F-Zero X, Street Fighter II Turbo rush onto Virtual Console
Today's Virtual Console releases, scheduled to go live at 9AM PST, are all about pushing the pedal to the metal in our quest to satisfy the need for speed and finally outrun the terrible writing clichés and racing game references pursuing us. Europe's 100th Virtual Console game, F-Zero X, has you hurtling about futuristic tracks at absurd speeds, Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting has you hurting Chun Li even quicker than before and China Warrior has... uh... released much faster than we expected! Yeah, let's go with that.
- F-Zero X (N64, 1-4 players, 1000 Wii Points): The N64's hover-car racer pushed the series forward in the best way that was possible at the time -- it added a prominent "X" to the title. It wasn't until later that we learned that adding a "GX" was the ultimate masterstroke.
- Street Fighter II Turbo Edition: Hyper Fighting (SNES, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points): With mention of both the words "Turbo" and "Hyper" in the title, it becomes clear that this game is indeed a bit faster than The World Warriors. Enjoy it before those fancy HD characters start punching your eyeballs.
- China Warrior (TurboGrafx-16, 1 player, 600 Wii Points): A side-scrolling action game depicting either gaming's most fragile hero ever, or just some tough guy in China.












Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
kostaki @ Jun 25th 2007 9:20AM
f-zero was great!!!!!!i look forward to playing it again!!!
Browzilla @ Jun 25th 2007 9:07AM
Still nothing I consider worth buying. Thus far, my only purchase has been Mario Kart 64. And I'll buy the old Zeldas once I get the time to play them.
Also that F-Zero is starting to look a bit more appealing.
Andrew Yoon @ Jun 25th 2007 9:22AM
F-Zero X is a fantastic addition... but I wonder if we'll ever see the 64DD version?
Blizz419 @ Jun 25th 2007 9:33AM
F-Zero X was the only F-Zero i considered pure garbage.
Konny @ Jun 25th 2007 9:35AM
Hahaa... Wii gets the gimped SNES versions of Street Fighter while XBL and PSN get the HD remix.
Ritz @ Jun 25th 2007 9:45AM
Oh yes. F-Zero GX is my favorite game of all time. Now I'll get a chance to play the N64 version. Rock on, yo!
*cough* But yea, I am actually excited for this one.
Anam @ Jun 25th 2007 9:54AM
@Konny
The advantage of getting the originals is that you know they will work like you want them to. Remakes such as the HD version *might* be great, but there is a lot that they could screw up. Especially the timing of the moves if they're putting more animation in.
Not saying that HD will be bad, but you never know. With the Virtual Console, you know.
hvnlysoldr @ Jun 25th 2007 9:55AM
I finally beat SMB1 yesterday and then proceeded to repeatedly smash through the second quest. For some reason it became much easier... Still haven't timed it right to beat Bowser without fire power though. I need more Wii points stat.
sheppy @ Jun 25th 2007 9:58AM
Who needs F-Zero when you have Wipeout?
Émile-A @ Jun 25th 2007 10:06AM
Me.
Cinder @ Jun 25th 2007 10:08AM
I hope you were being sarcastic about that comment sheppy; Wip3out was absolutely fantastic, but I'd still place F-Zero on the pedestal above for due to GX
Cinder @ Jun 25th 2007 10:09AM
Argh, apologies for the terrible grammar. In point, I meant to say that I feel F-Zero is the better game :P
DarthDavid @ Jun 25th 2007 10:12AM
F-Zero GX/AX OWNS Wipeout...if you want a hardcore super hard and super FAST racer, buy the Cube version. If it wasn't for F-Zero (way back during the SNES), there wouldn't be any Wipeout.
DarthDavid @ Jun 25th 2007 10:13AM
F-Zero GX/AX OWNS Wipeout...if you want a hardcore super hard and super FAST racer, buy the Cube version. If it wasn't for F-Zero (way back during the SNES), there wouldn't be any Wipeout.
megaStryke @ Jun 25th 2007 10:16AM
F-Zero X is worth a purchase just for the kickin' soundtrack.
sheppy @ Jun 25th 2007 10:40AM
@Cinder,
Sarcastic I was not. Frankly speaking, I despise F-Zero for being hovering vehicles in visuals only on anything past the original SNES version. From F-Zero X and beyond, the veicles LOOK like they hover, and certaily have the jumps, but they have far too much traction. In fact, it's because of several inherent flaws within the traction system that allowed such wonderful exploits as "snaking." And though F-Zero X was difficult by itself, F-Zero GX suddenly became a matter not of raw skill and reactionary abilities but rather track memorization. So while on a game like Mario Kart or even Wipeout (after someone gets adjusted to the physics), any level may be difficult but certainly accomplishable.
Meanwhile, the physics in Wipeout bring an aerodynamic and sophistocated approach to the Hover Racing genre that is noticably absent in other future racer series. They feel and react like they are flying so the hover racer visuals actually MATCH the gameplay. Frankly speaking, it may not be as fast as F-Zero, but if they made it so, the game would be broken.
@DarthDavid
There is a noticable difference between challenge due to AI adjusting on a steady ramp and a game that requires you to play, play, play, play, play, play, and fucking play again until you finally learn the map. Course Memorization requirements FTL.
Also, yeah.... Nintendo was the first one every to make a hovercraft racing game....
Jonathan Tran @ Jun 25th 2007 10:46AM
@16
I don't know about you, but grade A racing performance has ALWAYS been about track memorization. You think you can pass GT4, Sega Rally, etc without memorizing most of the track? You think the people winning the Le Mans 24h circuit haven't memorized the track?
I can see it now: some up and comer racer signs up for the big race. Then on a hairpin turn he didn't see coming, ever other racer is already on the line.
His last words before he dies in a blazing inferno?
"OMGHAXCHEAP"
sheppy @ Jun 25th 2007 10:54AM
@Johnathon Tran
"I don't know about you, but grade A racing performance has ALWAYS been about track memorization. "
Normally I would be forced to agree with you. But F-Zero GX, we aren't talking about Grade A performance... we're talking about Grade E, possibly Grade D. About 1/3 of the way through the races, suddenly you have to memorize the tracks merely to finish a race. As for ranking, hell, surviving the race is accomplishment enough. Ranking is a far off myth, which requires memorization of the location of the speed boosts, creative lines, and avoiding the instant death of fallin off the track.
Aj Vaynerchuk @ Jun 25th 2007 11:00AM
China Warrior - Pass
F-Zero - Pass
Street Fighter - BUY
------------------------------------------
AJ Vaynerchuk
Founder: WiiTube
http://www.wiitube.com
Check out the WiiTube Facebook App!
http://apps.facebook.com/wiitube
Check out WiiTube Games!
http://www.wiitube.com/games
megaStryke @ Jun 25th 2007 11:03AM
@sheppy
I don't know about you, but I personally had no problems with the Grand Prix mode of F-Zero GX. Memorization was helpful for subsequent runs, sure, but I made it through each cup with a high ranking.
The only time track memorization is necessary is the story mode that literally punishes you for not remembering the location of ever grain of sand on the road. But that's not the meat of the game, so it doesn't bother me.
JodyAnthony @ Jun 25th 2007 11:20AM
the only hoverrace worth playing is the race in Chrono Trigger.
Anti-Sheppy @ Jun 25th 2007 11:21AM
@Sheppy
I like Wipeout just as much as you and waiting for a true sequel to Wip3out, Wipeout Fusion don't count.
But stop being a troll, F-Zero and Wipeout are two different games. F-Zero was never about realism nether is Wipeout for that matter.
Also, If it wasn't for F-Zero we'll never would of have Wipeout. Psygnosis said themselves that F-Zero was the base they use for Wipeout
sheppy @ Jun 25th 2007 11:21AM
Personally, I had slight issues with GX. My third try was always the charm on the later races. But I had been a futuristic racing fan for a long time. Most of the issues were not my own but rather my friends who, after too much frustration, eventually would give it up. So I would be left with a multiplayer game nobody else wanted to play.
sheppy @ Jun 25th 2007 11:24AM
"Posted at 11:21AM on Jun 25th 2007 by Anti-Sheppy"
Awwww.... how cute. ;p
Adv2k1 @ Jun 25th 2007 11:32AM
f-zero x is MINE!! my friend is going to nag me about getting Street Fighter Turbo but screw him.
Wipeout I thought was fun but the intense speed of f-zero and skill is what I love. Weapons are nice but its a handicap because overall skill of racing should make you the winner not weapons. GX was hardcore fun, yeah you got to know levels, but you got to know that for any racer and you got to know how to destroy your enemies. I LOVE KILLING other racers, makes things much more fun
I loved F-zero X on n64 but never got around to buying for $10 this is SO WORTH my money. Awesome.
JodyAnthony @ Jun 25th 2007 11:40AM
also the only future-racer worth playing is San Fransisco RUSH 2049
NintendoFanbot @ Jun 25th 2007 11:42AM
"Who needs F-Zero when you have Wipeout?"
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHA
Wii doesn't have Wipeout.
'Sides, F-Zero is the real deal.
Anam @ Jun 25th 2007 12:57PM
I was always a fan of Top Gear 3000. 4 players on the SNES!
Also, jumping over people was fun.
vidGuy @ Jun 25th 2007 1:25PM
SF is a buy for me. I think I might also get DKC2 that was released a few weeks back. I've played through LoZ:LttP and Super Mario World, but I've been having trouble finding time to play the VC when I have more than a few full Wii games to play through yet.
introverted INTJ @ Jun 25th 2007 1:49PM
Do not buy China Warrior. It is a poor rehash of Kung-Fu. I think the only point of the game was to show that the TG-16 could display huge sprites.
Awful.
megaStryke @ Jun 25th 2007 2:03PM
Instead of releasing SFII Turbo as a separate VC title, it should just replace the GOD-AWFUL World Warrior. People who have already downloaded World Warrior would be able to upgrade to Turbo at no extra cost.
But noooooo....