F-Zero Wiki
Register
Advertisement

Big Blue (ビッグブルー; Big Blue) is a well-known course originating from F-Zero. Since then, it has appeared multiple times throughout the series and in other franchises throughout the Nintendo community.

Big Blue is a planet where 99% of the surface is covered by water.[1] Its circuits are built over and/or through its vast ocean. In most F-Zero games, Big Blue has the appearance of a wide, open sea, with numerous rocks protruding out of the water, and very few buildings above its oceans.

In F-Zero GX, Big Blue underwent a significant change in appearance, and looked much more industrial than in the other games, with buildings, hotels, underwater tunnels, etc. found all over the circuits. Below the surface, there are remnants of a road. The planet was strictly protected by the nature conservation group over a long time, but it was rumored that a new energy source laid down at the bottom of the seabed; investigation started right away, although no discoveries have yet been found.[2]

F-Zero series[]

F-Zero[]

Big Blue first appears as the second course of the original F-Zero. It only appears once, and is under the first cup, Knight League. It has many wide sections, making it one of the easiest courses to maneuver around, while its biggest hazard is the icy section.

F-Zero X[]

In F-Zero X, Big Blue appears twice, plus a third time in the Japan-Only Expansion Kit.

  • First as Big Blue I: Cylinder as the fifth track under the first cup, the Jack Cup. Big Blue 1 is an easy track, and is mainly a cylinder.
  • Big Blue II: Quick Turn appears as the fifth track under the second cup, the Queen Cup. Big Blue II is very hard with straightaways without guard rails and quick turns.
  • In the EXpansion Kit only Big Blue III: Japon, the track is designed to look like Japan, and includes non-guard-rail sections, mines, and an angled jump.

F-Zero GX/AX[]

Big Blue appears as a venue across two circuit configurations in F-Zero GX.

  • Drift Highway is the opening circuit of the Sapphire Cup. It is a short, wide raceway that starts off with a series of sweeping turns before a gap takes the racers into the second portion of the track, which features a sharp S-bend and a pair of pit zones that straddle a series of boost plates, giving racers a choice between replenishment or speed. Despite its two-star rating this course is deceptively difficult due to its abruptness and tendency for opposing racers to bunch up, meaning that gaining a significant lead is almost impossible and mistakes carry a heavy penalty. The track starts in front of an underwater tunnel, exits out into and through a large tall white tower, leads into another underwater tunnel, and finally over a ledge onto a track open between two large waterfalls.
  • Ordeal is the final circuit that is unlocked by default, finishing the Emerald Cup, and the only five-star difficulty track unlocked by default in F-Zero GX (as Phantom Road: Slim-Line Slits is within the Diamond Cup and the remaining five-star circuits are in the AX Cup). It is also the longest circuit in GX, only surpassed by Green Plant: Spiral and possibly Lightning: Thunder Road in the AX Cup. Despite its high difficulty rating the course is relatively stress-free, featuring a wide race surface that is free of hazards and two pit zones through the middle portion. A jump near the start of the circuit allows racers to cut out an early turn while a large drop in the middle portion brings the racers above a quick L-turn chicane. The second pit zone is located in a wide section of track where a slip zone with a boost plate can be taken instead of visiting the pit zone (as the pit zone is set on the furthest point of the track from the racing line, meaning drivers visiting it must be willing to sacrifice the most direct route into the tunnel). The last stretch of the track has some narrow points to it, with Boost plates in-between. Unlike the previously mentioned track, Ordeal's track wraps around the base of the white tower, in between two waterfalls, an underwater tunnel, and finally onto a long stretch of road leading through the Colosseum Hotel.

A secondary theme for Big Blue (called "Sounds of Big Blue" in the shop) can be purchased that remixes the classic Big Blue theme and can be played during races set at the Big Blue venue.

Chapter 4 of Story Mode ("Challenge of the Bloody Chain") may take place in Big Blue as the music for the stage is a remixed version of the original Big Blue theme but this is not specified.

F-Zero: GP Legend[]

In F-Zero GP: Legend, Big Blue has a total of 4 tracks. Slip Highway is introduced as the 4th track of the Silver Cup of the Novice and Intermediate difficulties. It also has an Expert variation staying in the same cup and order as before. The original Big Blue from the original SNES also appears in the game, as the second course of the Platinum Cup.

There is also Calm Sea, which is only accessible via Single-Pak Multiplayer.

F-Zero Climax[]

It appeared five times in Climax, and Big Billow was based on the original F-Zero game. The Slalom is the first track of the Silver Cup, The Slip Down is the 4th track in the Gold Cup, The Arch Hill is the 3rd track in Bronze Cup Expert, The Single Course is the 3rd course of Gold Cup Expert, Twin Course is the 4th track in Gold Cup Master, and finally the Big Billow is the 2nd track in the Platinum Cup; much like in the original F-Zero.

Slip Highway has appeared in the last chapters of Zoda's, Jack's, and Rick's Story Modes; only if Rick doesn't take the alternate route to White Land.

Super Smash Bros. series[]

Big Blue appeared in Super Smash Bros. Melee, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as a fighting stage. Its layout is rather unique to the game, going from track sections to the big loop and vice-versa.

The Party Ball is deemed rather useless for this stage, as the stage itself is constantly moving and at high speeds. This minor detail was fixed in Brawl, however.

This stage was graphically enhanced in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and the car models were changed from F-Zero X models to F-Zero GX models. And just like every other stage in the game, it was given a battlefield and Final Destination style stages.

Mario Kart series[]

Mario Kart 8[]

Mario_Kart_8_DLC_Big_Blue_Gameplay_(60fps_-_Full_Race)

Mario Kart 8 DLC Big Blue Gameplay (60fps - Full Race)

The track starts out with anti-gravity. Similar to Mute City, the racers have to drive over the refuel pads in order to get coins. After a turn near the start, the road forks, with one track going up, and the other going down, both ending in a jump. After this, the players will go into a tunnel, with Boost Pads that go either backwards or forwards, depending on the track, similar to the ones in Toad's Factory.

The player will pass speed panels like this four times before reaching a Fly Pad, taking them to section two. In section two, they'll go down a water slide, ending a jump leading to a fork. Both roads are similar in each aspect. After this, the player will drive through a ring and back onto the water slide. At the end of the water slide, they'll find a glide panel that takes them off to section three.

Racers will then enter a section of speed panels, with more speed panels on them. The road then forks out again, one going left, and the other right. The right features speed panels sooner, while the left features them a little after they do on the right. After a few turns, the player reaches the end of the track.

See also: Big Blue in Mario Kart 8.

Trivia[]

  • In Super Smash Bros. Melee, the alternate theme of the Big Blue stage is a remix of the Mach Rider theme for the NES.
  • Despite one of the soundtracks being named Night of Big Blue in F-Zero GX, the track where that particular soundtrack is played at isn't played within Big Blue at all.
  • In F-Zero GX, the Colosseum Hotel bears a slight resemblance to the Phenac Stadium from Pokemon Colosseum (another Nintendo game released for the Nintendo GameCube).

Gallery[]

F-Zero[]


F-Zero X[]


F-Zero GX[]

Videos[]

Ordeal
1-lap demonstration

Soundtrack[]

Game Theme Notes
F-Zero Big Blue  
F-Zero GX Big Blue Main Theme
F-Zero GX Big Blue Final Lap
F-Zero GX Cover of Big Blue Alternate Theme. Called Sounds of Big Blue in Shop.
F-Zero GX Night of Big Blue Played in Chapter 4 of Story Mode.
F-Zero GX Promotional (Beta) Night of Big Blue This is an earlier variant of Chapter 4's theme. Can be heard during a preview video of F-Zero GX featured in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Master Quest.
Super Smash Bros. Melee Big Blue  
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Big Blue  
Mario Kart 8 Big Blue  

References[]

  1. (1991-08-13) in Nintendo EAD: F-Zero instruction manual (in English). Nintendo, pp. 18. 
  2. Planet & Course (Japanese). Sega / Nintendo. Retrieved on 2007-08-12. “(Translation) It was protected strictly from the nature conservation group, over long time, but from the fact that existence of the new energy resource was rumored to the seabed, investigation started simultaneously. But, it was not so far many times and the submarine prospecting by the diving probe was done, but you have encountered to the accident of all cause obscurities,….”
Advertisement