GoNintendo 'End of Day' thought - FAST Racing Neo review

Miyamoto has famously said that Nintendo won't be doing another F-Zero until they find a reason to. He feels like another installment in the franchise would simply be a prettier version of what Nintendo has done before. That's quite sad to hear, as there are thousands, if not millions of fans that would be happy with that direction. It's been quite some time since we've seen a true F-Zero title...even longer if you're looking for the last console outing. Whether Nintendo actually brings the franchise back remains to be seen, but that leaves the window open for other companies to swoop in.

Shin'en is the one developer that really seems focused on trying to woo those F-Zero fans with something familiar, yet different. Wii owners had a chance to check out FAST Racing League, a WiiWare-only outing that was trying to fill the F-Zero void. It certainly was fast, looked very pretty and offered up a lot of fun. The thing is, the 40 meg size limit for WiiWare really shackled the developer's ideas and held them back from pushing the envelope. That's not an issue with the Wii U, where developers have a lot more space and hardware power to work with.

That brings us to FAST Racing Neo, the sequel to FAST Racing League. There's no denying that this title is indeed a sequel, but it also serves as a 'what-if' scenario. What if Nintendo didn't restrict developers with file size on WiiWare? What if the Wii had a bit more power under the hood? In the case of Shin'en's FAST Racing Neo, it seems that all these aspects combined enable a bigger and better game in every way possible. FAST Racing NEO is everything a sequel should be.

There is one goal of FAST Racing Neo, and that's to blow your face off with the insane speed of its racing. FAST Racing Neo could very well be the fastest game I've ever seen. The sense of speed in this game is absolutely mind-blowing. These crafts really move along at a blistering pace and you absolutely feel like you're flying down the track at over 600 miles per hour. The game world around you becomes a blur as you're speeding down the tracks, trying to maintain control of your vehicle. It's absolute insanity for the entire length of your races, and that's exactly how it should be.

There's no doubt that you'll be ping-ponging off walls when you first start racing, but that's not an indicator of a poorly planned game. That's done on purpose to. You're being taught how to drive the hard way. The vehicles you're piloting have a very loose and floaty feel to them. It's almost like you're gently guiding them where to go, rather than making precise turns and corners. This is actually a really good thing. As you learn how you how to control these crafts, you'll settle down into a groove that fits perfectly with this style. Your paths through tracks will be ultra smooth and will let you glide around your turns. There's almost a rhythm to racing that feels ridiculously good once you nail it.

You better spend a lot of time learning the ins and outs of how to best control your craft, because the other racers out there aren't going to let you slip by into first without a fight. I really appreciate the difficulty of FAST Racing Neo, because the normal setting actually gives you a nice challenge. Just one or two mistakes can end up knocking you far out of first place. You're never really going to have a race where you are so far ahead that you'll feel like no one can catch you. The competition is out to win just like you are, and they make every race feel tight and exciting.

That's not the only reason the game will have you on your toes, though. The tracks in FAST Racing Neo are just as exciting as the competition, if not moreso. You may see a lot of themes you've seen in other racing games, but it's how they're presented that makes them different. One course is completely rain-soaked and throws you into the middle of a massive storm that batters you every step of the way. Another has you hitting jumps in outer space, which launch you into floaty portions of the track with no ground below. You'll also end up dodging asteroid attacks at the same time! Hell, even the first course kicks up a dust tornado that's whipping up right behind you!

For some of you, this might sound like a fun racing experience, but it also sounds by-the-numbers. It's certainly a futuristic racing game that has a lot of elements that you've seen in other games. It's also excellently made in every facet, making it a truly enjoyable experience. The question is, how does this game turn the futuristic racer into its own thing? What's the twist or wrinkle that's unique to FAST Racing Neo? That gameplay aspect comes from phase-shifting, which was also present in FAST Racing League.

Parts of the track are going to be covered in blue or orange sections. Your ship has the ability to shift it's 'phase' to blue or orange. If you match the color of your ship's phase to the same color on the track, you'll end up getting a speed boost. The longer you're in that part of the track, the longer your boost lasts. Of course, your ship will end up slowing down if you don't match your ship's phase with the correct color on the track. Obviously, you can see how this aspect adds something new and different to racing, and can also be the make-or-break point for a win. Hit the right phase at the last minute and coast to victory. Hit the wrong phase going over a phase-colored jump and watch your ship crash and burn.

All of these aspects together lead to a really deep and exciting experience, fueled even more by the game's soundtrack. Shin'en is well known for making truly pretty graphics, and that's an area already obvious to everyone that has seen footage of this game. I also like to think that Shin'en is known for having excellent soundtracks in their games. Music that really matches up with the on-screen action, and FAST Racing Neo continues that trend. You're probably expecting an adrenaline-filled, bass-heavy, electronic soundtrack in your futuristic, high-speed racing adventure. That's exactly what FAST Racing Neo delivers. Lots of music that'll have your sub woofer pumping as you blast down the tracks. It fits oh-so perfectly and really enhances the entire experience.

FAST Racing Neo is absolutely the game to quench your F-Zero thirst. This is a high-quality racing title that shines it all areas. You unlock cups and vehicles, take on challenging AI, feel the weight of your ship, blast along at insane speeds and get enveloped by the thumping soundtrack. There's even a Hero mode that completely changes up the rules and gives you an extremely tough challenge. This is exactly the type of experience I want from this type of game. With F-Zero taking a break and the wipE‍' ​out series laying low, Shin'en has the perfect chance to swoop in and steal the show. FAST Racing Neo has everything you want from a futuristic racer. The game looks fantastic, sounds amazing and above all else, really drives home the feeling of racing at ridiculous speeds.

The craziest part about all of this is that the game only costs $15! I normally don't talk about price in my reviews, but this is some ridiculous value you're getting. The various cups/vehicles to unlock, the Hero mode that changes things up completely, the split-screen multiplayer and even online racing for up to 8 people! I think even the most stingy gamer out there could admit that a title like this could pull in $30 easy.

FAST Racing Neo is an absolute no-brainer. If you have a Wii U and an internet connection, FAST Racing Neo is a must-have. There's no excuse not to hop into this game and have one hell of a time with it.

NOTE - Online racing was not tested for review. Impressions of this aspect will be added to the review at a later date.