Why I Love F-Zero GX | An F-Zero GX Review

When people see Captain Falcon nowadays, it’s rare that they actually think of him as an F-Zero character. What was once one of Nintendo’s biggest names, standing proudly amongst the ranks of Mario, Zelda and Donkey Kong has now seemingly vanished without a trace. Why? Well, one could make the argument for any number of things, from an apparent lack of new ideas for the series, to just being overshadowed by the more popular Mario Kart. Despite this, F-Zero is a franchise that I feel has maintained a high standard of quality across all of its entries and today we’ll be taking a look at the magnum opus. I’m FibreOpticBroadbean and this is Why I Love F-Zero GX!
Music:
- Title Theme (F-Zero)
- Customize (F-Zero GX)
- Cover of Big Blue (F-Zero GX)
- Green Plant (F-Zero GX)
- Aeropolis (F-Zero GX)
- QQQ's Theme (F-Zero GX)
- Beastman's Theme (F-Zero GX)
- Mute City (F-Zero GX)
- Winning Run (F-Zero GX)
- Captain Falcon's Theme (F-Zero GX)
Social Media: @Fobb
- Twitter: Fobbean
- Discord server: discord.gg/8SsXSFk

[@ATalkingSock]

It really doesn't matter who Mr X interviews. Whenever he turns 90 degrees on his axis and says "I see...thank you for the interview" it's comedy gold

[@Fobb]

It's hilarious, I love how he cowers in fear when he's next to one of the villains too

[@midknight9715]

They ABSOLUTELY knew what they were doing when making the story mode cutscenes. They purposefully made it as cheesy and ridiculous as possible. That really goes for the game as a whole. Everything is just perfectly absurd and really it wouldn't be F-Zero without all that cheese.

[@leonraymond3118]

Always great to see other F-Zero GX fans. No other racing game comes close to it imo. It’s not just the gameplay, music or graphics, but also how much personality it has thanks to the crazy cast and even the ridiculous story. 41 racers, each with their own backstory, 3D-model, theme song, movie and multiple interview questions (with voice acting!) after winning a GP. I don’t think we’ll ever see something like this again in a racing game.

[@Fobb]

Whenever I go back to play GX, I'm always amazed by just how much work went into the small details. Things like the Pilot Profiles, character themes and interviews are such cool details that they really didn't have to include, but they elevate the game to a whole new level.

[@wet-read]

It is wonderful, but very, very difficult. Also, like most racing games, the laps don't take that long and I wish there was an option to choose more of them

[@BigNation1]

Goes to show the difference between game titles on Gamecube compared to modern consoles. Look at all the detail you pointed out and compare that to the half-effort we see in today's games. It'll never be the same. Great video!

[@orneryoverwatch7031]

If this game came out today, you'd have to pay real money to unlock each racer and cup.

[@Fobb]

For real! From the sheer amount of content, to the size of the roster, to even the background information and lore for each individual character, it's clear that so much love went into this game! They don't make 'em like they used to.

[@-.Outlaw.-]

“Half effort” Elden ring, God of war Ragnarok, horizon zero dawn, Verizon forbidden west, Botw, tears of the kingdom 🗿

[@jgn]

​​@@-.Outlaw.-you could easily disprove this "most games now are half-assed" take with ballisticNG

[@danielgertler5976]

Cause games theae days focus graphics over content. When you need 4k textures that means you have to pay a whole lot more on that aspect which means less money for content and QA testing.

[@Trololo231]

Mario Kart just makes me mad. I like all Mario Karts, but i think i have more fun replaying F-Zero X and GX singleplayer than Mario Kart 8 DX online, honestly. I just love the fact that, even though the game is a little harsh on you and you need to put in the effort to learn the tracks and try over and over again, it's so much more balanced. The fact that luck is not envolved is so much more rewarding to me, the fact that you can make a comeback with the attack system is so great because you know that even if you did bad in a track you can do better in the next one + attack the opponent.

[@Fobb]

For sure, the fact that the fate of an F-Zero race is left entirely in the hands of the players makes it such a unique experience. While Mario Kart has its charm, the RNG can be a bit much at times 😂

[@scorpiondeathlock980]

I got to play F-Zero GX for the first time two years ago and soon became my favorite racing game of all times. Its gorgeous visuals, unique characters, challenging mechanics, superb soundtrack, and amazing and creative tracks set it apart from all the racing games I had played.

[@Fobb]

You hit the nail on the head there -- so much effort went into creating this game and it really shows.

[@bigbluebuttonman1137]

It's still a masterpiece.

[@Fobb]

For sure, it still holds up to this day!

[@TengokuEXE]

One thing I like to do to admire the speed in this game is to go to a track with high speeds and wait off to the side of the checkpoint for the other racers to lap me. They fly past you so fast, it's insane.

[@Fobb]

I've never actually thought to try this before, will have to do that next time I boot up the game!

[@antusFireNova]

This game holds up so well, I'm literally the same age as it and I still love it!

[@Fobb]

You and me both!

[@rumbummer]

My favorite racing game of all time. I really hope Nintendo remasters this game for the switch or something, but a gamer could dream, I suppose.

[@Fobb]

One day 🙏

[@DrakodanSRL]

It's a shame that there's no mention of any of the Advanced Techs that can be used in this game, because they are what really elevates this game to the best racing game engine ever designed in my opinion. Snaking, the entire Momentum Throttle system, shift-boosting, momentum turbo sliding, side-attack diving, these barely scratch the surface of the physics engine in GX, and not exploring them is like only seeing the part of the iceberg that's above the surface of the water. This game's records and time trials are never, ever going to be optimised because the ceiling is virtually infinitely high.

[@Fobb]

While I am aware of the more competitive side of this game, growing up I played it pretty casually so this video reflects those experiences. However, I think the fact that this game is appreciated for both its fundamentals and its more technical aspects speaks a lot to its quality!

[@kricku]

Pff, just pick Hyper Speeder!

[@GoldenThunderbolt]

Ah, a fellow F-ZERO GX enjoyer. My man.

[@Fobb]

Love this game to death, one of my all-time favourites 👌

[@TheJadeFist]

That Casino Palace, looks a hell of a lot like a Casino themed level in Team Sonic Racing. With that long curve around the roulette and the spinning slot machine reels above the arch for the finish line.

[@orneryoverwatch7031]

I think the difficulty is what keeps me coming back to this game. Every couple of years I have to prove to myself that I can still 100% this game, or I'm not a "real gamer"😅

[@Fobb]

For sure! I still haven't 100%ed it myself (still need to do the Diamond Cup on Master Mode and unlock the AX tracks), but I always come back to give it a shot every now and then. One day 🙏

[@denimchicken104]

@@Fobbkeep at it! It’s such an awesome reward. When I first did it back in the day I didn’t even know the tracks existed. My jaw was on the floor.

[@HighLanderPonyYT]

The credits song to regular people: "Wth is this corny crap?" The same song to the player: "I'll rise to this national anthem celebrating me overcoming incredible odds."

[@VestedUTuber]

There's actually more than three options for taking turns - there's actually five. Option 4: You can quick-turn, which can cause speed loss but lets you turn MUCH tighter than even an inward strafing turn. This is the best way to execute sharp turns. Taken to its extreme, with certain vehicles you can actually "snake" to build up ridiculous amounts of speed at the cost of your physical health. Option 5: You can do what's called a Momentum Turbo Slide, which is like a powerslide but you let go of the throttle and hold an outward strafe while doing it. Most machines will bump up to between 1300 and 1500kmh, with some getting as fast as 2000kmh or so, while doing this, although you'll quickly drop back down to your natural top speed when you release the slide. This is the best method for taking all but the sharpest turns, and is one of the primary ways speedrunners build up speed in this game.

[@NathanLorenzana]

Still to this day, the best racing game I've played.

[@manuelcontreras9711]

I love chapter 4 on very hard! I’d play it repeatedly cuz it was so much fun to take out every other machine. Really love how story mode isn’t just straightforward races, and it’s just one of the reasons this is my favorite racing game of all time.

[@Fobb]

The story mode was fantastic, I remember particularly enjoying the chapter where you have to save Jody from the burning building -- it took me so long to beat it on Very Hard mode! The time limit was 40 seconds and I'm pretty sure I ended up doing it in 39.995!

[@denimchicken104]

You madman! Chapter 4 is the most random challenge, super hard.

[@FrostDemigod]

I always wondered what Captain Falcon originated from since I almost never saw F-zero anywhere , but this video finally answered all of that, sick vid g

[@Fobb]

Nowadays F-Zero is largely forgotten which is a huge shame. Maybe one day it'll see the light of day again 🙏

[@PikminBean]

9:30 fun fact, Sakurai said that Captain Falcon gets his powers in smash from his strong faith in Jesus Christ

[@NikoSoviet88]

Kek

[@Fobb]

"Even I can feel the power, When I think of you I see no fear... feel no pain"

[@richyroa]

@@FobbI was hoping a mention to his final anthem: "When myotic confusion threatens your lunch, Falcon will be unleashing a falcon punch"

[@trustytrest]

Ah, F-Zero GX. The game where your speedometer says you're going above 1000kph, and it absolutely FEELS like it. Very, very few other games can capture speed as well as this game does, even counting apeedrunning glitches in other games vs a glitchless run in GX.

[@wileecoyotegenius5955]

Fuuuuuuck that graphic at the end where the game disc turned into the AV logo and then your channel avatar was actually so good and it fit so perfectly with what you were saying. S+ tier video editing right there.

[@Fobb]

Ayyyy glad you liked it, I had a lot of fun editing that segment!

[@elowin1691]

I love all the character theme songs, ESPECIALLY the ones with funky lyrics

[@Fobb]

Definitely one of the highlights of this game, I always get a kick outta listening to them

[@camel348]

A Master piece. My brother couldn’t believe that I had genuine interest in a racing game when he got it with the Game Cube. Now I would love to see a Tier List with all the characters. My main one was The Skull but I loved Dr Steward and his tecno theme with his acid trip.

[@kanolemaster]

I opened up a videogame lounge in Los Angeles and one of things that sets us apart is our +170inch big screens. FZERO GX is one of the games I'm always pushing not only because it's one of my top 3 games of all time but because it's the best racer ever, the music is tops and the graphics and game play still hold up today. Playing FZERO is great but have you ever played it in your own personal mini theater while playing first person???

[@johanericsson7309]

Me: I'm too good to run into the walls, Max Speed on every track is the way to go Phantom Road: Sry, can you repeat that one more time?

[@VestedUTuber]

Ok, correction. F-Zero isn't a kart racer, it's an AG/Sci-fi racer. It's basically in the same category as WipeOut, BalisticNG, Redout, Pulse, Star Wars Episode 1: Racer, Aero GPX and XF eXtreme Formula. Like kart racers, AG racers are a subset of arcade racing games, but while kart racers feature slow speeds, relaxed gameplay, cartoony antics and a heavy emphasis on items and combat, AG racers tend to focus more on high speeds, intense gameplay, precise control and sci-fi themes and either have entirely skill-based weapons or no weapons at all, with less of an emphasis on combat (though there still is one) and more of a focus on driving skill.

[@MYPERFECTFORM]

10:30 bro died on live tv and the mf is like "thanks for the interview champ"

[@Fobb]

💀

[@zolne]

How to make F-Zero GX easier to play: Step 1: Do not play with a f*cking keyboard

[@Grr8jon]

We're back now. F-Zero 99 is fantastic. It's no f-zero gx, but it's up there. Id say its the third best f-zero game (1. F-zero GX, 2. f-zero X, 3. F-zero 99 ).

[@Fobb]

I'm inclined to agree with your ranking, I'm having a great time with 99!

[@NickyvMLP]

12:18 at the very least, that amount of adrenaline and dopamine should be considered a performance-enhancing drug.

[@beardalaxy]

This game is the pinnacle of future racers. Aero GPX and Extreme Formula XF are looking really good though, check them out if you get the chance! The demo for XF has TONS of stuff in it just by itself.

[@Fobb]

I've been meaning to try Aero GPX out, although I can't say that I've heard of Extreme Formula XF - will definitely be looking into that one now!

[@beardalaxy]

@@Fobb I think the tracks could use a little bit of work, but the engine is super solid. Gives me the same feeling GX does for sure.

[@FLYNN_TAGGART]

The only thing preventing GX from being perfect is the lack of X's soundtrack, Death Race mode, and the comic book art style. And I suppose the AX content would be cool too. But it's still 99% the perfect video game.

[@thejuice-bh2cj]

You can unlock all the ax content within gx it's just very difficult

[@Fobb]

Yeah, the closest we got to a Death Race mode in GX was the Bloody Chain Chapter of the story, but it's not quite the same. The combat in GX feels better than ever so I still wonder why they didn't add it 🤔

[@Allplussomeminus]

Just started playing GX this week. Why Nintendo hasn't released a new 3D F-Zero is beyond me. We have 200cc Mario Kart, but it's definitely not the same.

[@Fobb]

It baffles me that it still hasn't happened yet!

[@johntenconnary144]

the E-A stats on vehicles arent very accurate. theres a lot of hidden stats ingame that affect your car. The stats shown in-game basically reflect a variable set to a vehicle. stats like boost length, boosting top speed, and the "drag" stat are hidden ingame, but allow vehicles like the black bull and fat shark to go real quik cause of it. Theres also a weird mechanic in-game (most likely a product of the custom vehicle system) where if your vehicle is above/below 1000kg you get a big bonus to your speed retention. and lots of other weird niche stuff like when your car is about 200km/h over your top speed, letting go of your accelerator allows you to keep that speed for longer. This is also why heavier vehicles often perform better in GX, cause the weight allows you to keep your speed for a long time (think black bull/fat shark/great star) GX is such a mechanically deep game and I love it

[@JustThatFinley]

The fact that I'm struggling with the normal mode difficulty in the campaign shows how ridiculously hard this game is... or maybe I just suck!

[@thecianinator]

No, no it's just ridiculously hard lol

[@Fobb]

Even the Normal Mode is tough at first, but you'll get there one day -- it just takes practice (and a lot of it)🙏

[@richyroa]

Not your fault! I got a japanese copy recently and decided to 100% it. I found out that the very hard requirements are even harsher. For example, on the US copy on chapter 5 I got a time of 40.38 and was accepted. The japanese won't admit more than 40 secs, so I had to MT boost and get 39.98 in the final stretch.

[@VestedUTuber]

Honestly, the real reason F-Zero hasn't returned outside of F-Zero 99 is that, honestly, Nintendo doesn't give a shit about it and the higher-ups actively hate the franchise. There seems to be a similar thing going on with Sony and WipeOut as well, almost like the two companies are actively moving against the AG racing genre.

[@aballofgrime7273]

How is someone who's claimed to spend hours reading the profiles unable to name Silver Neelson or Michael Chain? Also, it was stated somewhere that all are able to compete regardless of their criminal record.

[@edurmissa]

F-Zero GX, mixing the over-exaggerated expressiveness from Japanese style along the cringy, b-series tier from America wrapped in epic gameplay, lead us to one of the best games I ever played. Reading Black Shadow info in Brawl, watching the GP-Legend anime and just by his look, that bastard seems evil and edgy as hell... but in GX story mode, he is so fking cheesy in every possible way but still, his artwork keeps the badass feeling xD. Took me 14 year to get it, but now I own it, is one of my best purchases ever.

[@Fobb]

Haha, Black Shadow was kinda pathetic in GX's story mode wasn't he? Poor guy couldn't catch a break from Deathborn!

[@xiaoxianniang69]

I have nothing to complain why Mr. Rick is not included or he's an outcast F-Zero champion anyway if I were to race with Captain Falcon in Need for Speed I've Lost already as soon as i step into the ring

[@spinsk5071]

I also love F-Zero GX

[@Fobb]

Such a great game!

[@delmarquisclark1590]

THANK YOOOOOOU

[@00Clive00]

The only thing I don't love about F Zero GX is the soundtrack, F Zero X has probably the best soundtrack in all the F Zero games, so I'm playing it using Dolphin and used a mod to swap the music with F Zero X, now it's absolute perfection. Also running the game at 5k 60 fps with 4x SMAA and the AI upscaled HD Texture pack. It's glorious!

[@Nick-Nasty]

Love this freaking game

[@satan-kun8974]

Fun video

[@Fobb]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@thesensiblestreamer2958]

Forever He will be my hero!!!!

[@Fobb]

And not just only for toniiiiiight

[@ryubaku]

Still the best racer

[@pabz426]

F Zero GX will hopefully be a college class.

[@HighLanderPonyYT]

Absolutely goated game. Still waiting on a sequel. :(

[@Fobb]

We need a new F-Zero game, it's been far too long!

[@HighLanderPonyYT]

@@Fobb Closest we'll have is probably Aero GPX (on Steam and whatnot).

[@SchmidtTimes]

A fellow Falcopedia appreciator? That's the ticket, pal! 🎉

[@Fobb]

Haha yes -- between the Melee Trophy Gallery, the Piklopedia and the GX character profiles, I spent many hours reading through the lore these games had to offer back in the day!

[@TucBroder]

I just bought this game... Never played it before. Time to get the GameCube going again :D

[@Fobb]

Hope you're having a great time with it!

[@murlocmaster6192]

*does a 360 to make tight turns*

[@Fobb]

f-zero logic at its finest 😂

[@smoothie7362]

Fzero and star fox desperately need the odyssey/botw treatment because they have the coolest characters and worlds that just aren’t being used

[@Fobb]

Definitely, it'd be so cool to see new life breathed into those franchises. Between the two you mentioned, there's a goldmine of untapped potential and I hope we get to see that realised one day 🙏

[@canttrustasoul.]

*s/o sega, very beautiful effort on GX.*

[@Fobb]

They genuinely did such a fantastic job with it, everything about it is just polished to perfection.

[@jphataraki6764]

The game doesn't take itself seriously, that should have been pretty obvious.

[@Falcon-fi4jt]

I would play f-zero gx any day. Even more than Mario Kart 8 dx. Going against the ai in any mario kart game just isn't the same as playing against a human being. In f-zero gx. The ai will kick your ass, sometimes take the win from you when you're so close to making 1st, run you off the course by accident and will pressure you to work harder in the game. That's the ai I like. Sure Mario kart does the same but f-zero gx just multiplies that times a 100 in thia game. Mario kart just doesn't have that. Even adding motion controls to Mario kart doesn't make it any harder. F-zero gx is hell with regular controls. Imagine adding motion controls to that game ( oh shit I think I just came up with a punishing idea right there😅). Anyway f-zero gx forever.

[@Fobb]

F-Zero with motion controls would be a sight to behold 😂

[@Falcon-fi4jt]

@@Fobb I agree

[@matthaeus5373]

Monke

[@Fobb]

very true 🐒

[@flamingphoenix1425]

The reason Falcon's theme soudns like Christian Rock is because he gets his power from his strong faith in Jesus Christ

[@TylerMcNamer]

Nintendo did not make the game. *It was all SEGA.*