F-Zero News
July2021
Random Fancy A 'New' Copy Of F-Zero On The SNES? PixelHeart Has You Covered
500 units only
We're pretty used to seeing retro games getting reprints these days, but if you have a craving for 100% authenticity, then you might be more excited by the news that French publisher PixelHeart has 500 'new' copies of F-Zero on the SNES for sale. While some overly optimistic individuals might assume these are officially sanctioned...
June2021
Random F-Zero Is Already Being Recreated In Game Builder Garage
Will join Excitebike, EarthBound and more...
Nobody was entirely sure about the potential of Game Builder Garage prior to its release, but now that it's in the hands of the Nintendo community, we're seeing all sorts of amazing creations. Some of the most popular ones so far have been recreations of Sonic the Hedgehog and Super Mario Kart, and now...
Feature Our Predictions For Nintendo's E3 2021 Direct
Switch Pro, BOTW2, and high, high hopes
It's been a long, weird year, but E3 is back after last year's COVID cancellation. It's still a digital event, as we're not out of the woods yet, but that means we'll be seeing all the big names on the (virtual) stage again. But will Nintendo give us everything we've hoped for, or will we be left a little...
April2021
News F-Zero Isn't Dead - It's Just Sleeping, Says Nintendo Legend Takaya Imamura
"Without a grand new idea, it’s hard to bring it back"
If you ask any Nintendo fan what series they'd like to see resurrected today, there's a fair chance that F-Zero will be mentioned at some point. The futuristic racing series made its debut on the SNES at the start of the '90s, and although it has seen several sequels since then, it's been...
March2021
Talking Point Which Old Game Series Would You Like To See Revived?
Be careful what you wish for...
Picture this: You're on a beach. You're digging a big hole, because that's the best thing to do on a beach, maybe second only to eating an ice cream or finding a reaaaaaally smooth rock. But suddenly, your neon-pink plastic spade hits something hard. You claw it out of the wet, dark sand with your fingers, too...
February2021
Feature Takaya Imamura - The Man Who Named Majora's Mask And Created Nintendo's Coolest Characters
And Slippy Toad
On 20th January 2021, Nintendo artist, designer, producer and director Takaya Imamura posted his first ever tweet announcing that he was leaving the company after thirty-two years. Imamura isn't retiring — he's only 54 — but his departure signals the end of an impressive Nintendo career spanning the 16-bit era to Switch. While...
News Here's Why The Cover To F-Zero Is So Special
Well, the Japanese one, at least
F-Zero may not be on Nintendo's radar at present, but it's a series which is close to the heart of many a Nintendo fan – and part of its appeal is the colourful cast of comic book characters which have populated the franchise since it made its debut on the Super Famicom / SNES way back in November 1990. Takaya...
January2021
News Tingle's Designer Takaya Imamura Has Parted Company With Nintendo
Also known for his work on Star Fox and F-Zero
Nintendo has created a lot of weird and wonderful characters over the years, but one of the standouts is Tingle. The recurring character, who first started out in The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask on the Nintendo 64, was designed by Takaya Imamura. Today, this same veteran Nintendo staffer - who was...
November2020
News The F-Zero Series Is Now 30 Years Old
Speeding away
The Super Famicom this week celebrates its 30th anniversary and you know what that means, right? The F-Zero series is now also 30 years old. The first game was released in Japan on 21st November 1990 and followed with a North American release in 1991 and a European release in 1992. Since the original game's arrival, Nintendo has...
Poll Box Art Brawl: Duel #67 - F-Zero
From zero to F-Zero
Welcome to Box Art Brawl, the weekly vote to find out which of two or more regional box art variants has what it takes to win your hearts and minds. Last time we boarded the Halloween train with a trio of Resident Evil 0 covers. While Japan and North America scarpered to lock themselves in the WC when the ticket man came, the...
July2020
News Classic Nintendo Source Code And Prototypes Allegedly Leaked
For SNES games and much more
Following on from those "massive" Nintendo leaks earlier this year, it has now reportedly happened again. Alleged prototype versions of classic Super Nintendo titles such as Yoshi's Island, Super Mario Kart, and
News Move Aside Mario, A New F-Zero Twitter Account Has Been Discovered
Second time's a charm
Following on from the discovery of a private Super Mario Twitter account earlier this week, there are now reports that another account - with a recovery email potentially linked to Nintendo - has been discovered. Yep, this time it's for Nintendo's dormant F-Zero franchise which hasn't received a new entry in about 16 years...
December2019
News Nintendo Reminds Switch Online Users To Check Out F-Zero And Other Classic SNES Titles
How about a service update?
When Nintendo launched the SNES digital library on the Switch in September, it also revealed that additional titles would no longer appear on a monthly basis. Since then, there have been no game updates to the service, and the last time we received an update for the NES digital library was in August. You'd be forgiven...
June2019
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (June 1st)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
Well, with one thing and another it's been a busy ol' week. We had some Pokémon announcements early on followed by some hands-on time with the upcoming Super Mario Maker 2 (plus some disappointing details, too), and not to forget the
December2018
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Christmas? (Special Edition)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
As regular readers will know, each Saturday we all get together to discuss our weekend gaming plans and see what our fellow community members are up to. This week is a little different, however, with many of us taking a little time away to celebrate the holidays and enjoy time with friends or family, or even...
July2018
News Fantasy Life, Fire Emblem And F-Zero Feature In The Latest European My Nintendo Discounts
And lots of Nintendogs
The latest collection of My Nintendo rewards has now gone live in Europe, with lots of games beginning with the letter "F" - and lots of dogs - being present this time around. One highlight, in particular, is Level-5 RPG Fantasy Life, which is seeing a discount for the first time. We enjoyed the 3DS adventure when...
June2018
Video Sit Back And Enjoy The Complete History Of F-Zero
A deep look back through the series
F-Zero is one of those poor franchises that can sometimes feel forgotten about; alongside the likes of Star Fox, Wave Race, and Earthbound, fans are left desperately screaming for a return to the series every time a new console is announced. Sometimes dreams are answered - her
Talking Point What Were The Biggest Highs And Lows From E3 2018?
What kind of impact did Nintendo have on this year's show?
E3 is finally over for another year, bringing to a close the biggest event yet. From surprise promotional crossovers on the Ubisoft conference to a certain game pretty much taking over Nintendo's big summer Direct, there's been plenty of topics to talk about now the dust is beginning to...
Talking Point What Do You Want To See From Nintendo At E3 2018?
We predict... some predictions
With E3 2018 set to kick off this weekend with the showcases from many of the big publishers and platformer holders in the video game industry, we thought it was high time we cooked up a fresh batch of predictions. Team Nintendo Life has gathered together its collective hopes and dreams for the show - some realistic,...
Guide Nintendo E3 2018 Press Conference Schedule, Rumours, Hopes, And Dreams
Switch, Pokémon, Star Fox, Smash Bros., Fortnite, and more
The hype is real for this year's E3. We've got a resurgent Nintendo, riding on the crest of Switch's enormous success. As a result, every publisher and their mum is trying to squeeze games onto the hybrid console faster than you can say Call of Duty (apart from, it would seem, Activision)...
September2017
News Learn All About the Making of F-Zero with This New Interview from Nintendo
Show me ya moves!
Last week, we shared with you a fascinating interview from Nintendo that detailed the early days of the SNES and the production of Star Fox, as part of a way of promoting the impending release of the SNES Mini. Nintendo has now released part two of its interview series, and this one goes over the making of the original F-Zero...
July2017
News Former Nintendo Staffer Giles Goddard Would Love To Make A New F-Zero
"Expectations for these old-school games are so high now"
Giles Goddard is a name that will be instantly familiar to anyone who followed the development of titles like Star Fox and 1080 Snowboarding. The British developer started his career with Argonaut and along with Dylan Cuthbert would go on to join Nintendo's ranks - making them two of the...
June2017
News Legend of Zelda and Mario Kart Feature in Updated European My Nintendo Rewards
Discounts, digital wallpapers and even a guide
As another month begins we have the latest My Nintendo Rewards for Europe, and there are quite a few on offer. NOE is pitching it as the start of an "epic summer", with various digital goodies up for grabs. So, let's get to it shall we? The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages (3DS eShop) - 40% discount...
April2017
News Super Mario Kart Started Life As An F-Zero Multiplayer Prototype
Mario Kart got boost power!
Super Nintendo launch game F-Zero was an impressive feat of development at the time. With its use of Mode 7 visuals it made for a compelling single-player futuristic racing experience that is enjoyable to play even today. It's a shame that the franchise appears to be pretty much dormant now with the last entries being...
August2016
Video Relive The Wonders Of The Super Nintendo's Famous Mode 7
Scale, rotate and manipulate
To celebrate the Super Nintendo's 25th Anniversary in North America, certified Retronaut Jeremy Parish gives himself a break from 8-bit tech to explore the wonders of Nintendo's 16-bit wonder console. Launching a new series affectionately titled "Mode Seven", Jeremy aims to provide a chronological survey of U.S. releases...
November2015
News The Super Famicom is 25 Years Old
16-bit beauty
The 21st of November, 1990, was a day of commotion in parts of Japan; namely those that were around electronics shops. This was the day Nintendo launched the Super Famicom, a 16-bit system that has since found its place within gaming history and atop many's lists of greatest consoles. Only two games launched with the Super Famicom,...
August2015
Weirdness F-Zero-Style Recharge Strips Are Coming To UK Roads
YOU'VE GOT BOOST POWER
The battery life of electric cars could be increased by the use of special recharging strips on roads which use electromagnetic fields to transfer energy to the vehicle while it's in motion. UK-based Highways England is currently testing the technology and will soon begin an 18-month trial to ascertain the viability of the...
May2015
Feature Go Fast - An Ode To The Glorious Chaos Of F-Zero
Gonçalo Lopes explains why he will be hoping for a new F-Zero at E3 2015
Colours. Music. The Captain. Speed. Very, very fast speed. Those are the things that race to my mind when anyone mentions "F-Zero". I am also quite certain my eyes widen and sparkle a bit. Is it just a series of games? Not to me. Off to the starting grid… Knight League:...
March2015
Video Fan Manages to Port F-Zero to the Mega Drive
Can you handle this blast processing?
Who could forget the great console war of the early '90s? After a several year period of having an iron fist clamped firmly around the console industry, Nintendo finally had to go on the defensive when Sega became the new kid on the block with the Sega Mega Drive. Promising a far superior experience to the SNES...
October2014
News Developers Reflect on F-Zero As It Passes Ten Years in the Wilderness
"F-Zero is really something special to me"
Barely an E3 or Nintendo Direct goes by without someone in the Nintendo Life team muttering that maybe, against all odds, F-Zero will return. It's now been over ten years since F-Zero Climax, a thoroughly disappointing Game Boy Advance entry that's ignored by many, arrived in stores. It was an inglorious...
September2014
News Nintendo Confirms Week Two Details for Super Smashing eShop Sale
Featured characters like Link! Mega Man! Captain Falcon! Pit! More!
Last week Nintendo of America caused a fair amount of buzz when it launched the first week of its Super Smashing eShop sale, which is a series of promotions over a four week period to celebrate the fighters in the upcoming Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS. The initial batch has...
May2014
Feature Let's Take A Look At The Crazy Supporting Cast Of The F-Zero Universe
Checking out the rest of the grid
Everybody loves Captain Falcon, and it's not hard to see why — he's an interplanetary bounty hunter and racing champion with Judge Dredd's fashion sense and a punch so powerful people know it by name. There's very little not to love. However, if you can tear your eyes away from Falcon's radiant brilliance for a...
February2014
Video F-Zero Gets the "Did You Know Gaming?" Treatment
Japan had so much more F-Zero than the West...
While the size of the prospective audience is debatable and no-doubt informing Nintendo's decision-making, there's undoubtedly a vocal group of gamers rather desperate for new F-Zero titles. With no sign of that happening as yet, our only option is to look back and reminisce on the high-tempo, thrilling...
January2014
News Club Nintendo Rewards Updated for January
Game & Watch! F-Zero! Snowboarding!
2014 is now two weeks old, and we finally have the new North American Club Nintendo rewards to sink our teeth into. Nintendo's kept us in suspense but has now lifted the lid on some DSiWare and retro treats to get the pulses racing. While the DSiWare releases, in particular, may make you stretch your memories...
May2013
News F-Zero Go Fast! Celebrates The Music Of Nintendo's Futuristic Racing Series
Shiryu's latest 4 EP series is racing to your ears this month
We're massive fans of Shiryu's music here at Nintendo Life, and his latest project has us very excited indeed, as it focuses on one of Nintendo's most beloved franchises. F-Zero Go Fast is a 4 EP series which covers the entire history of the F-Zero lineage, from the SNES days right up to...
April2013
Nintendo Download 26th April - Virtual Console (North America)
Retro goodies and virtual tours
We've now received the launch day details for the Wii U Virtual Console in your region, North America. As in Europe, those of you that have bought these titles before on the Wii Shop but want the improved Wii U versions can upgrade at a lower cost — a NES title you already bought on Wii will cost you just $1, while...
News Wii U Virtual Console Launch Lineup Is Revealed
Eight titles available at launch
Nintendo has revealed via its Wii U Facebook account the launch lineup for the Wii U Virtual Console. The initial batch of games will be: Punch-Out!! Balloon Fight Kirby's Adventure
March2013
Round Table Let's Talk About the F-Zero Franchise
Ready
With SNES classic F-Zero coming to the end of its spell as the 30 cent/30 pence Famicom Anniversary promotion on the Wii U eShop, some of us in the Nintendo Life team thought that it was the perfect time to talk about the franchise. With just four main releases — include the GBA title but discounting the arcade unit — it's not been...
February2013
Nintendo Download 21st February 2013 (North America)
F-Zero, demos to hunt, adventures, vikings and a famous green dinosaur
It's Thursday, and it's time for Nintendo Download news in North America. Continuing the recent trend also seen in Europe there are only offerings for Wii U and 3DS, with a variety of demos, download-only games and a retail release to test your resolve. Let's see what's on offer...
News F-Zero Available To Download Now In North America
Speeding onto the Wii U eShop
Last month Nintendo announced that it would be running a special promotion that would see seven classic NES and SNES games made available to download for a measly 30c/30p. F-Zero is the second game released under the promotion, and we can now confirm that there's no need for North Americans to wait until tomorrow's...
News The European Version Of F-Zero On Wii U Virtual Console Comes With 60Hz Support
Nintendo does listen, after all
If you're a European gamer then you'll no doubt be aware of how TV standards can impact the way games play. Back in the days of the SNES, NES and Mega Drive, EU gamers were saddled with slower versions of existing software. This is because Japanese and American TVs used the NTSC standard, while in Europe the PAL...
Nintendo Download 21st February 2013 (Europe)
NightSky brings delight, F-Zero in 60 Hz, price cuts and monstrous demos
Nintendo's been keeping its download details for Europe under-wraps for a little longer this week, but now we know what delights are due to arrive. Both DSi and Wii are resting their weary circuits, with 3DS and Wii U stepping up with some enticing offers and big-time freebies;...
January2013
News Nintendo Reveals Specific Dates For Wii U Virtual Console Trial Campaign
Each of the seven games dated
During last week's information-packed Wii U Nintendo Direct, Satoru Iwata revealed there would be a special promotion coming to the Wii U eShop to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Famicon - the Nintendo Entertainment System in the West - called the Wii U Virtual Console Trial Campaign. The promotion will release a...
News Wii U Virtual Console Trial Campaign Schedule Released
Seven classic games incoming over the next seven months
During today's Wii U Direct Satoru Iwata announced the Wii U Virtual Console Trial Campaign, which has been devised to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the original Famicom. Eagle-eyed readers will note that the Virtual Console doesn't officially launch until after Spring, when the system...
November2012
News SNES Campus Challenge & One-Of-A-Kind Console Go On Sale
Got a few thousand dollars to spare?
Video game collecting is something that's taken very seriously by some, and there are hundreds of expensive eBay auctions to back it up. The latest example to catch our eye is a listing on Game Gavel, with a very unique game and console up for auction. On sale is a copy of SNES Campus Challenge, a custom made...
News Miyamoto Puzzled As To Why Anyone Would Want A New F-Zero
"I thought people had grown weary of it"
If you ask any self-respecting Nintendo fan which series they'd like to see come out of hibernation, many will say F-Zero. Aside from the themed mini-game in the forthcoming Wii U launch title Nintendo Land, we haven't seen an F-Zero title since 2004's F-Zero: Climax on the Game Boy Advance - which never made...
September2012
News Want To Guess Which Nintendo Racer Inspired WipEout?
If you said F-Zero, you're wrong
Given that Sony's famous futuristic racer WipEout features craft which float just above the track surface, it's reasonable to assume that Nintendo's F-Zero - which predates WipEout by almost five years and also contains anti-gravity racing - would have provided the main inspiration. However, lead designer Nick...
September2010
News Catch a Live Stream of Symphonic Legends This Thursday Evening
Orchestral arrangements of classic Nintendo games
If you've not got any plans this Thursday night, then be sure to tune into a live stream of Symphonic Legends' orchestral renditions of classic video games. Produced by Thomas Boecker with Jonne Valtonen taking lead composer duties, the WDR Radio Orchestra will be performing at the Cologne...
July2008
News Four More Virtual Console Games for South Korea
There still seems to be no real pattern to South Korea's Virtual Console releases. Upcoming games are added to Nintendo of South Korea's VC page occassionally but the actual release dates aren't really consistent.
That said, on the 25th of June, South Korea got F-Zero and Star Fox 64. Next week, on the 15th of July, Koreans can look forward to Super...
