IGN’s done a feature today celebrating F-Zero GX, and how the collaboration between Nintendo and SEGA arguably made this game the pinnacle of the F-Zero series.
F-Zero GX was much more than a mere continuation of the series, though. SEGA’s blue sky thinking brought vibrancy to a world that previously treaded murkier waters, and it did so with style. Powered by SEGA’s Triforce arcade hardware – for which Nintendo’s GameCube provided the foundations – F-Zero GX lent Nintendo’s world a robust makeover.
It was also unmistakably a SEGA game. Amusement Vision was the team behind F-Zero GX, headed up by a Toshiro Nagoshi who was fresh off of making Super Monkey Ball, and its outlandish backdrops owe much to that game’s colourful fancy. Neon clowns loom above Casino Palace, a gigantic ROB controller gyrates in the background of Port Town and giant sandworms dance across the skies of Sand Ocean.
The courses also bear that indelible SEGA stamp. They’re extravagant, often torturous and as memorable as a pop classic, a fact that can be accredited to its creator’s methods. During the game’s development Nagoshi likened designing tracks to penning a rock anthem; each should have its own rhythm, complete with chorus, middle eight and a hair-raising solo.
To check out the full article, head on over to IGN.
Nice read and a celebration of one of the best racers I’ve ever played. I’m also proud to say that I did manage beat all 7 challenges in the Story mode…well, on the normal difficulty setting, anyway.
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That's a beautiful paragraph, I'm glad some people still talk about Sega like a great company instead of just talking about how shit Sonic games are.
Interestingly enough my two favourite Nintendo series of all time are the two series that are more like Sega games than Nintendo games.
F-Zero and Star Fox.
F-Zero GX was sooooo Sega. From the graphics, gameplay and music.
I like this tidbit:
"During the game’s development Nagoshi likened designing tracks to penning a rock anthem; each should have its own rhythm, complete with chorus, middle eight and a hair-raising solo. "
I love this game so much. It does indeed feel like a SEGA game through and through. The music is just so awesome..