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The F-zero topic.

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WillKeaton from Alberta, Canada Since: Jun, 2010
#201: Dec 9th 2021 at 2:23:46 PM

My first experience with F-Zero was playing the SNES F-Zero in the hospital, but the frst F-Zero I owned was GX. There was something about GX that was just unique and not easy to replicate. The story mode cutscenes have a feel all to themselves. It was also the first time we saw most of the cast as anything more than just static drawings. In GX they moved around and spoke and stuff, and I looked forward to unlocking them one by one so I could learn about who they are. And every single character got their own theme song, and they were each so- so- well, I'll put it this way, Zoda's theme is perhaps the only piece of music I've ever heard that I would describe as Heavy Metal Ancient Egyptian. Funny story, since the opening cutscene of the story mode shows major antagonist Black Shadow getting berated by his boss and begging for his life, my brother refuses to see Black Shadow as a legitimate threat and cites this cutscene as proof that he can't be taken seriously, ever. First impressions are important.

Nexus Since: Jan, 2001
#202: Dec 10th 2021 at 5:05:38 AM

Tbh, I agree with your brother and the rest of the Story Mode did little to dissuade me of that opinion.

Resileafs I actually wanted to be Resileaf Since: Jan, 2019
I actually wanted to be Resileaf
#203: Dec 10th 2021 at 5:27:19 AM

This thread makes me sad because it's usually very quiet so when a new post happens I get a mini-heart attack thinking it means there's F-Zero news.

MetaflarePrime Urara-lala~! (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Sinking with my ship
agent-trunks IHE from Every-where, but there Since: Apr, 2015
IHE
#205: Dec 10th 2021 at 6:05:30 AM

I don't think I've ever really posted here before so I'll just say here too.

I really don't see why they don't risk it & develop a new F-Zero. If I'm being entirely honest, it doesn't even come across as a risk since I can easily believe F-Zero can reach a million benchmark.

I don't know if the story mode was the greatest thing ever, but it feels like all they have to do is recycle the plot, maybe hire a new voice cast, & update graphics. I'm downplaying it for sure, but I doubt most people care & focus more on just having a new F-Zero game altogether.

Resileafs I actually wanted to be Resileaf Since: Jan, 2019
I actually wanted to be Resileaf
#206: Dec 10th 2021 at 6:29:39 AM

For better or for worse, Nintendo is of the opinion that releasing games to release games is not a good idea and will not release a new F-Zero until they get a good concept for it rather than just making the same thing as GX. It's admirable that they want to make each game unique and not make them yearly like other companies do, but it does mean that beloved series may just disappear from disuse.

agent-trunks IHE from Every-where, but there Since: Apr, 2015
IHE
#207: Dec 10th 2021 at 9:13:17 AM

Even so, F-Zero is a very unique racing game. Granted, it's not like I played enough F-Zero to give that kind of praise, but that alone should be enough incentive to give a sequel. It's been what, nearly 2 decades now since the GBA game? Maybe it doesn't need a gimmick as so much it just needs to be on people's radar again.

Rynnec Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: Healthy, deeply-felt respect for this here Shotgun
#208: Dec 10th 2021 at 5:28:50 PM

I can understand Nintendo's stance, but for the love of god, can they at least re-release GX/AX?

powerpuffbats The crabby fussbudget Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
The crabby fussbudget
#209: Dec 10th 2021 at 5:48:14 PM

To be honest, I don’t think they need to constantly re-invent the wheel, especially when it’s been years since the last game.

Look at what happened with Star Fox Zero.

AAAAUUUUGGGHHHH!!!!
ravioliluigi Since: Jul, 2018
#210: Dec 10th 2021 at 6:00:44 PM

Something in my gut tells me that Nintendo is secretly working on a new game that could be announced next year

I want to believe.

WillKeaton from Alberta, Canada Since: Jun, 2010
#211: Dec 10th 2021 at 6:13:26 PM

Anyone here ever watch the anime, Falcon Densetsu AKA Legend of Falcon? I remember when it aired on Fox kids. At least the first 15 episodes did. Then they never translated any more. For the most part, I find the characters to have more personality, or less obnoxious personalities, than they do in GX, where they were very one note. However, I think the backstories given in GX are better than what we see in the anime, where many characters who were even slightly unusual were turned into villains working for Dark Million, Black Shadow's organization. Like, in X and GX, the Skull was just a race driver who came back from the dead. He's scary looking, but not evil. Except they did make him evil in the anime. I think the anime works better when it is dedicating an episode to a character and showing how they fit in to the F-Zero universe, because I don't care much for the main plot about Reactor Mights, which are power reactors that can apparently be used to shape the future of the galaxy or somesuch.

If you're interested all 51 episodes can be seen here, subbed by fans.

Edited by WillKeaton on Dec 21st 2021 at 7:32:54 AM

powerpuffbats The crabby fussbudget Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
The crabby fussbudget
#212: Dec 10th 2021 at 7:02:12 PM

The only moment from that anime I know is THAT moment.

AAAAUUUUGGGHHHH!!!!
WillKeaton from Alberta, Canada Since: Jun, 2010
#213: Dec 10th 2021 at 7:10:16 PM

My favorite episode was 15, Sniper Pico. Fun fact, this was the final episode to be dubbed into English. Zoda hires Pico to kill Tanaka. Pico is a professional killer and excellent sniper. He is my favourite character, and also my brother's. Tanka is a ditz, but through a series of lucky breaks, Tanaka makes Pico think he's on the level of Samus Aran. But the best moment in the episode is this bit where Pico is being chased on the highway and fires at Ryu, who is chasing him. The fact that Pico is able to hit the exact same tiny spot on the windshield over and over again, while at those speeds is frankly incredible.

agent-trunks IHE from Every-where, but there Since: Apr, 2015
IHE
#214: Dec 11th 2021 at 1:02:37 AM

It's so strange that once upon a time F-Zero had an anime.

You think that would say something about the series.

powerpuffbats The crabby fussbudget Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
The crabby fussbudget
#215: Dec 11th 2021 at 7:22:59 AM

That it was once a popular enough franchise then Nintendo decided that they didn’t want to make more games.

What’s interesting is that people know what F-Zero is thanks to Smash so I think a new game would sell well.

AAAAUUUUGGGHHHH!!!!
agent-trunks IHE from Every-where, but there Since: Apr, 2015
IHE
#216: Dec 11th 2021 at 8:44:04 AM

I don't if it sells well, but I just don't have a real reason to believe it wouldn't do decently.

powerpuffbats The crabby fussbudget Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
The crabby fussbudget
#217: Dec 11th 2021 at 4:07:31 PM

I’d expect at least a couple million. Not Mario numbers but still pretty good.

AAAAUUUUGGGHHHH!!!!
agent-trunks IHE from Every-where, but there Since: Apr, 2015
IHE
#218: Dec 11th 2021 at 4:22:27 PM

In my loose-ass estimation I would say at least over a million

VampireBuddha Calendar enthusiast from Ireland (Wise, aged troper) Relationship Status: Complex: I'm real, they are imaginary
Calendar enthusiast
#219: Dec 12th 2021 at 6:37:32 AM

Let's look at actual sales figures.

  • F-Zero 1: 2.85 × 106
  • SNES: 49.1 × 106
  • Attach rate: 5.8%

  • X: 1.1 × 106
  • N64: 32.92 × 106
  • Attach rate: 3.34%

  • GX: 0.692 × 106
  • GC: 21.74 × 106
  • Attach rate: 3.131%

  • GBA: 81.5 × 106 (global), 16.96 × 106 (Japan)

  • Maximum Velocity: 1.05 × 106
  • Attach rate: 1.29%

  • GP Legend: 0.159 × 106
  • Attach rate: 1.95%

  • Climax (Japan only): 0.005 × 106
  • Attach rate: 0.03%

Considering how poorly Climax sold, I can certainly understand Nintendo being hesitant about reviving F-Zero.

The Switch has so far sold 92.87 × 106; I expect this will hit 108 by New Year's Day.

Based on attach rates for previous games, we might naively expect approximately 2% of Switch owners to buy a hypothetical F-Zero NX, which would be 2 × 106. This would make it the best-selling game in the series since the original, and that's being conservative with sales forecasts (as Nintendo are notorious for being). Games cost significantly more to make nowadays; however, even 2 × 106 puts it only a little behind the very ambitious and expensive Fire Emblem: Three Houses, and Nintendo seem to be satisfied with how well that sold.

Hmm. It might just be time for Nintendo to bring the series back. Perhaps they're using the performance of the SNES and N64 games on NSO to guage market interest in the series.

Edited by VampireBuddha on Dec 12th 2021 at 2:39:21 PM

Ukrainian Red Cross
agent-trunks IHE from Every-where, but there Since: Apr, 2015
IHE
#220: Dec 13th 2021 at 7:14:34 AM

I'm just gonna expose myself here, I can't read any of those numbers but I'm under the impression that a new F-Zero can do decently enough.

Resileafs I actually wanted to be Resileaf Since: Jan, 2019
I actually wanted to be Resileaf
#221: Dec 13th 2021 at 7:27:27 AM

Well if I understand the numbers right, they're a comparison between the number of games sold compared to the number of consoles sold.

So for example, F-Zero-X sold 11 million copies while the N64 sold 329.2 million units, for a percentage of 3.34% of people owning a N64 also owning F-Zero X.

agent-trunks IHE from Every-where, but there Since: Apr, 2015
IHE
#222: Dec 13th 2021 at 8:48:38 AM

That sounds a lot smaller than it should sound.

VampireBuddha Calendar enthusiast from Ireland (Wise, aged troper) Relationship Status: Complex: I'm real, they are imaginary
Calendar enthusiast
#223: Dec 13th 2021 at 11:47:05 AM

Yeah, attach rate is the portion of console owners who also own a copy of the given game.

Ukrainian Red Cross
agent-trunks IHE from Every-where, but there Since: Apr, 2015
IHE
#224: Dec 14th 2021 at 9:36:12 PM

Hmm, I see


So how was F-Zero anime? Was anywhere as enjoyable as Kirby's?

WillKeaton from Alberta, Canada Since: Jun, 2010
#225: Dec 15th 2021 at 1:26:56 PM

The Kirby anime was fun and silly. The F-Zero anime is different. It's aiming to be more serious, and has an overarching plot.

The main character in the anime is this guy Rick Wheeler in the dub, (that only lasted 15 episodes) or Ryu Suzaku (which literally translates to Dragon Bird, which is what his F-Zero machine is called) in the original Japanese. Rick/Ryu is chasing Zoda, gets in an accident, and wakes up 150 years in the future, where F-Zero races occur. Meanwhile, Zoda was captured, frozen, then Black Shadow, head of Dark Million, revives him in the future, so Jody Summer wakes up Rick/Ryu to help. Also, Rick/Ryu had a girlfriend, and she was also frozen for 150 years, and she was brainwashed by Dark Million. So, all three characters we meet from 150 years ago get frozen and wake up in the future, and I have to wonder if would have made more sense to have them just live in the future to start.

This show is not set in the same continuity as F-Zero X and F-Zero GX. It's its own thing. While most character's bios from GX have them be one thing or another, usually neutral, this show has a habit of making people either a member of Jody's Task Force, or a member of Dark Million. GX Jody is soft and demure, but X Jody and anime Jody are tough as nails no nonsense cops, and I like that idea more.

The show tends to switch between episodes that focus on a racer, ie. "Hey, this is a kid named Leon, but it turns out he's a werewolf, and Beastman is hunting him cuz he's a werewolf," (in the games he was just a cat alien) and episodes that move the main plot forward. The main plot is about Rick/Ryu trying to unbrainwash his girlfriend and catching Zoda. Zoda wants to overthrow Black Shadow and take over Dark Million. About halfway through we're introduced to Reactor Mights, powerful devices that, I guess make a lot of power, and everyone wants them. Honestly I really don't care for the Reactor Mights, and I think the show is better when it's just one-off episodes showcasing new characters. Samurai Goroh is in it, and he has a fair bit of screentime, but he never once shares a scene with Falcon, instead he's a kind of a slightly evil mentor for Rick/Ryu. Captain Falcon has four secret identities, which I think is a record. He's Falcon, Bart Lemming, the guy who runs a coffee house where the heroes spend their downtime, Berserker, who works for Dark Million, and Andy Summer, Jody's big bro. There's a lot of weird stuff towards the end about fate and destiny and stuff that's hard to articulate. It does have Don Genie and Deathborn, but it turns out that they're both just alter egos of Black Shadow, even though we see them all in the same room at the same time, and also in three different places at the same time. Overall, I don't think it's great. It has a lot of problems, but also some stand out moments if you're a fan of F-Zero.

Edited by WillKeaton on Oct 17th 2023 at 7:57:13 AM


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