Expectations exceeded by it's difficulty, this game is as gorgous as it is challenging.
Since it's NES debut, we've seen many futuristic racing titles experiment and try and innovate and expand upon the universe of futuristic racers. Some being very successful, such as the Wipeout series, but most of them relied on weapons and combat to keep their audience excited. Whereas F-Zero is all about the one thing that matters in all racing games, and that is pure speed.
And the GameCube version is no different. Simply said, no other video game in this universe could duplicate the sense of speed F-Zero GX presents. The massive beautiful levels blast by you, without even thinking about skipping a frame. I don't know how Sega has done it, but the framerate is absolutely flawless and it really shows off just how well built this game is. At times there can be 30 players on screen, and the environments are always alive, it will seem almost incomprehensible at times there is so much going on screen without the slow down you may expect.
The game offers many modes of play including Vs. Mode (1 to 4 Players), Practice, Replay, Grand Prix, and Story mode. The base of the game is crafted around the Story mode and Grand Prix though. The two modes actually work off each other, Story mode requires players to purchase new missions with tickets, and you can earn tickets by competing in any of the Grand Prix's. There are 3 leagues in Grand Prix, and each league presents the same 5 worlds with different levels. There are roughly 3 to 4 levels for each world, and each level has it's own unique feel. Story Mode (A first for F-Zero games) offers gamers a brand new look at the F-Zero universe through stylish cinematics that rival those of the Ps2 Final Fantasy series. Besides some weak dialogue in areas, the cinematics are certainly stylish in execution and stunning in appearance. The cinematics piece together the journey of F-Zero poster boy Captain Falcon, and they also set the premise for some of the more unique mission based levels (Such as the huge highway you must travel on at no less than 700 km/h or your craft will explode).
Although not a technical marvel, the graphics are very well presented. The textures used on the pipes, tubes, and roads you travel through are excellent in quality and technique. All the roads and paths you travel through have little elements to heighten your sense of speed. Flashing lights traveling past you, and lines for guiding traffic all make the race feel twice as fast. The environments are also gorgeous, with brilliantly designed levels, stunning architecture, and vibrant use of colors and lighting. F-Zero is simply an amazing establishment on how creative the human mind can get, and a huge success from the same developers that brought you the Super Monkey Ball series.
Surprisingly, F-Zero sounds as good as it looks. The music consists of melody driven techno / rock beats, with the occasional guitar riffs. The soundtrack is relatively large, each circuit has it's own respective music theme to keep gamers even more recognized with the courses. Though if techno / rock beats are not your thing, you may have difficulty falling in love with the music, nothing too serious though.
As pretty as the levels are, and as nice as they sound, nothing is more important than the actual layout and design of the circuits. Nothing shines more in GX than the stunning level designs. Levels take place in massive pipes, large forests, and the cylindrical levels from the 64 version make a triumphant return. However not all the levels are perfect, and there are some mediocre levels that are less than stellar. And because F-Zero plays at such intense speeds, it's often hard to see ahead of you, forcing players to rely mainly on memorization of tracks. So be ready to get well acquainted with the Mission Failed screen. It would have also been very nice to see a level creator.
F-Zero's multiplayer mode is excellent, you can have up to 4 players on screen and it still maintains that flawless framerate and sense of speed. Sadly though, much of the detail in levels is lost in races with more than 2 human players. With more than two people playing, environmental objects like trees and other small things are missing from action, and the levels don't seem as vibrant as they are in single player.
F-Zero GX is not your typical "pick up and play" type of racer, the controls are very precise so they may be a little too responsive for new players. The beginning of the game is relatively easy though, the A.I. lets you cruise past opponents easily and it's only in the harder levels when the other players become hostile (Players can initiate little swerve attacks, and spin attacks). Oddly enough though, the difficulty takes a sudden leap near the beginning and it may leave some players in the dust. F-Zero was strictly designed keeping the hardcore gamer in mind, novice players may be turned off by its massive difficulty level. But for those who can survive it, the level of gratification is unmatchable.
F-Zero offers gamer's huge value with it's many different modes, such as Vs. Mode and Grand Prix, but the one most often overlooked is the customization options. You can create entire ships from scratch, by purchasing parts in the shop. You can even create emblems to stick on your craft. You'll also have to purchase your Story missions in the shop, along with new crafts you wish to unlock. The customization levels are there, for those who know how to use it, but most dismiss it without bothering to see how deep it actually is.
It exceeded my expectations but also surprised me by how hard it is. When it comes down to it, F-Zero is as challenging as it is gorgeous. With huge replay options, a surprisingly good soundtrack, and mind numbingly intense speeds, F-Zero is a brilliant accomplishment by Nintendo and Sega and justifies their decision they made earlier, about delaying the game a few months.