F-Zero: Maximum Velocity

F-Zero: Maximum Velocity
Vehicle Comparison Guide

Version 1.1, created June 26, 2001 and updated June 27, 2001

(c) 2001 Mike Yi (Mr. Blarney) [email protected]

You may use this for personal means, but please don't post it on your own
site without permission, OK? Don't use this to make money, but do use it to
enhance your gaming experience!

===========================================================

Sections:
1. Introduction and Version History
2. Table Listings
3. Individual Listings
4. Unlocking Vehicles
5. Miscellaneous Junk

===========================================================

1. Introduction and Version History

*Introduction

Although this guide may appear at face value to be just a copy of the
game's Vehicle Stats from the game in table form, I have also included, for
your enjoyment, extra stats I have observed from the game. If you have any
qualms or notice any mistakes, contact me at [email protected], OK? I'll be
happy to change any mistakes, if given any to check.

*Version History

1.0: First Edition, included sections 1-3 and 5. (June 26, 2001)

1.1: Most Recent Edition, added section 4. (June 27, 2001)

===========================================================

2. Table Listings

I hope that this isn't too complicated, but I will explain my
abbreviations and extra stats...

Machine Name - Self-Explanatory, I hope?
Normal Speed - Nrml Spd - High speed under normal conditions, in km/h.
Boost Speed - Bst Sped - High speed under boosting, in km/h.
Boost Time - Bst Time - The amount of time the boost will last, in
seconds.
Body Armor - Armor - The ability a machine can take damage, out of 100.
Turn Performance - Trn Prf - The ability of a machine to turn,
basically its turning quickness.
Turn Balance - Trn Bln - The ability of a machine to "grip" the track
in turning, basically how well it keeps from sliding in turns.
Acceleration - Accel - An estimate of how well a car accelerates. I'm
thinking of separating this into two sections, low-speed and high-speed. Give
me feedback!
Flying Ability - Flying - How well a machine takes jump plates.
Boost Maintenance - Bst Mnt - How well a machine maintains boost
speeds, either after moving over a dash plate or after exhausting a boost.

Machine Name | Nrml Spd | Bst Sped | Bst Time | Armor | Trn Prf |
| | | | | |
Hot Violet | 422 km/h | 579 km/h | 6.0 sec | 69 | B |
Fire Ball | 440 km/h | 565 km/h | 6.5 sec | 82 | C |
J. B. Crystal | 418 km/h | 560 km/h | 9.0 sec | 63 | C |
Wind Walker | 428 km/h | 585 km/h | 5.3 sec | 50 | A |
Sly Joker | 436 km/h | 591 km/h | 3.0 sec | 75 | C |
The Stingray | 460 km/h | 525 km/h | 12.0 sec | 85 | C |
Silver Thunder | 464 km/h | 589 km/h | 4.7 sec | 90 | D |
Falcon Mk-II | 448 km/h | 573 km/h | 7.2 sec | 66 | C |
Fighting Comet | 412 km/h | 593 km/h | 9.0 sec | 56 | D |
Jet Vermilion | 456 km/h | 602 km/h | 4.2 sec | 100 | E |

Machine Name | Trn Bln | Accel | Flying | Bst Mnt |
| | | | |
Hot Violet | C | A | C | D |
Fire Ball | B | C | B | C |
J. B. Crystal | A | B | C | C |
Wind Walker | D | A | B | B |
Sly Joker | A | B | C | A |
The Stingray | C | D | B | C |
Silver Thunder | B | E | D | C |
Falcon Mk-II | B | A | B | D |
Fighting Comet | B | B | A | A |
Jet Vermilion | B | E | D | B |

I'm also thinking of adding a cornering speed category, showing how
well the cars maintain speed in Blast Turns. Give me feedback!

Boost Maintenance stats estimated from Bianca City's Stretch Circuit.
Flying Ability stats estimated from Cloud Carpet's Long Jump Circuit.

===========================================================

3. Individual Listings

No, I'm not going to put all the stats down here again. I'm just going
to concisely describe the machines and their abilities.

Hot Violet - Starter - The Hot Violet is one of the beginner's
favorites. It has middle-of-the road stats, and while the player may have to
get used to Blast Turns, they will have to master that skill anyway! This
machine has great acceleration to overcome any mistakes, but it's flying
skills and boost speed maintenance leave something to be desired.

Fire Ball - Starter - Not for beginners, this is for more intermediate
drivers. The Fire Ball has a nice normal top speed, and has good body armor.
It is harder to get a Rocket Start with this car than others though, and its
turning takes time to get used to.

J. B. Crystal - Starter - Most beginners will use the J. B. Crystal.
Even though it has a low max speed under normal conditions, the easy turning
ability is very attractive to starters. In addition, it has a good boost and
time combination. Unfortunately, the J.B. Crystal has somewhat light armor,
and only average flying ability and boost maintenance. This is still a solid
machine, though.

Wind Walker - Starter - Although the Wind Walker has the best turn
performance in the game, its worst turn balance makes it hard to steer until
Blast Turn mastery is achieved. The low body armor also turns off many people
who wish to drive it. To make up for these flaws, the Wind Walker has a high
Boost Speed and good boost speed maintenance. This is a machine left for more
advanced drivers.

Sly Joker - 1st Unlockable - Fans of the J. B. Crystal will like the
Sly Joker. Its turning is great, although I have noticed personally that it
loses some speed in corners. The Sly Joker has a high boost speed, but a
short boost time. What it has to make up for it is a high boost speed
maintenance. In easy turning courses, the Sly Joker can come up with the best
times. In addition, it has good armor and a good normal speed!

The Stingray - 2nd Unlockable - The Stingray (or is that The The
Stingray?) has a very high normal speed and the longest boost speed of all
the machines. It also has high body armor, and can practically fly off jump
plates. Unfortunately, it has a poor high-speed acceleration and very strange
turning characteristics. Still, it is a very popular car.

Silver Thunder - 3rd Unlockable - Only experts handle the unpopular
Silver Thunder. Although it has the highest normal speed, its poor
acceleration takes a long time to get there! This machine has poor jumping
skills and poor handling. But, in the hands of an expert, this machine can do
well. With its high armor and boost aspects, the Silver Thunder can take on
any obstacle.

Falcon Mk-II - 4th Unlockable - Hot Violet fans also like the Falcon
Mk-II. It has a high normal speed and a long boost. Although its armor may be
a little below average and its ability to maintain boost speeds is low, this
is still a popular machine. With a high acceleration and its familiar
handling, people who have unlocked this car can obtain great times with it.

Fighting Comet - 5th Unlockable - This hard-to get machine is worth the
effort. Although it has poor handling and poor armor, the Fighting Comet is
still a good car in the hands of an expert driver. To make up for its poor
normal speed, the Fighting Comet has a very high boost speed and long boost
time. This machine also boasts one of the best boost speed maintenances in
the game, allowing it to keep its high speed. The Fighting Comet also has the
best flying abilities in the game. But, if the player cannot handle the car
and find a good place to boost, then there will be trouble.

Jet Vermilion - Almost Secret - The Jet Vermilion is loved by experts,
hated by those not experienced enough. The main problem with it is its poor
acceleration and poor handling abilities, which are worst in the game. The
experts who can overcome these difficulties have a machine that nobody can
defeat. Its high normal speed and its blazing boost speed allow it to make
record times in all but the twistiest of tracks. In addition, its armor
allows it take advantage of the course obstacles to increase its speed. The
only thing for experts to be wary about is its poor flying abilities.

===========================================================

4. Unlocking Vehicles

Although there are countless other FAQs explaining this system, it's
probably going to be more convenient for me to write up the conditions here,
huh?

The cars are unlocked in the same order, always: Sly Joker, The
Stingray, Silver Thunder, Falcon Mk-II, and Fighting Comet.

One car is unlocked whenever one of the following conditions is met:

-Beat Pawn, Knight, and Bishop on Standard difficulty
-Beat Pawn, Knight, and Bishop on Expert difficulty
-Beat Queen on Expert difficulty
-Beat any class on Master difficulty
-Beat all four classes on Master difficulty

What about that special Jet Vermilion? There's three ways to obtain it,
and one of them is very easy to do!

1. The most difficult, but most prestigious method. Beat all four
classes on Master difficulty using all nine previous vehicles to obtain the
Jet Vermilion. Very few have done it, and the ones who have definitely
deserve the round of applause!

2. Not as difficult, just as time consuming. Complete the Championship
Circuit 255 times. It takes a lot of time, but it's still a very valid way of
obtaining the Jet Vermilion.

3. Looked down upon by most experts, this is the way most people will
be able to get their hands on the Jet Vermilion. At Nintendo of Japan's
website, there is a page to obtain a code to unlock the Jet Vermilion
(http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n08/afzj/vermil/index.html). Input your file name
using the buttons at the bottom, and press the lowest right key when
complete. You will get a code on the next screen. In your game, go to the
Grand Prix Car Selection screen and input L R Start R L Select. A code screen
will come up where you can punch in your custom code. Back on the select
screen, the Jet Vermilion will appear wedged between the Fighting Comet and
the Hot Violet.

To those who will choose to go to the dark side and cheat with method
3... be warned that the car is unstable as I say it is. I haven't come to
grips with it, and many experts will still have troubles with it. At the
least, obtain the Fighting Comet first before cheating, will ya? Not only
will you develop the skill to eventually handle the Jet Vermilion, you'll
also have a nice vehicle cycle when you do get it.

===========================================================

5. Miscellaneous Junk

* Make Comments!

Please send feedback. Whether you want to say I'm all good or all bad,
tell me. Want to see something added to the FAQ? Tell me. I want to make this
FAQ as good as possible, and seeing as it's my only FAQ so far, I'll have
enough time to diligently make corrections. E-Mail me at [email protected], OK?
No Snail mail, sorry.

* Things I'm thinking of adding

As I get better, I'll be able to make more comments on this FAQ. Maybe
I'll add a reader comments section. Maybe I'll add an unlocking system
section. Again, we'll wait and see

* What I like to use

Well, I started out with the J.B. Crystal, and then used the Sly Joker
when I unlocked it. I could not handle the Silver Thunder, so I used the
Falcon Mk-II next. Currently, I'm trying to get the hang of the Fighting
Comet. I'm staying away from the Jet Vermilion for now.

*Where credit is due...

I suppose I'll have to give thanks to the people who influenced me to
make this.

GameFAQs: www.gamefaqs.com : This place and the community has helped me
gather information on the machines and how to get the machines. Thanks to all
the community.

Nintendo: www.nintendo.com : I suppose I have to say thanks for making
another great game and a great system to go with it. I've been a Nintendo
person all my life, and without Nintendo, I'd be very different right now.

*End of the FAQ.

Have fun, stay out of trouble. Don't steal this, OK? Nothing else to
say, send me stuff!

Mike Yi (Mr. Blarney) [email protected]