game I've seen.

    Worth it ? Oh yes.

    But will I stick it out - who knows ?


  • Razz #9 8 years ago

    Considering I started that thread and read this already. I don't see your point.

    However, I do like your review better than Kristans.
    Edited by 2 at 31/10/03 @ 14:38

  • speedjack #10 8 years ago

    Just trying to help.
    Edited by 1 at 31/10/03 @ 14:41

  • Tiitiz #11 8 years ago

    nice reviews today

  • Blerk #12 8 years ago

    Here's my review of F-Zero:

    F-Zero has a lovely front-end and excellent menu options. The graphics on the starting grid are brilliant and the sense of speed amazing! Unfortunately it all goes wrong at the first corner, where I crash every single fucking time and lose sight of the rest of the field for the remainer of the game. I wish I didn't suck at racing games.

    1/10 (rating of my driving ability)
    Edited by 1 at 31/10/03 @ 15:25

  • Emma Roids #13 8 years ago

    Mine has not arrived :-( Cheers Play.com for that. So much to pre-ordering to ensure you get it.

  • Razz #14 8 years ago

    ah haha! Hemeroids. I just got it! You make Razz laugh! razz like!

  • DB2k #15 8 years ago

    had it for months (how I laugh at you pathetic PAL losers!) and it is brilliant. Took me a few goes to get used to the phenominal speed (even now I havent sussed it properly) but it is a truely great racer.

  • Blerk #16 8 years ago

    Cheers Play.com for that. So much to pre-ordering to ensure you get it.

    Shouldn't have ordered from Play, then. They never, ever get stuff to you for day of release. Ever. Even if you pre-order months in advance. That's the price you pay for cheaper goods, I guess.

  • Emma Roids #17 8 years ago

    *They never, ever get stuff to you for day of release*

    Hmmmm they have in the past thats why i pre-ordered off them.

  • AnotherMartin #18 8 years ago

    not that it makes much difference at the moment WITH THE FRICKIN' POSTIES OUT ON STRIKE!!! (have i mentioned my annoyence with them yet? ;-)
    Edited by 1 at 31/10/03 @ 16:30

  • Razz #19 8 years ago

    Several times my smoking buddy (who hasn't called/written/or invited me ronud) :(

  • otto #20 8 years ago

    Razz, what the hell's wrong with the review? Apart from one split infinitive, I thought it was spot on. :) Makes me simultaneously want it while knowing that I'd suck so badly at it that there's no point.

  • Blerk #21 8 years ago

    You need to boldly go to my review further up, otto!

  • Razz #22 8 years ago

    Otto: I wanted to know how the game made him feel, what he thought about the the different modes the different racers etc.. I'm sick of "Oh it's got this", "It does that", and "it lets you...". I want more. Especially from EG.
    I had to go to bloody Gamespy to get a decent review of this.

  • Nemesis #23 8 years ago

    Christ that's scraping the barrel a bit.

  • Razz #24 8 years ago

    Yes but it the vital difference between a review and an inventory.

  • otto #25 8 years ago

    *shrug*

    I thought he did say how it made him feel.

    Blerk, I read and appreciated your review. I think I can say that we are on the same wavelength.

  • Blerk #26 8 years ago

    Maybe we could play multiplayer F-Zero sometime, otto? First to crash at the first corner is the winner.

  • Nemesis #27 8 years ago

    /feels at home at last.

    I was shite at Wipeout and I suspect equally shite at this.

    Still tempted mind.

  • tiddles #28 8 years ago

    Sounds like Razz got out of the bed on the wrong side this morning... this lad needs a weekend, and fast!

  • AnotherMartin #29 8 years ago

    (who hasn't called/written/or invited me ronud) :(

    oi, cheeky, you're just as bad ;-)

    last i remember was me offerign to come round and have a look at your new av set up and you saying to wait until after ECTS!!

    anyhoo's, I've been of da 'erb a bit recently, though did score some solid last night for the w/e. I've got the week after next off work so if you're around maybe we could do something that week?

  • Westy #30 8 years ago

    I ordered mine from Game, they posted it yesterday and I didn't get it either :-(

    I blame the frigging postmen for going on strike
    Edited by 1 at 31/10/03 @ 17:57

  • Razz #31 8 years ago

    AM: YOUR ON!

  • krudster #32 8 years ago

    /slaps Razz for speaking out of turn.
    Listen, pal, you could have a 3000 word dissertation on the game, elaborating on how it touched my soul, but for one thing it'd arrive on monday, you'd all be bored, and besides, you all want to know about it NOW!

    To say it reads like the manual is a bit harsh; we pretty much *always* list the features and mechanics in a review because so many people moan when we don't. We can't win.

    Take the mechanics out of the review and it's a very simple game to sum up: it's fast, it's fucking hard, it looks gorgeous, and you should buy it.

    Now be off with you you moaning bast.

  • otto #33 8 years ago

    Heh. I wish they replied like that on Points of View. ;)

  • Killerbee #34 8 years ago

    Sounds good, looks good, but... meh... I've just been a bit tired of futuristic racers since Wipeout Fusion (which I liked). I just can't seem to muster up the enthusiasm to try another one.

    It just sounds like a futuristic racer game by numbers with very little by way of new ideas in there.

    Mario Kart it is then.

  • Ivefoundgod #35 8 years ago

    I got PES3 a day before it was released from play.com when I preordered it so I find it surprising he didn't get it especially seeing as I'm in Ireland and it usually takes a week and a half for stuff to come.

  • skybluesam86 #36 8 years ago

    "Heh. I wish they replied like that on Points of View. ;) "

    Class, Otto :D

    Anyway, I was very happy to read at the start that it has the same feel to it is F-Zero Max Velocity. That game was the best game ever. Never have I gone back to a game a couple of years after release, and got back into it seamlessly, yet still finding it so challenging. There's something about it where you just have to go back to it, to shave a hundredth off your lap times, and the satisfaction when you do is something else.
    Me is very happy!

    *mumbles*
    crappy freckin postal service, not delivering my damn copy of the game when it should've arrived on thursday.
    *ends mumbling*

  • The Button #37 8 years ago

    I got up at 5 and couldn't sleep for hours in anticipation this morning (Friday) before marching down to my local GAME store and picking this up. I waited outside the store for it to open for about 10 minutes. I've never done that before but twas rather fun. Maybe I'll do it again sometime.
    Excellent game though, but I am stuck on the Hard task of chapter 1 in story mode. But i smell no fear.

  • petebritish #38 8 years ago

    Got game today have played 4 hours so far,mainly on first track it kicks ass.Only problem my nine year old son is clocking 1min.14 secs on that course for 3 laps.i am 2 secs behind.Have sent him to bed i am going on till i beat that time easily for a race tommorow. Damn this ageing process.. Any tips for Mute City?
    Edited by 1 at 31/10/03 @ 22:51

  • The Button #39 8 years ago

    Use R and L to drift the corners.

  • Scimarad #40 8 years ago

    Okay, I was really looking forward to this but if it's THAT hard then no thanks - Is this one of those games where it's so frustrating that you ask "could anyone actually think this is fun???". It kind of sounds from the review (and various comments) that this falls into that category.

    I thought the second Wipeout game was like that on the later tracks but I never had any issues with the other Wipeouts.

  • Pirotic #41 8 years ago

    Story mode is extremely hard, even on the normal difficulty it'll take you about 6 hours of solid play to get the practice required to complete some of the courses.

    the GP mode however isnt too difficult, while the other racers may be better drivers on the harder levels - they aint very bright, and you can simply kill the driver whos first place on the leader board at the start of the next race, therefore he gets no points for that race, if you do this well enough you can come 10th in every race yet still get gold overall :)

  • Singularity #42 8 years ago

    It's very hard - but you'll love it for it. With a bit of patience and a gentle touch you won't need the skills of a ninja.

    It rocks.

  • Machiavel #43 8 years ago

    It's brilliant - and you can practice the tracks under race conditions until you stop falling to your doom ever 10 seconds. On the verge of a podium place in the second cup on normal - if I can just beat my jinx on the first and lap tracks.

    Anybody mentioned it's stunningly fast yet? ;)

  • The Button #44 8 years ago

    "Is this one of those games where it's so frustrating that you ask "could anyone actually think this is fun???". "

    No, it's one of those 'one more try - oh look its 5 in the morning' type of difficult games.

  • #45 8 years ago

    Why wouldn't anyone want to be a ninja? Fool!!

  • petebritish #46 8 years ago

    Have now been playing this game for 10 hours and it is simply brilliant.this game was not top of my to buy list,but played demo in shop on their gamecube and had to get get it. It is tough but tough in a good way not like some of these pussy games where you finish it in 2hours and then take it back to shop. If you like in any way racing games this is the business.Buy it ..

  • Singularity #47 8 years ago

    @Leader-1

    Well, since I said that you don't need the skills of a ninja and made no comment to anyone not wanting to be a ninja, I'm rubber and you're glue...

  • DB2k #48 8 years ago

    real ninjas - http://www.realulti matepower.net
    best website ever for ninja action

  • rainbows #49 8 years ago

    Got it after work yesterday. it rocks to an insane degree... was playing till 3am yesterday, when i fell asleep onto the second GC controller... tis hard in an "im gonna beat this, no matter what it takes!" sorta way.
    imho 9/10.

  • Bill Gates is Evil #50 8 years ago

    F-Zero X for N64 (may have had a different Euro name) was one of my favorite and most played games on that console.

    I respect Nintendo's F-Zero games a lot.

  • skybluesam86 #51 8 years ago

    I thought F-Zero X was a bit rubbish in comaprison to F-Zero on SNES and GBA. It lacked that "just one more try" feeling that the other two had.
    I felt that a lot of the tracks were showy for the sake of it. Like "oh look, we can do proper 3D now. We've made a tubular track!"

    It was still good, but pales in comparison to the other 2 (and now this one)

  • inpHilltr8r #52 8 years ago

    Very fast, very slick, very very hard.

  • Pirotic #53 8 years ago

    without a doubt one of the best racers of all time, very difficult - i played it solidly, finished it, then burnt out (didnt touch another videogame for a few weeks) - a sign of a classic :)

  • mgns #54 8 years ago

    Hmm, I've played it for some 10 hours now, both GP and VS. And I must say it's a fun racer. It's fast, but I actually expected even more speed. I remember the original Wipeout on the PS, could just be my funky Elton-stylee rose coloured glasses - but that game was FAST.

    Back to F-Zero. It's the gimmicky tracks that are the most fun, I must admit. I've not gotten around to unlocking any other cups than the basic ones, so I might have tons o' fun ahead of me, mind. Mein Got but I hate unlockable content...
    I'm actually kind of bummed that the tracks are so varied in quality. The good ones are excellent play-them-till-your-thumbs-puke tracks, and the others feel like a chore I have to put up with, and that makes me go meh.
    I'd have loved to see the ability to play through the GP in Multiplayer too, I think someone already ragged on that though. There's also the annoying bit you have to go through if you're playing VS where you have to jump almost all the way bck to the title screen just to change the track. Why can't developers give a couple of shuffle options, track order, etc?

    On the whole though, excellent racing game for a console that really needs every good game it can get. Here's hoping Mario Kart is as fun.

  • atomised #55 8 years ago

    its a wonderful game. while its hard i'm surprised at the focus on this fact. when you play a game on 'hard' you expect it to be hard, sounds like a simple proposition of logic. it is also a skill based hard like monkey ball, if you stuff up its generally something you failed to execute correctly. also making your own ship is swell.

    its a shame i'm simply not good enough to unlock everything at the present time.

    i went back and played burnout 2 after i got this and boy did that game feel slow in comparison!

    strangest has probably been the fact of three new gamecube games coming out that are worth buying (fx, veiwtiful joe and animal crossing), quite a financial drain after such a drought eh!

  • Scimarad #56 8 years ago

    Okay, I'm convinced - I'm getting it...

  • krudster #57 8 years ago

    If it's of any consequence, I've already got Mario Kart, yet guess which game I've been playing most this weekend? Yep, F-Zero.

  • #58 8 years ago

    ..but wait until you get into Mario Kart . . .

  • Ted Cuntablast #59 8 years ago

    WILL THE BASTARDS WHO HAVE MARIO KART STOP GOING ON ABOUT IT!

    Gits.

    ;)

  • Pirotic #60 8 years ago

    dont worry - its not as good as F-Zero :p

    Mario Kart has more character but the cheating CPU racers and slow pace means the racing isnt as enjoyable.

  • Bill Gates is Evil #61 8 years ago

    Haven't the AI on Mario Kart's ALWAYS cheated. Those damn bastards! That's disappointing since I was sincerely looking forward to Double Dash.

    It's another distinguishable part of Nintendo's "everyone in the family can play" attitude. I guess in order to make a "family" game you've got to manipulate the AI to increase or decrease in competiveness based on how retarded or not retarded the player is.

    Which essentially means it doesn't matter how good you are in Mario Kart. Your level of concept-formation doesn't weigh much on your success or failure, so don't be suprised if little sisters who have never played videogames start beating videogame veterans at this game.

    Nintendo makes games to appeal to all ages by decreasing the level of thinking actually required and then manipulating the results of actions in order to give the player a sense of achievement based purely on the ends, rather than the means.

  • Lynchman #62 8 years ago

    Well your little sister isn't gonna have cheating ai.......unless she's like robotic somehow. So anyways, if you are good at the game then you will be good in multiplay, which is really what MK was all about....

  • binky #63 8 years ago

    Well thanks alot (again!) Eurogamer. I'd pretty much convinced myself I didnt need this game and that i would wait for mario kart at xmas. But after reading the excellent review im now gagging for this! im off work tomorow, i could either rent from blockbuster or continue the greatness that is viewtiful joe..... gaahhh!! too many games!

  • Alastair #64 8 years ago

    I noticed on thebox it mentions the connectivity with the upcoming arcade game.
    Anyone know anymore about this? Namely, when the arcade cabinets may be making an appearance in the UK?

  • Dexter #65 8 years ago

    There's some info on arcade connectivity on <a href=http://www.f-ze ro.com/ax-gx/index.jsp>the official site</a>.

    I'm normally crap at driving games and this is no exception - episode 2 on the story mode almost sent me insane until i figured out the technique required; finally beating samurai wossname after 283734678346 attempts was one of the most rewarding video game experiences I can remember though :)
    Now I've just got to figure out how to beat episode 3 :/

  • Razz #66 8 years ago

    "F-Zero X for N64 (may have had a different Euro name) was one of my favorite and most played games on that console.

    I respect Nintendo's F-Zero games a lot. "

    Were there ever an award for the best racing game (of all types) ever, F-Zero X would get my vote every time.

  • krudster #67 8 years ago

    I'm with Razz on this one...the more I play it, the more its excellence shines through

  • glo #68 8 years ago

    bought this on saturday after giving up on finding Crimson Skies.

    wasn't sure about it as I've never being a big fan of wipeout or XGRA. In fact, to be honest, they irritate and frustrate me immensely and I am absolutely average at them no matter how much i practice. thought this would be the same....

    BUT I love it. I'm still absolutely cack at it but for some inexplicable reason it doesn't bother me at all and I have to have just one more try...

    I don't think I'll ever be great at it but it is a great game and is the only futuristic racer I have ever liked. Go out and buy it, you know you want to...

  • striker #69 8 years ago

    Don't you make me buy the game, you fools!!!!

    I'm broke and full of unfinished games as it is!

  • clapton is God #70 8 years ago

    "Heh. I wish they replied like that on Points of View. ;)

    that would be totally copulating A or fab (A=ACE ?)

  • Alastair #71 8 years ago

    I tell you what, it's fast!