F-Zero: Maximum Velocity

"F-Zero has the tools, but do you have the time?"

Introduction:
Nintendo has delivered once again with its fast speed and high impact title, F-Zero: Maximum Velocity. In this futuristic racer you hover above the earth and fly around 20 tracks designed to keep you in frenzy.

Graphics: 9/10
The graphics have been well taken care of in this game. Each car is very colorful and detailed. The track along with both the background of the earth below and the view of the horizon are all done brightly. F-Zero utilizes Mode 7 very well, which makes the game appear 3-D although it still remains 2-D. Cars in the distance appear small and as you approach them they get bigger and bigger. Even while using your boost to go top speed there is no slow down within the game at all. The game moves really fast, as does the frame rate, which is necessary to keep the sense of speed. Even the menus are crisp and clear with bright and sharp pictures to go along with them.

Music and Sound: 7/10
The audio in this game is very enjoyable. The background music is a light space-age theme that accompanies the game well. The sound effects are also notable. You can hear your machine revving up at the start of a race, hear the wind rushing by as you pass another car, and the loud crash that comes from thrashing into another car or wall. The only part of the sound I didn't like was the constant beeping that goes on if you're in danger of ranking out. The beeping can drive you nuts and cause great frustration during an intense racing. Besides that, the sound quality in this game is above average.

Gameplay: 8/10
Grand Prix: In this mode you race against the computer using any car you'd like. To start, you choose the series and class you'd like to race on. You race five laps on each course and must finish in the top three in order to move on to the next race. Every lap gets progressively difficult to make the cut. After then first lap you need to be in fifteenth or lower, the cut then lowers from tenth, to seventh, to fifth, and finally third. Along with the cut, bombs are also placed throughout the course after completion of a lap to make your travels more difficult. After each completed lap, you are awarded a boost, which allows your car to go as fast as it can for a limited amount of time. A well-timed boost can make or break your chances at winning. Throughout the race you are likely to get slammed into the sidewalls causing an electrocution so after each lap you can use the green power strip to regain some of that lost power. If you loose all power or fly off the track your car will explode and you are disqualified for that race. This can be one of the most frustrating modes in the game especially in the higher classes. Cruising in first place can be easily changed with just one minor mess up on your part. Obstacles are thrown in the way to help to try to get you to mess up. Obstacles include ramps, mines, bombs, sharp turns, and lava. However, if you use some obstacles you can gain an advantage. For example, you can you a boost to go over a ramp to cut corners on the tracks or hit a bomb at the right angle to gain a short burst of speed. Other ways to gain an edge on the competition include revving your engine at the start of a race for a rocket start, and smooth landings after taking of on ramps to avoid taking damage.

Championship: Here you can race for your best time on the championship track. You'll race your previous best time in the form of a ghost. This is a good way to practice if you're having difficulty on the Grand Prix because many of the obstacles that are in Grand Prix mode can be found on this track. In this mode there is also an option which allows to you see the replay of your best time. This is helpful because it allows you to see where you could improve throughout the course of the race.

Multiplayer: This is a good feature. One to four people can be included in a multiplayer race. You can play with just one game pak. The only problem is that you only have one car to choose from and can only race on one track. If everyone has a game pak, you can race with any car that as been unlocked and race on any track. Another option when everyone brings along their game paks is the ability to exchange race data. When you’re friends link up with you can exchange data such as the course records for different tracks.

Controls: Even though you have five different ways of customizing the controls to your liking, you can still get hand cramps from this game's controls. Using the L and R Buttons to turn is necessary to master F-Zero and reaching these buttons comfortably can present a problem if you have big hands. Also, on sharp turns you need to use what is known as a Blast Turn. This move requires tapping the accelerate button to maneuver your car through the turn, which adds to the hand cramps from the shoulder buttons. Other than that, the controls respond very well with what you want the car to do.

Replay: 8/10
F-Zero offers its players tons of replay. There are six cars to unlock, one new series to unlock, and a new class. Once you're done unlocking everything, which takes a while I might add, you can compare times with your friends and try to get the best time on the block. Or you can hook up with multiplayer for even more fun.

Overall: 8/10
Overall this game offers a good racing challenge to anyone who is willing to accept. Its smooth graphics, delightful sound, and long replay add up to make this a good title. It can get very frustrating at times when the computer just flies by you even while you're using a boost. As long as you can gain composure this should prove to be one of the move addictive racing experiences you've had.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 08/22/01, Updated 09/28/01