Zoomin' Down the Z-Axis Again

[bnewman]

One of the sensations I relish the most, that keeps me coming back to the video games that deliver it, is the feeling of zooming forward into a three-dimensional world. I'm especially a fan of science-fiction racing games, especially ones with vivid environments and tight, responsive controls. And, although the SNES wasn't the first system to do that, it was one of the first that you could bring home. The original F-Zero is still a favorite of mine, and has aged surprisingly well.

lyrics by Benjamin Newman

ttto: "Fun, Fun, Fun" by the Beach Boys

listen to this song

 

/ A - D - / A - E - / 1st / A E D E / A ... /

 

When I was a kid, games were limited to X and Y now

But it takes three degrees of freedom to make me feel like I can fly now

Whether I'm racing for the finish line or blasting baddies out of the sky now

Just give me one more run zooming down the Z-axis again

 

Super Nintendo came out in 1991 now

Promised we could take home a whole new dimension of fun now

I remember the feeling of F-Zero from my very first run now

Just give me one more run zooming down the Z-axis again

 

What F-Zero and Star Fox began is simply the norm now

Every game is 3D, they all just follow the form now

But think back to the time when the third dimension was born now

And give me one more run zooming down the Z-axis again

 

There are lots more games that'll take you on the same kind of trip now

You've got your Star Wars Racer, Distance, Wipeout, Redout, Rollcage and Grip now

Watch the scenery whizzing on by, give your opponents the slip now

And give me one more run zooming down the Z-axis again

 

When I'm up to my ears and I really need a mental vacation

I'm gonna load up a game that can deliver that speedy sensation

'Cause I find satisfaction in the feeling of acceleration

So give me one more run zooming down the Z-axis again