The WiiU is coming out this year with Nintendo’s first foray into HD graphics. So now Nintendo games can look like the best-looking works from Sony and Microsoft—even if it’s a couple years too late. So now we are imagining the possibilities, which include HD versions of good ol’ Mario, Zelda, Samus, Pokemon, etc. But if there is a franchise that desperately needs this HD update its one of the more underrated gaming series out there. My friends, we are talking about F-Zero. F-Zero is the one brand from Nintendo that can utterly usher itself into a brand new audience of gamers while also appeal to the old-schoolers. And most importantly, F-Zero has the chance to finally utilize its full potential.
F-Zero is a fast, furious, and insanely hard series of games that has survived years of inactivity, flops, and lack of popularity outside Japan. Although the original F-Zero was a smash hit, all the sequels that followed (most notoriously F-Zero GX) failed to follow in the successful footsteps—even if they were all pretty good games. It remains a mystery to me as to why these games can’t reach high sales; after all, it’s a high-concept. Think about it: a mysterious bounty hunter that races in an extremely dangerous racing sport in the future. The concept is fast, has a flurry of different characters, and a multitude of personality.
WiiU can revitalize this franchise because now it has the technology possible to pull off the feat. Similar to Mario 64 for the N64, Metroid Prime for the Gamecube, and Uncharted for the Playstation 3, F-Zero 7 can deliver the goods in ways previously thought impossible because the technology has not progressed far enough. F-Zero GX was darn close I will admit, but had to sacrifice gameplay hours in favor of maintaining its great frame rate and incredible graphics. But if the WiiU is as powerful as it seems, then F-Zero 7 can lift the brand to new heights.
Imagine it now: fast and furious F-Zero racing gameplay combined with a deeper story mode that further explores Captain Falcon and the environment he lives in. Imagine online play with F-Zero as you can race against other people around the world Mario Kart Wii-style. And lastly, imagine the one true-blue awesome addition that F-Zero had dangled in front of us for years but delivered only with a Japanese GBA game: a track editor. So imagine racing single-player and in story mode, then building your own track and vehicle, and then share it online with other friends. You have the speed of Burnout combined with the strategy of Gran Taurismo and garnished with the online mayhem of Mario Kart Wii and 7. Just imagine.
This is essentially my “begging” letter to Nintendo. I am begging that we finally get the sequel to F-Zero GX that we’ve waited too long for. Now, I know Miyamoto was very disappointed when Sega’s underrated gem sold next to nothing, but its time to rub off the disappointment and try, try again. Sega should have another go, as they know speed (Sonic, Crazy Taxi) or maybe give someone else a shot (Critterion Games [Burnout franchise] anyone?) Either way, it’s been too long. I want F-Zero with HD, online, track editor, and all the goods that we’ve seen from the other racers. It can happen, and should happen.
Come on, don’t you want to see this in HD?
No comments:
Post a Comment