If you've missed F-Zero as much as we have for the last 15 years-or-so, then wow do we have a great find for you today.
The images you see before you are reportedly from an F-Zero novel which was released back in February 1992. They were shared online by Twitter user @step70s earlier this year (you'll have to forgive us for not spotting them sooner), where more details surrounding its release have also been shared.
Step says that the novel, the title of which roughly translates to 'F-Zero: And then, to the gods of speed', was part of the Futabasha Fantasy Novel Series released in the '90s. We did a little more digging and stumbled across an advertisement for the novel, alongside a tease for a Legend of Zelda release. How have we not seen these before?
The F-Zero novel was written by Katsuyuki Ozaki with illustrations by Kagami Yasuhiro (you can actually see Yasuhiro's portfolio here). @step70s notes that Ozaki's take on the F-Zero franchise "puts aside the brighter comic book-inspired world for a darker dystopian one".
Filled with excitement, the Nintendo Life team has been trying to hunt down a copy online since the first moment our eyes met these glorious pages, but we've had no luck. If you know anything else about the novel, or perhaps if you even own one yourself, feel free to tell us all about it in the comments.
[source twitter.com]
Comments 32
I don't really care about F-Zero, but this was a good find. The detailed, gorgeous 90s-era Japanese art really makes it.
The scans don't tell me if this is a light novel, a children's picture book or I manga with little dialogue.
@Patrick-Sukiyaki Well, they call it a "novel," and the illustrations look like they probably spread across the entire page, so I'm guessing it's a light novel.
@Ralizah I see.... I thought so too but I needed some confirmation.
So much opportunity for Nintendo to focus a bit more on the bounty-hunting aspects of Captain Falcon and Samus Aran. With any luck, maybe The Mandalorian will inspire them to do so a bit.
The nexus between the video game F-Zero, the song "The Distance" by Cake, and the anime short "Neo Tokyo- The Running Man" must be explored.
F-ZERO GX tonight it is, then.
@bluedogrulez I recently re-watched that one and it pains me so much no one is using today's technology to turn that short into a full blown video game.
Getting a Moebius vibe of that art work.
@KingBowser86 Nintendo just uses "bounty hunter" as just a label for them. Outside of what the characters normally do, Nintendo doesn't want them to do actual bounty hunting, I'm guessing because it would go against their clean image of a game company for their 1st party titles. Captain Falcon is just a speed racing champion and Samus is an intergalactic government contracted explorer that just so happens to kill a bunch of aliens and space pirates on her journeys.
@russell-marlow Honestly that's sad. I feel like Nintendo should embrace those aspects. You can be a bounty hunter without doing anything shady, heck her actions in some of the games already state her accepting contracts and doing things against her clients wishes (thinking of Fusion for the latter point). Being able to take on bounties (e.g hunt X species of bad aliens attacking a colony) for rewards like power-ups would be great for a future title.
This is some really cool artwork.
This is beyond cool. Artwork is incredible. I don't get why nothing is being done with this IP. I always thought that the characters and world of F-Zero were so cool, its a shame we can't get anything new.
Holy [removed] this art is legit stunning. I love the way old manga cyber punk stuff looked like. This is incredible.
@Ainz Me seeing that the Star Fox crew and Samus are both government hired guns that do most of the work for their respective employers kinda tells me that Nintendo doesn't want to have either of them be in any morally gray areas when it comes to what they do or if they should question their employer. I just find it funny that Star Fox are "mercenaries", even though they're employed by the Cornerian government. I'm guessing the question of ethics and legality is off when their universes don't have much going on and everyone is either good or evil and nothing in-between. Nintendo really sucks at world building and telling stories.
This makes me want an F-Zero that expands on the universe a little bit more. Kinda like the story mode in F-Zero GX, but maybe with branching paths or something.
Rad. Love stuff like this.
@russell-marlow I agree. My dream game is a Metroid game with the kind of world building that Mass Effect has. I think it would be awesome if we could shape samus' character by going on different bounties.
Wow... first time i can think of looking at captain falcon and not thinking he’s an insufferable d-bag
@Shiryu man that was so cool, F-Zero meets Blade Runner. That time of Japanimation brings a lot of nostalgia to my hearth, I was a kid when I watched anime that was like that!
@Shiryu Thanks, sure made my day!
Futabasha books? Oh, man, I actually do have the Phantasy Star ones, bought them on Yahoo Auctions a few years ago. Really cool stuff!
Oh man I love that 90/80s anime aesthetic I loved me some gundam and lensman back in the day.
There should be something in the vein of Operation Rainfall for F-Zero.... it’s been too long
@Shiryu amazing music
This is some rad artwork. Awesome find!
@Patrick-Sukiyaki That's why there are letters and words in the article to explain it to you. Read them!
I like the order you posted them, page 3 being the most risquè xD
F-Zero needs to get the Castlevania team animation treatment and have it's own Netflix series.
@shani
But that takes too long and ...effort !
Thanx nintendo life this was so cool to see, i love f-zero
Ever since I saw that comic book in the manual f-zero I have enjoyed the lore of F-Zero. Nintendo will figure it out one day. Until then I'll just have to hold on to my fond memories.
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