User:Ryūkotsusei/sandbox3

Gameplay
In a similar vein to the Super Mario Bros. 35, Pac-Man 99, and Tetris 99 NSO releases, the game takes the racing gameplay of F-Zero and re-contextualizes it as a battle royale. The game reuses assets, vehicles and tracks from the 1990 game. The speed boost system is reminiscent of what debuted in F-Zero X.

The game plays much like the original F-Zero, although it is adjusted into a battle royale format by allowing the player to compete with 98 other players in real-time, with the objective of the game being to outlive other players and finish the race in first place. The player's vehicle is equipped with an energy meter, which serves as both a measurement of its health and as an energy reserve for temporary boosts to its speed; collisions and use of the boost depletes the meter, and once empty it will cause the player's vehicle to explode and be eliminated from the race, though it can be refilled by driving through a pit zone. The player can also collect Super Sparks, orbs dropped by colliding racers and special golden bumper cars, which fill up a Super Boost meter that allows access to the Skyway, a floating road above the racetrack allowing the player to speed above other players for a limited time. As races progress, players at the back of the pack are automatically eliminated and are replaced by slower moving bumper cars which spawn onto the track, adding another obstacle for surviving players to contend with. Players can utilize a rechargeable spin move to knock away these cars and those of their opponents.

The game's main mode is a single online race with up to 99 players. A rotating playlist of modes includes a Grand Prix mode, a Team Battle mode, and races on more difficult Pro Tracks, as well as a Practice mode. The Grand Prix mode, which sees players compete in a series of up to five consecutive races, requires entry via tickets obtainable through racing in other modes, and points earned in this mode go towards placement on a weekly online leaderboard. Players can also unlock new color schemes for their vehicle and new player profile design elements by completing objectives.

Development and release
As a result, critics stated that series fans may end up disappointed with its non-traditional gameplay.[c] Ash Parrish of The Verge dismissed it as "a simple [NSO] 99 game", preferring a remake or remaster instead,[20] while GamesRadar+'s Dustin Bailey expressed optimism since Tetris 99 was entertaining.[18] Giovanni Colantonio of Digital Trends agreed with Bailey's sentiment.[8]

dismissive about it garnering interest in the series

dyk: prior to F-Zero 99, Nintendo did not publish these futuristic racing games in 19 years? <!--

Reception
F-Zero 99 received "generally favorable" upon its release. It holds an average of 80/100 on aggregate website Metacritic. Nintendo Life's Charlie Wacholz assured readers that the 1990 game was already a small elimination-style battle royale that F-Zero 99 expanded into a much grander scale, writing the additional players "doesn't just feel perfect for F-Zero, it feels natural." Rhys Wood of TechRadar echoed this enthusiasm writing its finesse gameplay with additional players was exhilarating and stressful making it infeasible to replay the 1990 game. Reviewers including Wacholz, Eurogamers Ed Nightingale, and PC Games Christopher Holler felt gameplay can be chaotic thus requiring players to use the spin attack defensively. Holler lamented over this and Nightingale shared a similar opinion lambasting the pinball machine-like races as "tumultuous carnage."

Most publications agreed that the updated game mechanics was by far one of the best features; Wood said F-Zero 99 has "a level of depth here that hasn’t really been seen in the series up to this point", and Colantonio added these short races are highly nuanced forcing players into frequent risk and reward decision-making. The sacrificial energy system to boost and skyway were singled out as particularly strong features; Wacholz highlighted experienced players benefit from timing skyway activation, while Hardcore Gamer's Jordan Helm reflected the same opinion for timing the boost mechanic. Some reviewers welcomed the rival system as a personal challenge. Helm thought its clever short-term accomplishments offered players another goal instead of a first place ranking. Jeuxvideo.com's Charlanmhg mentioned the system helps with monitoring progression and skill level.

Reviewers felt that the content at launch was a weakness, Helm blames F-Zero 99's lack thereof on the source material's sparse 15 tracks, especially the highly redundant online course selection. Jess Lee of Digital Spy explained Mute City I and Big Blue are commonly chosen, and Charlanmhg agreed adding the rotation of events also quickly gets dull. The Grand Prix is considered a better take on the battle royale formula since racers are eliminated per round. Colantonio thought the Grand Prix helped alleviate the game's weird middle-ground between battle royale and traditional racing, elaborating the lack of having a last man standing removed some tension compared to Tetris 99. While he was somewhat taken aback by it being part of a rotation instead of the main mode, Wacholz was more critical due to the ticket entry fee. Overall, Holler noted the higher priory of placement over survival may disappoint classic battle royale players.

Some critics who do not consider F-Zero 99 as an original and complete installment speculated what its release meant for future games. Nightingale reflected on Miyamoto's pre-release thoughts welcoming its 99-player count as an optional part of a future full-fledged game, but showed more enthusiasm for the potential of multiple online modes. Colantonio and Wood thought F-Zero 99 created a foundation for the franchise. Colantonio pondered if this is the beginning of Nintendo ascertaining how distinguish its racing series from the competition. He felt the game backtracked from what F-Zero GX perfected speculating that perhaps it is a "low-pressure way to gauge how serious its loudest fans are about a revival." Wood agreed with the idea of performance metrics theorizing a stable, healthy player base could incentivize the company to release an original game.


 * Tech Radar - "In short, F-Zero 99 has put more eyes on this excellent series than ever before. By providing an original and obscenely fun multiplayer game that also has a relatively low cost of entry, it’s proven to be a very low-risk gamble that’s got series veterans and newcomers alike excited for its future. Whether you’re particularly keen on F-Zero 99 or not, it’s still important to acknowledge that it’s laid down some important foundations for a potential full return for the franchise when, before that, there simply wasn’t any at all."


 * Addictive multiplayer and low barrier to entry to attract a wider audience. Not a hallmark franchise. "But it’s important to remember that the futuristic racer has never been one of Nintendo’s first-rate franchises, never reaching the lofty sales figures enjoyed by The Legend of Zelda, Animal Crossing, and especially Mario Kart 8 Deluxe." Like it or not, F-Zero 99 is necessary if you want to see this franchise survive


 * "There’s every chance that Nintendo will be keeping a close eye on F-Zero 99’s performance. If it’s able to maintain a healthy player base going forward, it could tell Nintendo that there’s genuine interest from fans to see the series return with an all-original entry. If not for the Switch, then perhaps the Nintendo Switch 2, which is rumored to launch in late 2024."


 * Nfife - "Despite its relatively unchanged look, F-Zero 99 is unexpectedly refreshing. Though it may not be the return for the franchise that fans hoped for, it's a triumphant and welcome look back at Captain Falcon's first game with a clever twist. F-Zero is simply suited for the -99 style structure in ways that Tetris, Mario, and Pac-Man aren't; it was already an elimination-style battle royale, just a small one. Adding more players doesn't just feel perfect for F-Zero, it feels natural. This isn't the definitive way to play F-Zero, but it is a brilliant take that supplements what worked so well in the original with thoughtful additions that make chasing victory utterly addictive."


 * Eurogamer - "F-Zero 99 is certainly a fun distraction, then, even if each race is tumultuous carnage. But it won't beat a fully fledged new game."


 * "So what's the answer to Miyamoto's question of how to elevate the series and bring something new? Well it's not shoving 99 players together in one race, even though I'd welcome it as an option. But as a sign of a potential online mode, with ranked play, multiple modes, and battle royale as the ultimate challenge? Absolutely."


 * DT - "After a few hours of play, I’m of two minds when it comes to F-Zero 99. On one hand, it feels like a misguided nostalgia play that doesn’t really deliver what the franchise does best. On the other, it’s a surprisingly fun curiosity that lays the groundwork for a more fully realized series revival. It’s perhaps not the best version of what F-Zero can be, but it’s a convincing enough start."


 * "F-Zero 99 feels like the first piece of a puzzle that Nintendo has struggled to solve for the past 20 years: How do you make the series stand out in a crowded sea of racers? The elimination angle is a good start, but it’s limited by the retro framework here. When I think of F-Zero, I think of blisteringly fast speeds, complex tracks, and pulp sci-fi energy. Those are all aspects that 2003’s F-Zero GX nailed, bringing a fairly limited SNES game to its logical extreme. Rather than continuing that momentum, it feels like we’re back in first gear."


 * "Perhaps that’s what Nintendo needs to start accelerating. I get the sense that F-Zero 99 might be a low-pressure way to gauge how serious its loudest fans are about a revival. Judging by the knee-jerk reactions to it, I don’t imagine every fan will show up to the starting line. Those that do, though, will find some fun in a curious Nintendo experiment that’s begging to be souped up." F-Zero 99 isn’t the revival I dreamed of, but it’s a good start


 * HG: "That Nintendo’s latest effort does so much with so little — once more in a genre far removed from the comfort of shooters — is a testament to the simple-yet-highly-addictive heart of F-Zero’s gameplay. That such accessibility is elevated more so amidst a new-found sense of chaos, dread and sheer unpredictable madness."


 * jeuxvideo: "We thought F-Zero had been buried since 2004. However, with F-Zero 99, Nintendo pleasantly surprised us by bringing the Golden Fox and the Blue Falcon out of the garage. The gameplay sensations of the past are preserved, and both newcomers and veterans can enjoy this modernized iteration thanks to its unique and intense moments. Nevertheless, and quite understandably, it won't replace a full-fledged installment (remaster or new game) that many fans were eagerly awaiting. This is due to its limited content at the moment and the absence of a multiplayer mode. F-Zero 99 will bring a smile, even if only for a few hours, to all the fans of the franchise who have been patient for 19 years. And that's already something."

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