F-Zero AX
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F-Zero AX is an arcade racing game and the only arcade edition of the F-Zero franchise. AX was released alongside of its Nintendo GameCube counterpart, F-Zero GX. Designed for the Triforce arcade board, players can race in one of fourteen machines on six circuits. There are two versions of the game cabinet, one of which includes a mechanical tilting seat. The tilting cabinet is raised cosiderably higher than a standard one and requires the installed seatbelt to be fastened for the tilting mechanism to be active. Releasing the seatbelt during a game will return the seat to the idle position.
The differences between AX and GX lie in the particulars of its machines and tracks. The game's two versions have only four vehicles in common (the Blue Falcon, Wild Goose, Golden Fox and Fire Stingray that have been in almost every F-Zero game to date), no tracks, and no custom parts. However, players with a GCN memory card can use it to trade information between the game's two versions; completing a track, scoring first place with a particular driver and unlocking custom parts in AX allows players to access those features in GX, and custom vehicles built in GX can be driven in AX. Players without access to an AX cabinet can unlock its cars and tracks in GX by beating higher difficulties, but not the AX custom parts (GameSharks, Action Replays and other cheating devices notwithstanding). Finally, for players with no access to a GameCube, most AX cabinets offer a cardboard "licence card" with a magnetic strip for retaining data.
Gameplay
In terms of gameplay, AX mirrors GX in most ways. Players race futuristic rocket-powered hovercars on three-dimensional, gravity-defying racetracks. Cars vary in their handling characteristics according to several factors: Body, their durability; Grip, their traction; Weight, which determines the car's balance between acceleration and top speed; and Boost, which depletes the car's energy meter for a burst of acceleration. The energy meter also powers the car's shields, forcing the player to decide between safety and speed. Thankfully, energy can be regained by driving over special recharge strips scattered around each course. Finally, players can construct custom vehicles by assembling pre-existing parts (body, engine and cockpit); these parts are unlocked by racing well.
Also, there are three other features in F-Zero AX: customizable machines, Internet rankings, and memory cards. As with F-Zero GX, you can create your own racing vehicle, using parts bought with tickets, which are won in Grand Prix. There are also Internet rankings, which are gained through Time-Trial, but an F-Zero AX license card is needed, along with your own account (these can be vended from the AX cabinet for a fee). Lastly, if one owns a GCN memory card with F-Zero GX data on it, one can plug that memory card into the AX cabinet and access the custom vehicles contained there, as well as take home any custom vehicles, parts and even racetracks won on the AX cabinet. (The license card keeps track of the same data, but it cannot be plugged into your GameCube.) It should be pointed out that the AX and GX versions contain different tracks, vehicles and vehicle parts. Characters and tracks can be unlocked with GX alone, but custom vehicle parts can only be assembled by playing both versions using the same GCN memory card or with the aid of a cheating device.
Grand Prix & Time-Trial
There are two modes of play, the Time-Trial and the Grand Prix. In Time-Trial, you must complete the selected track faster than the best time given. In Grand Prix, you must complete six tracks on one of three difficulties (Novice, Standard, or Master) with first place on all tracks in order to be called champion.Circuits
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Playable Characters
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The four characters from the original F-Zero SNES game are also playable.
- Captain Falcon
- Dr. Stewart
- Pico
- Samurai Goroh
References
| Main series: | F-Zero > X | ' | GX/AX | ' | Climax |
| By chronology: | F-Zero > X | GX/AX | |
| Re-make: | BS F-Zero series > F-Zero X Expansion Kit |
| Unreleased: | Zero Racers |
| Locations: | Mute City > Port Town | Planets |
| People: | Shigeru Miyamoto > Toshihiro Nagoshi |
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