Customer Reviews

ExciteBots: Trick Racing

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Excitebots is a unique creature. It is the spiritual successor to Excite Truck and looks very, very similar. But mixed in with the extreme arcade racing action are a host of mini-games and off the wall ideas that fly straight into you at 100+ mph. Most other games fail when attempting to pull off a wacky-racing game. Most of the ideas in this game are kind of terrible if you think about it very much. Somehow though, Excitebots manages to take some of the strange ideas and throws them into the game and it all just works. If anything, this game is what I'd expect if the people who designed WarioWare decided to make a racing game.

GAMEPLAY: Uhhh... crazy? Although this game is a racing game, simply racing around the race tracks simply won't cut it. You are expected to pull off tricks and stunts, go bowling, play soccer, throw pies at clowns, race dangerously close to trees, play darts, and play poker... all while racing in a frog. Or a beetle or a turtle. If that sounds strange, that's because it is. The "vehicles" are all animal themed robots, but their designs fairly forgettable and lack real personality. Little mini-challenges pop-up all over the place in the races. Best of all, the game has an insane sense of speed that is only rivaled by the likes of classic games such as Wipeout or F-Zero. My only serious complaint about the game is it suffers from "Invisible Wall Syndrome." The levels look huge and open and the tracks are quite wide, but invisible walls are annoying.

CONTROLS: Solid. The controls are surprisingly good considering it is entirely motion controlled. Definitely better than Excite Truck, and I honestly feel the controls are much more responsive than Mario Kart. I haven't played a lot of racing games on the Wii, but overall, this is one of the better racers as far as controls are concerned. The game supports the wheel accessory as well and a version of the game is sold with the peripheral packed in. I don't personally recommend the steering wheel because I think it's an overpriced piece of plastic, but that's just my opinion. Each to their own.

GRAPHICS: Good and Bad. When the game is going slow the game looks pretty plain. The textures are lo-res and some of them are downright ugly. Kick the speed up a notch and the motion blur kicks in. When the game is blazing past you without a hint of slowdown, it shines and you quickly forget the low-res textures.

MULTI-PLAYER: Very good but it could be better. Although the game has a 2-player split-screen mode, I'm not impressed. As a general rule though, I don't like split-screen in most games though unless I can get 4 players in on the action. The other side of the coin is that the online mode is great. I was able to hook up with a match in minutes and found myself playing with 5 other players. While playing online you can bet your stars, which are used to purchase various unlockables throughout the game. There are two online modes, Excite and Poker. I'm not a fan of Poker, but I think my reflexes are just a little to slow to be good at that one. My only two complaints about online multi-player are that the game uses the horrid Friend Code system and doesn't give you the opportunity to just add any of the people you meet online to your list of friends. The other complaint I have is a lack of voice chat, which is a glaring omission since I have the the WiiSpeak peripheral gathering dust.

SOUND: Oh please make it stop... I'm going to have nightmares about being trapped in an elevator. I can't believe someone recorded this music let alone actually paid someone to include it in the game. The music is annoying, lame, and extremely repetitive. Thankfully, a music volume option is available in the game. Sadly, the Excite Truck feature that allowed players to put their own play lists together on an SD card is no longer present. That terrible music just makes the absence of the SD music card that much more noticeable.

REPLAY-VALUE: High. The game has 20 levels, multiple mini-game modes, and a solid multi-player element. At launch the game was priced at two levels ($40 by itself and $50 with the wheel accessory), but I would have bought the game at the higher price even without the accessory. The fact that it is more affordable only makes this game more attractive.

All in all, I recommend this game to just about everyone. At the very least, give this game a rental. The arcade action is frantic and crazy. The sense of speed makes this just about the fastest game available on the Wii. Online multi-player is very good. Best of all, the game is just plain fun.

This is an addicting arcadey fast-paced racer.

One of the best Wii games of the year so far. And one of the better Wii games overall.

I really love taking jumps in this game or doing 360s in the air or kicking a field goal or making a sandwich or running on 2 legs or speeding through the trees. It is truly over the top arcadey action. And what a videogame should be.

It plays really smooth and they've done a great job of seamlessly incorporating all this whimsical over the top videogamey non-sense into the game. It works really well.

The online mode is seamless as well and smooth.

In addition there is head to head racing and a few others modes like Poker Racing where you try to make Poker hands as you race along the track.

Don't be fooled. This is a very solid game.

The lows are the graphics and personality of the game can be a bit generic. But it would be a shame if you ignored the game because of that.

Must buy!!!

When it does come down to the Nintendo Wii, they definitely have raised the bar when it comes to innovation. That has been shown in their appeal of the way video games are played very strongly, even when it does come behind the wheel. With the success of racing giant Mario Kart Wii, as the biggest-selling video game last year, many wonder how Nintendo is going to keep that stride to the checkered flag. That sadly wasn't the case when Excite Truck was launched for the Wii back in 2006. The game was sadly overlooked by gamers, in favor of other gems like The Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess and Wii Sports. Well, the Excite series is set to take a more extreme turn again on the Wii, and this time, it is a bit strange trying to stay extreme.

Excitebots: Trick Racing for the Nintendo Wii, feeds off of the appeal Excite Truck had, and brings it in to a whole new level of gaming. The gameplay is as similar to Excite Truck was, but with a few interesting twists. The biggest twist is as you race your way as one of many animal-inspired robotic cars, including the grasshopper, frog, mouse, and beatle. While it might seem weird, it is actually a surprise. The control is similar to what Excite Truck had to offer, by steering with the Wii-mote like it was a steering wheel, but also can be compatable with the Wii-wheel attachment that came with Mario Kart Wii as well.

The gameplay is similar to Excite Truck as well, as you make your way racing to the top by scoring stars by pulling off extreme stunts like mid-air jumps, pulling off 360 spins, crashing into other vehicles, pulling outrageous stunts, like ring jumps, and new twists like swinging on metal bars, and more weird, but surprising things like scoring a soccer goal while driving, to attempting to make a bowling strike, and even throwing pies at clown faces. That is important, because it isn't just about getting 1st Place, it is also about scoring more stars, to unlock newer vehicles and getting newer places to race like Egypt, Mt. Kilimanjaro, and China. I also do like the idea that now you can race against others online here too see if you are #1.

Sadly though, there actually are a few disadvantages with Excitebots: Trick Racing. The biggest disadvantage is that unlike Mario Kart Wii, where you can race as many as 12 different racers online, here you can only race against as many as 6 different racers through the Wi-Fi connections, which honestly doesn't pull off all the stops. The second disadvantage is that I was surprised to find out that you can't control the game with the Classic or Nintendo Gamecube controllers here, unlike Mario Kart Wii. Although staying similar to what Excite Truck had to offer when it came out in controls and gameplay, yet it still might leave gamers feeling like they wanted more.

All in all, despite a few faults, Excitebots: Trick Racing feels a bit weird in the race at first, but actually is a big surprise that is sure to please racing fans, who want strange and trippy-tricked out racing to a whole new level of fun. I think the game is challenging, but is sure to please Wii fans that might felt that the Nintendo Wii hasn't offered enough in awhile for the need of great games.

Graphics: B

Sound: B

Control: B 1/2-

Fun & Enjoyment: B- for solo players; B 1/2- for multiplayer

Overall: B-

I purchased this game strictly because of how incredible Excite Truck was - and if you don't have that you are really missing out on something great. You can unlock several different types of animal/insect types of car-type "bots" and then you race these throughout several different series' of tracks that are sited throughout the world - Scotland, China, Tasmania, near Mt Kilimanjaro, Mexico, etc. It also has a great multi-player option and mini-games that allow you to hone or enhance your skills at different parts of the game.

One drawback is that you have to complete many many races in order to build enough stars (IOW points) to purchase the bots beyond the starting few that you get off the bat. Bots cost 2000 stars, 5000 stars, and up. For each race you get 100-200 or so stars based upon your skill and the race difficulty, so you can see that it may take 30-40 races before you can unlock another bot. Add in that you have to unlock about half of the bot colors that you can use plus an assortment or other "add ons" and it may take over 1000 races to unlock everything - not exactly for the faint of heart. For this reason only did I mark this as 4 out of 5 stars.

You will not find many games better than this for the Wii. I suggest this game for everyone! It is only two players on splitscreen, but it supports up to six players online. The game is very very fun. This is actually even better than Excite Trucks. Please do yourself a favor and buy this game. If you are not sure about it, watch a video review on ign.com, and give it some thought... then buy it.

I've kept my eye on this game for some time, not knowing if I should buy it or not. I didn't own a racing game for the Wii yet, so the idea of buying ExciteBots was very tempting (especially since it's a Nintendo title). However, I managed to resist the urges. Good reviews cropped up making this game even more appetizing. Then came the clencher. I was at Best Buy browsing the Wii section when I saw that this game was set up to play. I was sold after playing for about 6 minutes. I bought it immediately, and I don't regret my decision.

This game is really fast, really fun, and very addicting. Lots of Bots are available to race with, each with its own stats--Weight (not really sure what it does yet), Grip, Boost Length (you can hold up on the control pad to accelerate for a period of time before you overheat and have to cool off), and Boost Power (how much speed you gain from boosting).

The levels are varied, have tons of obstacles that can leave you in a wreck (a few shakes of the remote will bring you back to the game), and there are lots of weird effects you can cause. By hitting special items you can make giant hills appear, generate items to use, or make 10 pins appear to bowl over. Everything comes at you like crazy, and it all counts for something.

You win by earning themost stars. How do you get stars? A better question would be "What doesn't earn stars?" Drifting , staying in the air for long periods of time, performing spins in the air, driving close to trees, running into other Bots, and succeeding at the mini challenges scattered throughout the levels are all ways that you can earn stars. And, of course, you get stars based upon what place you are in when you pass the finish line. So, you don't necessarily have to be the first to finish to win. But their are time limits for the levels, so you can't just go around earning stars forever to beat somebody who already finished the race.

There are tons of unlockables in this game. You can unlock icons for your saved profile, carts, colors for your carts, trophies, and I believe dioramas (whatever those are). To unlock everything would take quite a while, though. I've already played for several hours, and I've only unlocked one vehicle out of at least ten (you start out with 5 I think)!

You can play split screen with two players locally, or you can play online (although I don't have the capability at the moment) with other ExicteBots owners. There are also minigames you can play that challenge you to perform well at certain challenges, and you can play this with a friend in split screen. There's also the Poker Race in which you form poker hands to score stars.

The point is that this game is awesome. ExciteBots has lots of speed, diversity, unlockables, and most importantly FUN! You owe it to yourself to buy this game. It only costs $40 dollars, and Amazon has it for cheaper at the moment, so what are you waiting for?

This is as good as it gets for a racing Wii game. I enjoyed it more than MarioKart even. MarioKart is about just racing, but this game is about racing and accumulating points by accomplishing many diversified tricks during the race, from bowling pins, to darts, to poker, to field goals. It takes thinking! First place is decided by speed as well as point accumulation. Action packed features and great integration of many games, and extremely well done graphics. Should be added to everyone's collection. Replay value is phenomenal for a racing game. Once mastered, it's still fun!

We purchased this game for my 6 year old for his birthday. While he does really enjoy it, I think he is a little bit young yet. The controls seem to be a little more sensitive than other racing games. The great thing about it is that while the basic concept is similar to other race games-you use acquired weapons and try to smash up other vehicles (and win, of course!)- the concept of the robot/animal/insect as vehicles puts a really unique spin on it. Even though my son is still too young to grasp the more advanced features of the game, it is still one of his favorites.

Excitebots: Trick Racing

This sequel to the 2006 hit, Excitetruck, is a big leap toward the hardcore racers. Instead of racing trucks, you're racing insect bots, such as a ladybug, mantis, and even a hummingbird. At first glance, it may seem kinda strange, but it really is a fun game.

The game consists of an Excitemode, where you race through exciting locations throughout the globe, including Mexico, Canada, and Tasmania. These levels don't disappoint, and are full of hidden paths and places to do tricks. Another mode is the Poker Race, where you race around a track to cash in the best poker hand. It's a weird game I think, but some might enjoy it. Finally, there's online, where you race against 6 other players, and you can bet stars.

The game is all about performing high-flying stunts, tricks, and flips in order to gain stars throughout the race. As in the first game, there are little boxes which can change the environment or give you an item.

There are many bars and opportunities to do tricks throughout each race. When your bot approaches a red bar, it automatically starts spinning around it and you have to match its rotations with the Wii Wheel. It's hard to get the hang of, but you'll eventually get it perfect every time. On yellow bars, flip bars, and elevator bars, your bot will latch on and start spinning, you must then thrust the Wheel forward at the right time, and you'll get a ton of stars.

Other opportunities to gain stars include doing air flips, crashing into other bots, or participating in one of the many m i n i g a m e s throughout the race. These consist of soccer, bowling, darts, and even throwing a pie at a clown...... These are really fun and can get you a bunch of stars, but an opponent ahead of you could ruin it.

This is a racing game where getting first isn't always everything. Sure, you'll get a 50 star bonus, but a person who comes in third or so could still win because they might've done more stunts and achieved more stars than you. Online, there's also a multiplier on the amount of stars you get. The higher you place, the higher the multiplier will be.

Overall, this is a great racing game, and is considerably better than Mario Kart in my opinion. Try it first, and then if you really enjoy it like I did, then purchase it. It's even cheaper than its predecessor, so why not??

I give it a 9/10

If you played Excite Truck, you'll have a fair idea of what to expect in this title, except now the racing is more frantic. I was able to get an S rank on the majority of the tracks while placing last--it's just a matter of mastering the plethora of tricks and mini-games.

This is a title for someone wanting to play a wacky game, but who also wants some genuine challenge. For the most part the controls are tight and responsive; the exception being on the "flip bars" where I still haven't completely gotten the timing down.

Throughout the tracks you'll be able to activate many opportunities for extra points and tricks by driving over the little activation orbs like in Excite Truck. This can alter the track, but more often it'll open up a mini game --While Racing!-- where you can either run into a soccer ball to hit it into a goal, throw a dart at a bullseye, use a bat to hit a home-run, throw a pie at a clown's face, and even collect the pieces for a Super Sandwich.

-Graphics are about even with Excite Truck--they're not bad, but a bit heavy on bright colors in this game.

-Challenge depends on your individual skill. If you've played a racing game with the wii wheel before you'll pick this right up. I found the bronze silver and gold cups to be fairly easy--but luckily there's the Platinum Cup and Super Excite Mode (higher difficulty).

-Unlockables function on a purchase system this time around: the more stars you earn in the races the more stuff you can purchase to unlock. This benefits the under-skilled player since you'll already be playing the tracks repeatedly to beat them, thus earning plenty of stars.

-Replayability should be pretty lengthy, since there's plenty of things to unlock, but this title also has online competition, and a Poker mode.

This isn't a perfect game, but I think it's worth a try for anyone who enjoys action and doesn't insist that a game *has* to be serious.