F-Zero X

F-Zero X
F-Zero X box cover
Developer(s)	Nintendo EAD
Publisher(s)	Nintendo
Platform(s)	Nintendo 64, iQue, Wii (VC)
Release	JP July 14 1998 NA October 26 1998 EU November 6 1998 CN 2004 (iQue)
Genre(s)	Futuristic racing game
Mode(s)	Single player, multiplayer

F-Zero X (エフゼロ エックス, F-ZERO X), is a video game for the Nintendo 64 console. It debuted in Japan on July 14, 1998, in North America on October 26, 1998, and in Europe on November 6,1998. The game sold 56,457 copies during its first week of sale in Japan. F-Zero X is scheduled re-release on the Wii's Japanese Virtual Console in May 2007.

F-Zero X is the third in Japan (second in North America and the rest of the world) installment of Nintendo's F-Zero series. Although it failed to match the sales success of its predecessor, the Mode 7 Super Nintendo F-Zero game, F-Zero X is the first 3D release and fully polygonal game in the series. The F-Zero X team was made up of several Wave Race 64 key programmers (including the lead programmer).

The Expansion Kit for this game was released nearly two years later in Japan. To leave the field open for future, Nintendo added 64DD features into F-Zero X that would allow for add-on disks such as track editors or course updates. The 64DD was never released outside of Japan, unless imported, these features were never taken advantage of elsewhere in the world.

Gameplay

F-Zero X offers the choice of either preserving the vehicles' energy meter, or using it to boost ahead of the competition. After choosing a character the next screen is used to set the speed of the machine anywhere from minimum to maximum speed. The color of the machine can also be changed. Although it had a steep learning curve, at that time F-Zero X was one of the best in its genre. One of the gameplay enhancements include a feature only in F-Zero X, a "random track generator". A feature that is continued to be used throughout the series is the dash plates located at various points around the track. When any vehicle goes over one of these plates, a speed boost is acquired that doesn't cost any energy. F-Zero X can be used with a Rumble Pak, which allows for force feedback.

Modes include GP Race, Time Attack, VS Battle, Death Race, and Practice and a four-player multiplayer. Full records of Time Attack and Death Race times are stored on the game cartridge, as well as Cups won with each machine in each difficulty setting. The game includes the following gameplay modes:

• Grand Prix: Race against twenty-nine other opponents through the tracks of a Grand Prix tour. The player needs to select a difficulty level: Novice, Standard, Expert or Master. The higher the difficulty level, the tougher the opponents and less spare machines. A "spare machine" is similar to an extra life. In this game's case if the player starts over or changes settings after the game is paused, or if the machine loses all its energy, or falls off the track, that costs one spare machine each. When there are no spare machines left, the selection to start the track over or change settings while the game is paused is disabled. After the final course is completed, the Final Results in Grand Prix screen will appear. If ranked first, an "X" mark is rewarded. If ranked 2nd or 3rd, the player will have to try again. If ranked 4th or lower, there will be a daytime scene with the player's vehicle racing around a track.

• Death Race: Driving on a perpetual straightaway, destroy the other 29 racers in the shortest time possible.

• Time Attack: Choose a track and complete it in the shortest time possible. Good times will unlock recorded races against which to test oneself. The game also contains hidden Staff Ghosts, which are very fast times set by the game's development team, for the player to beat. They are unlocked by achieving a certain record on any track. For example, the Staff time on the "Silence" course is 1'17"74. There are no rewards for beating them, but a red 'X' appears next to the track on the course selection screen to show the ghost has been defeated.

• Practice: Practice any track with 29 opponents.

• Multiplayer: In VS Battle, two to four players can play simultaneously. Four machines will race in all multi-player modes, out of the four, those not used by players will be operated by the computer. If a player ends up retiring before the other players, that person will enter VS Slot. A slot machine will appear. If three pictures are matched, its then possible make another player's machine lose all or half of its energy (depending on which pictures matched). If three "X" marks appear, the leading machine will lose all its energy. If three skulls appear all machines will lose their energy. In VS Handicap its possible to adjust the handicap option to "+1" or "+2", boost power will not consume as much energy or boost power will consume even less energy respectively that will give the slower machine an advantage.

Driving tactics

Basic driving operations include using the A button for Accelerate, B for Boost (only available after lap 1, with the exception of 'death race' where it is available from the start), C-Down for air brakes, the control stick to steer the machine and the R and Z buttons drift from side to side. If R and Z were held together it would skid. R or Z were double tapped to execute the 'Side Attack' move. Holding R and double tapping Z (or hold Z double tap R) was a spin attack.

Of particular interest is that prior to each race players may adjust their vehicle's balance between maximum acceleration and maximum top speed. This adds strategy and replay value, as players with greater knowledge of the tracks can make better decisions. There are also special driving techniques such as the 'Railslide' that can break the game's normal physics.

Story

Due to the extreme danger of the sport, the original F-Zero Grand Prix ended. Many pilots got injured in the huge accident, including Captain Falcon, but miraculously none were killed, thanks in part to Dr. Robert Stewart. After the Grand Prix was discontinued for several years, the competition was brought back under the name "F-Zero X". This game takes place after the suspension of the original F-Zero Grand Prix, but the rules and regulations were revised.

Cups and vehicles

Screenshot of F-Zero X

The game introduces over 20 vehicles, and brings back the four from the original F-Zero game. Initially, there are three Cups to choose from, each consisting of six courses. When selecting a Cup, and a brief explanation of the first course will appear at the bottom of the screen. There are five cups in total, most with names based on face cards: the Jack, Queen, King, Joker and X Cups. The X Cup becomes available once the player has beaten all the other cups in expert mode. Drivers with little experience might want to start with an easier Cup.

JACK CUP - Beginner

QUEEN CUP - Intermediate

KING CUP - Expert

Every time a Cup is won, an "X" mark will appear on the Course Select screen. There are three classes with three Cups. When three "X" marks are obtained, the second row of machines will become available for play. The third row of machines will become available once six "X" marks are received and the fourth row when nine are received. That means a total of nine "X" marks are obtainable. But that only lets the player select from 24 machines. Once all of the cups are completed on each and every difficulty level, the game's end credits will be shown. After resetting the N64, the title screen and intro music will change and the final row of six machines will be selectable.

X Cup

The "X Cup" is a collection of 70+ random tracks. However, there is a misconception that these tracks are randomly generated, for similar tracks can be played on separate (or sometimes even on the same) occasion. While this added much replay value to the game, much of the tracks were either simplistic (involving a simple oval shaped track/pipe) or were difficult to race without being retired.

Death Race

The purpose of the Death Race in F-Zero X is to annihilate the 29 other racers as speedily as possible, as may be inferred by the name. There is only one course and no difficulty level. There is no limit to the number of laps, boost can be used right away, and best times will be saved to memory. A star is earned for each rival machines actually destroyed. Stars give you a bit of energy. The player won't get a star if a rival machine crashes into another. When the number of remaining rival machines is zero, the game is over. If the players Energy Meter reaches 0, or if he or she fall off the track, the player will need to start the whole race all over.

Graphics engine

F-Zero X is one of the first home console racing games that runs at 60 frames per second with up to 30 machines on screen at the same time, which is unusually fast for a Nintendo 64 game. In order to keep the frame rate, polygon counts on the vehicles, textures and track detail are sacrificed. Furthermore, the disabled Z-buffering of the N64 is replaced by an alternative drawing scheme that results in the occasional visual glitch seen throughout gameplay.

Music and sound

The F-Zero series is notable for a high quality synthesized glam metal/electronic style soundtrack. Two soundtracks were released featuring music from this game. F-Zero X Original Soundtrack was released on September 18, 1998. A "Guitar Arrange Edition" was released on January 27, 1999 called F-Zero X Guitar Arrange Edition. It features live electric guitar arrangements of ten of the game's music tracks. Both the game soundtrack and the "Guitar Arrange Edition" are composed and performed by Taro Bando & Hajime Wakai.

Expansion kit

Main article: F-Zero X Expansion Kit

File:Fzerox expan startsceen.jpg

Start screen of the Expansion Kit.

An Expansion Kit was released in Japan on April 21, 2000 for the 64DD, a removable disk add-on that plugged into the bottom of the N64. This disk includes new cups, a couple of new machines, a track editor, and a machine editor.

The Track Editor lets people create any track the way they want it by using 64 course points to determine the track layout. People can also add course details like pit areas, dash plates, tunnels, etc. The disk can save up to 100 tracks and can put 6 of them in a specially designed 'Edit' Cup to use them in other modes like GP, VS or Time Attack.

The Car Editor lets people create a car using a set of pre-existing parts that then combine to assemble the machine. People can also change its colors, stats, and name it to save it to the disk. The created cars can be applied to any of the existing 30 racers.

External links

• F-Zero X wiki guide at StrategyWiki
• F-Zero X at MobyGames