It is baffling to me that Sega can make a high speed F-Zero game that is fantastic, but can not make a sonic game on the same principle to save their lives.
I love this game. I've been speedrunning it for a few years now and when you master all of the advanced techniques like shift boosting, momentum throttle, momentum turbo slides, snaking and many more, the better you get, the more deep and challenging the game gets.
F zero gx was exactly how I got into rock music and why I now have a guitar. Even though my copy doesn't work anymore, I still have those sweet memories of those races, the customized cars, the Ikaruga difficult story mode, that time attack, and captain falcon's theme (credits theme of this video). Cj, thank you for reminding me of my childhood.
Really respectable review, lots of information and a look into the more advanced tactics instead of just giving a shallow review which doesn't explain everything. Very commendable, great review and keep it up!
The next one to be uploaded on youtube will be my 10 biggest "One More Try" moments. However that's only after I upload another top ten on push-start and I won't continue working on it until mid-August when I'll be back in the states. Sorry for the long wait.
There was an AX in Orlando Florida (Disney World) when I was there in 2006, it was incredible and felt like a dream come true to play it. I got a picture of me playing it. :)
Last week, I found a copy of this while browsing my local Gamestop. It was priced at 4.99, and i vaguely remembered this review. Idecided to pick It up. Since then, i've barely been able to put it down, i've had so much fun. I literally spent an hour trying to master sharp corners, but it was a great hour. sure, It's difficult, but i don't feel cheated when i lose like I would in Mario Kart. Thank you, Cjszero, for recommending this great game.
One quick note, there is actually a cup in GX where you can play the courses from AX, including one course that can't be played in the grand prix mode.
Me and my friend played HOURS in this game. We love racing, we were sold when we saw Fzero GX. He showed me when he finally got the game and I was immediately sold when we gave it a try. Multiplayer, storymode and all the items unlocked. We never quit the game till we said it was enough. We never did. Too bad the disc came to a bad shape and it won't start anymore. All good things comes to an end someday. We always have our memories and the fun.
I found one AX cabinet one time at the local amusement park in Federal Way, Washington... then it was gone the time when I came back the next year... I brought my memory card and everything in anticipation of what would be my second time playing the greatest arcade cabinet ever... ='(
The instruction manual for GX also explains the L and R buttons. Also, there was an arcade somewhat near me that recently closed I think. They had an AX machine. I didn't know they closed though so I just tried to go there to play the AX machine only to get disappointed. :(
When you said "Good luck finding one." (this was when you had it on push start), I went to the a gamestop to get Metroid Prime 2. As I was leaving the store, I saw F-Zero GX. I asked if they have it, and sure enough, they had only one in stock. I got it immediately. I love a good challenge.
Two AX macines can be found in denmark, however they are hard to find and not in a arcade, and i think that's the only way us danes can play an f-zero game :-(
I got this short after this was released. Many curse words were shouted as I beat it on master difficulty. I don't think I could do it again though. Now I wanna play it again. The speed was intense more so that X was, graphically beautiful, and fun, in spite of the difficulty. And it had an amazing soundtrack.
Y'know I actually LIKE that they don't tell you every little trick in the game, I found out how to sharp turn properly and drift without having any reference from the instruction manuals. (at the time I originally got this game I was one of those stupid kids that hated reading) Developing my own tricks to come in first was half the fun of the game for me.
Wow I remember seeing one of those arcade games in a bar way back when I was really young. I think I was 8 so I wasnt allowed to play it and actually couldnt play it because I was real short but I still snuck in to play it a bit because it was such an amazing game.
I once saw an F-Zero AX machine in the Contemporary Hotel min Disney World in their arcade toward the back. It was really fun and you even had to wear a SEAT BELT! Sorry for the detail, but in case you were looking, I told you exactly where it was.
The time attack is a game in itself. If you run fast enough, you will unlock the staff ghost for that track. This is the programmers' best time for that track. Even the easiest staff ghost is harder than anything else in the game. Beating the story mode on very hard level unlocks other racers. 10 in all. I currently have over 40,000 tickets so you might say I like this one.
Actually I've seen that F-Zero AX arcade machine in an arcade room at a Disney hotel here in Florida. It was fun, but I always wondered why there was a gamecube memory slot. Now I know why :P
Great review! I LOVE this game! I find it to be a highly underrated game. I have played the AX version in 2011 and 2012 at the Adventuredome in Las Vegas. I'd say the difficulty of AX is about GX's expert/master difficulty.
I recently got back into playing this game. I remember that it was quite hard but fun... I have seen an F-Zero AX in America. It was in Las Vegas a couple years ago in the Stratosphere's arcade. I don't know if they still have it though.
There was a an F-Zero AX machine in the arcade by the Los Angeles Community Collage (LACC). I don't know if it's still there but if you are ever in LA you should check it out.
i played the F-Zero AX machine in the US, in a movie theater in connecticut owned by a bit of a collector, who also had a few other hard to find nintendo franchise arcade titles. the movie theater went out of business 2 years ago, unfortunately.
The F-Zero AX machines are in America. I played one at a place in my town called "Funtastiks." I just kept forgetting to bring my memory card there as a kid xD
The Greatest Arcade Racer ever developed, thank you Sega, like seriously haha this is my all-time favorite game. Shame Nintendo is bent on letting the series die completely. Great review, though I don't agree with the difficulty being a "fault" by your words because it solely comes down to player skill rather than luck or any cheap design whatsoever (as you implied). And slowly overcoming the 9 story chapters is such a rewarding experience.
Actually, I just looked it up: you have to beat all the cups on Master Difficulty, Beat all the Story mode missions on Very Hard, and get all of the custom parts. So it's pretty much impossible. There are cheat codes, but those unlock new cups without beating the other ones.
I saw the F-Zero AX machine ONCE, at a place called Rocky's Replay Arcade in Central Florida. I doubt it's still around, but I remember playing it and getting my ass kicked. It was fun though.
F Zero AX was pretty rare in the US. Funnily enough, the Chuck E. Cheeses in my area had the Deluxe model. Im actually tempted to go there and see if that old machine is still there ! Hackers actually found out that AX is on the disc of GX.
Nintendo say that they won't be making an f zero game on the wii u because there are already too many racers on it, and also that they don't know what to do with it to make it better than GX. How about a 3DS version? Wouldn't a 3D ass-kicking f zero game with better tracks and vehicles be so awesome?
Agreed. Or hell, make an HD version of GX. At least we'd get SOMETHING, lol. That said, F-Zero GX is my favorite racing game of all time. None of my friends like to play me on it, lol.
***** I agree with you SO MUCH! Did mario kart 8 fix balloon mode? I'd much rather have it be a giant survival match like DS. That was my main problem with the game, second being the characters
This game, though a pain in the ass to find, was worth the time spent looking through different stores. I'm so glad I picked this up, this is probably one of the best racer out there, and is a nice little hidden gem. Now if sega and nintendo worked on another one that would be so awesome, but that's very unlikely unfortunately. :(
hey cjszero01, have you played Split/Second? It's a racing game where instead of having items, you get Power Plays which can be used for attacks, shortcuts, or even route changers! The Power Plays have fixed locations throughout the tracks, so you HAVE to know the track to get the most out of them. There's also a Survival mode, Detanation, which is an alterate version of time trials, and more. Check it out if you haven't already
Believe it or not, there was actually an F-Zero machine at an arcade in Michigan. I don't know if it was AX though. Were there any other F-Zero arcade games?
a fun game overall but the dificulty makes it hard to just pick up and play for a bit you have to really master it to make it anywear i like games with hard difficulty but i really feel there needs to be some more easy ones for when you want to just hop in kick ass for a week then stop playing
all i have left is chapter 1 very hard, AX cup on master, and every single character's special movie. by the time i officially complete the game, there'll be another f-zero (i started this one in 06)
Not even trying to gloat...I unlocked everything...EVERYTHING, for this damn hard game. Endings, parts, secret songs...I didn't care how bad this game cheated me, it's still my best GCN game. Chapter 7 on Very Hard wasn't even enough to keep me from it. Thank you for this review, cjszero. Now I am going to play this again for about another hour or so.
I believe the hotel I played it at was Pop Century. It was bfore I owned a gamecube memory card, but somehow the machine had every character.I guess someone left their memory card behind
"That's ok we're none of us perfect" XD I mean look at my previous comment it says "they're weren't any", it should've said "there weren't any". Note to self, don't comment on youtube comments after a vacation where I barely had any sleep and walked around WAY TO MUCH! Yeah I finally just played AX a few days ago in Japan.
understand the game, they are different machines, and they handle different, some of them have a stronger body and will lack in boosting, others will have sensitive handling, and others will have a stiffer grip. Like cjszero01 said, "L and R buttons?" they make sharp turns even sharper, if you don't like the machine you have, use one that suits your playing style better. Please don't bash one of the best racing games ever made. I am proud to say I've completed all grand pres, and the story mode
I know there are a lot of references to other games in this one. Like James McCloud for exemple and a racer who looks like Mario with a star on his belt. But, was Zoda a reference to Star Tropics?
I agree that the game is as good as you are. I'm awesome at it and I love it (even though the last 3 chapters in story mode consistently kick me in the balls). Great review CJS.
I hate that there's no Analog Triggers on the Gamepad. I've been wracking my brain on how they can make a Wii U F-Zero and give you the same amount of control as GX on the brakes. Also, Black Shadow should be in Smash Brothers
It is baffling to me that Sega can make a high speed F-Zero game that is fantastic, but can not make a sonic game on the same principle to save their lives.
Azazel The Misanthrope Its because Nintendo worked with them lol
They have, those games are called Sonic Generations and Sonic Unleashed which are platforming/racer hybrid games.
I love this game. I've been speedrunning it for a few years now and when you master all of the advanced techniques like shift boosting, momentum throttle, momentum turbo slides, snaking and many more, the better you get, the more deep and challenging the game gets.
I found 2 F-Zero AX arcades in the arcade Section at Circus Circus Las Vegas :D
I can confirm that as well cuz I've been to that arcade in circus circus before too and I spent 30 to 55 minutes on that machine.
Always wished Nintendo ported the N64's F Zero X to the 3DS. F Zero GX is legendary, absolutely brilliant.
F zero gx was exactly how I got into rock music and why I now have a guitar. Even though my copy doesn't work anymore, I still have those sweet memories of those races, the customized cars, the Ikaruga difficult story mode, that time attack, and captain falcon's theme (credits theme of this video). Cj, thank you for reminding me of my childhood.
I always loved the personalities of the racers, so charming.
I found an AX cabinet at this 5-Star Hotel in Orlando.
No wonder they're 5-stars.
@@TheBonkleFox
i was 100% gonna type that but you did it 4years before me
Ax did come out in USA but they are very rare to find
Really respectable review, lots of information and a look into the more advanced tactics instead of just giving a shallow review which doesn't explain everything. Very commendable, great review and keep it up!
The next one to be uploaded on youtube will be my 10 biggest "One More Try" moments. However that's only after I upload another top ten on push-start and I won't continue working on it until mid-August when I'll be back in the states. Sorry for the long wait.
More F Zero, less Mario Kart. (Skill > Luck)
easily one of my favourite racers of all time, i played it for years and years, a game well beyond its time
There was an AX in Orlando Florida (Disney World) when I was there in 2006, it was incredible and felt like a dream come true to play it. I got a picture of me playing it. :)
There used to be one in pop century resort in Disney World
Last week, I found a copy of this while browsing my local Gamestop. It was priced at 4.99, and i vaguely remembered this review. Idecided to pick It up. Since then, i've barely been able to put it down, i've had so much fun. I literally spent an hour trying to master sharp corners, but it was a great hour. sure, It's difficult, but i don't feel cheated when i lose like I would in Mario Kart. Thank you, Cjszero, for recommending this great game.
I played the fzero ax machine in Illinois, at the allowing ghost arcade they have one and it was great.
One quick note, there is actually a cup in GX where you can play the courses from AX, including one course that can't be played in the grand prix mode.
Me and my friend played HOURS in this game. We love racing, we were sold when we saw Fzero GX. He showed me when he finally got the game and I was immediately sold when we gave it a try. Multiplayer, storymode and all the items unlocked. We never quit the game till we said it was enough. We never did. Too bad the disc came to a bad shape and it won't start anymore.
All good things comes to an end someday. We always have our memories and the fun.
God I was such a fool when I was ten.
I'M SORRY FOR TURNING YOU IN, GX, FORGIVE MEEEEEEE. :'(
Its been a while since I have seen a review from you. Great to see more of your work!
I found one AX cabinet one time at the local amusement park in Federal Way, Washington... then it was gone the time when I came back the next year...
I brought my memory card and everything in anticipation of what would be my second time playing the greatest arcade cabinet ever...
='(
THIS GAME IS LIKE MY CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCE IN A NUTSHELL WHEN IT COMES TO RACERS. That and MKDD (I was like 8 it came out)
There was a F-Zero AX in the arcade by my house in Seaside Oregon.
The entirety of F-Zero AX is hidden on the GX disc and can be unlocked with some hacking.
SamVision Exactly as I was going to say...
GameGaming I been to that one!
The instruction manual for GX also explains the L and R buttons.
Also, there was an arcade somewhat near me that recently closed I think. They had an AX machine. I didn't know they closed though so I just tried to go there to play the AX machine only to get disappointed. :(
what do you mean you nearly unlocked everything, you don't even have any of the AX content.
When you said "Good luck finding one." (this was when you had it on push start), I went to the a gamestop to get Metroid Prime 2. As I was leaving the store, I saw F-Zero GX. I asked if they have it, and sure enough, they had only one in stock. I got it immediately. I love a good challenge.
best racing game ever period
F-Zero AX was indeed released in America, an arcade in LA apparently used to have an arcade machine but they closed down.
Two AX macines can be found in denmark, however they are hard to find and not in a arcade, and i think that's the only way us danes can play an f-zero game :-(
I got this short after this was released. Many curse words were shouted as I beat it on master difficulty. I don't think I could do it again though. Now I wanna play it again. The speed was intense more so that X was, graphically beautiful, and fun, in spite of the difficulty. And it had an amazing soundtrack.
I found a f zero ax machine in Canada Ontario in wonder land it has the GameCube memory card slot and it still works!
I am TERRIBLE at this, but I somehow got a perfect 500 points in the Ruby Cup...
Wow! You actuallly made a F-zero video without saying Falcon Punch! I respect you.
Y'know I actually LIKE that they don't tell you every little trick in the game, I found out how to sharp turn properly and drift without having any reference from the instruction manuals. (at the time I originally got this game I was one of those stupid kids that hated reading) Developing my own tricks to come in first was half the fun of the game for me.
Wow I remember seeing one of those arcade games in a bar way back when I was really young. I think I was 8 so I wasnt allowed to play it and actually couldnt play it because I was real short but I still snuck in to play it a bit because it was such an amazing game.
I once saw an F-Zero AX machine in the Contemporary Hotel min Disney World in their arcade toward the back. It was really fun and you even had to wear a SEAT BELT! Sorry for the detail, but in case you were looking, I told you exactly where it was.
The time attack is a game in itself. If you run fast enough, you will unlock the staff ghost for that track. This is the programmers' best time for that track. Even the easiest staff ghost is harder than anything else in the game. Beating the story mode on very hard level unlocks other racers. 10 in all. I currently have over 40,000 tickets so you might say I like this one.
Actually I've seen that F-Zero AX arcade machine in an arcade room at a Disney hotel here in Florida. It was fun, but I always wondered why there was a gamecube memory slot. Now I know why :P
7:49 HOLY CRAP YOU GOT DENIED! XD
Great review! I LOVE this game! I find it to be a highly underrated game. I have played the AX version in 2011 and 2012 at the Adventuredome in Las Vegas. I'd say the difficulty of AX is about GX's expert/master difficulty.
God I really hope we get a new installment in the series this gen. It's long overdue.
I recently got back into playing this game. I remember that it was quite hard but fun... I have seen an F-Zero AX in America. It was in Las Vegas a couple years ago in the Stratosphere's arcade. I don't know if they still have it though.
There was a an F-Zero AX machine in the arcade by the Los Angeles Community Collage (LACC). I don't know if it's still there but if you are ever in LA you should check it out.
There is actually two arcade cabinets of F-Zero AX in this one arcade in Seatle, and boy is F-Zero AX fun! :D
There are a few F-Zero arcade machines I have seen in America surprisingly in my trip to Las Vegas.
Yeah the credits were slow but at least it had footage for you to watch. :)
I've actually seen a f zero AX arcade machine in the u.s. Disneys Contemporary Resort Arcade, Orlando FL
Hopefully it will be before it comes out.
Yeah I forgot it had a widescreen setting since back then I didn't have a widescreen tv to play it on.
i played the F-Zero AX machine in the US, in a movie theater in connecticut owned by a bit of a collector, who also had a few other hard to find nintendo franchise arcade titles. the movie theater went out of business 2 years ago, unfortunately.
The F-Zero AX machines are in America. I played one at a place in my town called "Funtastiks." I just kept forgetting to bring my memory card there as a kid xD
I actually had seen the F-Zero AX with the gamecube memory slots in my local arcade, I just never knew what it was for lol.
The Greatest Arcade Racer ever developed, thank you Sega, like seriously haha this is my all-time favorite game. Shame Nintendo is bent on letting the series die completely.
Great review, though I don't agree with the difficulty being a "fault" by your words because it solely comes down to player skill rather than luck or any cheap design whatsoever (as you implied). And slowly overcoming the 9 story chapters is such a rewarding experience.
Im glad im not the only one who was tormented by this games story mode.
Actually, I just looked it up: you have to beat all the cups on Master Difficulty, Beat all the Story mode missions on Very Hard, and get all of the custom parts. So it's pretty much impossible. There are cheat codes, but those unlock new cups without beating the other ones.
I've seen the F-Zero AX machine at the Adventuredome here in Las Vegas
Hey it’s my old comment. No clue if AD still has it tho.
I love the Futuristic setting of the f zero games. They remind me of phantasy star online.
I saw the F-Zero AX machine ONCE, at a place called Rocky's Replay Arcade in Central Florida. I doubt it's still around, but I remember playing it and getting my ass kicked. It was fun though.
One of the few games with a perfect difficulty/reward ratio
i've bought and sold this game TWICE when i was younger, why didn't i realize how good this game is :P I guess i'll have to find another now.
F Zero AX was pretty rare in the US. Funnily enough, the Chuck E. Cheeses in my area had the Deluxe model. Im actually tempted to go there and see if that old machine is still there ! Hackers actually found out that AX is on the disc of GX.
F-Zero GX one of my favorite GC games! Thanks for the review!
Nintendo say that they won't be making an f zero game on the wii u because there are already too many racers on it, and also that they don't know what to do with it to make it better than GX. How about a 3DS version? Wouldn't a 3D ass-kicking f zero game with better tracks and vehicles be so awesome?
Agreed. Or hell, make an HD version of GX. At least we'd get SOMETHING, lol. That said, F-Zero GX is my favorite racing game of all time. None of my friends like to play me on it, lol.
It will make you vomit
***** I agree with you SO MUCH! Did mario kart 8 fix balloon mode? I'd much rather have it be a giant survival match like DS. That was my main problem with the game, second being the characters
This game, though a pain in the ass to find, was worth the time spent looking through different stores. I'm so glad I picked this up, this is probably one of the best racer out there, and is a nice little hidden gem. Now if sega and nintendo worked on another one that would be so awesome, but that's very unlikely unfortunately. :(
Believe me.All of us had been tortured...and I mean TORTURED by the Story mode.The race against Black Shadow+Blood Falcon was a nightmare
honestly my favorite racing game...more than Mario Kart, great levels, music, story, content, it's perfect
hey cjszero01, have you played Split/Second? It's a racing game where instead of having items, you get Power Plays which can be used for attacks, shortcuts, or even route changers! The Power Plays have fixed locations throughout the tracks, so you HAVE to know the track to get the most out of them. There's also a Survival mode, Detanation, which is an alterate version of time trials, and more. Check it out if you haven't already
Believe it or not, there was actually an F-Zero machine at an arcade in Michigan. I don't know if it was AX though. Were there any other F-Zero arcade games?
a fun game overall but the dificulty makes it hard to just pick up and play for a bit you have to really master it to make it anywear i like games with hard difficulty but i really feel there needs to be some more easy ones for when you want to just hop in kick ass for a week then stop playing
This game is literally perfect and cant be topped
all i have left is chapter 1 very hard, AX cup on master, and every single character's special movie.
by the time i officially complete the game, there'll be another f-zero (i started this one in 06)
Are you going to be doing the staff ghosts?
Uh... I never said they're weren't any F-Zero AX Arcades in America, just that I've never seen one. Though I finally did play one in Japan.
Not even trying to gloat...I unlocked everything...EVERYTHING, for this damn hard game. Endings, parts, secret songs...I didn't care how bad this game cheated me, it's still my best GCN game. Chapter 7 on Very Hard wasn't even enough to keep me from it. Thank you for this review, cjszero. Now I am going to play this again for about another hour or so.
I think the volume quality is better here than on Push-Start, but I'm fine with it
Hope this comes out on the Wii U Virtual Console with online added in like they did with the Sega 16-Bit Street Fighter II recently.
I've seen the F-Zero AX at a Disney arcade once. And it was awesome =D
I believe the hotel I played it at was Pop Century. It was bfore I owned a gamecube memory card, but somehow the machine had every character.I guess someone left their memory card behind
It was in the instruction manual too but according to one of the comments only 20 of them existed in America.
Sega made F-Zero GX? No WONDER I kept getting a Sonic Riders vibe from this game!
You mean you got a F-zero vibe from Sonic Riders
jason doucette I wish I could say that. Sadly I experienced Riders first before the glory of GX.
"That's ok we're none of us perfect" XD I mean look at my previous comment it says "they're weren't any", it should've said "there weren't any". Note to self, don't comment on youtube comments after a vacation where I barely had any sleep and walked around WAY TO MUCH! Yeah I finally just played AX a few days ago in Japan.
Of course! Why didn´t I think of that?
understand the game, they are different machines, and they handle different, some of them have a stronger body and will lack in boosting, others will have sensitive handling, and others will have a stiffer grip. Like cjszero01 said, "L and R buttons?" they make sharp turns even sharper, if you don't like the machine you have, use one that suits your playing style better. Please don't bash one of the best racing games ever made. I am proud to say I've completed all grand pres, and the story mode
There is a F-ZERO AX in the Adventure Dome of Circus Circus!
I know there are a lot of references to other games in this one. Like James McCloud for exemple and a racer who looks like Mario with a star on his belt. But, was Zoda a reference to Star Tropics?
It's weird that the lip syncing is off for the game has English voice acting even in the Japanese version.
Great review but you forgot the AX cup maybe because you haven't unlocked it yet to do so you have to complete the diamond cup on master difficulty
Hey dude I'm not sure if its still there but I saw one at Las Vegas in the circus circus but that was when we still has the GameCube
I agree that the game is as good as you are. I'm awesome at it and I love it (even though the last 3 chapters in story mode consistently kick me in the balls).
Great review CJS.
I hate that there's no Analog Triggers on the Gamepad. I've been wracking my brain on how they can make a Wii U F-Zero and give you the same amount of control as GX on the brakes.
Also, Black Shadow should be in Smash Brothers
I saw this at Gamestop a year ago, since Gamestop doesn't have Gamecube games any more, it's going to be really hard for me to look for a copy. :(
oh about the F-Zero AX Arcade Machine....I've found a very.....very....VERY rare one but not in an arcade building....but inside a resturant
Defiantly a game I wanna play again it was hell getting the ax cup unlocked and complete ting the story on very hard but worth it
No you're thinking of how Nintendo brought Sony into the console race. SEGA already existed as an arcade maker way back then.
It's a shame that AV closed down... this year! This game is awesome, Sega's best work on a Nintendo game for sure. ;)
the villain in this game deathborn is my FAVORITE character i acually want him to be in super smash bros. HES AWSOME
@Cjszero01 I've actually seen an F-Zero AX machine at a hotel arcade in Walt Disney World.
I played an ax cabinet at lagoon in Salt Lake City
I found a F Zero AX arcade machine at Galloping Ghost Arcade in Chicago Il
Lol Here in México theres is a F-ZERO AX Arca de Game and I get the special parts and stuff
One of those series' I need to get my hands on, just as metroid :l