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System:
Arcade
Genre:
Racing
Publisher:
Nintendo
Developer:
Nintendo
Players:
1-2 (1 simultaneously)
Release date/year:
1984
Other systems:
NES
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- Excitebike
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1984 Nintendo - Nintendo - Arcade
- The VS machines are hard to come by, but several of them feature games that are classic due to their success on the Nintendo Entertainment System. Excitebike makes up one of nearly two-dozen machines and while it does not feature the track editor, it does have some pretty good racing that will test your skills as a rider and your patience as a game player! Worthy of playing at least once, these machines were once a vital part of the marketing that brought us the first NES.
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The Game Play
The game play is divided into two parts, the first of the two being the straight racing in which you can take on up to six other riders in an all out race to the finish through three laps. Depending on your path through the various stages, you can either blast the competition out of the water, or end up at the back of the pack and fighting to gain a top spot! To look at the game, you may think that it is easy enough to do, but there are various factors in the race that will keep you from your goal of attaining first place.
One of these factors is that you have a turbo meter that allows you to go fast, but also overheats your bike if you rail on it for two long. The other factor is that if you’re racing, you have to make adjustments to your riding style depending on what path you take in terms of what is in the track ahead of you! This creates a higher amount of challenge and difficulty when racing in the later stages of the game against more skilled opponents.
Controlling Excitebike is easy enough to do and anyone of any skill level can learn how to make the bike move and run without ending up in an overheat situation. There is a gas button and a turbo button that will allow you to propel your bike forward through the straightaway sections of the track.
On the jumps and huge ramps, you'll find that the game takes on another control feature in which you’ll have to learn how to land on your back wheel in order to not crash and burn on impact! This adds just a little more to the game in terms of having to learn just how to react in different situations and not go too wild with your turbo button.
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The Visuals
Visually, Excitebike is about as simple as it gets with no frills or huge special effects to dazzle your eyes. Basically a bare bones game with plenty of jumps, you’ll find that the simplicity of the game is a welcomed change of pace in terms of not being caught off guard by some sort of special move effect! The riders are all different colors so that you can see just who is who, and the crowds that you race in front of are pretty much just drawn in and slightly animated circles that flash when you win the race. The ramps and track setups change a little between each race, so you’ll always be looking at something different each time you decide to go through!
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The Audio
Audio wise, there isn’t any music to the game and you’re left with sound effects only to really get you through the races. As an early NES game, Excitebike didn’t rely on hardcore visuals or killer audio effects like today’s motocross games do, but rather relied on the ability to create a game that was fun without putting too much into it! The sound of the bike engine racing while you ride or the high pitched sound of it laboring while you use the turbo are all that you’ll hear for the most part, save for the occasional crashing effect when you wipe out.
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The Verdict
As one of the Arcade VS machines that you’ll find in limited quantities, this game was featured on the NES without the attached VS. As with most classic arcade games, any one of these games can be played on the NES if you can’t find the arcade machine to play. The visuals, control and audio as well as the basic premise that you find here is all found in the home bound carts. If you’re a fan of the NES Excitebike and you can find this machine someplace where they keep classic machines, then it is well worth playing at least once!
8/10
//KasketDarfyre
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