I've long maintained that F-Zero X is the best in the series, having played the game off-and-on over the years since first buying an N64 copy in high school. Sitting down with the game to see all the cups (aside from the bonus X cup) through now, I'm more assured in that perspective - particularly given the amount of GX I've played since my last concerted visit to X.
What X does so well, and better than GX in my opinion, is that it manages to evoke an unparalleled sense of speed while retaining a high degree of moment-to-moment clarity. The more densely-designed tracks of GX are more memorable, but X strips its aesthetic to the bone to lock you into the bare thrill of racing. It's quite a miracle that X moves this fast and this seamlessly on N64.
The game recognizes that spectacle can come from the intrinsic velocity with which X throws you around the track. It's an extremely enrapturing and precise moment-to-moment experience. Paired with plenty of unlockables and a novel (if incredibly shallow) Death Race mode, this really is a pinnacle racing title.
What X does so well, and better than GX in my opinion, is that it manages to evoke an unparalleled sense of speed while retaining a high degree of moment-to-moment clarity. The more densely-designed tracks of GX are more memorable, but X strips its aesthetic to the bone to lock you into the bare thrill of racing. It's quite a miracle that X moves this fast and this seamlessly on N64.
The game recognizes that spectacle can come from the intrinsic velocity with which X throws you around the track. It's an extremely enrapturing and precise moment-to-moment experience. Paired with plenty of unlockables and a novel (if incredibly shallow) Death Race mode, this really is a pinnacle racing title.