F-Zero

F-Zero
Developer	Nintendo EAD
Publisher	Nintendo
System	Super NES, Virtual Console (Wii, Wii U, New 3DS)
Release Date	Super NES JP November 21, 1990 US August 15, 1991 EU June 4, 1992 Wii Virtual Console US November 19, 2006 JP December 2, 2006 EU December 8, 2006 Wii U Virtual Console US/EU February 20, 2013 JP April 27, 2013 3DS Virtual Console US March 3, 2016 JP March 4, 2016 PAL March 17. 2016
Genre	Racing
Gallery	GH Gallery
Rating	ESRB: E

F-Zero is a futuristic racing game that was released for the Super NES in 1990 and was the original title of the F-Zero series. It was considered impressive at the time, especially for its use of Mode 7, which allowed the game to simulate 3D environments.

Story

The game is set in the year 2560. Man has extended his reach far beyond Earth and intergalactic trade has begun. The trade is a booming business, but the rich tycoons needed some excitement in their lives. So, they began a dangerous, high speed racing circuit based on the old F-1 races called F-Zero.

Information

As in most racing games, the object of F-Zero is to reach the end of the track before your opponents. Uniquely, the racetracks in this game contain land mines, magnets, and other obstacles that can damage the racer. A racer has an power meter which can be replenished by moving over pit areas, and this power can also be put towards speed boosts. Each race has five laps, and the player has to clear each lap in a higher spot to avoid disqualification. This game has four racers to choose from: Captain Falcon, Samurai Goroh, Pico and Dr. Stewart.

The game contains fifteen tracks divided into three leagues. There are initially three difficulties to choose from: Beginner, Immediate, and Expert. A fourth difficulty, Master, is unlocked upon completing the Expert Grand Prix.

Legacy

F-Zero would spawn its one series, one of Nintendo's primary racing series along with Mario Kart, although it would fall into inactivity in the early 2000s. This game established the basics of the series in terms of gameplay and setting. It also introduced characters who would be known as some of the most prominent F-Zero characters even after the roster was greatly expanded in the sequels. Captain Falcon has been especially prominent and has acted as the face of the franchise, going as far as to be included in the Super Smash Bros. games.

Ports and Remakes

• In Japan, there was a competition version of the game called BS F-Zero Grand Prix. This version had an extra track and let players play against each other via Satellaview.
• F-Zero has been made available as a downloadable game for the Wii, Wii U Virtual Console and the New 3DS as part of every iteration of the Virtual Console: for the Wii Virtual Console in 2006, the Wii U Virtual Console in 2013 and the 3DS Virtual Console in 2016. A demo version of the game was included in Super Smash Bros. Brawl as an unlockable Masterpiece. In America and Europe, F-Zero was made available for a limited time period at a heavily discounted price before the Wii U Virtual Console officially launched as part of the Wii U Virtual Console Trial Campaign.
• In 2017, it was one of the games that was included in the Super NES Classic Edition.
• In September 2019, it was among the first wave of Super NES games that were made available to play on the Nintendo Switch for anyone subscribed to the Nintendo Switch Online service. This version included local and online multiplayer options.
• In September 2023, F-Zero 99 went live. This was an online version of F-Zero in which 99 players could race each other as a battle royale, and it included some new features such as unlockable decals for the racers.

Sequels

The first planned sequel to F-Zero was Zero Racers for the Virtual Boy. Like many games planned for the system, Zero Racers was canceled when the Virtual Boy failed. In Japan, a game called BS F-Zero Grand Prix 2 was released through the Satalleview. It contained only five tracks and played very much like the original F-Zero.

The first official and internationally released sequel was F-Zero X for the Nintendo 64.