Like it or not, F-Zero 99 is necessary if you want to see this franchise survive
F-Zero 99 is just the beginning
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Announced at the September 2023 Nintendo Direct, the reveal ofF-Zero 99wasn’t exactly the grand return fans of the long-dormant series necessarily wanted to see. A 99-player battle royale in the style of Arika’sTetris 99andPac-Man 99,the first F-Zero title in nearly two decades initially didn’t inspire confidence.
Reception has been much warmer in the days since, however, with fans and streamers alike struggling to put down theNintendo Switch Onlinefreebie. I was similarly praiseworthy in myF-Zero 99impressionspiece, too, citing that its one-more-round element as one of the multiplayer racer’s finest aspects.
Still, as fantastic and fresh asF-Zero 99feels, especially among the best racing games of recent years, it still has its detractors. Why did Nintendo choose a multiplayer-only battle royale to put the franchise back on the map and not, say, anF-Zero GXremasteror a brand new single-player experience entirely? Whether you likeF-Zero 99or not, there’s a very simple answer to this; one that just might ensure you’ll be seeing a lot more from Captain Falcon and pals in the near future.
Racing points
Admittedly,F-Zero 99would not have been my first choice when it comes to bringing the series back into the spotlight, either. Watching the Nintendo Direct presentation live, I also felt quite lukewarm about the announcement. At the time, I would’ve much rather have seen aNintendo Switchport of the Sega-developedF-Zero GX,which I personally think is among the greatest racing games of all time; right up there next toRidge Racer Type 4, OutRun 2,andGran Turismo 4.
And there’s really one simple reason for that. While I’m lucky enough to own a physical copy ofF-Zero GXand the original hardware to play it on, not everyone’s in the same boat. So I’d love nothing more than a remastered port of the game, with modernities like 1080p resolution as well as the chance to play it on the go with some of thebest Nintendo Switch accessorieslike the fabulousNitro Deck.
But in hindsight, I think that would be a little shortsighted. Yes, aGXport would be a fantastic thing for existingF-Zerofans. But it’s important to remember that the futuristic racer has never been one of Nintendo’s first-rate franchises, never reaching the lofty sales figures enjoyed byTheLegend of Zelda, Animal Crossing,and especiallyMarioKart 8 Deluxe.
As fantastic as it is,F-Zerojust isn’t that popular in the grander scheme of things. That’s not to say there’s a lack of interest. But opting for a remaster over an original title only serves to please that existing fan base. WhatF-Zeroneeds to do, if it’s to have any kind of future, is grow.
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Back on track
Right now, that’s exactly what Nintendo seems to be achieving withF-Zero 99.Yes, it’s early doors, with the game being less than a month old and yet to receive more content updates, tracks, and modes; we’re very much still in its honeymoon phase. But by playing the game regularly since launch, I’ve never once witnessed it struggle to fill out 99 slots in an online race. On the contrary, it often does so remarkably quickly.
Add the fact thatF-Zero 99is a free download for anyone with a Nintendo Switch Online subscription (and with no additional paid content as of yet), and the franchise has never been more accessible in the modern era. And if it’s managed to onboard you successfully, both the originalF-ZeroandF-Zero Xare right there to experience in NSO’s retro game libraries, with the GBA’sF-Zero Maximum Velocityalso coming soon.
In short,F-Zero 99has put more eyes on this excellent series than ever before. By providing an original and obscenely fun multiplayer game that also has a relatively low cost of entry, it’s proven to be a very low-risk gamble that’s got series veterans and newcomers alike excited for its future.
Whether you’re particularly keen onF-Zero 99or not, it’s still important to acknowledge that it’s laid down some important foundations for a potential full return for the franchise when, before that, there simply wasn’t any at all.
For more Nintendo Switch goodness, be sure to check out our guide to thebest Nintendo Switch gamesyou can play in 2023.
Rhys is TRG’s Hardware Editor, and has been part of the TechRadar team for more than two years. Particularly passionate about high-quality third-party controllers and headsets, as well as the latest and greatest in fight sticks and VR, Rhys strives to provide easy-to-read, informative coverage on gaming hardware of all kinds. As for the games themselves, Rhys is especially keen on fighting and racing games, as well as soulslikes and RPGs.
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