One of the most exciting parts of Nintendo’s new console is, well, an old console. GameCube games are coming to the Switch 2 for Nintendo Online subscribers, and it’s starting off with a pretty killer trio of releases: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (which somehow was never ported to the Switch), Soulcalibur II (with the all-important inclusion of Link as a playable character), and F-Zero GX (a series in desperate need of a new entry). And after having a few minutes to play F-Zero, I was reminded of just how excellent Nintendo’s little cube used to be.
For the uninitiated, F-Zero is a futuristic racing series that’s only had a handful of entries and is sort of like Wipeout but with Nintendo flavor. That means blazingly fast races and spaceship-like vehicles piloted by a large lineup of memorable characters. GX is the last proper console release since 2003 (there have been some portable entries and spinoffs like F-Zero 99). Because of this, it’s become something of a cult classic, particularly as fans await a new entry.
It’s also a game that has aged incredibly well. Playing it on the Switch 2, F-Zero GX was exactly as fast and smooth as I remember, with graphics that looked crisp and clean. It’s the kind of game where its futuristic landscapes zip by so quickly that you barely have a moment to spot all the cool details, like sand sharks jumping through a desert expanse.
I was able to play the game using the new Switch 2 version of the GameCube controller, which will similarly be available for NSO subscribers on the day the Switch 2 launches (June 5th). It always looked a little funky, but it’s a great controller and now it’s wireless — it’s like a less chunky version of the classic Wavebird. Replaying F-Zero and Wind Waker probably isn’t a reason for most people to buy a new console, but it’s a nice addition if you’re already a NSO subscriber and are planning to upgrade.
While the GameCube was far from Nintendo’s most successful console, it was still home to a defining lineup of games that has placed it firmly in cult territory — and now those games have the chance to hit a much wider audience with the Switch 2.
