Highlights
- F-Zero is making a comeback with a new battle royale version called F-Zero 99, which will be available to play for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers today.
- While some fans may be disappointed that it's not a full release, having F-Zero back at all is a welcome surprise after 20 years of the franchise languishing.
- F-Zero 99 offers a fast-paced racing experience and its sudden drop could generate excitement among Nintendo fans eager to see what it has to offer.
F-Zero is officially making a comeback, with Nintendo announcing a new battle royale version of the racing game during Thursday's Nintendo Direct. F-Zero 99 will be the latest iteration of Nintendo's popular multiplayer games, which include Tetris 99, Pac-Man 99, and Mario 35. While the decision to make F-Zero 99 instead of a more traditional F-Zero full release may be somewhat controversial among the racing game's fanbase, having F-Zero back at all will be welcome.
While Mario Kart is now the brand fans think of when thinking about Nintendo and racing games, that wasn't always the case. Before Super Mario Kart was released in 1992, F-Zero arrived first on Super Nintendo in 1990. Unlike Mario Kart, F-Zero delivered lightning-fast gameplay, tight controls, and a futuristic setting. Yet while F-Zero did receive sequels, including F-Zero X on Nintendo 64 and F-Zero GX on GameCube, the franchise has languished for the past 20 years. It's now best known as where Super Smash Bros. fighter Captain Falcon originates from.
For the first time in 20 years, F-Zero is receiving a new game for a Nintendo console. Introducing F-Zero 99, which takes the original concept of 1990's F-Zero and adds 98 additional human-driven opponents to the experience. Gameplay is based on the SNES classic, including a limited fuel gage/health bar that once expended results in the player's elimination.
What's perhaps most exciting about F-Zero 99 isn't just that it's being made, but that it's going to be available very soon. Nintendo announced that F-Zero 99 will be available to play for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers later today. Subscribers can simply download F-Zero 99 and start playing. Since it requires online multiplayer, there's no other way to play. The sudden drop of F-Zero 99 could give it an extra push, as energized Nintendo fans play to see what all the excitement is about.
It's worth mentioning that the announcement of F-Zero 99 isn't without controversy. The F-Zero franchise has a passionate fanbase that has been waiting decades for a new racing game in the series. While F-Zero 99 looks great, it's not a full new game with a single-player campaign and other features. Perhaps Nintendo is testing to see whether F-Zero can be successful in 2023. Either way, many F-Zero fans will still be waiting for a full game to eventually be delivered.
These multiplayer games for Nintendo don't have the longest shelf life. Pac-Man 99 is currently scheduled to be delisted in October, less than three years after launch. But for those that jump in early, there's a lot of fun to be had. F-Zero will offer a fast-paced yet casual racing experience for Nintendo Switch Online players, and it'll be available in a matter of hours.
F-Zero 99 releases September 14 on Switch.
