There’s perhaps no Nintendo community quite as hard done by as F-Zero fans. The last major entry in the series (a couple of minor GBA titles aside) was F-Zero GX all the way in 2003. Since then, fan demands for a new F-Zero have largely fallen on deaf ears, and a lot of the series’ trademark antigrav gameplay was unceremoniously lifted for Mario Kart 8. Ah, but perhaps it’s not all doom and gloom – in the past year, prominent Nintendo leakers have begun to hint something F-Zero related was again in the works, and today during the most recent Nintendo Direct it was confirmed.

　　Well, today during the latest Nintendo Direct a new F-Zero was confirmed, and… it’s not what almost anyone was expecting. F-Zero 99 is a new battle royale version of the original SNES game. Yes, a battle royale. 99 pixelated players will take to the track with the goal of being the last one surviving. Some new mechanics have also been introduced, including the ability to rise up to an additional track above the regular one in order to get ahead of opponents. Check out the first trailer for F-Zero 99, below.

　　Well... it looks fun, but I'm not sure this is what F-Zero fans were wanting. Here's a bit more information about the game, courtesy of Nintendo...

　　"Rev up your engines and get ready to tear up the track, because with 99 racers on the course the margin for error is zero! F-Zero 99 features courses and machines from the original Super NES game in challenging multiplayer races brimming with high-speed, high-stakes action. Your Power Meter is your key to first place – it will decrease if you crash, or you can burn some of it to fuel a temporary speed boost. If the meter runs out, you’re eliminated! You can even relive your F-Zero glory days with the Super NES controller, available exclusively to Nintendo Switch Online members. Plus, complete goals while racing to unlock cosmetic options for your machine, so you can be as flashy as you are fast."

　　F-Zero 99 drifts onto the Nintendo Switch… today! What do you think? Interested in this unique take on F-Zero? Or is this just a cruel tease?