Anniversary F-Zero X Is 25 Today

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by Damien McFerran Thu 13th Jul 2023

F-Zero X, considered by some fans to be the best entry in Nintendo's futuristic racing franchise, turns 25 today.

Released on the Nintendo 64 in Japan on July 14th 1998, F-Zero X was the first game in the series to enter the world of 3D visuals, following on from the 1990 SNES original, which used Mode 7 graphics.

Directed by Tadashi Sugiyama and produced by Shigeru Miyamoto, F-Zero X would feature the art of Takaya Imamura, who has taken to Twitter today to celebrate the game's birthday.

F-Zero X would be followed by F-Zero GX/AX on the GameCube, which is the last home console entry in the series to date. F-Zero would continue on the Game Boy Advance with three entries (F-Zero: Maximum Velocity, F-Zero GP Legend and F-Zero Climax).

Since 2004, the series has remained dormant, although it has been referenced in titles like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Mario Kart 8.

Imamura recently claimed that Nintendo has avoided reviving F-Zero because Mario Kart is already so established.

Damien has been writing professionally about tech and video games since 2007 and oversees all of Hookshot Media's sites from an editorial perspective. He's also the editor of Time Extension, the network's newest site, which – paradoxically – is all about gaming's past glories.

1
Daniel36
Thu 13th Jul 2023

I greatly prefer the 64 version over the GC version, which I always felt was too... nimble for lack of a better word. The 64 machines felt heavier to control, which felt way better.

2
smoreon
Thu 13th Jul 2023

Amazing game, and one of my favourite racers of all time.
Too bad Nintendo is celebrating the 25th anniversary the same way they celebrated the 20th, and the 15th, and the 10th.

3
JohnGuyJohn
Thu 13th Jul 2023

Count me in as another player who prefers X over GX. GX looks better, of course. But I favor X for its precise (and brutal) side attacks, its high-but-not-aggravating degree of challenge, and its rock soundtrack.

4
SuntannedDuck2
Fri 14th Jul 2023

A great game. Cruis'n Blast exists which is great, Mario Kart 8 does. Nintendo won't revive F Zero or Wave Race but will Cruis'n series through and outsource/arcade version as well the companies that worked on it, own it whatever the case of IP license? What gives? Even elements I'd be happy with but I'm not buying Mario Kart.

X and GP Legend are all I've played and I enjoy them for their differences, their speeds, their strategies.

Wave Race 64 on Wii U (even if not the best visually was still fun) and Blue Storm physical (my only GameCube game so far) are a great time.

5
AJB83
Fri 14th Jul 2023

@SuntannedDuck2 Well, Raw Thrills licensed Cruis'n, and did all the work on that game. If not for them, that series would be dead too.

Even SEGA is doing a better job with their IP these days in terms of new releases, and that's saying something.

I always liked the F-Zero vibe, but never got along with the gameplay, although the sense of speed has always been fantastic. I still listen to all the soundtracks to this day too - all are gold.

And don't even get me started on Wave Race. OK, too late. Boy, that series was amazing. I can only want an ultimate edition. Imagine if they reverse-engineered the Wave Race 64 water physics, slapped on a Metroid Prime Remastered-style coat of paint on it and put in the all the tracks from 64 and Blue Storm.

Le sigh.

6
arnoldfranklin
Fri 14th Jul 2023

This one's pretty fun, although I haven't played it in a while. Happy anniversary!

7
DeusX
Fri 14th Jul 2023

No way Mario Kart can replace F-Zero, Nintendo.
They are totally different games in drive-style and gameplay, being the first a more casual racing game while the second offering a more hardcore experience.

They are both great series, but if I had to choose what to release next (even on a Switch 2) I would choose a new F-Zero at this point.

8
DeusX
Fri 14th Jul 2023

@AJB83 yeah I too love Wave Race 64. Its water physics is amazing even today!

I know that with todays tech we could reach higher levels of realistic water simulation, but aside tech demos, I can't remember a game in which water simulation is as effective as in Wave Race, with its highly variable effects on driving, yet so credible and realistically predictible, and that incomparable wave "splash" feeling.

9
Grackler
Sat 15th Jul 2023

F-Zero X is a fantastic game (I really like GX as well, but it’s different enough feeling that they compliment each other!).

I find it really sad that the Switch N64 Online version handles so poorly. It is nigh impossible on JoyCons, and while better on the Switch N64 Controller, it is still awfully hard to control. Booting up the N64 original and the handling was so much easier, can’t put my finger on it but the Switch version is just way too hard to play!

10
Tobunari
Tue 25th Jul 2023

@DeusX And its that hardcore experience that prevents the series from growing.

Some people like a challenge. But it needs to be an accessible challenge otherwise you're not going to get new blood playing the games and getting good.

So I can understand why Imamura would say that Nintendo wouldn't do an F-Zero because Mario Kart exists.

But on the other hand, I think the biggest issue with F-Zero is simply they don't have anyone on staff interested in the series itself to give it a new chance.

The article about Mario Kart being more popular points out that Miyamoto is interested in doing another Star Fox, so despite Zero's middling sales and reviews, it's likely going to get another game down the line.

Metroid has Sakamoto and Tenabe leading the charge for that series, and its a darling in the Western market, so even if the next game tanks (like with how Sakamoto dealt with Other M, and Tenabe with Federation Force) there's bound to be interest in the series in some way/shape/form (unless the failure causes them to quit)

You don't have anyone speaking for F-Zero at this point other than fans who either demand a new game (but likely will be the only ones buying it - not sustaining sales) or fans making their own indie versions that usually don't get off the ground.

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