When you think of racing games and Nintendo, Mario Kart is surely the first thing that comes to mind, but once upon a time, Nintendo had its very own racing series — and it was incredible. 35 years ago, F-Zero basically created Podracing before that was even a thing, defining the very idea of the futuristic sci-fi racer, and revolutionizing the genre in the process. And even though F-Zero seems like a wisp of a memory to Nintendo these days, what’s amazing is how that original game is still one of the best-playing racing games you’ll ever find — it feels like it hasn’t aged a day.
First released on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) in 1990, F-Zero is a futuristic racing game set in the dystopian future of 2560 — where billionaires with too much money and time on their hands create a deadly Formula One-style league called F-Zero. Racers from around the galaxy come seeking glory, money, or simply the thrill of the race. Yeah, it feels a little more on the nose now than it did in 1990.
