F-Zero GBA games

[louisg]

Are any of the F-Zero GBA games as good as the SNES one? I was thinking of picking up either the first one, or Climax. Is one better than the other, track editor aside?

[Gus]

Get GX.

[louisg]

Get GX.

I've already got GX and the original... X is pretty promising though. But I was wondering mostly about the mode 7 ones.

[TransatlanticFoe]

GP Legend is far too easy and the story sections are too short, featuring too few characters, to offer anything interesting. But it does handle really similarly to the SNES original and the GP mode is quite good fun even if the full-field is an illusion... I like to put on several negative laps to get to the back of the field, then race through trashing everyone so that I'm the only car that finishes....

Maximum Velocity plays out more like the SNES version in that it's quite a shallow arcade-y experience... though everything but The Stingray handles really differently and takes some getting used to. Some of the cars are so unbalanced that it becomes a chore trying not to crash on certain circuits, never mind place top 3.

[Drum]

Climax is better than the SNES one. Honestly, I think all of the ones with the energy bar/boost combo are.
X is very good. Every bit as good as GX, presentation aside.

[StoofooEsq]

F-Zero Climax is the best of the handheld titles, IMO. Plenty of features available.

[Obiwanshinobi]

Whew, Maximum Velocity had clicked. Good kind of "shallow" if it makes any sense (and not as pride-crushing as GX). First handheld game where button mashing doesn't make me wince (played on my SP anyway). It may be a fluke (Nintendo produced everything and published it), but I appreciate no technology this, publisher that screens when it loads. Just the way it used to be on ye olde GB. Now that's what I call handheld gaming.

[null1024]

I personally can't stand Maximum Velocity at all [everything feels wrong, I could just play the SNES version on my PSP and I'd be 1000x happier].
Climax is great though, go play that.

[Moniker]

GP Legend is my favorite in the series. So much goodness.

[Obiwanshinobi]

Or maybe I was so tired of 'Cube pad's triggers that even SP triggers feel like an improvement. Not that GX and Maximum Velocity play alike (very different mechanics alright).

[Ed Oscuro]

I appreciate no technology this, publisher that screens when it loads.

Oh hell yes. I'll take a look into these, thanks

[Austin]

Having grown up with the SNES game, Maximum Velocity felt weird to me and I couldn't really get into it. It's been a while since I tried it though and I have been meaning to revisit it.

[BrianC]

I like both Climax and MV, though GP Legend felt too easy. I was lucky to get F-Zero Climax when it was on sale at Play-Asia. I wish 3DS was region free like the original DS and the Game Boy systems.

Slightly OT, but I read at the next level forums that F-Zero GX actually has the full F-Zero AX arcade game hidden in it, accessable via a gameshark code.

[Obiwanshinobi]

Slightly OT, but I read at the next level forums that F-Zero GX actually has the full F-Zero AX arcade game hidden in it, accessable via a gameshark code.

Apparently you can unlock them via coin-op machine (take memory card with you to the arcade) or beating all GP events on hardest difficulty (very funny).

[drunkninja24]

Slightly OT, but I read at the next level forums that F-Zero GX actually has the full F-Zero AX arcade game hidden in it, accessable via a gameshark code.

Apparently you can unlock them via coin-op machine (take memory card with you to the arcade) or beating all GP events on hardest difficulty (very funny).

You can access some of the courses, but the entire actual arcade game is hidden on the disc as well.

[BrianC]

Slightly OT, but I read at the next level forums that F-Zero GX actually has the full F-Zero AX arcade game hidden in it, accessable via a gameshark code.

Apparently you can unlock them via coin-op machine (take memory card with you to the arcade) or beating all GP events on hardest difficulty (very funny).

I mean the actual AX game. I'm aware the tracks are unlockable. The main difference is that AX is timed with a time extend at checkpoints, similar to other arcade racers. It seems the hidden arcade game in GX even has the screen showing you to buckle up.

AX in F-Zero GX

[drunkninja24]

I'd like to see someone rig up some kind of ghetto arcade cab setup with this

[D]

You guys know about the f-Zero anime, right?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-Zero#Anime
It's not super, but cool to take a look if you're a die hard f-zero head.

[BrianC]

You guys know about the f-Zero anime, right?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-Zero#Anime
It's not super, but cool to take a look if you're a die hard f-zero head.

Too bad 4Kids butchered it for the US. GP Legend and Climax are based off the anime.

[Obiwanshinobi]

Perhaps legit AX cabs use the same ROM (same discs even) as GX.

[Austin]

Having grown up with the SNES game, Maximum Velocity felt weird to me and I couldn't really get into it. It's been a while since I tried it though and I have been meaning to revisit it.

Well, I sort of take this back. I fired it up last night and rolled through the first cup. It plays well and looks like the SNES game. The music isn't terribly memorable and the control of the cars doesn't feel as tight, but it was still fun.

[Obiwanshinobi]

I think Maximum Velocity tends to make bad first impressions, but it's a grower. Clicked with me the moment I felt that when I crash, it's because I didn't mash on A rapidly enough. Shouldn't work well in a handheld game, but in this case works for me. Weird.

It plays well and looks like the SNES game.

Those distant backdrops look more distant. Remind me of Super Monkey Ball actually. No wonder Sega reused SMB engine in GX, but it didn't quite come off. Maybe the reason's that the fog isn't applied to the very tracks in GX, only the background.