If you grew up in the '90s and early noughties playing games in North America, you may wonder why gamers in PAL territories obsess over whether Virtual Console releases are PAL 50Hz downloads or NTSC 60Hz equivalents. It's all about speed, ultimately - different TV standards between regions at that time meant that games ran faster in North America, though sometimes PAL releases were 'speed adjusted'. In many cases, however, gamers in Europe and Australia were unwittingly playing slower versions of games.
Before we show off this effect, here's some good news - the release this week of F-Zero X in Europe and Australia is the 60Hz version, as confirmed to us by Nintendo UK. For a game with such a notable focus on speed, that's exciting news.
Though the video quality isn't great, below you can see a comparison of PAL and NTSC versions of this Nintendo 64 title.
Nintendo's also released an official trailer today:
If you want a better idea of the difference between PAL and NTSC versions, the video below (focused on Sonic the Hedgehog) gives a nice breakdown and quality footage.
In any case, the Wii U release of F-Zero X in Europe and Australia just got a whole lot more tempting; it was the slower 50Hz version released on the Wii Virtual Console in the last generation. Are any of you tempted to jump in?
Comments 54
It's too expensive. I'm not paying €10 for a digital N64 game. It's good that it's now 60Hz though and you can notice the difference in the video.
Uhh... This should have been the case for ALL European Virtual Console releases, not just F-Zero.
weird that the hz on the sega genesis is linked to the console because on other consoles like the gamecube its linked to the games
So the US version is already working on VC? Great! Now let's see if NoA will actually sell the game!
It gives me a reason to consider the game. Can't handle 50hz anymore.
(watches comparison footage) omg Europe, I'm so sorry.
Why is this still a thing? I thought it was settled years ago that Europe will always get the 60hz version from now on.
ugh. regions with all your arbitrary differences and stupid consequences.
YOU GOT BOOST POWER! XD
So glad I invested (well got my dad to) in a Japanese MD when I was a young'un but I never realised the time lapse was so stark.
When you're on mobile and all you see is the huge F-Zero thumbnail and "Nintendo confirms that". My heart literally just raced thinking some new F-Zero game was announced.
I guess it's just me, but I still can notice a difference between either two even when shown side by side. They still look and played exactly the same to me.
Glad you guys finally get the correct version. 50 sucks ass man. Especially for a game like F Zero that it's all about speed.
@MrGuinea
You didn't notice the camera get to the checkered line faster and the count down get to one a lot faster in the 60 version?
@wiggleronacid
You and me both. Dang my expectations!
@Jamotello that wasn't an arbitrary difference back in the day...
@yoshinatsu huh? most games on the EU VC are the 60 Hz versions. Only in a couple of exceptions they chose the 50 Hz versions
@allav866 That's ADORABLE. You think NOA will actually do something for their consumers that doesn't inconvenience them!
The only reason why the difference is so big is because the two were shown together. Also, on the left, the player reaches 1050 km/h, while on the right, he misses one more boost pad and never exceeds 970. That's why the difference is so big.
That's all behind us though. Or at least if people can stop whining for better resolution and more Michaelbayism, in which case we might step back to 15 fps again
Bring it to America!
Wow that that slow
@yuwarite Most times, not always. Plus for some reason Nintendo didn't say it was 60Hz in the press release, so we followed up.
@allav866 If I recall correctly, the US still don't have Star Fox 64 meanwhile EU has had the US version of Star Fox 64 for months.
If it's 60hz I'll buy it. I never transferred my Wii games to Wii u and I'm not going to. F Zero X is one of, if not my favourite game ever, and I always wanted the 60hz version. I still play it on Wii and it still plays like a dream.
What this game got that its gamecube sequel didn't, was "fun" being the name of the game. GX got the "speed" part down right, but it didn't have the personality. Tried to make the courses look cool and beat you over the head with it instead of letting it come naturally. It also required freaking frame-perfect play to beat some of those later races, which, ugh.
It would also be nice if N64 games were available in HD and widescreen like rare replay.
Unfortunately most people are simply unaware of the 50hz issue, to put it bluntly, Nintendo is selling PAL gamers inferior versions of their games and for the same price worldwide.
Their reasons for this are usually language options or the "nostalgia" factor without giving us any options of buying 50 or 60hz versions. I for one am disgusted of the 50hz collection we got on the Wii VC and jealous of NTSC gamers who got the superior and correct versions.
Hopefully the Switch will be region free like the PS3 and I'll be able to buy all the NTSC retro games without worrying of giving a dime for 50hz trash!
Erm... now will the knuckleheads at NOA release the game in America?
@Grumblevolcano
Yeah but for our VC we get all these DS and Wii games that we still have the physical copies of and can already play whenever we want! ...oh wait
Unfortunately most people are simply unaware of the 50hz issue, to put it bluntly, Nintendo is selling PAL gamers inferior versions of their games and for the same price worldwide.
I'm aware of it, but I'd rather play the games I want in 50hz than 0hz (no game at all). Its not like we have any other option if we want to play it.
Yeah but for our VC we get all these DS and Wii games that we still have the physical copies of and can already play whenever we want! ...oh wait
I find most VC Wii games too expensive but I do very much appreciate the suspend and save state features for DS games.
I never had an issue with 50Hz games, so thanks people for the condolences, but totally unnecessary.
Especially with the older consoles, there wasn't any internet to inform us and hardly any options to actually experience these other versions, so we never knew, unless we read it in a magazine, and even then it was still only a foggy concept, because reading that something plays faster or smoother doesn't quite equal actually experiencing it, so it didn't do much to make me feel disappointed in being "stuck" in a 50Hz area.
And for me, F-Zero X is already fast enough. I own both the original N64 cartridge and the Wii VC version, and I still play them with pleasure, regardless of the fact that it isn't the "superior" version.
And now that I have also played NTSC versions of several games on my modded Wii, I'm still not in the ""60Hz or bust" camp. In some games it's useful and nice, in other games, the only difference is more an aesthetic one, with either a slightly stretched or crunched image (or a bordered image), but most times, you'd only notice that if you play them side by side, otherwise, you'd just be playing and enjoying the game, blissfully unaware of that other version. And you'd still be enjoying it regardless...
It all makes me feel like this is the classic version of the 30fps vs 60fps debate, or the 720p vs 1080p or whatever. Most of these things hardly matter in regards to being able to enjoy a game and only in specific types of games do they offer actual benefits, but in a lot of them, they don't.
Nintendo releases F-Zero X, probably my favorite game of all time, on Wii U VC on the day of my birthday? Nibelsnarf me...
@wiggleronacid Your heart "raced" is a good wording ^_^
@Mart1ndo Still plays better on original N64 hardware due to more precise controls with analog stick.
Still, 10€ is too much for an N64 game. Unless if they had included the 64DD's Expansion Kit. Would've bought that for double the price in a heartbeat.
@F-ZeroX
I have the cart as well which I bought the day it was released for £45 back in the day. Unfortunately there is a problem with my N64 console. I hope to get it fixed someday.
I love everything about F Zero X.
@yoshinatsu It's certainly the case for MOST EU releases. Your comment makes it sound like Nintendo only did it for f zero
I'd settle for a HD remaster of this...or heck a North American WII U VC release of it. Anything?
Thank goodness for Shin'en and their FAST Racing Neo at least.
Argh, i want a new F-Zero for Switch. Also a remaster in HD of F-Zero GX is good for me, with the local/online multiplayer.
@Mart1ndo I lost mine, but just rebought an N64 at an online retro store.
You know about F-Zero Central, how people are still making and exchanging custom tracks, competing on world record times, TASing and all that?
I might buy this just to send Nintendo a message theres a demand for more FZero.
Ohh! Might have to buy this for the 60Hz.
But dunno... I'm hesitant to buy any new VC games, because there's no guarantee that the purchases will carry over to the Switch.
Jeez... Europe gets Pokemon Snap, F-Zero X, Advance Wars Dual Strike... North America gets crap. I live in the worst country on earth.
I, too, am holding off with VC purchases until we know when/what transfer options there are for the Switch, if any.
Someone also needs to ask Monster Games why they never used the Excite Truck engine and controls to make F-Zero Wii. Get on that NLife! After the new Nascar game surely they can make F-Zeroom Switch?!
Great choice by Nintendo - the most superior version of the N64's best racing game. It deserves the attention it's getting.
Too f. fast. Give me Pal version every time.
@F-ZeroX
No but I'll check it out. Thanks.
@Mart1ndo Welcome. I've enjoyed watching some pro vids on youtube. It got me into the game again, improving my skill. Stuff by guys like Uchiha Madao and Philippe Brodier (off the top of my head).
They also did an F-Zero gathering in the Netherlands earlier this year and F-Zero X and GX have been featured on All Games / Summer Games Done Quick.
@getyourak I've decided on doing exactly that.
This was a huge reason why F-Zero GX seemed so much faster when it came out in the UK! Glad to know they've actually put in the original version at last.
Sonic the Hedgehog was always the most painful one, as even the music would slow down. There were of course developers who optimised for PAL regions but that wasn't always the case. Many gamers in the Europe didn't know about this issue for years, but to me it does feel like we missed something and didn't get the "real" version, but there you go!
It's not among my favorites in the series, but as I don't own a copy myself, I may give this version another try if it goes on sale one day or a My Nintendo based reduction.
I was blissfully unaware of the difference in my youth... until one summer in the early 90s I spent in America. Sonic the Hedgehog was like a different game! I had no idea why it was just so much faster! Neither did the family I stayed with, they probably thought I was nuts lol
@SLIGEACH_EIRE If only 60hz, NTSC was the norm for Virtual Console, i would've bought a lot more games.
WHAAAAAAAT? How could I have missed this?
Damn, I wish I could already download it...
@getyourak Same here, and for the incredible soundtrack as well.
I went back to sonic the other day on my megadrive (pal) and i could not believe how slow it was, I genuinely thought it was broke until i checked it in YouTube!
Yes!!!
I have been waiting for this
Love F-Zero, can't wait to get this game when it comes to America a year from now.
Well, I have the Wii version, but won't mind upgrading.
Tap here to load 54 comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...