Versus Battle

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A Versus Battle is a race in the F-Zero series where several players compete against one another. Versus battles first appeared in F-Zero X, and have reappeared in several successive games in the series.

In F-Zero X

Versus Battle made its debut in F-Zero X, where 2 to 4 players could compete against one another with any vehicles and any tracks that the player has unlocked. Races are always three laps, with boost being given to players after they finish a lap, akin to standard gameplay. Points are also awarded to players like in Grand Prix mode, though the distribution is different owing to the lower number of entrants. Unlike Grand Prix, retiring from a race will not necessarily cause the player to gain no points; rather, their standing relative to other players that may have retired will determine this amount. Points are saved if the player leaves the menu, though all points are lost if the Nintendo 64 itself is shut off.

If 2 or 3 players take part in a versus battle, then computer players can be used to fill in remaining slots, as to get four racers on each course; this behaviour can be disabled in the Options menu.

Unusually, F-Zero X does not support "hot-swapping" of controllers; as a result, if the player wishes to add or remove players from the game, they must reset the console and plug in controllers before it boots.

VS. Slot

Unique to F-Zero X is VS. Slot, a slot machine featured if a human player retires; upon retiring from the race, the retired player is given the opportunity to use a slot machine that features the portraits of all remaining pilots, along with an X graphic, a skull graphic, and a portrait of Mr. Zero. Depending on the player's result of VS. Slot, a variety of detrimental effects can occur for remaining racers.

• Attaining three portraits of one opponent will reduce their remaining energy to 0, effectively removing their ability to boost, as well as causing them to immediately retire if they crash into any walls or vehicles.
• Attaining three portraits of either the player or Mr. Zero will reduce everyone's energy by half.
• Attaining three X graphics will reduce the energy of the pilot in first place to 0.
• Attaining three skulls will reduce the energy of all remaining pilots to 0.

VS. Slot can be disabled in the Options menu.

Handicap

F-Zero X features a handicap option, where players in fourth place will gain an advantage over other players to allow them to remain competitive in a race. Specifically, the handicap reduces how much energy a boost will use.

Handicap can be set to 0 (disabled), +1, or +2; the higher the number, the lower amount of energy used. Handicap can be disabled or adjusted in the Options menu.

In F-Zero Maximum Velocity

Through the use of a Link Cable and extra Game Boy Advance consoles, Maximum Velocity also supports multiplayer. The game supports multiplayer regardless of whether all players have a copy of Maximum Velocity or not, though having only one cartridge of the game significantly reduces the number of options available to players.

Single-Pak Link

Single-Pak Link is when only one player has a copy of Maximum Velocity. In this mode, only one track is available, Silence: Open Circuit; furthermore, all players will only be allowed access to a single generic vehicle, and no music plays on this course. Standard rules apply, where players are rewarded boosts for every lap they finish; uniquely, however, players do not retire if they lose all their energy, and instead, they will respawn after a few seconds.

If fewer than four players have linked, then the computer will automatically fill all slots as to bring up the number of racers to four.

Multi-Pak Link

Multi-Pak Link is when all players have their own copy of Maximum Velocity prior to linking. In this mode, players can use any vehicles and tracks that have been unlocked by any players; that is, players may be able to use vehicles they have not yet unlocked. Like in F-Zero X, players can fill remaining slots with computer players for a maximum of four competitors in a race. Standard rules apply, where players are rewarded boosts for every lap they finish; uniquely, however, players do not retire if they lose all their energy, and instead, they will respawn after a few seconds.

Owing to the presence of records in the game, players can also link data as to share any records they may have achieved, though this is done in a separate menu from the versus battle.

In F-Zero GX

F-Zero GX's versus battle is almost identical to F-Zero X's, where 2 to 4 players could compete against one another with any vehicles and any tracks that the player has unlocked. Unlike F-Zero X, however, players can decide on how many laps there are, as well as whether or not players can respawn after retiring. Handicap, however, was scaled back as to allow for only one level.

F-Zero GX only supports split-screen multiplayer, like F-Zero X; in development, however, F-Zero GX was intended to take advantage of the Nintendo GameCube's LAN netplay via adapters.

In F-Zero: GP Legend

F-Zero: GP Legend's versus battle is extremely similar to Maximum Velocity's, with a few changes. Like before, the game supports multiplayer regardless of whether all players have a copy of the game, though having only one cartridge of the game significantly reduces the number of options available to players.

Single-Pak Link

Single-Pak Link is when only one player has a copy of F-Zero: GP Legend. In this mode, only one track is available, and all players will only be allowed access to the Dragon Bird. Standard rules apply, where players are rewarded boost power after the second lap; uniquely, however, players do not retire if they lose all their energy, and instead, they will respawn after a few seconds.

If fewer than four players have linked, then the computer will automatically fill all slots as to bring up the number of racers to four.

Multi-Pak Link

Multi-Pak Link is when all players have their own copy of GP Legend prior to linking. In this mode, players can use any vehicles and tracks that have been unlocked by any players; that is, players may be able to use vehicles they have not yet unlocked. Like in F-Zero X, players can fill remaining slots with computer players for a maximum of four competitors in a race. Standard rules apply, where players are rewarded boosts after the second lap; uniquely, however, players do not retire if they lose all their energy, and instead, they will respawn after a few seconds.

In F-Zero Climax

F-Zero: Climax features versus battles are part of the "Communication" menu, though it is functionally almost identical to F-Zero: GP Legend.

Single-Pak Link

Like before, this is the mode of play when only one player has a copy of F-Zero Climax. In this mode, players can only use Dragon Bird on a singular track, Fire Field: Rat Race, which cannot be accessed outside of Single-Pak Link. Like previous games, the computer will fill in extra slots so that four players can race, and music does not play; unusually, the Spin Attack manoeuvre cannot be performed either.

Multi-Pak Link

Multi-Pak Link is effectively identical to F-Zero: GP Legend, where up to four players, each with their own copy of F-Zero Climax, can use any courses or vehicles collectively unlocked by the group. Races are again 5 laps long, and players automatically respawn if they run out of energy.

With the Edit mode featured in F-Zero Climax, players can also play against one another on custom tracks, though all players will need to download the track for its use before it can be selected for use.