F-Zero GP Legend

 Game Boy Advance
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 31 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 31
  3. Negative: 0 out of 31
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  1. Computer and Video Games
    91
    It might look old-skool from the screenshots, but GP Legend totally flies. Races are so tight this is guaranteed to get your heart pumping.
  2. NintendoWorldReport
    90
    I would be remiss to close this review without mentioning the fantastic music of F-Zero GP Legend. You like classic F-Zero Tunes? They are all here, except Death Wind. Like some of F-Zero X’s music? Some of that is here too. Want to hear new stuff? You’re golden. It is still a pleasure to listen to F-Zero’s music.
  3. VideoGamesLife
    90
    This is just about the racing cream of the GBA crop. Fast, flowing and more absorbing than industrial sponges, owning a GBA and not having this in your collection should bring with it a custodial sentence.
  5. GamePro
    90
    Damn fast, damn challenging, and thoroughly addictive, F-Zero: GP Legend dominates the handheld circuit. [Oct 2004, p.90]
  6. eToychest
    85
    F-zero GP Legend, despite its awkward bumper car-style physics and shortcomings in AI difficulty, is an entertaining game for anyone looking for a portable racer.
  7. Play Magazine
    83
    They took out the throttle warble (bah!) but the Zero's still a hero. [Nov 2004, p.89]
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  8. Siliconera
    82
    Enough content for die hard gamers and an easy learning curve for casual gamers. [JPN Import]
  9. Inside Gamer Online
    82
    Just gushing with tons of gameplay options. The game offeres more than what you'd expect from the series.
  10. My Gamer
    82
    The graphics are extraordinarily fast, accurate, and clear for a GBA game.
  11. Da Gameboyz
    81
    There is some upgrading to this version of the series but I cannot help but get a feeling of Déjà vu.
  12. GMR Magazine
    80
    Offers racing thrills that compete with those in full-sized games. [Dec 2004, p.125]
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  13. Eurogamer
    80
    The mixture of task and race-based challenges, refined controls and delicately poised difficulty level are adequate compensation.
  14. IGN
    80
    At its core it's fast and challenging racer that's still fun as heck...and it's a welcome addition to the F-Zero series.
  15. GameSpot
    80
    Gameplay and hovercraft control remain unchanged. Fortunately, time has been kind to this old gameplay standard, and it is as much fun to play today as it ever was.
  16. GameZone
    80
    The most striking thing about GP Legend is the courses.
  17. Games Radar
    80
    More of the same might not necessarily be a bad thing, but we'd be lying if we said we hadn't hoped for better. [Import]
  18. WHAM! Gaming
    80
    With great sound, great graphics and gameplay that has stood the test of time, F-Zero GP Legends is going to appeal to almost everyone. Well everyone who doesn't already own "F-Zero Maximum Velocity."
  19. Yahoo!
    80
    It's fast, action-packed, and exciting, and has no significant flaws aside from its lack of originality and crazy plot.
  20. G4 TV
    80
    While the underlying gameplay of F-Zero GP Legend hasn't changed much since 1991, it's still good enough to make it one of the best racers on the GBA. Its multiple modes and bite-sized action make it ideal for the portable environment.
  21. Cheat Code Central
    80
    GP Legends will go a long way in providing hours of racing entertainment for the F-Zero buff. It's easy to get into and allows a lot of racing growth as your experience increases.
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  22. Armchair Empire
    79
    Aside from the multiplayer (which is a hoot), there’s not a whole lot that’s new.
  23. Nintendo Power
    76
    Story mode's villains are so vile that you really want to run them down in races. [Nov 2004, p.129]
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  24. Weekly Famitsu
    73
    7 / 7 / 7 / 8 - 29 [Vol 781]
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  25. games(TM)
    70
    Make no mistake, even though GP Legend can be a tough nut to crack, the consistency of the track design and handling means this high difficulty level invites rather than discourages another go. [June 2004, p.118]
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  26. AceGamez
    70
    While there is plenty of polish to F-Zero: GP Legend and you do get a good feeling of speed, there isn't that much that's new.
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  27. GameShark
    70
    While it may not be the greatest GBA game ever, F-Zero GP Legend is a solid and often fun driving game that fans of the franchise will gladly embrace.
  28. Game Informer
    65
    This game has but one feather in its cap: its difficulty. [Nov 2004, p.170]
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  29. GameSpy
    60
    Perhaps the worst aspect of this mode is that the difficulty level seems unexpectedly bipolar. Each challenge is either trivial or unreasonably hard.
  30. GamerFeed
    60
    Feels like a by-the-numbers sequel.
  31. 1UP
    55
    Racing games have come so far since 1991 -- even on GBA -- I simply can't muster up an ounce of enthusiasm for such an archaic creation, regardless of how nicely it's been polished up. There's no question that GP Legend is well-crafted, but it's intensely boring.
  32. Edge Magazine
    50
    You won't even break a sweat before you get to the Silver Cup in the Expert class, and F-Zero stalwarts will feel patronised by the ease with which this short-lived Tournament mode can be completed. [Feb 2004, p.110]
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Awards & Rankings

19
#19 Best Game Boy Advance Game of 2004
35
#35 Most Discussed Game Boy Advance Game of 2004
32
#32 Most Shared Game Boy Advance Game of 2004

User Reviews

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User Score
8.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 30 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 30
  3. Negative: 1 out of 30
  1. Yojimbo2015
    Apr 28, 2023
    8
    GP Legend does little more than add an extra story mode that's a series of challenges that amount to "beat your rival to the end of theGP Legend does little more than add an extra story mode that's a series of challenges that amount to "beat your rival to the end of the course". As an extra it's not too bad, but the real meat of the game is still the GP mode which is more of the same. I have no complaints as the F-Zero games are the best racers on the Advance.… Full Review »
  2. Tilde_Gunderson
    Dec 10, 2016
    6
    F-Zero GP Legend is a solid racing game, especially on the Gameboy Advance, but there are far too many issues that keep it from being aF-Zero GP Legend is a solid racing game, especially on the Gameboy Advance, but there are far too many issues that keep it from being a perfect game.

    Each machine has different stats: Body (the amount of damage it can take), Boost (how fast the machine goes when you boost), and Grip (how well the machine turns). Each machine is supposed to have a balanced build (EG: If it has a strong Body and good Boost, it has poor Grip), so there's not one notably rigged machine.

    However, in this game, Grip is the only stat that really matters. There is almost no racetrack where having a strong boost really makes a big difference, but more than half of them have hairpin turns that, unless your Grip is rank A, you're going to be constantly bumping into walls and hazards (and off the track, depending on the stage). Never choose a machine with Grip rank B or worse, or heaven forbid, rank E.

    The second problem is the story. There are eight story paths you could take that follow different F-Zero characters (like Captain Falcon, Zoda, Jody Summers, etc.) Each of them have five races and cutscenes, explaining what they're doing and the conflicts they face (and their resolution).

    Compared to F-Zero X and older, this sounds awesome! The F-Zero universe has all these well-illustrated characters that feel like they need a story to flesh out their character arc. But not only do you get the stories of only about ten of the characters, but each of them is so poorly written and have no development in the grand scheme of things.

    Example: You're introduced to a character named Zoda, who's this weird-looking criminal that apparently died 150 years ago in an accident with another character, Rick Wheeler. This is explained in Rick's story, where he's working for the police force, still hunting him down trying to figure out why both of them are still alive.

    This is a really cool concept, but what happens in the story? You chase Zoda down, he's replaced with another character (that has no dialogue), you have to save someone else, and then you get a "to be continued" kind of dialogue.

    Do you get an explanation in Zoda's story? Not a chance!

    This Story Mode had so much promise, but when you go nowhere with it, it's just a frustrating experience.    … Full Review »
  3. emperorwafles
    Feb 26, 2014
    10
    I'd say this is one of the best racing games on the Gameboy Advance or any handheld system period, but that would only be limiting my praiseI'd say this is one of the best racing games on the Gameboy Advance or any handheld system period, but that would only be limiting my praise as this game is one of the best racing games on any system. There are 34 playable vehicles, 5 tracks, 6 modes including: story, gran prix, time trial, training, challenge and versus. The music is rock solid especially for the GBA a system in which audio was often compressed. The gameplay is what you expect from an F-Zero game, just fast, fluid racing with really tight controls. The story mode is somewhat engaging, I mean it's not high art, but it is fun if not very difficult as it follows several key racers from the anime. All in all, I can't recommend this game enough.… Full Review »
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