Editing F-Zero (universe)

{{Title|''F-Zero'' (universe)}}

{{ArticleIcons|allgames=y}}

|image            = [[File:FZeroTitle.png|300px]]

|caption          = [[File:FZeroSymbol.svg|50px|class=invert-dark]]

|developer        = [[Nintendo]]<br>Amusement Vision/[[Sega]]<br>Nd Cube<br>Suzak<br>Nintendo Software Technology

|publisher        = Nintendo<br>Sega (''F-Zero AX'')

|latestinstallment = ''{{s|fzerowiki|F-Zero 99}}'' (2023)

The '''''F-Zero'' universe''', officially stylized as '''''F-ZERO''''', refers to the ''Smash Bros.'' series' collection of characters, stages, and properties that hail from Nintendo's ''F-Zero'' series of futuristic racing games. The universe's primary representation is the playable character [[Captain Falcon]], and has been on his own in this form since the franchise's debut in the original ''Smash Bros''.

 

After the Japan-only release of ''F-Zero Climax'' in 2004, the series went on a hiatus and was largely dormant for almost 20 years, only receiving primary representation in the ''Smash Bros.'' series, two courses and a kart in the ''{{s|mariowiki|Mario Kart}}'' series, and a minigame in ''Nintendo Land'' since ''Climax''{{'}}s release outside of amiibo functionality. The series suddenly returned in September 2023 with the release of ''F-Zero 99'' as a Nintendo Switch Online game.

The ''F-Zero'' series is set centuries into the future, where humankind has since adapted its social framework into a galaxy teeming with a variety of sapient alien races. Multi-billionaire tycoons seeking entertainment sponsor high-tech racing tournaments that are spiritual successors to the Formula One races from centuries past, and are named the "F-Zero Grand Prix". F-Zero races are conducted in plasma-powered hovercars that hover one foot above the track with anti-gravitational technology and can reach speeds of well over 1000 kilometers per hour, and gigantic miles-long tracks hanging far above the surface of various planets comprise the courses in each game. The F-Zero Grand Prix is an extremely dangerous high-octane sport; careless racing machines regularly fly off the tracks to their doom on the surface of the planet far below, while others get demolished as they literally push and grind against each other while vying for first place. Every racing machine comes equipped with a shield barrier to ensure its longevity somewhat, but some of that power may be diverted to a boost in speed.

The original ''{{iw|fzerowiki|F-Zero}}'' had a very privileged position in [[Nintendo]]'s release timeline. Developed simultaneously with ''{{iw|mariowiki|Super Mario World}}'' and {{uv|Pilotwings}}, this seminal entry was a launch title for Super Famicom and its western equivalent, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, and was the technical showpiece for the console's innovative "Mode 7" graphics-rendering technique. This form of texture mapping available on the SNES allowed a raster graphical plane to be rotated and scaled freely, and its usage in ''F-Zero'' to partially simulate three-dimensional environments without processing polygons was lauded for providing ''F-Zero'' the most convincing racetracks that had yet been seen on a home console. ''F-Zero'' was widely praised and financially successful both for its technical achievements and for delivering responsive gameplay supplemented by a wide track variety and a steady increase in challenge, and is credited both for reinvigorating the racing genre and for establishing a sub-genre of racing games that featured a futuristic aesthetic.

Considering the success of the first game, Nintendo notably did not jump into developing a sequel for several years, and what was technically the second installment of the franchise, ''{{iw|fzerowiki|BS F-Zero Grand Prix}}'', was released in two separate incarnations as downloadable titles for the Satellaview, a Japan-exclusive attachment for the Super Famicom, in the mid-1990s. The sequel would eventually release in 1998 for [[Nintendo 64]] as ''{{iw|fzerowiki|F-Zero X}}''. Continuing the tradition of being a technical showcase for the console,  ''F-Zero X'' was able to create large, complex tracks with high speeds and many cars on screen at once all while maintaining an unbroken 60 frames per second. The game was received positively for its impressive technical elements, refined gameplay, hard rock soundtrack, and abundance of content, some reviewers pointed out that the framerate came at a cost of visual detail. A subsequent Japanese-only release for the short-lived Nintendo 64DD add-on, the ''{{iw|fzerowiki|F-Zero X Expansion Kit}}'', was the first 64DD disk exclusively designed as an add-on to work in conjunction with a Nintendo 64 cartridge inserted into the base console; it primarily added both a vehicle-creation feature and a track-creation tool that was virtually the same tool used during the development of the game itself.  

The series once again mirrored its roots as a technical showcase for a newly launched Nintendo system with the Game Boy Advance launch title ''{{iw|fzerowiki|F-Zero: Maximum Velocity}}'', which transplanted the Mode 7 presentation style of the original into a handheld system. Then, the series made its most technically advanced appearance yet in ''{{iw|fzerowiki|F-Zero GX}}'' for the [[Nintendo GameCube]] in 2003. This is the first entry in the series not developed in-house, and was instead outsourced to [[Sega]] as the first official collaboration between the two since their pulling out of the console market. This game was lauded for being the best racing game for the GameCube; critically acclaimed elements include its visuals, high sense of speed and intensity, track design, challenge, and fleshed-out single-player modes, with some criticism leveled against a very sharp difficulty slant. An arcade counterpart to this title named ''{{iw|fzerowiki|F-Zero AX}}'' was published by Sega for the Triforce arcade system board (a system that was conceived from a business alliance between Sega, Nintendo, and [[Namco]]), and it featured special connectivity with the GameCube title in which a player that inserted a Nintendo GameCube memory card into the ''F-Zero AX'' system could instantly unlock content in ''F-Zero GX'' that would normally require successful playthroughs on high difficulties to access.

Following this, Nintendo attempted an alternate-universe take on the franchise with a 51-episode anime series, ''{{iw|fzerowiki|F-Zero: GP Legend}}'', which began airing in October 2003 to September 2004. Only 15 of these episodes were dubbed by 4Kids Entertainment outside of Japan, though voice actors claim that all episodes were dubbed before being canceled.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EVjQUawvxQ This F-Zero Anime Dub Will Never See the Light of Day (4Kids, 2004)]</ref>. Two companion games for the anime, both on Game Boy Advance: the first is a game of the same name, and the second titled ''F-Zero Climax''. Both were released in Japan near the end of 2003 and 2004, respectively, though ''F-Zero Climax'' never released outside Japan due to the cancellation of the anime dub. Despite ''F-Zero'' having been consistently featured as one of the contending Nintendo franchises in every installment of the ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'' series since that series' inception, the ''F-Zero'' franchise itself remained dormant for almost 20 years ever since the release of ''F-Zero Climax'', and only some series elements made intermittent and minor appearances outside of ''Smash Bros.'' since then. On September 14th, 2023, the ''F-Zero'' series suddenly returned with the announcement and release of ''{{iw|fzerowiki|F-Zero 99}}'' as a free Nintendo Switch Online game. The game is a spin on the classic ''F-Zero'' formula with 99 concurrent players in a single race and a greater emphasis on car combat and sabotaging opponents. It was the first game in the series to be developed by a Western studio, as {{iw|nintendowiki|Nintendo Software Technology}} worked on it. A year later, both ''F-Zero: GP Legend'' and ''F-Zero Climax'' were released onto the Nintendo Switch Online service's Game Boy Advance collection, marking the first time the latter was released internationally.

==In ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]''==

*[[File:CaptainFalconIcon(SSB).png|50px|right|link=Captain Falcon (SSB)]]'''{{SSB|Captain Falcon}}''' ([[Unlockable character|Unlockable]]): Captain Falcon appears as an unlockable character in the original ''Super Smash Bros.'' His design is based off his appearance from ''F-Zero X'', and his moveset is original to the game. His [[neutral special]] is the famous [[Falcon Punch]], which has a considerable amount of startup lag, with extremely high [[knockback]] and damage output to compensate. His attacks are very fast, and overall can [[combo]] into each other well. Captain Falcon currently lies in the A tier of the current ''SSB'' [[tier list]], in 3rd place.

*'''[[Victory theme#F-Zero Victory Theme|23: C. Falcon Wins]]''': The victory theme of [[Captain Falcon]] is a techno rock remix of the end-of-race track heard in ''F-Zero X''.

==In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]''==

*[[File:CaptainFalconIcon(SSBM).png|50px|right|link=Captain Falcon (SSBM)]]'''{{SSBM|Captain Falcon}}''' ([[Starter character|Starter]]): Captain Falcon is still the only playable ''F-Zero'' character in the game, but with a new Raptor Boost dash-uppercut attack as his new side special move. His appearance is still based off ''F-Zero X''. He remains a high-tier character for his fighting specifications. Falcon's evil DNA clone rival in the games, [[Blood Falcon]], is playable as an alternative costume in the game.{{clr}}

*[[File:MuteCityIconSSBM.png|right|link=Mute City (SSBM)]] '''F-Zero Grand Prix: {{SSBM|Mute City}}''' ([[Starter stage|Starter]]): Taking place on the first racetrack of ''F-Zero X'', this stage is unique in that it is a platform that routinely travels along the track, then stops and changes shape for a moment as players must both battle and stay out of the way of racing F-Zero machines that appear from the background, lest the characters get damaged. It is currently banned in ''Melee'' tournaments, though it was formerly legal in singles battles.{{clr}}

*[[File:BigBlueIconSSBM.png|right|link=Big Blue]] '''F-Zero Grand Prix: [[Big Blue]]''' ([[Unlockable stage|Unlockable]]): Taking place on a racetrack on a planet named Big Blue, this stage takes place on the F-Zero racing machines themselves as they zoom along at consistent speeds as disconnected platforms. Some items and [[Pokémon]] will fly off towards the left if sent out, due to the fact that they are floating in place, but the stage is moving.{{clr}}

*'''{{SSBMMusicLink|Mute City}}''': A remix of the rock music heard on the first track in F-Zero X for N64, Mute City. It is heard in {{SSBM|Mute City}}. It is Song 17 in the Sound Test.

*'''{{SSBMMusicLink|Big Blue}}''': A similar remix of the rock music heard on tracks in F-Zero X that take place on the planet Big Blue. It is heard in [[Big Blue]] as the primary track. It is Song 18 in the [[Sound Test]].

*'''[[Victory theme#F-Zero Victory Theme|Capt. Falcon's Victory]]''': The victory theme of [[Captain Falcon]] is a rock remix of the end-of-race track heard in ''F-Zero X''. It is Song 46 in the Sound Test.

{{main|List of SSBM trophies (F-Zero series)}}

==In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]''==

===Fighter===

*[[File:CaptainFalconIcon(SSBB).png|50px|right|link=Captain Falcon (SSBB)]]'''{{SSBB|Captain Falcon}}''' ([[Unlockable character|Unlockable]]): Like ''Melee'', Captain Falcon is still the only playable ''F-Zero'' character in the game. He resembles his ''Melee'' design, but now has the scarf from his ''GX'' appearance. He has the same moves as in ''[[Melee]]'', along with his final smash, [[Blue Falcon]]. When he uses this, he and the opponent(s) he is facing are taken onto an unknown race track where the [[Blue Falcon]] comes, Captain Falcon hops in it, and he drives it straight into his opponent. The opponent is then sent flying. When he uses [[Falcon Punch]], the player can tilt the control stick the opposite direction he is facing, and he will suddenly turn around, and hit the opponent that was behind him. However, his tier position has went from 8th (high tier) to 34th (fifth to last) due to a nerf in speed and power.

On the final character select screen (after all characters are unlocked), Captain Falcon joins the {{uv|Star Fox}} characters in the sixth column. All these characters fly spaceships (hence having a choice of fighting only up to two of these in {{SSBB|Classic Mode}}).

*[[File:bigbluemelee.png|right]]{{gameIcon|SSBM}}'''[[Melee Stages]]: [[Big Blue]]''' ([[Unlockable stage|Unlockable]]): A returning stage from ''Melee''.  A significant change is that floating items like Pokémon don't disappear instantly.  However, [[bumper]]s can't be placed in midair. The [[Falcon Flyer]] has also been scaled down.{{clr}}

*[[File:Icon-porttownaerodive.gif|right|link=Port Town Aero Dive]]'''[[Port Town Aero Dive]]''' ([[Starter stage|Starter]]): A stage based on the race course of the same name from [[F-Zero GX]].  Similar to the Mute City stage from ''Melee'', this battlefield takes place atop a moving platform that stops off at different points of the racetrack and players must dodge the F-Zero machines that make their way across the track.  These machines are both significantly more powerful and far bigger than they were in Mute City, and are often more difficult to see coming.{{clr}}

*'''[[Samurai Goroh]]''': Captain Falcon's hefty rival slashes at opponents with huge sword swipes.

{{main|List of SSBB Music (F-Zero series)}}

*'''{{SSBBMusicLink|F-Zero|Mute City}}''': A slightly more subdued remix of the series standby track theme that calls parallels to its remix in F-Zero GX.  It is used on the ''Port Town Aero Dive'' stage.

*'''{{SSBBMusicLink|F-Zero|Fire Field}}''': The music that plays on the Fire Field track in the original F-Zero.  It is used on the ''Port Town Aero Dive'' stage.  This track is also played during Captain Falcon's Classic Mode credits.

*'''{{SSBBMusicLink|F-Zero|White Land}}''': This was the track that played on all of the White Land tracks.  It is used on the ''Port Town Aero Dive'' stage.

 

*{{GameIcon|SSBM}}'''{{SSBBMusicLink|Super Smash Bros.|Big Blue (Melee)}}''': Taken directly from Melee.  It is used on the ''Big Blue'' stage.

*{{GameIcon|SSBM}}'''{{SSBBMusicLink|Super Smash Bros.|Mute City (Melee)}}''': Taken directly from Melee.  It is used on the ''Big Blue'' stage.

 

*'''{{SSBBMusicLink|F-Zero|Car Select}}''': Another track taken directly from the source, this one is the menu track from F-Zero X.  It is used on the ''Port Town Aero Dive'' stage.

*'''{{SSBBMusicLink|F-Zero|Dream Chaser}}''': The track that played on all of the Silence tracks in F-Zero X, this track is also taken directly from F-Zero X.  It is used on the ''Port Town Aero Dive'' stage.

*'''{{SSBBMusicLink|F-Zero|Devil's Call in Your Heart}}''': The music track that played on all of the Devil's Forest racetracks, it is taken directly from F-Zero X.  It is used on the ''Port Town Aero Dive'' stage.

*'''{{SSBBMusicLink|F-Zero|Climb Up!  And Get the Last Chance!}}''': Yet another track taken directly from F-Zero X, this one played on the game's White Land races. It is used on the ''Port Town Aero Dive'' stage.

*'''{{SSBBMusicLink|F-Zero|Brain Cleaner}}''': The track that played in F-Zero GX while viewing race replays, it is taken directly from said game.  It is the theme of the ''Port Town Aero Dive'' stage.

*'''{{SSBBMusicLink|F-Zero|Shotgun Kiss}}''': This track played on all of the Casino Palace tracks in F-Zero GX and happens to be taken directly from it.  It is used on the ''Port Town Aero Dive'' stage.

*'''{{SSBBMusicLink|F-Zero|Planet Colors}}''': This was the track that played in F-Zero GX on all of the Green Plant racetracks.  It is used on the ''Port Town Aero Dive'' stage.

 

*'''[[Victory theme#F-Zero Victory Theme|Victory! Captain Falcon]]''': The theme played whenever the player successfully completed a race in F-Zero GX.

{{main|List of SSBB trophies (F-Zero series)}}

===Masterpiece===

*[[F-Zero]]

There has been little to no ''F-Zero'' releases since ''Brawl'' barring cameos in the ''Mario Kart'' series and ''Nintendo Land''. Nevertheless, the series continues to be represented, arguably more closely linked to ''Smash Bros.'' than its own releases in the minds of those who know little to nothing about ''F-Zero''.

===Fighter===

*[[File:CaptainFalconIcon(SSB4-U).png|50px|right|link=Captain Falcon (SSB4)]]'''{{SSB4|Captain Falcon}}''' ([[Starter character|Starter]]): Captain Falcon returns as a starter character in ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]''. Captain Falcon has been significantly buffed from Brawl, in which he was a low-tier character despite his speed and power. Several of his moves have been given more reach and knockback, and some of his situational moves, such as his up tilt, have been greatly improved. Falcon's grab game has also been buffed, as his throws have less ending lag, allowing him to string together combos more reliably, much as he could before Brawl. Complementing this is his newly buffed dash grab, which comes out very quickly and covers a lot of distance. Falcon also significantly benefits from the changes to two of Brawl's mechanics - hitstun canceling, which is now only possible at higher percents and restored his comboing ability for lower percents, and chain grabbing, which is now impossible and was one of his biggest weaknesses in Brawl. As he is a heavyweight character, Falcon also benefits from the rage mechanic, without his combos being affected. As in SSB and Melee, Falcon is mainly a heavily offensive rushdown character who relies on overwhelming his opponents with rapid combos and powerful finishers.

*[[File:MuteCityIconSSB4-3.png|75px|right|link=Mute City (SSB4)]]'''{{SSB4|Mute City}}''' ([[Unlockable stage|Unlockable]]): A brand new stage that is based on Mute City from the original ''F-Zero'' on SNES. Similar to Big Blue from ''Melee'', it is possible to stand on the vehicles as they race along the track. The race goes towards the screen, rather than horizontally to the right. It is one of the few pixelated stages.{{clr}}

 

*[[File:PortTownAeroDiveIconSSB4-U.png|75px|right|link=Port Town Aero Dive]]{{gameIcon|SSBB}}'''[[Port Town Aero Dive]]''' ([[Starter stage|Starter]]): This stage returns from ''Brawl'' with new textures for the HD console.{{clr}}

 

 

 

 

*'''{{SSB4MusicLink|F-Zero|Mute City Ver. 3}}''': This track is a remastered version of the original ''SNES'' Mute City music. It is used on the new Mute City stage in the 3DS version and on Port Town Aero Dive in the Wii U version.

 

 

*'''{{SSB4MusicLink|F-Zero|Mute City (Original)|Mute City}}''': This track uses the original ''SNES'' Mute City music from ''F-Zero''. It is used on the same stage of the same name in the 3DS version and on Port Town Aero Dive in the Wii U version.

*'''{{SSB4MusicLink|F-Zero|Planet Colors}}''': This track uses the original ''NGC'' Green Plant music from ''F-Zero GX'', which first appeared on ''Brawl''. This plays on Port Town Aero Dive.

*'''[[Victory theme#F-Zero Victory Theme|Victory! Captain Falcon]]''': The theme played whenever the player successfully completed a race in F-Zero GX. Unchanged from ''Brawl''.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*'''{{SSBUMusicLink|F-Zero|Dream Chaser}}''': The Silence theme, sourced from ''F-Zero X''.

*'''{{SSBUMusicLink|F-Zero|Devil's Call in Your Heart}}''': The {{iw|fzerowiki|Devil's Forest}} theme, sourced from ''F-Zero X''.

 

 

==Games with elements appearing in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series==

The ''F-Zero'' universe has games represented throughout the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series with a total of 4 represented games. The latest game represented in this universe is ''{{s|fzerowiki|F-Zero GX}}'', released on July 25, 2003.

**{{GameIcon|SSB}} [[Captain Falcon]] debuts in this game as a playable racer.

**{{GameIcon|SSB4}} Captain Falcon also appears as a costume for the {{SSB4|Mii Brawler}}.

**{{GameIcon|SSBM}} [[Mute City]] debuts as a track in this game.

**{{GameIcon|SSBU}} "'''{{SSBUMusicLink|F-Zero|Big Blue (Remix)}}'''": A new, trance-inspired remix of the [[Big Blue]] theme from ''{{iw|fzerowiki|F-Zero|game}}''.

**{{GameIcon|SSBB}} This game appears as a [[Masterpieces|masterpiece]] in ''Brawl'' and ''Smash for Wii U.''

**{{GameIcon|SSB}} Jody Summer, who debuted in this game, appears as an alternate costume for Captain Falcon.

**{{GameIcon|SSBM}} The models for the cars on this stage are ripped directly from this game.

**{{GameIcon|SSB}} "'''[[Victory theme#F-Zero Victory Theme|Victory! Captain Falcon]]'''": The victory fanfare of [[Captain Falcon]], both used in ''64'' and ''Melee'', is a techno rock remix of the end-of-race track heard in ''F-Zero X''.

**{{GameIcon|SSBM}} "'''{{SSBUMusicLink|F-Zero|Big Blue (Melee)}}'''": A similar remix of the rock music heard on tracks in F-Zero X that take place on the planet Big Blue. It is heard in [[Big Blue]] as the primary track.

**{{GameIcon|SSBB}} "'''{{SSBUMusicLink|F-Zero|Dream Chaser}}'''": The track that played on all of the Silence tracks in F-Zero X.

**{{GameIcon|SSBB}} "'''{{SSBUMusicLink|F-Zero|Devil's Call in Your Heart}}'''": The music track that played on all of the Devil's Forest racetracks, it is taken directly from F-Zero X.

**{{GameIcon|SSBB}} "'''{{SSBUMusicLink|F-Zero|Climb Up! And Get the Last Chance!}}'''": Taken directly from F-Zero X, this one played on the game's White Land races.

===''{{s|fzerowiki|F-Zero AX}}''===

*Playable characters:

**{{GameIcon|SSBB}} Captain Falcon’s design has been updated with elements of his design from this game and its console counterpart.

*Assist Trophy:

**{{GameIcon|SSBB}} Samurai Goroh uses his design from this game and its console counterpart.

**{{GameIcon|SSBB}} "'''[[Victory theme#F-Zero Victory Theme|Victory! Captain Falcon]]'''": The theme played whenever the player successfully completed a race in ''F-Zero AX'' and ''F-Zero GX''. It is used in every title after ''Brawl''

**{{GameIcon|SSBB}} "'''{{SSBUMusicLink|F-Zero|Planet Colors}}'''": This was the track that played in F-Zero AX and F-Zero GX on all of the Green Plant racetracks.

===''{{s|fzerowiki|F-Zero GX}}''===

*Stages:

**{{GameIcon|SSBB}} [[Port Town Aero Dive]] debuts as a track in this game.

*Trophies:

**{{GameIcon|SSBB}} Red Gazelle, Blood Falcon, Wild Goose, Blood Falcon, Octoman, Captain Falcon (F-Zero GX), Golden Fox, Mr. EAD, Fire Stingray, Dr. Stewart, White Cat, Black Shadow, Gomar & Shioh, Blue Falcon and Iron Tiger use artwork from this game.

**{{GameIcon|SSBU}} Captain Falcon, Dr. Stewart, Pico, Samurai Goroh, Mighty Gazelle, Octoman, Bio Rex, Blood Falcon, Jack Levin, Zoda, Black Shadow, Jody Summer, Baba, Mr. EAD and The Skull use artwork from this game.

**{{GameIcon|SSBB}} "'''{{SSBUMusicLink|F-Zero|Brain Cleaner}}'''": The track that played in F-Zero GX while viewing race replays, it is taken directly from said game.

**{{GameIcon|SSBB}} "'''{{SSBUMusicLink|F-Zero|Shotgun Kiss}}'''": This track played on all of the Casino Palace tracks in F-Zero GX and happens to be taken directly from it.

*''F-Zero'' and {{uv|Punch-Out!!}} are the only universes where none of their playable characters have any projectile attacks.

*''F-Zero'', {{uv|Kirby}}, {{uv|The Legend of Zelda}} and {{uv|Super Smash Bros.}} itself are the only universes to use the same series symbol throughout the entire ''Smash Bros.'' series.

*''F-Zero'' is one of four series not to have a home stage for a fighter in the installment they were first included in, the other three being ''EarthBound'', {{uv|Fire Emblem}}, and {{uv|R.O.B.}}

**This was technically the case for {{uv|Wii Fit}} and {{uv|Duck Hunt}} as well, as neither series received a stage in ''Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS'' at launch, though the {{b|Duck Hunt|stage}} stage would later be added as free DLC to the 3DS version of ''Smash 4''.  

*''F-Zero'' and {{uv|Banjo-Kazooie}} are the only franchises in the ''Smash Bros.'' series to feature a playable character that debuted in a racing game, though ''Banjo-Kazooie'' itself represents the platformer genre.

==External links==