Game:

F-Zero (1990)

Duration: 14:25

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14

This video was captured using the actual game on an actual Super Nintendo. A few failures to complete races have been removed for your consideration and enjoyment.

This was the good old days. The days when tech demos were full fledged games. Not like today when\re you have come to accept the fact that games that show off new technology are often times shallow with mediocre visuals and get to be boring once the novelty wears off :cough: Sports Champions :cough:. No. Back in the days of the excellent Super Nintendo, Nintendo wanted to show off it's impressive hardware scaling feature known as Mode 7. F-Zero was a launch title along with the other excellent tech demo known as Pilot Wings. These were games that were made at the time to show off what the Super Nintendo was capable of but as we know, both of these became more than that generations down the road.

F-Zero was unlike any racer ever seen at the time. It was a futuristic racer using hovercrafts instead of traditional cars. Since these things were powered by jets that also meant speed that had never been done before. Thanks to Mode 7 the scaling of the track was smooth as silk, not to mention fast. I'll never forget the music that came out of this console. Right out of the gate the Super Nintendo was already making video game music history. Music so memorable that it has been remixed throughout the years in every F-Zero installment and by fans everywhere. The sound effects were perfect as you felt every scrape and slam into the wall with your jets screaming. Can't forget all those times you jumped when you all the sudden blow up. The controls were very tight and took full advantage of the Super Nintendo's never before seen shoulder buttons. The A.I. was just absolutely ruthless by the time you got to the master level. If the A.I. wasn't punishing enough you always had that stupid car crawling across the track ready to blow up when you hit it and slam you into a wall. Frustrating, but great.

So why am I talking in past tense here? The game is still great today. Even though there are the two later installments on the N64 and GC, and even two on the GBA, this game has never been completely overshadowed. There is still good reason to pick up and play ANY F-Zero game. They are all great. This little game that was made to show off the greatness of a console became great itself and started it's own franchise. This is Nintendo.