F-Zero 99

Genre: Futuristic Racing

Players: 99 Competitive / Team Competitive (Online), Online Leaderboards

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Review:

F-Zero 99, released on Nintendo Switch in 2023, is the latest in Nintendo’s series of games made exclusively available for no additional cost to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers, taking a classic game and adding a “battle royale” twist, making up to 99 players compete online. In this respect, this game follows in the footsteps of Tetris 99, Super Mario Bros. 35, and Pac-Man 99.

However, at the same time, F-Zero 99 is also technically the first game in Nintendo’s F-Zero franchise of Futuristic Racing games since the Japan-only release of F-Zero Climax on Game Boy Advance in 2004, nearly 20 years ago. Pikmin fans may think they have it rough going ten years between new installments, but they’ve got nothing on F-Zero fans.

No doubt some fans will debate whether F-Zero 99 counts as a “true” F-Zero game, or whether it is a truly “new” one. Fans hoping for something to follow the graphically-impressive F-Zero GX on GameCube will not find what they’re looking for here – F-Zero 99 clearly aims to imitate the look and sound of the original Super Nintendo game, using flat 2D racers on 3D backgrounds that are designed to look like the faux 3D visuals that the “FX Chip” enabled in the original F-Zero, along with a chiptune soundtrack that seems to have been pulled right out of the original game.

However, that’s not to say that there aren’t some nice added flourishes here, such as the visible gusts of wind in the air in the Death Wind course, and this game’s resolution and framerate is so fluid that players would be unlikely to mistake it for the Super Nintendo game. Oh, and then there’s also the fact that this game’s courses have 99 vehicles racing on them at any given time.

As you might imagine, this makes for a pretty big mess. Gameplay in F-Zero 99 is extremely hectic, with racers bumping around at times like bumper cars overloaded with caffeine. While these moments certainly lend the game a degree of frenetic energy, I believe that it is these moments when the game is at its worst – when caught in a crowd, there’s little you can do to keep from being shoved around, taking damage as you do and getting ever-closer to a fatal race-ending explosion. And while the game does provide a “spin” maneuver that allows players to fend off other racers without taking damage, the cooldown for this move is woefully slow, especially for how short a reprieve this move gives you.

Having said that, F-Zero 99 does provide some other clever ways to catch up or overtake a crowd. As you race, you’ll be collecting golden orbs spewed by vehicle collisions and by smashing into giant gold AI vehicles that pop up on occasion. Collect enough of these and you enable the use of the “skyway”, a track that hovers over the standard track and zooms you ahead for a short while. This makes for a great way to give players at the back of the pack a way to get back ahead again.

There are some other nice touches that weren’t necessary, but add to the experience. One of the rotating events you can partake in splits players up into two teams and rewards points to teams not just for skillful racing but for dishing out damage to the other team. There are also unlockable cosmetic features you can use to customize your racer (well, a little), all without monetization.

Make no mistake, F-Zero 99 is messy, and its frenetic action can be both joyous and frustrating. However, this is a fun and unique experience that should be a no-brainer for Nintendo Switch Racing game fans with a subscription to Nintendo Switch Online, as it won’t cost you a single additional penny. If you already subscribe to the service, give it a try!

tl;dr – F-Zero 99 is a fun take on the Futuristic Racing series that takes inspiration from the original Super Nintendo game, but expands on it by having 99 online players racing against each other on the same track. It’s extremely frenetic, and the crowded tracks can make for some frustration, but it’s also pretty fun and unique. Plus, since it is available at no additional cost to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers, anyone who enjoys Racing games and already pays for the service would do well to give this game a try.

Grade: B-

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This game has been nominated for one or more of eShopperReviews 2023 Game Awards:

Runner-Up: Best Driving/Racing Game, Best Multiplayer

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