This game took me by total surprise. I haven't felt compelled to write a review since Tingle. But this game is really good.
The pros:
- incredible graphics
- believable sense of speed
- thrilling track design with half pipes, loop de loops, a variety of huge jumps including 180 track to track
- great responsiveness from the cars, with lots of nuanced in-game car control options
- really impressive AI. This is the first racing game since Mario Kart where opponents actually play like real people
- perfect frame rate. No stutters for all the graphical detail
The downsides:
- No story mode though there is a tourney mode. I'd have liked to get to know the characters
- skimpy unlockables. Not huge, but would have increased the replay value and taken little extra effort
- no cutesy animated graphics for trophy gains or in menu. Would have made the whole thing feel more regal
- The bottom screen really could have used a map screen. You need to memorize the track to know when to do a final push
Nothing real major on the con side. It's a really fun arcade-style title, and way more entertaining the the F-Zeros, if for nothing other than the fact that there's no cheapness anywhere in this title. Cheap as in none of the AIs cheat, no cheap deaths by flying off the track, and ample opportunity to power up your nitros. If you lose the race, it's your fault, not the game's. So when you do win, you earn it. That's fun!