The Championship of Future Formula.
- NA release: 17th April 2003
- EU release: N/A
- JP release: N/A
- Developer: NDcube
- Publisher: NEC
- NGC Magazine Score: 45%
- Mods Used: Widescreen Hack
After NDcube made F-Zero: Maximum Velocity, they pitched a 3D F-Zero game for the GameCube. This concept was rejected, likely because Nintendo were already collaborating with Sega for one. NDcube took this concept and turned it into their own game. In recent years, F-Zero-style games have been most welcome (such as Fast Racing Neo), but this came out a few months before F-Zero GX, so people weren’t exactly hungry for an alternative.
Tube Slider does some of its own things rather than just being an alternative take on F-Zero. Every level takes place inside a glass tube, which means you can’t fall off the track. In quite a contrast to F-Zero, you can’t die at all, with the game having a huge focus on its own boost system. There are two kinds of boost: one that banks one-use boosts, or one that lets you hold the boost button down so you can do some quick bursts.
The power gauge for these boosts charges gradually, but if you stay in the wake of another racer, you can speed this process along by stealing their power. This can happen to you as well, so keeping in mind your position next to other racers is very important and adds an interesting dynamic.
Despite some lovely looking levels and some fun mechanics, there’s one thing that lets the game down massively: the sense of speed. Tube Slider is still a lot of fun, but it just could have done with something that makes the game feel a bit faster.
Fun
No shortcuts, no missile launchers, no catch-up physics, and no way to redress the balance. You’re either on your game from the start, or you’re dead. Simple as that. To add insult to injury, there’s no way of option out of the credits once you actually beat a grand prix.
Jonnie Byrant, NGC Magazine #82
Remake or remaster?
A re-release would be nice.
Official Ways to get the game
There’s no official way to buy Tube Slider.
Europe
Japan
North America
GameCube Games by Date
2002: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
2003: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
2004: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
2005: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
2006: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
