F-Zero 99: Ample Addition or Inadequate Incentive?

Audience: 7+ Genres: Racing, Battle Royale, Action Overall Content Rating: Clean

Content Warnings

Mild Cartoon Violence

Some vehicles explode

Overall Review

Every once in a while, Nintendo releases a live-service multiplayer experience to add to their Nintendo Switch Online Membership packages. Previous releases have included Tetris 99, a 99 player online format of the classic game, Tetris, and Super Mario 35, a battle royale which as created for Super Mario Bros' 35th anniversary (who would have thought?). Super Mario 35 was unfortunately shut down around a year after its release, since it was only meant as a spotlight on Mario's 35th year of existence. The most recent 'battle royale' release was a welcome surprise to all fans of the ancient, barely surviving F-Zero series; F-Zero 99. It's a free game exclusive to the Nintendo Switch Online Memberships, meant as an added bonus to the expensive package. But is the game any good, or is it a weak attempt at making the subscription service more appealing?

F-Zero hasn't had a release in 20+ years, so the hardcore fans of the series are slobbering over what little content they can get, which is valid. As a fan of the old Paper Mario and Mario RPG series, I completely understand; I'm more than excited to play the rereleases of Mario RPG and Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. However, F-Zero 99 is not a full game, but rather a multiplayer experience involving 99 other racers from around the world. It graphically resembles the F-Zero games from the 90's era, with smoother frames and vastly improved menu screens and GUI. The gameplay involves racing with 98 other players, where each lap, the bottom five players are eliminated. Each race has four laps, so a maximum of 80 players can finish. However, if you're not careful, you can run out of energy by bumping other racers and crashing into walls, which will cause your vehicle to explode. There are Grand Prix events that run every 30 minutes to an hour, interspersed by team challenges and more difficult versions of the race tracks. The Grand Prix eliminate 20 players each race, ending with the 5th race being the finale, with only 20 players remaining. There is also a rivals system, where you're paired with similarly skilled players in a given race, and how you finish compared to them will affect your rank, which is measured with letter grades. I'm currently a B, which isn't bad, but I think my parents are disappointed in me.

The gameplay has been slightly updated with new features and updated versions of the original 15 tracks from F-Zero. There's an achievement board, four customizable vehicles, dozens of badges to display on your nameplate, and even a weekly, instantly updating leaderboard. The game is designed to be played daily, as you get check-in prizes and timed events; however, if you want to unlock achievements or progress in the ranked system, you don't have to boot it up every day. It's satisfying, because you don't have to make up for lost time if you get busy and can't (or don't want to) play for a week or two. The online service is smooth and efficient, and you never have to wait for more than a minute for a match to start.

Of course, all of these nice features don't amount to much if the game is mediocre. Thankfully, it turned out to be a lovely game. The driving mechanics aren't complicated, but the more you play, the more you figure out how to pull off difficult stretches of track. It's extremely easy to get into, but there are always more difficult challenges and competitive players to face. Of course, if you want a casual experience, that's completely possible, as the matching system is well implemented and there's no requirement to participate in the Grand Prix or hard races. The maps are tight and interesting, with satisfying turns and fun boosts. The old mechanics are still fun, and the new mechanics (such as super sparks, spin attacks, and the skyway) create an intense, fast-paced, fun-packed experience.

If you already have Nintendo Switch Online and haven't tried out F-Zero 99, I would recommend you check it out immediately. It's not everyone's cup of tea, but the excitement of racing and battling might catch you by surprise. If you're on the fence about buying the subscription, this is a game that might tip you over the edge. This F-Zero installment is a fantastic little game and certainly helps pad out the membership. Especially if you're considering the individual simple package, F-Zero 99 is worth the money, since it is one of many features included in the basic package. Even though F-Zero 99 is not the fully fleshed-out game that crazed, desperate fans were pining for, it's a solid game that will hopefully stick around for many years to come.