The F-Zero series has often dished out a steep challenge to players, and in GP Legend the uninitiated will be given no quarter unless they dig in their heels and learn the ropes. Players will be expected to tame every brutal hairpin, memorize each risky shortcut and etch sweet boosting spots into their brain if they are to succeed.
Yet, even though this Game Boy Advance classic comes with a steep learning curve, the thrill felt when nailing a perfect run and blurring across the finish line in first place hasn't become diluted by age. Earning victories during tricky story missions or besting the gauntlet thrown down by the game's Grand Prix mode demands patience and real skill.
The standard racing modes include Time Attack runs to help players shave seconds off their best time, while a selection of 48 Zero Test challenges exist to specifically improve your cornering and Blast Turn manoeuvres. Earning gold in these bite-sized missions may feel unattainable at first, but you'll improve with a few attempts.
GP Legend's true challenge comes not from opponent aggression or AI, but the supreme track design itself. These fiendish courses are slowly introduced to you in Story Mode, which focuses on the courageous Rick Wheeler as he pursues mysterious felon Zoda across the galaxy.
New plot threads are unlocked as you meet other pilots throughout the narrative, and although the writing might not bowl you over, it's still great to see the races given some context. Some may find the dialogue hammy and others won't mind at all, but either way there are some neat endings and twists doled out along the way that series fans will appreciate.
Mainstay Captain Falcon pop up here and there, as does his insane nemesis Blood Falcon, who cackles and hams up every chapter he's in with deranged menace. Elsewhere, combat pilot Jody Summer battles to avenge the death of her brother, while Samurai Goroh yells and clenches his fists at every opportunity. Rest assured, anime fans will love it.
Competitive races are doled out alongside single missions, such as beating Zoda to the finish line before he skips town, or reaching a location before a bomb goes off. Some of the time limits in these events are utterly savage – such as a teeth-gnashing showdown against Captain Blood in Port Town. Success demands that you hit every section with as much boost as possible and exert near-perfect cornering. Expect to hit 'retry' often.
This brings us neatly back to gameplay, which will be familiar to fans of the overarching series. Boosting returns, but can only be activated after completing the first lap in race events. Only then can a tap of both shoulder buttons activate your thrusters, but in a neat turn of risk/reward play, this also depletes your power bar. So basically you can either go faster or run the risk of blowing up. It's a great mechanic.
Speeding over green pads will recharge your power bar, so knowing the right stretches to boost at full pelt before topping up can really help you manage resources. The AI isn't overly aggressive but do expect to bounce off other craft like a pinball and lose some power if you make contact. The same goes for the track barriers, which really need to be avoided if you want to keep up with the pack.
Between sliding across ice on frozen planet White Land to dodging explosive mines in Fire Field, there are so many factors fighting against you in your pursuit of first place, so track memorisation is a must. Shortcuts exist, but in some cases they demand the player make tricky jumps in order to get ahead. Miss solid ground and you can expect to go careering below in a fiery wreck.
If the story missions become too gruelling, there's always the option of tackling Grand Prix mode across a variety of difficulty tiers, which helps scale up the challenge as your skills improve. Before long you will be snaking your way around eye-watering turns and hazards in an unblinking state, where your muscle memory kicks in and nothing can break your concentration.
That is the true F-Zero experience - the same one that has held up since GP Legend hit Europe in 2004, and indeed when the SNES classic tore onto our shores in 1992. That the format remains endearing is testament to the developer's gripping, yet savage design.
Conclusion
Viewing GP Legend's sheer speed on your Wii U GamePad or television is more palatable than playing on the GBA's tiny screen, so it could be argued that this is a step up from the original in terms of functionality; that said, like other GBA titles on the Wii U VC the multiplayer component is excluded. Nevertheless, with hours of content and gruelling challenge this is a stellar F-Zero experience.
Comments 46
Yeah. I'll be getting this sometime.
I wonder how difficult it would actually be to theoretically emulate four GBAs on a single Wii U so that split screen multiplayer could potentially be a reality.
@AlexOlney Even if you could do that, which is pretty tricky in and of itself, emulating the link cable is a real "treat"
It took the scene years before it properly worked and even now, its not the most relyable setup.
Its iffy at best.
Judging by my knowledge about GBA emulation: Its near impossible to do so on a single console.
Online multiplayer on the other hand might be possible, but the slightest desynch and the whole thing topples like a house of cards.
Youd need to seriously alter emulation timing for it to work, at which point it simply stops being a reasonable cost/effort = result situation.
I never got around to this or Maximum Velocity back in the day, and I definitely played the sprite based original, but once I played GX, I haven't felt compelled to return back to the sprite based days of F-Zero. Nevertheless, since a new one from Nintendo is only in the consideration phase, I may just go ahead and pick this and MV up since I can play them on the big screen now. That, and I'll look forward to the next F.A.S.T. from Shin'en.
I really, REALLY need a new F-Zero... Y_Y
I used to own this on GBA years ago. It was quite enjoyable--certainly my favorite of the sprite based F-Zero games.
Regularly need my GX fix!
The last F-zero game to be released in ENGLISH
I got this game for £2.98 brand new at GAME when the gameboy advance games where disappearing and DS games were starting to appear.
I found this game to be much easier than F-Zero GX.
I liked the animation it was GREAT.
Great game, even better than Maximum Velocity IMO.
I want a Wii U F-Zero game!!!
I can't wait until America gets this. This game was so fantastic, infinitely better then that abysmal Maximum Velocity game. It's like F-Zero X on the go!
Never played this so may look it up some time. I really want GX on the VC as well as a Wii U F-Zero game like many
Thanks for all the comments guys, cheers for reading!
@Einherjar @AlexOlney
Such a pity since the gamepad would be the most optimal device to emulate the second player GBA!
This is the first game I bought for game boy advance. I was in Singapore with the military and found Japanese copy and system at toys r us there a few months before it came out in the states. Good game.
@DaveCook solid review man, just wish it was a new f zero game
@ULTRA-64 thanks chief. I'd love to see a new F-Zero too!
I wonder how difficult this game is compared to F-Zero Maximum Velocity seeing as I thought that one was pretty easy myself. If it isn't ridiculously hard like I have heard F-Zero GX is then I am on board for this game!
@Omenapoika Which would put even more strain on the system. But youre definitly right, it would be perfect for it.
The thing is, the system would need to run 2 completely seperate emulations, keep them perfectly in synch and pretend they are connected via link cable.
The real deal breaker here is the link up. Like i said, the PC emulation scene worked on it for years and it never really reached "perfect stability"
Linking up two GBA IRL was iffy enough, but the emulation timing has to be so darn accurate, that every litte hicup crashes the whole thing.
Its just the way the hardware was designed. That portion of code coule be rewritten by Nintendo to run nativelly, instead of emulating the linkk cable port through the GBAs bios, but not for 7 bucks a game. Its simply not worth it.
@Dpishere The story mode is pretty easy. It has some annoying missions here and there (mostly assassination missions during a regular race) but its manageable. The higher level cups and the Zero Tests (think license tests in Gran Turismo) on the other hand can be downright mean.
Some of the tracks have some really nasty curves, that are hard, but never unfair.
Especially not after reading the manual and realizing, that "mashing A while taking corners" isnt a bug, but an intendet feature (the acceleration of your jet engine offsets the momentum)
@Einherjar yeah I do that mash thing in turns too. When the engine kicks back in with that bang sound it seems to stabilise your craft again. Lots of hidden depth to the game.
Meh. F-Zero GX renders all previous editions boring. I can't play these terrible archaic 'mode 7' titles anymore - yes I thoroughly enjoyed Super Mario Kart and F-Zero SNES in my younger years, but now? No. Thank god that Nintendo don't touch vWii.
I'd buy F-Zero GX HD on eShop for £10 anyday.
@Einherjar Yeah I at first thought I was simply terrible at Maximum Velocity because I wasn't aware that you had to mash the A button when going around corners but after I tried that it was gravy. Not complaining about a challenge as long it is fair so I will now end up picking this up seeing as I could use more F-Zero in my life! Thanks for the help!
I really wish nintendo would develop a new f zero game for the wiiu. Would be an automatic purchase for me.
Coincidently, I washed the first episode of the anime that this game was based on this mourning....and I was not impressed. I don't get why a F-Zero show would not be about Captain Falcon and instead some made-up red head with Phillip J. Fry's backstory. But that's just me.
@Dpishere Not for that
But yeah, its a fun game with plenty of unlockables too.
Also, pro tip: No every ship has the same "start boost" timing ! So you have to learn each boost timing seperately. Also one thing many people think is a bug the first time around
@EatMyMoney SPOILER ALERT! You DO realize that this "made-up red head with Phillip J. Fry" IS Captain Falcon, do you ?
Captain Falcon isnt a person, its a title passed on from person to person. And it always has been like that.
Its not even known if the former C.Falcons have been the same person.
@DaveCook Yup, a weird but logical mechanic at first. But even that doesnt save your bacon everytime. You still need to learn how to properly take corners, brakepoints etc.
So even though its considered "cheap" by many, its no game breaker as it doesnt result in an instant perfect course. I really like it.
I found this game hugely disappointing after Maximum Velocity, which was an incredible blast from the past. The tracks seemed a lot less memorable, the story mode was dull and I could have done without basing the game on the critically tanking show.
I think the real problem, however, was the lack of input from the original team. Maximum Velocity was developed cooperatively by Nintendo and Nd Cube, with Nintendo staffers including the director of the original F-Zero, Isshin Shimizu. As such, the passion that went into Maximum Velocity is immense. Nintendo's producer on the title, Hitoshi Yamagami, said that the team put together over 100 tracks and used only the absolute best among them (22 tracks).
Shimizu was involved in virtually every aspect of the game, credited as director, lead designer, machine designer, scene designer, course designer and layout designer. Maximum Velocity represented the rare opportunity for him to perfect the 2D-style F-Zero game and he was all over it.
By contrast, Nintendo simply palmed the series off on the unproven (and now failed) developer Suzak to pump out a couple of soulless, anime merchandising sequels without the benefit of working under Nintendo directly or with talents like Shimizu. Suzak built passable games on a strong base, but the projects clearly just weren't as important to Nintendo as Maximum Velocity was as a big-name launch title. The lowered expectations really show in the later two games.
If you're desperate for more F-Zero, the games are probably worth playing (I did), but they're significantly less enjoyable than past entries in the series.
Would really love a new F-Zero for Wii U. I even signed this for what good it'll do.
https://www.change.org/p/f-zero-wii-u
@vaguerant
A tragic tale. Here's hoping they realize that the demise of the series wasn't from lack of potential, but from lack of passion and effort.
And I think they really are gearing up for a revival, what with putting F-Zero in both Nintendo Land and Mario Kart, and releasing this right after Smash Bros.
@vaguerant I felt the opposite, namely that Maximum Velocity was a huge disappointment. Felt too much like a clone of the SNES original but without the great tracks and characters, not including at least the initial 4 (Captain Falcon, Dr. Stewart, Pico, Samurai Goroh) is a very bad idea. This game however takes a lot of the best features from X (side attacks, music, plenty more than 15 tracks, etc.) and I really liked the story mode.
@Pod Nintendo confirmed that F-Zero stopped because they couldn't find a suitable controller though!
@liveswired
I still enjoy these a bit but it's harder to look back after playing F-Zero GX, yeah. If there's ever going to be a new F-Zero Nintendo musn't make it on handheld but on the most powerful system they have at the moment. That way, we could finally have smooth F-Zero online races.
@Grumblevolcano
They should just use the Gamecube controller now that they have made the adapter.
@vaguerant agreed, I find it odd why so many seem to despise Maximum Velocity yet love GP Legend. It seems mostly superficial things like 'more' ships, 'more' tracks and familiar characters & locations. Even though the 10 MV ships have much more variety in handling and boosting than the 34 odd in GPL, and the GPL tracks are mostly poorly designed and half are clones with minor differences. Difficulty in GPL is also non existent, I guess that helps.
I still like GPL though, Zero Tests and Time Trial are great.
@Luffymcduck They need to make the adapter readily available first, sadly something Nintendo seems to be really struggling with currently.
@SmashMario only problem is that is only in japan and if i remember correctly its fully translated, might be wrong but i do hope nintendo does release climax to us n.americans.
It's the only F-Zero I haven't played. That needs to change like, right now haha. Great review!
Still play this game from time to time really is great and I will never stop hoping for a new F-Zero.
@Einherjar Really I still have the cartridge (box and manual somewhere) but never bothered to read it and always thought mashing A was just a glitch.
@Jazzer94 Youre by far not the only one
Even Maximum Velocity stated it in the manual.
The same goes for landing jumps too. 90% of people complain about the fact, that the NPC keep their topspeed after landing, while you take damage AND lose speed.
The trick: hold down on the D-Pad. Your thrusters will feather the fall, preventing you from taking damage AND maintaining your speed.
Or The original F-Zero, where you could hold down to jump higher, making it the only possible option for a certain white land course.
Even to this day, people complain about it
@AdanVC thanks dude, glad you liked it
@Einherjar yeah I kept losing a story mode mission due to fall slow down and damage, then I rage quit, went to Zero Tests and one of those explained the down trick. After that life got a bit easier.
@Grumblevolcano
Yeah, I heard that. Maybe they're looking to have a motion controller for the next system that handles high-speed games with much better precision.
@SmashMario i just went on ebay to see what is the cheapest and one is at $38.98 usd and free shipping (the most expensive is i think $100 which is ridiculous for a gba game, i know there are some that are still expensive but ranging in the $30's), will i buy it? no but i can always download a gba emulator and get a patched rom of the game.
My two cents:
I am a huge racing game fan, and I am a huge retro gaming enthusiast, but I am not a fan of retro racing games.
How does that work, you ask? (or not, but I'm gonna tell ya!)
Well, of all gaming genres, none have benefitted more from modern gaming technology and fully realized 3D graphics and physics then racing games...at least the conventional drive/fly a vehicle around a track sort of racing games.
So while I love Mario Kart 8, Need For Speed Most Wanted U, ExciteBots: Trick Racing, and F-Zero GX...I am not a fan of this F-Zero, Mario Kart on SNES, Rad Racer, or just about any retro racer of this variety.
I still prefer old school Doom and Duke Nukem over many modern FPS...so yeah.
@vaguerant I agree on so many levels. Sure MV has less content than this one, but what's there is so much better. I think most people think MV is terrible because they couldn't get a handle on the controls and difficulty. Heck, I even hated the game for a long time, but I gave it another chance for the ambassador program and I'm so glad I did. I even bought it on Wii U so I could play it on the big screen.
And frankly I'm not a fan of GPL's extra stuff anyway. Racing games don't really need a story in my opinion, and all of MV's tracks and machines feel very unique compared to those of GPL.
Also, dat Falcon Mk-II and Stingray...
Racing games don't really need a story in my opinion,
But fictional characters do, regardless of the genre. Captain Falcon deserves a story.
Oh man, I love this. I’ve always liked Captain Falcon from the Smash Bros games, cuz who doesn’t love a good Falcon Punch, but I’ve had little experience with the games. With the eshop closing, I figured it was time to finally give these a shot. And man, is this one fun. The racing is great and the story adds a lot of fun context to flesh out the world. It’s fun to see Captain Falcon and the rest of these characters given some personality beyond just generic cars.
Lot of content packed into this one for sure. If you have any interest in F-Zero at all, this is one to get.
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