Say goodbye to trucks and hello to mechanical animal and insect vehicles in the Wi-Fi-enabled sequel to Excite Truck. http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=17861 No one can say that Nintendo isn't good at keeping secrets. For the last two years Minnesota-based developer Monster Games has been slaving away at the development of Excitebots: Trick Racing without a single person outside the company and Nintendo knowing of its existence until last week. According to a local blog,
Locally Grown, Monster Games was so secretive that they were known to turn off monitors when they received shipments of bottled water.
The latest issue of Nintendo Power has finally unveiled a number of details about Excitebots: Trick Racing. The new game will feature Wi-Fi support, insect-shaped automobiles, and the return of high-flying jumps. All the features people loved from the first game, such as stunts and crazy track deformation are back in full force.
The developers were "bored" with racing games where coming in first was all that mattered. Just like in Excite Truck, it is possible to win without being the first across the finish line as long as you accomplish some wild stunts. "Fast-paced racing combined with insane stunts is what triggers the rush," explained Monster Games President Richard Garcia and Nintendo Supervisor Hiro Yamada.
One of the big differences this time around is that racers will be driving an assortment of robots inspired by the animal kingdom such as a turtle, a ladybug, a frog, and a grasshopper. All of the motorized animals, which have designs reminiscent of Stunt Racer FX, will have their own unique attributes. Players will also be able to get power-ups to make their vehicles change shape for a short time and race on two legs. The decision to drop trucks came when the developers realized that the insane new tracks and tricks they had devised didn't seem to meld well with their existing four wheelers. "We really wanted to create an offbeat, unconventional design that no one would find anywhere else and would fit with the wacky action. That's how we came up with these robot critters," revealed the developers.
Excitebots will have the same control scheme as its predecessor where players hold the Wii Remote NES style and tilt it left and right to steer and forward and back while in the air to help land the vehicle. It appears that the game will also have some interesting new ways to get speed boosts. Scattered throughout the levels will be red bars that a player's robot will hook onto and begin spinning around upon approach. If a player can successfully spin their Wii Remote replicating the motion their bot is making as they spin around the bar, they will earn some extra speed. The game will also support the Wii Wheel and have online play for up to six players.
Developed by Monster Games, Excitebots: Trick Racing will arrive on store shelves April 20.
Thanks to NeoGaf for details on the number of online players.
Topic: Lots of New Info on Excitebots: Trick Racing (Read 11844 times)
