F-Zero GX

F-Zero GX (エフゼロ ジーエックス, F-Zero GX? F-ZERO GX) is a video game for the Nintendo GameCube console. It was released for the Nintendo GameCube in Japan on July 25, 2003, in Canada and the United States on August 29, 2003, and in Europe on October 31, 2003. Its arcade counterpart, F-Zero AX, was developed in conjunction between Nintendo, Namco, and Sega. Despite being ranked as one of the best futuristic racing games to date,[2] F-Zero GX suffered in sales. This was caused because of it's close release to Soul Calibur II. When game releases are too close together, they may cannibalize each other's sales. F-Zero GX and Soul Calibur 2 are a perfect example of this since they were essentially released at the same time.[3]

Gameplay

As with all F-Zero games, GX is a futuristic racing game. Pilots race plasma-powered hovercars in an intergalactic Grand Prix at speeds that can exceed over 4000 km/h. The game is noteworthy for its intense action, high level of difficulty and for its very high sense of speed - which is accomplished partly by the visuals and detail in the tracks. There is a large amount of variety in the track design, including loops, half-pipes, cylinders, and jumps. Before a race, the player is given the opportunity to adjust their vehicle's balance between maximum acceleration and maximum top speed. There is a wide variety of machines available for the player to choose, each with its own characteristics including Top Speed, Grip, Boost, and Body, and each driven by a different character. Custom machines can also be created.

A race in F-Zero GX consists of three laps around the track. Each machine has an energy meter, which serves two purposes. First of all, it is a measurement of the machine's health and is decreased when the machine hits another racer or the side of the track. Additionally, the player is given the ability to boost after the first lap. Boosting greatly increases the racer's speed, but also drains their energy. Energy can be replenished by driving over recharge strips that are placed on the track. If a player falls off a track or runs out of energy, the race will be restarted, or their machine will be restored to the track with severely depleted energy. As with all F-Zero titles, combat is not a crucial part of the game, but machines can attempt to damage and destroy each other using side attacks or spin attacks.