Game:

F-Zero (1990)

Category:

Let's Play

Duration: 50:58

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Here is my playthrough of F-Zero on Standard Mode done live on IGTV.

Follow me on instagram @CabinSNES_fever to join me live or via my reviews and uploads to witness me take down all the games currently in my SNES colleciton, following on from having already beaten all 234 licenced UK releases for the NES. I only use original carts, no cheats & no save states.

REVIEW:
-I need to confess to having never actually played F-Zero! That's possibly some sort of crime somewhere? Alas, as kids neither I, nor any of friends had it. Racing on the SNES was left firmly in the hands of Mario Kart.

Similarities with Mario Kart are obvious given that both games utilised the SNES's 'Mode7' graphical features for track design. The 2 years between releases understandably renders Mario Kart more appealing on the eye, but F-Zero does enough to look good with it's simple yet colourful track layout and rather trippy effects for the out of bounds areas.

With only 4 vehicles to choose from, its nice that each feels noticeably different to drive, clearly programmed to offer significantly different advantages for different players. The lack of any multiplayer feature is quite a hammer blow however.

As with most good racing games, there's an adjustment period to harmonise the control, tho once comfortable the challenge is quite manageable(at least for Standard!). The biggest hazard by far is simply other drivers! From the 2nd lap onward, a constant intrusion of 'fodder' drivers enters the race, included purely to invite collisions on difficult corners & narrow straights. Their behaviour is hard to predict, often turning into you just as you overtake. Thanks to the usual rubber-banding mechanics, no matter how well you race, your main opponents will always be right behind. It feels cheap that even a small collison will usually see you overtaken despite previous leads. Using turbos wisely is vital!

The Gran Prix offers 3 leagues with 5 courses each. You have 3 lives & you'll need to finish races a minimum of 3rd. You can even fail if below a minimum position for each lap!
I'm aware that beating the 3 leagues on Expert difficulty unlocks a 'Master' mode, but since it doesn't unlock any further tracks, since my goal is always to only beat the games starting settings (that would be Beginner here however give me a little more credit for at least playing on 'Standard'), & since I just cant be arsed to commit the time & suffering to beat Expert mode let alone Master, I'm happy enough beating the game on Standard!