Combat in F-Zero

[@A_Person_64]

The rival system was cool in mario kart and especially F-Zero with X's relationship chart. If we ever get another 3D game, I hope they iterate more on it. If it were up me. I'd have only two difficulty classes (Normal and Master) and everyone would have 6 rivals (since most games have a top 6 racers out of the group of 30 racers) split into two groups of friendly rivals and unfriendly rivals. Normal class AI would simply focus on driving with the unfriendly rivals (equivalent to expert class) constantly attacking you if you attack them, friendly rivals (equivalent to standard class) attacking you for a few times if you attack them and other racers (equivalent to novice class) just ignoring you if you attack them. On this difficulty setting enables you to safely drive tracks without engaging in combat if you don't want to and even then, only 6 racers will counterattack while only 3 will keep on constantly counterattacking. However, Master class AI would change in that they all would drive better lines, take shortcuts and use advanced tech. Other racers (equivalent to master class) would now attack you a few times if you attack them, friendly rivals (equivalent to the legendary class from the GX AI gecko codes) will now constantly attack you if you attack them and unfriendly rivals (also legendary class) will just constantly attack you in general. This difficulty setting would be a steeper challenge since now EVERYONE races and attacks better on a consistent level with your 6 rivals being genuine threats (three focusing on trying to outrace you and only fighting if you initiate it while the other three focusing on fighting you more than racing.) Combat in F-Zero is very cool because since you can't rely on ranged weapons like other games and must get upclose and personal, stakes are raised a bit. Only other racing game that comes to mind at the moment with similar combat is the mods for Sonic Riders and Zero Gravity (where combat racing can get...very intense). I'd also add throwing in some comments on your driving and combat by your rivals in between races since F-Zero has some very underrated lore and worldbuilding to it. Heck, I sometimes forget that Captain Falcon is suppose to the main character because there's so many other interesting characters in the series, but that's getting more into the story mode side of things.

[@markusmccloud]

Huh. TIL that Sonic Riders has a modding scene. May I ask which mods in particular you're referring to? The ones that soups up the combat like you described?

[@A_Person_64]

@@markusmccloud There's two for the original: Sonic Riders Tournament Edition (still receiving updates) and Sonic Riders DX (Derivative from Tournament Edition, but on hiatus. It was more competitively balanced). They're also not solely super competitive esports focused with having a lot of casual fun options as well. For the sequel, Zero Gravity, the mod is called Regravitified and ups the pacing of the game tremendously by fixing a lot of bugs, restoring the boost attack, drift and tornado functions and increasing the acceleration and especially the handling/top speed of all extreme gears. CrimsonGaia has a lot of past vods saved on his channel of Sonic Riders DX if you want some examples of Sonic Riders DX and Sonic Riders Regravitified whereas Pixelbolt has more casual races. Finally Joelcolon4u has some solo races of all three mods to showcase extreme gear changes.

[@speedslider3913]

​@@markusmccloud Sonic Riders has DX, and ZG has Regravitified.

[@BlueThunderO7]

I do love the fact that in GX, every time you perform a spin attack, the pilot's picture also spins too. That a nice little attention to detail. 😂

[@zaku7]

It’s all fun and games until the Black Bull comes in to ruin your day with one side attack. Not even most A body machines are safe.

[@windhelmguard5295]

can't happen when you're black bull.

[@supertoast4946]

When you drive the Black Bull, you can body shame all you want and no one can stop you

[@josedominguez8252]

Holy shit bro! You went ham on the intricacies of the combat mechanics, i wasn't even aware side moves helped with dive speed or that 360's helped with turn radius. Good job one the vid, you reinvigorated my love for F-Zero!

[@KorotasGeckoGamingCorner]

I'm not sure if I missed it, but one thing to note is that when you or the AI crashes out in X or GX there's a brief window where you're technically still in competition for lack of a better term. If one manages to cross the finish line in this state they will still be handed a victory, and with the more wild physics of GX attemping to KO someone near the finish line may be more trouble then its worth if their wreckage goes bouncing across and ahead of you before they blow up!

[@CR-Nova]

And this can also happen in Story Mode, too! (although physics are altered in that mode)

[@npc_blob1609]

@@CR-Nova Altered how?

[@CR-Nova]

@@npc_blob1609 If you get wrecked, or someone gets wrecked, *momentum won't be carried*. That means crashing in order to finish a race is not possible. You'd come to a complete stop if you get destroyed. That's pretty much the only major alteration in that mode.

[@fireandicegaming2979]

Other racers really need to be careful whenever they go anywhere near cold-blooded killers like Black Shadow and Blood Falcon.

[@saulo_jdyg8565]

I love this chill videos that explain this kinds of things although I have seen them multiple times and I know most things already. Keep it up dude!

[@snakebot4986]

Interesting, this reminds me I should play F-ZERO...

[@JudgmentSigma]

15:28 Well There was a particular Panzer Emerald speedrunner who utilised the side attacks at its fullest!......

[@TaranAlvein]

I remember preferring the sideswipe in X. It just seemed to be far more effective.

[@averygamerdude7911]

Ah, so does weight determine damage dealt in GX or no?

[@CR-Nova]

Technically yes, but literally anyone can one-shot other vehicles (in Grand Prix Mode). You would never notice the difference in most cases (at least for GX.)

[@cosmicminun59]

​@@CR-NovaImagine how embarrassing it would be if you were using the Fat Shark and the Silver Rat somehow manages to KO you