Pico (ピコ?) is a character in Nintendo's F-Zero series of video games. Although the character first appeared in the instruction manual of F-Zero, published in 1990, only his machine appeared in-game along with the other three pilots. It was not until F-Zero X that he actually appeared in-game. The character's only appearance outside of the main series was in the anime F-Zero: GP Legend, and its series of games.
Pico is an ex-military hitman. In F-Zero GX, he was known as a former assassin of a special unit in the Poripoto army where he carried out a number of dangerous missions.
Pico is described as a highly aggressive cold-hearted pilot rumored to be a competent hitman in the first F-Zero game which was released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. In the game manual he was stated to be a former soldier in the Poripoto Army's Special Fighting Unit and a member of the Death Wind Tribe. F-Zero X confirmed that he was indeed part of the Poripoto army.
In F-Zero X, Pico claims to be 123, then claimed to be 124 a year later in F-Zero GX. However, in the first F-Zero game, he was 34.
He first appeared in the 1990 game F-Zero, as one of four original characters in the game and the only one out of the four that has not been seen outside of the F-Zero series. He was introduced as a mysterious alien racer from the 26th century. However, only his machine actually was shown in the game, portrayed by a two-dimensional sprite-- it wasn't until F-Zero X would he actually appear in-game.
The game F-Zero Maximum Velocity is the single story mode driven game in the series not to feature this character.
In F-Zero GX, many considered Pico's reckless driving to be the cause of a major accident that ended the F-Zero Grand Prix four years prior to the events in this game. This has caused much of his fan base to disappear seemingly overnight. However, this fact does not seem to deter Pico from being an absolute menace on the racetrack. After retirement from the army, Pico opened a small shop near the military base, but he still operates as a notorious assassin. If he wins the F-Zero Grand Prix, he will use the money to host the "Pico Cup".
F-Zero GP Legend[]
In the anime, Pico's counterpart was a hired assassin for Dark Million, mostly working for Zoda. His first appearance was when he was a sniper as he shot speed-sensitive bombs onto each machine during the Fake Star Cup, where Rick, Capt. Falcon, and Roger Buster competed. However, the bounty hunter leapt off the course and disabled the blimp operating the bombs, deactivating them. If they were to reach above or below the red zone, they'd detonate, and it was only a ploy for Draq to give the profits to Dark Million.
Pico's second appearance was when he was trying to murder John Tanaka, the Task Force director, as he delivered a package, but his plan was thwarted by Jody Summer. He escaped as Rick was pursuing him, then he posed as a cab driver on its way to the Port Town cruise where Kate Alen was performing; it was a way to smuggle the stolen data chips off planet, but Tanaka unknowingly followed him. The officer was being shot at, till Jody, Rick and Lucy chased him and his cronies away. He's known as a brutal assassin, but not as much as an F-Zero pilot.
Pico with Jody and Tanaka at Death Wind
Ikran's F-Zero timeline[]
Pico was well-known for his sniper skills and aggressiveness on the F-Zero circuit, since Tinsel's first encounter in the original F-Zero competition at the Knight and Queen Leagues. He has been seen again in the GX Grand Prix, but he wasn't much of an issue as Black Shadow and Blood Falcon, although Falcon warned her, Yugi, and Joey he was the possible culprit for the Horrific Accident, which later turned out to be Black Shadow, and finally Deathborn.
He was seen later during the Fake Star cup in A Trilogy of Tension, as he shot speed-sensitive bombs onto each of the machines, excepting the Blue Falcon. His blimp was activating the sensors and monitoring the race, causing one nameless pilot to explode, believing them to be a hoax for the 10 million space credit ransom. Until Falcon, Yami and Joey, with their Duel Monsters Kuriboh, Thousand Dragon and Curse of Dragon exploded the blimp. Causing it to crash land into the mountain Pico scampered from!
He tried again as he was spying on John Tanaka while he was desperate to see Kate in concert in Tanaka in Trouble. Although his plans failed, and the stolen data chips were returned.
In Ending it All, he wasn't a force to be reckoned with in the Death Wind semifinals, especially when he had a lot of rage thanks to bleeding meat and its toxoplasma, in which the Falcon House prohibits raw meat. Pico was soon wiped out of the competition and Falcon was finally able to apprehend him, just before Rodney got captured!
Gallery[]
