F-Zero 1990

Is it still worth playing?

In 2560, billionaires have turned hovercar racing into an entertainment called F-Zero, in this 1990 racing game for the Super Nintendo. You pick one of four characters and race 15 tracks split into three leagues. A race lasts five laps, and to avoid disqualification you have to finish each lap in a higher place than the one before. Each lap completed earns a speed boost of about four seconds, and up to three can be saved. Hitting mines, the edge of the track or other machines drains the power meter, which refills over the pit areas near the home straight, and the machine explodes if it runs out. Slip zones and magnets pull you off line, while jump plates and dash zones add speed. It was a launch game for the system and one of Nintendo's first showcases for Mode 7 graphics. Every race still asks when to use a saved boost and how much damage to risk.