F-Zero: Falcon Densetsu

Synopsis

Jack Levin is racing Rick Wheeler on a few practice laps to help him get acquainted with his machine, with Jody Summer and Dr. Clash offering advice over the communicator, but the newcomer's having a hard time deciding when to overtake. He finally speeds up and gets the lead, but failed to notice the corner up ahead. He tries to make a sharp turn, but hits the barrier at full speed and crashes...though Jack remarks this isn't the first time that's happened. The Galaxy Mobile Platoon race to the track and get him out of his vehicle to safety; Jody thinks he may not be skilled enough if he keeps crashing!

Clash fixes the Dragon Bird back in the hangar, while Jack gripes about all the attention Rick's getting. He's not even that good! Clash suggests he's envious of the attention Jody's giving him. Jack disagrees, even literally giving him the boot. Mr. EAD declares there's an emergency as Director Tanaka summoned Jody to his office, and expresses concern over Rick's performance, but Jody is adamant that he'll improve if given time. If not, they can take it out on her, and since The Chief found out the capsule's empty they can fire Tanaka. However, Jody shouts she'll take the fall, putting Jack and EAD on edge.


Planet Nintae/Nidon


Planet Alcatrand

Rick is summoned to the main room and given a bit of a catch-up: five years ago, a cold sleep facility for dangerous criminals on planet Alcatrand was broken into by Black Shadow. His robot troops wiped out the guards and got a hold of the pods, and used the break-in to reawaken Zoda. Their ultimate goal? Conquering the universe. Zoda is now using the prize money from F-Zero races to fund his criminal operations, and that's why it's vitally important the Platoon beat them to the finish line. Jody hopes Zoda is enough to make Rick rise to the occasion; EAD has faith in him, but Jack doubts this human relic has any skill left in him.

Rick leaves and returns to the test track, but visions of Zoda cloud his focus.

He practices 'til morning, running the corners again and again, using his tried-and-true method to handling them, but has little luck. He visits his favourite café, the Falcon House, and the owner, Burt, noticed he was exhausted, so he gave him a black coffee, triple caf. Rick thought Mute City's a tough place to live, even tougher than when he started out. Burt asked how long it's been, and he was shocked it's been 150 years. He overhears a group of girls gossiping about Jack Levin who are going to see his next race; Rick was surprised they're going to another planet! Burt mentions he'll be going too; F-Zero appeals to all age groups, it's the ultimate game of skill! He was once an F-Zero pilot, but an accident during a hair-pin turn ended his career: he cornered too much going into the turn and since then he lost interest. The machines of today are littered in safety features, so one doesn't need to counter-steer as harshly... something Rick realises he's been falling victim to.

The girls are impressed by Burt's racing knowledge, and he continues by commenting he's made the Falcon House honoring the elitist, Captain Falcon and his machine, the Blue Falcon. He also mentions there's a lot of bad eggs in the business; as a gang races by, one girl comments the universe is full of bad eggs, and wishes there were more good folk to stand up to them. That put Rick in a state of determination.

Back at the base, Jody is briefing the Platoon on their next race on planet Nintese/Nintae, only for Rick to barge in; nobody told him about this meeting! Jack and Jody are quick to tell him he's a crappy pilot who'd crash at the first opportunity (EAD is there to lend sympathy, though). He told them he figured out what he did wrong, then Doc said whatever Jody says goes. Rick offers to race, but Jody tells him he's on standby until he's ready to join their operations with more training. And that's an order. That put Jack in glee as Rick was defeated in the argument.

He adjourns to the lakeside park to watch the ships go by. He thinks back to the time he and Haruka fed seagulls on the bow of a cruise ship, and how much fun they had. But that's all gone now.

While driving back, he sees a bus carrying the girls he met earlier go the other way, and a crowd of noisy hooligans following after. The bus is on its way to the race: taking a road leading up to the sky and towards the stars, it leads them across a space bridge, before entering the warp gate, taking them to their destination at Planet Nntae. One of the girls gushes over how exciting the event is going to be, all the thrills and spills, the whizzes and hums of a passion-filled race...though things aren't so chipper on the other side: those punks are attacking the bus! This is reported over the police radio, and Jack is eager to rush out and stop them, though the Galaxy Mobile Platoon declare it's none of their business. They're there to win the race, and that's more important. Unfortunately, those thugs are packing heat, putting the pursuing police cars out of commission... But it's a good thing Rick Wheeler's on their trail! A blast from a rocket launcher damages the bus and forces it to stop, but Rick gets between it and the thugs, stepping out and introducing himself: he's from the Galaxy Mobile Platoon, and these hooligans are under arrest. That doesn't scare them, and they create a ring around the bus, taking aim with another rocket...only for a mysterious blue vehicle to show up. It's Captain Falcon! The punks scarper away. The girls squeal their love for Falcon, and the good Captain exits as suddenly as he came, but not without some words to Rick: "See you at the race."

The racers have lined up at the starting grid, awaiting the countdown, as the Task Force pilots line up. Rick joins the grid just seconds before the race begins...

And they're off! Rick streaks ahead of Clash and EAD, surprising the Platoon; he demands they gave him a chance on this mission, and Jack is quick to test him: there's a corner up ahead! Ryu reflects on what Burt told him about counter-steering, and through his determination to defeat Zoda, he sails across the corner with ease, nicking a boost pad to get ahead of Jack. Rick takes the lead on the first lap!

Jack isn't taking this sitting down; Rick may have gotten lap one, but he'll be the one taking first place. As if to spite him, a new contender approaches: Captain Falcon! The Dragon Bird and Blue Falcon hit a boost pad, sailing ahead of the Astro Robin. Jack hits his booster to catch up, but the burst of speed sends him flying when there's a drop in the track, sending his vehicle crashing and burning. Captain Falcon takes first place, Rick takes second, but he rushes to Jack's wreck as soon as he can. Jody reprimands Rick he not only disobeyed her order, but his actions caused the injury of a fellow pilot, as pointed out by Dr. Stewart. Jack actually explains his sabotage - the device allegedly sapped power from Rick's machine, and was also responsible for his crash during the practice run. Rick socks him and storms off. While Jack is taken away in the ambulance, the group grumble about the ill-will that's been going on between them, though Jody remarks Jack was wrong about the accident.

She later visits him at the hospital, where the nurses can't get enough of his boy-idol charms. Jody speaks to him alone, and believes he let Rick win. Jack insists he just didn't want Captain Falcon to take home the prize money, but Jody returns the piece he allegedly took from the Dragon Bird: It turns out to be a headlight fuse from the Astro Robin, and that he lied to get Rick out of trouble. Jody thanks him for giving Rick confidence, though, and leaves.

Rick returns to base to find someone waiting for him: Lucy Liberty, one of the F-Zero fans he saved on the bus. She was impressed by Rick's actions both on and off the race track, she's decided to join the Galaxy Mobile Platoon much to his surprise since there'd be two rookies in the squad!

(Source: F-Zero Wiki)