Captain Falcon
Encyclopedia
Douglas Jay Falcon, better known by his alias, , is a playable character in the racing video game series F-Zero
. He first appeared in F-Zero, and has been called the poster boy
of the F-Zero franchise. Nintendo
first envisioned Captain Falcon as a flagship character to represent the release of a new console, but he ended up appearing far less than originally planned. In the games, he appears as mysterious racer and bounty hunter who is one of the best racers on the circuit. Falcon also represents the F-Zero franchise in all three games of the Super Smash Bros. series. Falcon is the hero of F-Zero GX
, the fifth game in the series.
In the F-Zero: GP Legend anime, writers portray Falcon differently than in the video games; here, "Captain Falcon" is a title passed down and held by the best racer in the world. Andy Summer is the real name of the first Falcon in the GP Legend series. Reception to Captain Falcon has been mixed, with some reviewers commenting on his weaknesses, especially his perceived annoying demeanor. Others have called Captain Falcon "cool", with GameDaily
naming him as the 25th top Nintendo character of all time.
. However, this never panned out, and Captain Falcon was rarely seen in Nintendo media.
He is described as an accomplished F-Zero pilot and renowned bounty hunter. In F-Zero X, it is rumored that he is called "Captain" because he was once an officer on the Internova Police Force. By the age of 36, Captain Falcon had built a reputation as one of the best bounty hunters in the galaxy, one that has earned him many enemies. This constant danger forces him to live in a sanctuary on a chain of islands off the coast of Port Town, where he spends most of his time. His desire for solitude is such that even after winning a race, he takes his award and quickly dashes home. Each of his home islands contains a different racetrack, allowing him to keep his racing skills at their peak while remaining relatively safe.
, and in the subsequent F-Zero X
. After these appearances, Falcon does not appear again until F-Zero GX
.
The character drives the Blue Falcon in his races, and uses a sidearm and a midsize spacecraft called the Falcon Flyer in bounty missions. In F-Zero X
, Captain Falcon's DNA
is stolen while he is hospitalized following an accident in the F-Zero Grand Prix. The thieves use the DNA to create a clone of Captain Falcon, Blood Falcon.
Falcon is the hero of F-Zero GX
, the fifth game in the series. In F-Zero GX
, Captain Falcon is 37 years old and the sitting champion of the F-Zero Grand Prix, boosting his already high popularity even higher. In the games' story mode, after winning a number of races and saving Jody Summer, he goes on to defeat Black Shadow and Deathborn. In F-Zero: Maximum Velocity
, which is set twenty-five years after the first game, Kent Akechi claims to be the son of Captain Falcon.
and David Wills
in the Japanese and English versions respectively.
. In the first game, Captain Falcon is an unlockable, hidden character. In Super Smash Bros. Melee
, players may play as Captain Falcon from the beginning. Originally, Captain Falcon was the fastest character in the series until the release of Super Smash Bros. Brawl, in which Sonic The Hedgehog
became the fastest character. Within the game, he fights with a combination of kung fu and street fighting. "Falcon Punch," Captain Falcon's signature attack, involves a forceful punch surrounded by a flaming falcon. The Falcon Punch has become an extremely popular internet meme
.
's most popular characters in the Super Smash Bros. series, but he rarely has a starring role in games he appears in. Reception to the character has been mixed. Andy Eddy
described Captain Falcon as a character with no real strengths. Nonetheless, Jeff Gerstmann
, at Gamespot
, called him the "poster boy" of the F-Zero franchise. Nintendo Power
listed Captain Falcon as their 20th favourite hero, commenting that he is kind of a jerk, citing his massacre of Pikmin in Super Smash Bros. Brawl
. They added that this is what makes them like him. GamePro
claims that Captain Falcon demonstrates "clear superiority" over other F-Zero characters. Seth Walker, Game Boy Advance
editor for Kombo, has stated that he would like to see story lines with greater focus on Captain Falcon in the F-Zero series.
GameDaily
named Captain Falcon as the 25th top Nintendo character of all time. Jared Thomas referred to Captain Falcon as "the only known last legitimate use of the word 'extreme'". UGO
remarked that Captain Falcon is "cool" for his speed, but came off as annoying when shouting out the names of his attacks. Video game journalist Chris Kohler claimed he greatly enjoyed playing with Captain Falcon in Super Smash Bros. Brawl
. IGN
has called Captain Falcon an experienced fighter, and "one of the most important and recognizable characters" from the F-Zero and Super Smash Bros. franchises. They went on to say that Falcon appears always ready to give a "butt-kicking to anyone that comes his way."
F-Zero
is a futuristic racing video game developed by Nintendo EAD and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System . The game was released in Japan on November 21, 1990, in North America on August 23, 1991, and in Europe on June 4, 1992...
. He first appeared in F-Zero, and has been called the poster boy
Poster Boy
Poster Boy is a 2004 gay-themed drama film. It toured the gay and lesbian film festival circuit beginning in 2004 before a limited theatrical release in 2006.- Production :Some scenes were shot on campus at Wagner College in Staten Island, New York....
of the F-Zero franchise. Nintendo
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
first envisioned Captain Falcon as a flagship character to represent the release of a new console, but he ended up appearing far less than originally planned. In the games, he appears as mysterious racer and bounty hunter who is one of the best racers on the circuit. Falcon also represents the F-Zero franchise in all three games of the Super Smash Bros. series. Falcon is the hero of F-Zero GX
F-Zero GX
is a futuristic racing video game for the Nintendo GameCube console. Developed by Sega's Amusement Vision department and supervised and published by Nintendo, it was released in Japan, Europe and North America . F-Zero AX, the arcade counterpart of GX, uses hardware conceived from a business...
, the fifth game in the series.
In the F-Zero: GP Legend anime, writers portray Falcon differently than in the video games; here, "Captain Falcon" is a title passed down and held by the best racer in the world. Andy Summer is the real name of the first Falcon in the GP Legend series. Reception to Captain Falcon has been mixed, with some reviewers commenting on his weaknesses, especially his perceived annoying demeanor. Others have called Captain Falcon "cool", with GameDaily
GameDaily
GameDaily was a video game journalism website based in the United States. Launched in 1995 by entrepreneur Mark Friedler under the name Gigex and focused on free game demo downloads, The site changed its business model from a flat fee per download CDN distributed service network to an...
naming him as the 25th top Nintendo character of all time.
Creation and characteristics
Nintendo originally meant Captain Falcon to be the flagship character of the then new Super Nintendo Entertainment SystemSuper Nintendo Entertainment System
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...
. However, this never panned out, and Captain Falcon was rarely seen in Nintendo media.
He is described as an accomplished F-Zero pilot and renowned bounty hunter. In F-Zero X, it is rumored that he is called "Captain" because he was once an officer on the Internova Police Force. By the age of 36, Captain Falcon had built a reputation as one of the best bounty hunters in the galaxy, one that has earned him many enemies. This constant danger forces him to live in a sanctuary on a chain of islands off the coast of Port Town, where he spends most of his time. His desire for solitude is such that even after winning a race, he takes his award and quickly dashes home. Each of his home islands contains a different racetrack, allowing him to keep his racing skills at their peak while remaining relatively safe.
F-Zero franchise
Captain Falcon is sometimes referred to as both the poster boy and main character of the F-Zero franchise. Captain Falcon first appeared in the titular game in the series, F-ZeroF-Zero
is a futuristic racing video game developed by Nintendo EAD and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System . The game was released in Japan on November 21, 1990, in North America on August 23, 1991, and in Europe on June 4, 1992...
, and in the subsequent F-Zero X
F-Zero X
, is a futuristic racing video game for the Nintendo 64 console. Developed by Nintendo's EAD division, it was released in Japan, Europe and North America, in 1998. In 2000, an expansion of the game was exclusively released in Japan providing numerous extra features not in the original game. F-Zero...
. After these appearances, Falcon does not appear again until F-Zero GX
F-Zero GX
is a futuristic racing video game for the Nintendo GameCube console. Developed by Sega's Amusement Vision department and supervised and published by Nintendo, it was released in Japan, Europe and North America . F-Zero AX, the arcade counterpart of GX, uses hardware conceived from a business...
.
The character drives the Blue Falcon in his races, and uses a sidearm and a midsize spacecraft called the Falcon Flyer in bounty missions. In F-Zero X
F-Zero X
, is a futuristic racing video game for the Nintendo 64 console. Developed by Nintendo's EAD division, it was released in Japan, Europe and North America, in 1998. In 2000, an expansion of the game was exclusively released in Japan providing numerous extra features not in the original game. F-Zero...
, Captain Falcon's DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
is stolen while he is hospitalized following an accident in the F-Zero Grand Prix. The thieves use the DNA to create a clone of Captain Falcon, Blood Falcon.
Falcon is the hero of F-Zero GX
F-Zero GX
is a futuristic racing video game for the Nintendo GameCube console. Developed by Sega's Amusement Vision department and supervised and published by Nintendo, it was released in Japan, Europe and North America . F-Zero AX, the arcade counterpart of GX, uses hardware conceived from a business...
, the fifth game in the series. In F-Zero GX
F-Zero GX
is a futuristic racing video game for the Nintendo GameCube console. Developed by Sega's Amusement Vision department and supervised and published by Nintendo, it was released in Japan, Europe and North America . F-Zero AX, the arcade counterpart of GX, uses hardware conceived from a business...
, Captain Falcon is 37 years old and the sitting champion of the F-Zero Grand Prix, boosting his already high popularity even higher. In the games' story mode, after winning a number of races and saving Jody Summer, he goes on to defeat Black Shadow and Deathborn. In F-Zero: Maximum Velocity
F-Zero: Maximum Velocity
F-Zero Maximum Velocity is a futuristic racing video game developed by Nd Cube and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy Advance . The game was released in Japan, North America and Europe in 2001 as a launch title for the GBA...
, which is set twenty-five years after the first game, Kent Akechi claims to be the son of Captain Falcon.
Anime
In the anime F-Zero GP Legend, Captain Falcon is a title given to a person, instead of an individual's actual name. Captain Falcon was originally Andy Summer, the brother of Jody Summer, who apparently died in a vicious attack revolving around Zoda. Andy took the false identity of "Bart Lemming" and eventually became Captain Falcon to participate in the F-Zero races. In the anime, Falcon is rather quiet and speaks very rarely. When he takes the name of Bart, he usually gives advice to the other characters at his cafe. Although he isn't featured in every episode, Falcon plays a significant role in the series, often stopping the Dark Million Organization's illegal plans. During the end of the series, Falcon is thrown into an explosion alongside his sworn enemy, Black Shadow, and displays his powers in the form of an fire-based "Falcon Punch" to ensure that Black Shadow does not escape, at the cost of his own life. He quickly gives Ryu Suzaku the title of Falcon before dying. The character is voiced by Hideyuki TanakaHideyuki Tanaka
is a Japanese voice actor. He is a graduate of the Toho Gakuen School of Music. He is most known for his roles in Dokaben , Kinnikuman , Captain Tsubasa , Touch , Saint Seiya , Metal Gear Solid and Slam Dunk .-TV Anime:*Akagi...
and David Wills
David Wills (voice actor)
David Wills is an American voice actor, who works with 4Kids Entertainment and NYAV Post. He was formerly a disc jockey under the name Ghosty for Sirius Satellite Radio and was the host of channel 118: Radio Classics under the name Dave Wills...
in the Japanese and English versions respectively.
Super Smash Bros.
Captain Falcon has appeared in all three games of the Super Smash Bros. series, beginning with the first game, Super Smash Bros.Super Smash Bros.
Super Smash Bros., known in Japan as , is a fighting game developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. It was released in Japan on January 21, 1999, in North America on April 26, 1999, and in Europe on November 19, 1999. Super Smash Bros. is the first game in the Super...
. In the first game, Captain Falcon is an unlockable, hidden character. In Super Smash Bros. Melee
Super Smash Bros. Melee
Super Smash Bros. Melee, known in Japan as , often abbreviated as SSBM or simply as Melee, is a crossover fighting game released for the Nintendo GameCube shortly after its launch in . It is the successor to the Nintendo 64 game Super Smash Bros., and the predecessor to the Wii game Super Smash...
, players may play as Captain Falcon from the beginning. Originally, Captain Falcon was the fastest character in the series until the release of Super Smash Bros. Brawl, in which Sonic The Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog (character)
, trademarked Sonic The Hedgehog, is a video game character and the main protagonist of the Sonic video game series released by Sega, as well as in numerous spin-off comics, cartoons, and a feature film. The first game was released on June 23, 1991, to provide Sega with a mascot to rival Nintendo's...
became the fastest character. Within the game, he fights with a combination of kung fu and street fighting. "Falcon Punch," Captain Falcon's signature attack, involves a forceful punch surrounded by a flaming falcon. The Falcon Punch has become an extremely popular internet meme
Internet meme
The term Internet meme is used to describe a concept that spreads via the Internet. The term is a reference to the concept of memes, although the latter concept refers to a much broader category of cultural information.-Description:...
.
Reception
Captain Falcon is one of NintendoNintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
's most popular characters in the Super Smash Bros. series, but he rarely has a starring role in games he appears in. Reception to the character has been mixed. Andy Eddy
Andy Eddy
Andy Eddy is an American video game journalist and critic. He currently resides in Redwood City, California.- Biography :Eddy was the executive editor of VideoGames & Computer Entertainment in the late 80s and early 90s, followed by tenure as a senior editor at GamePro magazine...
described Captain Falcon as a character with no real strengths. Nonetheless, Jeff Gerstmann
Jeff Gerstmann
Jeff Gerstmann is an American video game journalist and former editorial director of the gaming website GameSpot and the founder of the gaming website Giant Bomb. He began working at GameSpot in the fall of 1996, around the launch of VideoGameSpot when GameSpot separated PC and console games into...
, at Gamespot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
, called him the "poster boy" of the F-Zero franchise. Nintendo Power
Nintendo Power
Nintendo Power magazine is a monthly news and strategy magazine formerly published in-house by Nintendo of America, but now run independently. As of issue #222 , Nintendo contracted publishing duties to Future US, the U.S. subsidiary of British publisher Future.The first issue published was...
listed Captain Falcon as their 20th favourite hero, commenting that he is kind of a jerk, citing his massacre of Pikmin in Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Super Smash Bros. Brawl, known in Japan as , often abbreviated as SSBB or simply as Brawl, is the third installment in the Super Smash Bros. series of crossover fighting games, developed by an ad hoc development team consisting of Sora, Game Arts and staff from other developers, and published by...
. They added that this is what makes them like him. GamePro
GamePro
GamePro Media was a United States gaming media company publishing online and print content on the video game industry, video game hardware, and video game software developed for a video game console , a computer, and/or a mobile device . GamePro Media properties include GamePro magazine and...
claims that Captain Falcon demonstrates "clear superiority" over other F-Zero characters. Seth Walker, Game Boy Advance
Game Boy Advance
The is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...
editor for Kombo, has stated that he would like to see story lines with greater focus on Captain Falcon in the F-Zero series.
GameDaily
GameDaily
GameDaily was a video game journalism website based in the United States. Launched in 1995 by entrepreneur Mark Friedler under the name Gigex and focused on free game demo downloads, The site changed its business model from a flat fee per download CDN distributed service network to an...
named Captain Falcon as the 25th top Nintendo character of all time. Jared Thomas referred to Captain Falcon as "the only known last legitimate use of the word 'extreme'". UGO
UGO
UGO Entertainment, Inc. is a website providing coverage of online media in entertainment targeting males age 18–34. The company is currently based in New York, New York, United States. On July 24, 2007 it was announced that Hearst Corporation would acquire UGO Entertainment...
remarked that Captain Falcon is "cool" for his speed, but came off as annoying when shouting out the names of his attacks. Video game journalist Chris Kohler claimed he greatly enjoyed playing with Captain Falcon in Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Super Smash Bros. Brawl, known in Japan as , often abbreviated as SSBB or simply as Brawl, is the third installment in the Super Smash Bros. series of crossover fighting games, developed by an ad hoc development team consisting of Sora, Game Arts and staff from other developers, and published by...
. IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
has called Captain Falcon an experienced fighter, and "one of the most important and recognizable characters" from the F-Zero and Super Smash Bros. franchises. They went on to say that Falcon appears always ready to give a "butt-kicking to anyone that comes his way."