Zoda is the pilot of the Death Anchor, and is Super Arrow's nemesis. He is a modified human from the planet Earth, bent on villainy and world domination.
History
Before F-Zero X
Zoda was a villain from the planet Earth, bent on conquering it. However, in his path to conquest, stood the superhero named Super Arrow, who would become Zoda's nemesis. Zoda would also encounter Captain Falcon, and was even almost captured for a bounty. Zoda then marked both Super Arrow and his wife, along with Captain Falcon, as his enemies.
At some point, Zoda became affiliated with The Secret Society Deathriddle. The Secret Society Society Deathriddle stole a intergalactic ballistic missile from the Galactic Space Federation, and modified it into what they perceived as the ultimate weapon, an F-Zero machine called the Death Anchor, for Zoda. Unbeknownst to the pilot who would be entering it into the F-Zero X Grand Prix for the first time, the detonator had been kept intact.
F-Zero X
| F-Zero X US Manual |
|---|
| Age: Unknown
Zoda is the incarnation of evil and intent on conquering Earth. Why he’s racing in the Grand Prix is still a mystery. His past disputes against the Arrows and Captain Falcon are well known. |
| F-Zero X JP Manual |
|---|
| Age: Unknown
JP: 地球征服を目論む悪の権化。今回、なぜ彼が『F-ZERO X』に参加することになったのかは、謎に包まれたままである。地球でのアロー夫婦との抗争は有名であるが、実は過去にキャプテン・ファルコンと戦ったこともある。 |
| English Translation by Sidier: He's an incarnation of evil that plots to take over the Earth. It's a mystery as to why he decided to join this edition of the Grand Prix "F-Zero X." He's famous for his conflict with the Arrows on Earth, but he's also fought Captain Falcon in the past. |
Notes: To add on, the F-Zero Grand Prix (as a whole) had a temporary name change due to the reopening three years after the huge F-Zero accident where Mighty Gazelle and several other pilots were injured. The Committee changed the name of the competition to F-Zero X. F-Zero X has only occurred once in the whole Mainverse timeline.
F-Zero GX
| F-Zero GX in-game US Pilot Profile |
|---|
| Sex: M | Age: Unknown
Zoda is in a long dispute with the hero of justice, Super Arrow. He has also been marked by Captain Falcon, and once was almost captured for his bounty. Zoda’s crazed tendencies come from a special device that pumps adrenaline and dopamine into his body. He enters the Grand Prix races to raise funding for his sinister plots and during this latest race, he plans to take out anyone who dares interfere with his master plan.[1] |
| F-Zero GX in-game JP Pilot Profile |
|---|
| Sex: M | Age: Unknown
(JP): 地球征服をもくろむ悪の怪人。正義の味方スーパー アローと抗争を繰り広げている。また賞金首になっているので，キャプテン ファルコンにも目をつけられ，危うく捕まりそうになった過去もある。アドレナリンやドーパミンなどの内分泌物質を意のままに増幅できる装置をつけて，クレイジーパワーを発揮する。「F-ZERO」には，地球征服計画の資金集めのため参戦している。ついでに自分の地球征服を妨害する邪魔者たちをサーキット場で事故らせて抹殺しようと考えている。 |
| DeepL Translation: An evil phantom who plans to conquer Earth. He has been at odds with the hero of justice known as Super Arrow. Because of the bounty on Zoda’s head, it hasn’t gone unnoticed by bounty hunter Captain Falcon, who had even almost captured Zoda. Zoda sports a device that amplifies endocrine substances such as adrenaline and dopamine at will, which gives him crazy power. To fund his plans of conquering the Earth, he participates in F-Zero. In addition, he plans to kill anyone and everyone who stands in the way of his plans, by causing accidents on the track. |
Note: The translator named Sidier also ran into what appeared to be an oddity, with the F-Zero GX guide/manual nickname for Zoda referring to him as a “Phantom.” This is not literal, but figurative, meaning that Zoda is a mysterious person. Additionally, “crazy power” is in katakana (クレイジーパワー). Zoda has also only been part of the F-Zero X Grand Prix as well as the F-Zero GX Grand Prix.
| F-Zero GX US Manual |
|---|
| Sex: M | Age: Unknown
A Phantom Who Plots To Conquer Earth. Zoda is in a long dispute with the hero of justice, Super Arrow. He is also marked by Captain Falcon, and once was almost captured for his bounty. His crazed tendencies come from a special device that pumps adrenaline and dopamine into his body. |
F-Zero GX Story Mode
Zoda appears in Chapter 3, engaged in a struggle with Super Arrow at the Bet & Race Dollars bar. Oddly, seconds after this scuffle, he is seen notably calm with the Arrows before the bet race.
F-Zero GX Interviews
Arise Zoda II! Zoda's Road To World Domination?
Upon beating any Grand Prix on Master mode with the Death Anchor, it will unlock a special video for Zoda, which also features his theme song.
Zoda is seen in a laboratory, working the controls of his latest creation, Zoda II. The large seemingly robotic Zoda II comes alive at the press of a button as evil laughter is heard, and Zoda is overjoyed. That is, until Zoda II ends up getting its foot stuck on something and topples over Zoda. Zoda is seen underneath his creation, disappointed with the outcome.
Other Appearances
Super Smash Bros. Series
Zoda appears in Super Smash Bros. for 3DS & Wii U as a trophy, and in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as a spirit.
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
| Super Smash Bros. Brawl |
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| A racer shrouded in mystery. This master of sinister plots has long battled with the just and good Super Arrow. With a big bounty on his head, he was once nearly captured by Captain Falcon. His machine, the Death Anchor (#13), excels in top speed and cornering and features high boost power to boot. |
Super Smash Bros. For 3DS & Wii U
| Super Smash Bros. For 3DS & Wii U |
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| US: With his body modified by the evil Black Shadow and his twisted adrenaline-based powers, he's the very picture of a vicious invader of the Earth. But every villain needs a heroic nemesis, and Zoda's plans tend to be foiled by the mighty Super Arrow. Since he has a bounty on his head, he clashes with Captain Falcon now and again too. |
| JP (English Translation by Sidier): He has been modified by the Evil Emperor Black Shadow into a mysterious subject that seeks to rule over Earth. Given his role, then a hero to fight him becomes a need, and so Super Arrow, the ally of justice, is up to play that role. He's got a bounty placed on him so our dear Captain Falcon is also after him. He uses Dopamine Power to face this hard spot. |
Note: Both the US and JP bios for Zoda's SSB4 trophy have elements of the Animeverse for some odd reason. This is not proven by anything in the Mainverse, however. It is best to regard this Smash information with a grain of salt, even if the source is Nintendo of Japan.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
| Super Smash Bros. Ultimate | |
|---|---|
| Zoda is a Spirit that can be bought in Funky Kong’s Shack or encountered on the Spirit Board. | |
| Puppet Fighter: | Snake. |
| Conditions: | The enemy starts the battle with a Lip’s Stick. |
| Class: | Advanced. |
| Type: | Attack. |
| Effect: | +Speed. |
| Cost: | 1 Slot. |
| Possible References: | Lip’s Stick may reference the adrenaline and dopamine constantly flowing through Zoda’s entire body.
The motion sensor bomb is a reference to his machine, the Death Anchor, being a literal missile that has a self-destruct mechanism embedded into it, to which not even Zoda knows about. |
Gallery
Trivia
- Due to misconceptions thanks to the Nintendo of America F-Zero X website bios, Zoda is mistakenly believed to be from the planet Uma-41. In truth and actual canon, Zoda himself states that he is from Earth, and that he is not an alien, as he is "an improved version of the human," in his F-Zero GX interviews.
- The "phantom" part of Zoda's nicknames and titles for F-Zero GX refer to "a mysterious person" rather than an actual phantom.
- Zoda II, the creation of Zoda in his F-Zero GX Master Pilot video, resembles Mr. EAD. However, the face also slightly resembles a character from SEGA's Sonic The Hedgehog series, Dr. Eggman.
- Interestingly, SEGA (specifically Amusement Vision) also had a hand in F-Zero GX's development, so this may be a subtle nod, similar to how AiAi from SEGA'S Super Monkey Ball series can be seen illustrated on Billy's belt buckle, as well as PJ and his machine (Groovy Taxi) being references to the SEGA-published Crazy Taxi series.
References
- ↑ F-Zero GX in-game US Pilot Profiles
| Main Universe Content |
|---|
| Mainverse Lore - Mainverse Timeline - F-Zero (SNES) - BS F-Zero Grand Prix - BS F-Zero Grand Prix 2 - F-Zero X (F-Zero X Expansion Kit) - F-Zero GX - F-Zero AX - F-Zero Maximum Velocity |
| Main Universe Characters |
|---|
| Deathborn - Mighty Gazelle - Jody Summer - Dr. Stewart - Baba - Samurai Goroh - Pico - Captain Falcon - Octoman - Mr. EAD - James McCloud - Billy - Kate Alen - Zoda - Jack Levin - Bio Rex - The Skull - Antonio Guster - Beastman - Leon - Super Arrow - Mrs. Arrow - Gomar & Shioh - Silver Neelsen - Michael Chain - Blood Falcon - John Tanaka - Draq - Roger Buster - Dr. Clash - Black Shadow - Don Genie - Digi-Boy - Dai San Gen - Spade - Daigoroh - Princia Ramode - Lily Flyer - PJ - QQQ - Phoenix - Megan - Jane B. Christie - Alexander O'Neil - Mickey Marcus - Nichi - Lord Cyber - Kent Akechi - Kumiko - Blitz Wagner - Yazoo Jr. - Mr. Zero - Minor Characters |
| Main Universe Machines |
|---|
| Dark Schneider - Red Gazelle - White Cat - Super Cat - Golden Fox - Iron Tiger - Fire Stingray - Super Stingray - Wild Goose - Blue Falcon - Super Falcon - Deep Claw - Great Star - Little Wyvern - Mad Wolf - Super Piranha - Death Anchor - Astro Robin - Big Fang - Sonic Phantom - Green Panther - Hyper Speeder - Space Angler - King Meteor - Queen Meteor - Twin Noritta - Night Thunder - Wild Boar - Blood Hawk - Wonder Wasp - Mighty Typhoon - Mighty Hurricane - Crazy Bear - Black Bull - Fat Shark - Cosmic Dolphin - Pink Spider - Magic Seagull - Silver Rat - Spark Moon - Bunny Flash - Groovy Taxi - Rolling Turtle - Rainbow Phoenix - Hot Violet - J.B. Crystal - The Stingray - Fire Ball - Wind Walker - Sly Joker - Falcon Mk-II - Fighting Comet - Silver Thunder - Jet Vermilion - Custom Machine (F-Zero X Expansion Kit) - Custom Machine (F-Zero GX) - Blue Thunder - Luna Bomber - Green Amazone - Fire Scorpion |
| Main Universe F-Zero Locations, Planets, & Venues |
|---|
| List of Main F-Zero Universe Locations - List of Main Universe F-Zero Planets - List of Main Universe F-Zero Venues |