Nintendo has exciting news for fans of high-speed racing games: two classic Game Boy Advance titles from the renowned F-Zero series are set to join the Switch Online + Expansion Pack!
F-Zero Climax and F-Zero: GP Legend Arrive on Switch Online
Available October 11, 2024
Nintendo recently announced that the classic racing games, F-Zero: GP Legend and the Japan-exclusive F-Zero Climax, will be available on the Switch Online + Expansion Pack starting October 11, 2024. This update brings thrilling, high-speed racing action to subscribers, enhancing their gaming experience with these timeless titles.
The F-Zero series, which debuted in Japan over three decades ago in 1990, has been a cornerstone of Nintendo's racing game offerings. Celebrated for its futuristic setting and breakneck speeds, F-Zero has not only been a critical success but has also influenced other racing franchises, such as SEGA's "Daytona USA." Known for pushing the technical limits of gaming consoles, F-Zero stands out as one of the fastest racing games on retro platforms like the SNES.
Similar to Nintendo's iconic Mario Kart series, F-Zero gameplay challenges players to race to the finish line while navigating track obstacles and engaging in intense battles with other racers' vehicles, known as "F-Zero machines." The series' protagonist, Captain Falcon, is a beloved character who also features prominently in the Super Smash Bros. series.
F-Zero: GP Legend first hit the Japanese market in 2003, with a Western release following in 2004. In contrast, F-Zero Climax was released exclusively in Japan in 2004 and has remained a regional exclusive until now. It was the last F-Zero game released for 19 years until the arrival of F-Zero 99, a racing MMO, on the Switch last year. In an interview, F-Zero game designer Takaya Imamura noted that the dominance of Mario Kart, Nintendo's most popular racing franchise, contributed to the F-Zero series' near two-decade hiatus.With the October 2024 update to the Switch Online + Expansion Pack, subscribers can dive into F-Zero Climax and F-Zero: GP Legend, racing through various modes including the Grand Prix, story modes, and time-based challenges to climb the leaderboards.
For more details on Nintendo Switch Online, check out our comprehensive article linked below!
