F-Zero

Moby ID: 6630
SNES Specs
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Description official descriptions

F-Zero is a futuristic racing game, set in the year 2560. The player chooses one of the four available hovercars and then can race with other hovercars in one of the gameplay modes - "Practice" or "Grand Prix".

In "Practice" mode, the player chooses one track where he competes with one other hovercar to win the race (or there can be no rival at all, if you so wish). In "Grand Prix", the player must complete a series of races with several competitors. Each race consists of five laps.

The hovercar has a limited Power meter, which represents the machine's health and decreases when the hovercar collides with the track boundaries and other players. If power runs out, the hovercar explodes and the player loses the race. There are repair areas near the start line, which restore power to the player's hovercar if he drives into them. The tracks contain many more or less dangerous traps, such as icefields or landmines.

Completing a lap awards the player a "Super Jet" which can be activated at any time to give a short speed boost. The hovercar can keep up to three Super Jets and use them when necessary.

Completing a lap also gives points, which give the player a life when enough are accumulated. The player can lose a life in the Grand Prix mode if his hovercar explodes, if his hovercar somehow falls out of the track or if he ends up too far behind the other racers.

Spellings

  • エフゼロ - Japanese spelling
  • 에프 제로 - Korean spelling

Groups +

Screenshots

Promos

Credits (SNES version)

14 People

Reviews

Critics

Average score: 81% (based on 39 ratings)

Players

Average score: 3.9 out of 5 (based on 118 ratings with 2 reviews)

Futurist racing

The Good
F-Zero was the first one racing game featuring the concept of cyber race. Many games has been made since F-Zero's futurist concept begins and many other games (futurist and non futurist) use the same technology called "Mode 7", a graphic mode which allows a background layer to be rotated and scaled to make an impression of 3-D graphics. It was the first game released for the Super Nes in Japan together with Super Mario World in 1990. The game has 3 cups with 5 tracks each one as well as 3 difficulty levels and 1 extra level called "master" when you've won in the expert mode. There are also 4 different hovercrafts with their own characteristics. The sound is brilliant, the music is one of the best aspects of the game and it's hard enough to be a challenge for you

The Bad
The game is really hard. Sometimes is like yourself VS the whole world. Your only objective is to survive, not to win the race. There's no compensation for being the first (just more points to win some extra lives). It doesn't matter if you finish the race first or third, you only have to survive. Most of the times you can't crash the other hovers that are running with you, and they'll be trying to crash you all the time, that's why the game sometimes is a little frustrating. You'll always be the one who lost out on every crash, no matter how the crash is done. The players will miss a multiplayer mode, able to race with another friend with another gamepad.

The Bottom Line
It's a good racing game and the first to make a futurist concept of racing, using a new graphics technology. You will have to play a lot to take control of your hovercraft but when you've mastered you will have a great time with ultra high speed races.

SNES · by NeoJ (398) · 2009

Need For Speed

The Good
The courses and leagues were relatively challenging and interesting, they look good too using the SNES's Mode 7 capabilities. The background music is also good, as it compliments the moods of the different planets which the courses are based on. Its fun to play and you'll keep going back to it for the odd game

The Bad
No 2 player-mode option. Racing against a friend on this would have been awesome, shame it was omitted.Another league would have been nice too to keep the playability levels up

The Bottom Line
Fast Futuristic Racer Classic which deserves a try

SNES · by Big C (56) · 2003

Discussion

Subject By Date
F-Zero released in arcade in 1991? Michaël KAEL May 22, 2023
Windows port = remake (game split?) Rola (8486) Sep 21, 2012

Trivia

References

If you observe carefully, it's possible to see some blank (and a lot of grey too...) letters behind the official car (a flying vehicle responsible for recharging its power meter), where is written something as "PIT-TIP" (but the P letter of the word TIP is inverted!). To see this, open an official car captured screenshot (an emulator is recommended) with any image editor and use the zoom-in effect (if available) in the middle square area with black and yellow lines: you will be capable of identify these words with a lot of attention.

Awards

  • Electronic Gaming Monthly
    • November 1997 (Issue 100) - ranked #18 (Best 100 Games of All Time) (SNES version)
    • February 2006 (Issue #200) - #69 out of 200 of the "Greatest Games of Their Time"

Information also contributed by Big John WV

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Contributors to this Entry

Game added by Kartanym.

Arcade, Wii U added by Michael Cassidy. Wii added by Guy Chapman. Nintendo Switch added by Kam1Kaz3NL77. New Nintendo 3DS added by Harmony♡.

Additional contributors: Alaka, Evil Ryu, Keeper Garrett, Patrick Bregger, Thomas Thompson, BrandeX, Rik Hideto, A.J. Maciejewski.

Game added June 7, 2002. Last modified January 21, 2024.