#Excitebike pro#

If the engine overheats due to excessive stress from boosting, the rider is pulled to the side and penalized a few seconds. Instead of pressing A for gas, B can be used like a nitrous boost of power - but only for a short period of time. The rider has a heat gauge at the bottom which is essentially overdrive. It all makes for drives that are packed with action and non-stop thrills. This enables players to skip right to the 5th (final, and very, very difficult) qualifier, if they so choose. There are five tracks in total, and each track's qualifying race is easier than the previous track's Excitebike race. For example, to get to the Excitebike race for track 4, you can either win track 3's race, or beat the qualifying race for track 4. If you win the Excitebike race, you're automatically qualified for the next track's race. Instead, you are given one qualifying time, which you need to beat in order to advance to the actual Excitebike race. All those other bikers are more like obstacles than opponents. It doesn't matter who you leave in the dust, or who you cut off with a deft maneuver. Essentially it's a Rally Car race but the track is packed with opponents. Instead of numbers above the riders' heads, Miyamoto took a different approach. Rather, all of these cyclists create a chaotic environment, where there is no indication of who holds what position, and how far ahead the leader is. It's not because of framerate issues, which you first might guess - the game runs smoothly, with complex tracks and nifty animations (riders bounce atop their vibrating machines). All of those bikes on the screen come at a price, though. Gameplay: Tight, responsive and simple controls, fast-paced action, and AI that will make you want to murder the very pixels on your screen.There are two main gaming modes: Selection A allows the player to race solo against the clock Selection B is the ultimate dirtbike extravaganza pitting you against bloodthirsty sprites. A distinctive tone warns the player of engine heat issues 7/10 Sound: No music simply means clearer engine and crashing sounds. Graphics: a little bland and unflashy, but totally standard for the era.6.5/10 Presentation: menu and interface lets the player hop right into the action. 500 Wii points? This one is clearly a no brainer. This one may not necessarily be better than them, but it's unique, addictive, and demonstrates what gaming is really about. Sure, there are other racing games out there today. It's easy to get frustrated by the game's seemingly intent desire on making you suffer terribly, but lying underneath rests a truly enjoyable racing game, that proves video games don't need to have flashy graphics or complex AI to be actually fun.

Even after coming in 22nd place you'll still want to try again. Lasting Appeal: Very challenging at the high levels in both modes. This reviewer owned and played Excitebike on an original NES in the 1980's. Unfortunately the game is unlikely to hold the attention - or to even challenge - a modern gamer.

#Excitebike pro#

Pro Am and California Games being released shortly afterward, both of which offered improved racing against friends and solo, respectively.Įxcitebike was entertaining during a time when home gaming was still a relatively new concept, and the NES was gaining widespread appeal. There are no notable characters, a single bike to ride, and little variety in track other than where to place a particular jump, puddle, or other obstacle.Įven against competing games for the NES system Excitebike is unable to hold its own with the graphically superior R.C. The images are flat and boring half the screen is green and the remainder brown. Unfortunately it lacks the depth necessary to keep the attention of a modern gamer for reasons other than nostalgia. Excitebike offers solo play, play against the computer intelligence, and play against another player.Įxcitebike offered simple fun for a young mind, and still offers great competitive play today. The goal is to get a qualifying time for the Excitebike race, a championship run. The player can move between four lanes of a track, pressing the 'A' button to accelerate and 'B' for turbo, which may cause the bike to overheat if pressed long enough. The game is a two-dimensional motocross simulation in profile view. Excitebike was one of the first games released for the NES in 1984 and was designed by gaming legend Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of the Mario, Donkey Kong, and The Legend of Zelda to name a few.