Why Mario Kart CANNOT Replace F-Zero & Why We Need A New One On Nintendo Switch- F-Zero GX

F-Zero is a series many want to see return. It is a series unlike any other and we have not had a new entry in almost two decades. In this video, I'll be going over F-Zero GX for the Nintendo GameCube as well as a bit of F-Zero AX the arcade game.

[custom-r]

On things that they could add in a new F-Zero (long post):
-Track Editor since it's never been in a game released internationally. It was always exclusive to Japan. (That and Mario Kart hasn't done that yet...officially)

-MORE machines (which means new characters which can help expand the F-Zero universe).

-Custom Machines in GX are amazing and could always use more parts.

-Custom Pilot mode (F-Zero hasn't tried the concept of creating characters in games yet)

-Death Race could return but evolve as a Stadium mode like in Smash Bros. Where you can have the standard Death Race, but others like "Survival Race:" which would remove all healing areas and end only when you get destroyed (falling wouldn't count) Some pilots in that race could turn up the aggression even more. And in that particular race, the enemy racers could respawn as needed. "Pursuits" could be another thing too, where you have a limited amount of time to chase down one targeted racer and hit them a few times.

-An actual tutorial mode. Games of older eras like NBA Street V3 or Sonic Riders just had to HIDE tutorials or important information behind EXTRAS--parts of a game that most people wouldn't think to look at until after a few hours in. Instead that should be plastered right in the main menu. In fact, that could be combined with Practice mode.

-Single Race mode. Self-explanatory, but this is helpful for anyone just wanting a free race. Maybe on a track they liked, so that they don't have to go through a gauntlet just to get to one and maybe save a replay. For example, wouldn't it be nice to have a single race at Thunder Road with 29 opponents without having to do that through Practice Mode?

-A new game could use guest characters as DLC to help grow the fanbase (because F-Zero deserves all the help it can get). Imagine Fox or Samus in a F-Zero game as guests? Why not? Captain Falcon's costume, Link, Inklings, Isabelle, and the Villagers are in Mario Kart 8, so it's fair game.

-A different take on Story Mode. Like many who want to see F-Zero make its overdue return to the formula, I'm easily opposed to the "open-world" bounty hunter idea for very obvious reasons. The idea often asks to deviate from the core of F-Zero to the point where it should just be a new spin-off. But the idea never takes advantage of the potential for side-quests. Instead of a generic Captain Falcon action experience, one idea is to have maybe some kind of explorable hub where Falcon (most people probably want to play as him anyway) will have to handle quests from other pilots, working to get some story to unfold (and take advantage of relationships characters have with each other and flesh out other things...like the Bloody Chain controlling 3 planets of the Federation-Takora conflict). Perhaps most of the main story beats can be depicted through cutscenes or comic book-styled art (which would fit since F-Zero's style was largely influenced from American Super Hero comic books).

-One idea they could have is to bring back the Magnetic Field from the SNES or GBA games. While tracks are already antigravity as they are, there are certain tracks that kick you off for going too fast in some places (though usually it's an amazing chance for aerial shenanigans). Like the final part of Casino Palace: Double Branches or Silence: High Speed (in F-Zero X). A magnetic field on sections like those could keep you there longer...WHICH also present new track design opportunities. Imagine an upside-down section with jump plates and this magnetic field. You could be flying around in the air, while the top of your ship gets close to the streets of Mute City!

-Or maybe some tracks could make use of their design, like Big Blue. Tracks there could allow vehicles to go through water filled areas and offer a completely new experience. It worked for Mario Kart, and it could be pretty realistic in the confines of F-Zero's world. Besides, we've seen Star Fox's vehicles go through Water before (like on Planet Aquas in Star Fox: Command). Keeping in mind both kinds of vehicles are very similar in how they both use G-Diffusers.

-And yes, Online is a thing they've never done before. But 30 players all at once is inadvisable. 12 however is another story.

-DLC is one thing F-Zero technically never did either. Easy chance to bring Maximum Velocity vehicles and the anime vehicles into 3D. VERY easy chance.

All this really to say, coming up with ideas for F-Zero is as easy as playing a Pokemon game. Perhaps even more so. At least 5 of these should be feasible for a game as big as 6.6 GB.

[LegoMan]

Imagine if a new F-Zero game launches with 4 tracks and 6 characters and then adds more with free updates.

[nickk]

It feels like Mario Kart is the only racing series Nintendo cares about nowadays because it has Mario and is marketable, which makes sense, but I really wish we saw a few more creative risks. Like, Nintendo used to make racing games all of the time, not just F-Zero, but the Excite games, Wave Race, Diddy Kong Racing (and some other DK racing games), and the 1080 games. There was variety and many games still have some potential. There is no doubt in the potential of a modern F-Zero or even Donkey Kong racing type of game! Heck, many people love Wave Race and the 1080 game. Personally, I’m more of an SSX guy, but these games can be modernized into something truly special I feel! What about that Star Fox racing game! That would be really cool!!

[zeddessell]

Something else great about this game that you only briefly (albeit accidentally) touched on-the CPU racers compete against each other, not just you. In Mario Kart it's always the same one or two CPU's that win every race in the cup, all the other AI drivers are basically irrelevant. In F-Zero sometimes the CPU driver that won one race will do badly in the next, so even if you screw up one race you're not completely out of it. That's how you were able to win the cup despite doing not so well in the later tracks. You can even strategically KO the CPU's with the highest point totals so they get ZERO points on that race.

Also, pro-tip here: don't forget about the shoulder buttons! If you hold L while turning left or R while turning right you'll turn more sharply, and by holding both L and R simultaneously you can drift. That's why you struggled so much in Aeropolis with all it's sharp turns (like at 14:36) - that course is designed to test your grip on the advanced techniques. Maybe you knew about this already and were just rusty from having not played in a while.

[Gestersmek]

Would it really kill Nintendo to just port F-Zero GX to Switch already?

[UhGaflavin]

F Zero GX still holds up to this day. An amazing testimony of the consistentl quality of Nintendo 1st party GameCube games. Literally every single one holds up. Hell, Melees character models had higher polygon count than the ones on Brawl.

[caioleite]

If they cant make a good new F-Zero, I think it is better that they dont even do it. Sometimes, it is best for a franchise to stay forgotten than to be ruined. I mean, look at what Nintendo did to Star Fox and Mario Strikers! I have always wanted a new game for these franchises, but we got Star Fox Zero and Battle League... honestly, I think it would have been better for these franchises to stay dead. I am afraid the same can happen to F-Zero

[NikoSoviet]

Thank You so much for making a video about this, F-Zero is amazing and it needs to come back BADLY

[cosmicspacething]

I heard Mario Kart was conceived when Nintendo couldn’t make a multiplayer F zero. If so, then they literally replaced the series from the start

[KamenKami]

Nintendo don't want to make a new F-Zero, because Sega out did them when they made GX/AX.

[spinfox]

Great video! I remember renting this one back in the day. Never had a chance to own it, but I enjoyed my time with it. The only F-Zero games I have is the original and GP Legend on Wii U Virtual Console. I would love to see another entry. Honestly, I feel more Nintendo futuristic series need more love, I'd like another Star Fox. I still enjoyed Star Fox Zero despite popular opinion, wouldn't mind a new entry in the series.

[awesomeocelot]

F-Zero GX did come out AFTER Sonic Adventure 2 Battle and Sonic Advanced so SEGA and Nintendo did collaborate before even on the same system with there main mascot so

[wantedasylum]

So if an art direction can enhance a game, can a good story do the same thing?

[BedsideTechSupport]

F-Zero was a sick series (or franchise or what you call it) for its time. It still is to this day. I just wish it came back. I was playing F-ZERO X on my switch, and my dad wanted to play it, since F-ZERO has been gone for a LONG time. F-ZERO could definitely benefit from a switch game. Seriously, there is a lot of cool stuff about the series that just NEEDS to make a comeback! I love Mario Kart, don't get me wrong. But F-ZERO was a lot cooler. I hope we get a new F-ZERO game this year, but judging by how Nintendo's been acting, I don't know if it will work out.

I bet fanboys and higher-ups at Nintendo will be like "Don't worry the game will launch with 6 courses and 6 characters with the same stats. FREE UPDATES WILL BE ADDED in the future, adding a lot more characters and courses! You'll see." And then just abruptly stop updating it in a similar way to Mario Strikers Battle League. And when we call Nintendo out, all the weird a** fanboys are gonna come stampeding to "defend" Nintendo.
(I'm actually pretty upset, because a recurring fanboy we all know, has a profile pic with my name on it. Like his profile pics name is Diego, and my name is Diego. Like how can someone (me) feel so guilty about something they didn't do?)

So talking about F-ZERO getting a new game is kind of a double edged sword here. I would like one, don't get me wrong. But I jut hope the higher ups don't ruin it with corporate greed (which they probably would).

[RickTheChampionPiggy]

After all these years of only seeing glimpses of F-Zero through Smash Bros and Nintendo Land I get to learn about it!

[ranpan]

Another excellent video coming from my favorite gaming gator! I've never played this game myself, only know about F-Zero though Smash Bros., if I can find a complete copy for a good price, might check it out at some point. Do agree with you on story mode, single player content is just as important as multiplayer. The story mode in Diddy Kong Racing was excellent! I would love a Mission Mode, or a story mode of sorts come into a new Mario Kart game.

I think a new entry would be nice, but I worry about them trying to innovate and shove a dumb controller gimmick into a new game, or it come out with little content and have free updates. Some of the Yoshi titles and Star Fox Zero suffer from poorly executed gimmicks.

[Cyber_Dragon]

I always wanted to play F-Zero GX, but I just never got around to playing it. Pro tip for anyone wanting to play GameCube games: just emulate them through Dolphin; your wallet will love you if you do that.

[JackAttackgamingXD]

Bro Treasure Trove is like the gift that keeps on giving

[cyn_citrus]

I would love to see you cover fire emblem: genealogy of the holy war!

also, great video :] I remember playing gx a long time ago, I have fond memories

[MadSociety-uyzg]

At this point I'd be happy with a Fzero GX port upscale to 1080p with added online multiplayer. I doubt we'll get a new game so Fzero GX on the switch with 1080p with added online multiplayer I'd just be happy with that.