F-Zero X
Reviewed by Colin Healy
F-Zero X, the long-awaited sequel to the classic original, is finally
here. Staying true to the original, graphics take a back seat to gameplay.
The end result is an immensely fun, challenging, and all together great
racing game. There are no weapons in this game, only simple fast racing
against 30 on-screen cars.
Graphics 7 out of 10
The graphics in this game likely won't impress anybody. The backgrounds
are sparse and simple, the track's colors bland. The cars, (or machines)
look very simple, though not ugly at all. However, this is all done to keep
the framerate up (60 fps), which in the end is a good trade off. This is
one of the fastest games ever made! There are almost never any glitches,
which is rare for a game that runs this fast
Music and Sound 8 out of 10
Music, while not as good as CD quality sound, is quite well done. Fans
of the original F-Zero will recognize many familiar tunes, updated slightly.
The new tunes aren't quite as catchy as the old ones, but they are very
good. Most of the music consists of wailing guitars, and fits the speed of
the game perfectly. The sound effects are simple, but are adequate.
Game Challenge 9 out of 10
There are four different cups, each with three difficultly levels. If you
beat that, a fourth difficulty level, master, opens up. Master is extremely
hard, and should keep you busy for awhile. Another added bonus is course
ghosts that the game's creators recorded. To beat these take a LOT of
practice, and is almost impossible to beat all 30 of them.
Game Play-Fun 9 out of 10
If this game is one thing, it's fun. With 30 cars racing against you, there's
nothing like blazing past all of them. Also, because the game is so smooth,
game-play is flawless. While single-player game is fun, multiplayer is
decent. With no weapons, races aren't as close as Mario Kart or
Snowboarding Kids.
Rumble Pak 7 out of 10
I have never been a big fan of the rumble pack, but this game uses it very
well. Tight turns make the pack shake, this adds to the excitement of the
game. Boosting also activates the pack. The rumble pack isn't overused, like
many games do.
Frustration
In the beginning, this game can be quite frustrating. It's hard at first to
get the turns perfect, and running out of boost power can be annoying. Once
you get used to it though, the game is still hard but not frustrating. I suggest
using the Space Angler and the Blue Falcon when you start the game.
Game Value 10 out of 10
Most stores should sell this game for $49.99. At this price, this game is
defiantly worth it, with very good replay value and loads of fun. After
you beat the game, a random track generator opens up so you never run
out of tracks. (though the random track generator creates many dumb tracks.)
Overall 9 out of 10