Topic: IMPRESSIONS: Excitebots: Trick Racing

[MegaByte]

Racing gets infested with excitement.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/impressionsArt.cfm?artid=18245

 Excitebots: Trick Racing is the direct sequel to Excite Truck (itself a descendant of ExciteBike).  The quasi-realistic setting of the first game has been replaced by pure wackiness.  Though the game looks similar to its predecessor, the more cartoon-oriented focus helps the game a great deal. The idea was to take some of the essence of Mario Kart and add it to the mix.  The trucks of the previous game have been replaced with animal-based robotic vehicles such as bugs.  The game includes a number of environments, from the deserts of Egypt to the hilly grasslands of China.    

Perhaps most importantly, the control has been relaxed, making it more accessible and fun than Excite Truck.  Players still control their vehicles by holding the Remote sideways and tilting left and right to steer and forward and backward to adjust tilt, but they should experience fewer crashes.  Excitebots also stresses tricks in addition to its racing.  Players gain stars for performing tricks in the air, cornering well, and even ending up in spectacular crashes.  Players can also get attack items like missiles and giant hammers.  These stars determine rank independent of actual race position, so it's important to do more than just race during the game.  The courses often have alternate paths in three dimensions-- sometimes flying high can net you even more bonuses.    

Excitebots adds a number of mini-games directly onto the racing course.  Challenges include bowling, soccer, and darts.  Another common course obstacle is the red bar.  Bots attach to the red bar and must spin around it to launch back onto the track.  Players must move their Remotes with the right timing in order to launch properly and receive bonuses.  This is interesting the first few times, but its inclusion breaks up the otherwise fast-paced action of the game.    

The game includes plenty of modes and courses, as well as online play, which was missing from Excite Truck. (Split-screen is still here as well.)  Fans of Excite Truck are likely to also enjoy Excitebots, and the game may even pick up some new fans thanks to its less serious approach and improved control.    

[Flames_of_chaos]

EXCITE!! I can't wait until I get my copy of this game. For people who are participating in the special excitebots Wi-Fi night, I'll see you then!

[Morari]

The controls have been relaxed? I never had any issues with Excite Truck, whereas by comparison, I absolutely hate using the wheel in Mario Kart.

[NWR_Neal]

EXCITE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hate how release days are usually ship days.

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

ahahahhahah it's closest competition is what, Motorstorm 2?  ahahhahahahahahaha

[EasyCure]

ahahahhahah it's closest competition is what, Motorstorm 2?  ahahhahahahahahaha

no competition.

ITS EXCITEEEE!!!!

i'll have to pick my copy up tomorrow, or at the latest thursday.

[Mop it up]

I'm being my indecisive old self again when it comes to whether or not I should buy this game. I guess I'll weigh the pros and cons...

PROS:
-cartoon-oriented focus makes it look less bland
-minigames look interesting and remind me of ExciteBike 64
-focus on tricks means there's always something to do
-has been compared to Mario Kart
-online mode
-is $40
-EXCITE!!!!!!!!

CONS:
-vehicles look too weird
-forced motion controls (looks like...)
-no track editor
-the attack items seem like a bit much
-has been compared to Mario Kart
-isn't being given out for free
-I'm still obsessed with Mario Kart Wii, I don't know if I should add another racer to the mix

Ah dirty floors, there's an even number of pros and cons... 

[EasyCure]

I'm being my indecisive old self again when it comes to whether or not I should buy this game. I guess I'll weigh the pros and cons...

PROS:
-cartoon-oriented focus makes it look less bland
-minigames look interesting and remind me of ExciteBike 64
-focus on tricks means there's always something to do
-has been compared to Mario Kart
-online mode
-is $40
-EXCITE!!!!!!!!

CONS:
-vehicles look too weird
-forced motion controls (looks like...)
-no track editor
-the attack items seem like a bit much
-has been compared to Mario Kart
-isn't being given out for free
-I'm still obsessed with Mario Kart Wii, I don't know if I should add another racer to the mix

Ah dirty floors, there's an even number of pros and cons... 

Pro: you can get the 49.99 sku for a spare wii wheel for Mario Kart when you have friends over

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

Yeah steering a wheel involves motion, kinda sucks don't it

[Mop it up]

Pro: you can get the 49.99 sku for a spare wii wheel for Mario Kart when you have friends over

I already have a spare wheel since I don't use it.

Yeah steering a wheel involves motion, kinda sucks don't it

Calling them motion controls was a bit of a misnomer... I should have said forced wheel controls. I couldn't stand the button layout of it with Mario Kart Wii, so it would depend on how this game uses the buttons. I'd especially prefer it if you didn't need to hold down a gas button and instead just press a button when you want to brake.

[MegaByte]

It's the same button control as before.  Mostly you just hold down gas-- Nintendo even said that the brake button was basically worthless.

[EasyCure]

It's the same button control as before.  Mostly you just hold down gas-- Nintendo even said that the brake button was basically worthless.

i like pulling jacknifes in most games that allow me to control some sort of vehicle. Also sometimes i just like showing off to players that suck and reversing across the finish line. Its not worthless

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

Yeah, same.  Everytime I Kart onrine I never do the starting boost (cuz I never get it right) so instead I do one donut spin and the game gives me a sympathy boost anyway, and i'm never too far behind.

And since I'm 12th in the first 5 seconds of the first lap, I typically get a star or a Bullet Bill on the first row of items.

Then I proceed to win on my disadvantageous heavy character on a Standard Bike L.

[TJ Spyke]

The new trailers on Game Trailers look pretty good. The idiotic boyfriend of my sister damage my Wii Remore (it still works for action that require just pointing, but doesn't work for actions that require you to shake the controller. This means I have to use a GameCube controller for Mario Kart Wii), so I will need to get a new controller first.

[KDR_11k]

The addition of weapons worries me, I hated the luck focus in Mario Kart. Are they spawned in random item boxes or fixed positions? How often do they get used?

[Nick DiMola]

The new trailers on Game Trailers look pretty good. The idiotic boyfriend of my sister damage my Wii Remore (it still works for action that require just pointing, but doesn't work for actions that require you to shake the controller. This means I have to use a GameCube controller for Mario Kart Wii), so I will need to get a new controller first.

Have you tried Nintendo's method for fixing the motion control? Supposedly, the gyro can get stuck if the controller drops hard on the ground, but can be dislodged with the proper action.

Hold the Wii Remote button-side down and forcefully whack the controller against the palm of your non-dominant hand (Link)

Who knows, might work and save you a good $40.

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

The addition of weapons worries me, I hated the luck focus in Mario Kart. Are they spawned in random item boxes or fixed positions? How often do they get used?

I don't see such a thing.  Skill overcomes luck, and takes advantage of luck.

[MegaByte]

I didn't see a whole lot of weapons used.  Mostly because it seemed like racers tended to be spread out across the track much more than in a game like Mario Kart.  The weapons weren't as equalizing either.

[Mop it up]

That's good to hear MegaByte. When the attack items were announced I was worried that it would make the game a sort of clone of Mario Kart, but it seems to be its own type of game.

[KDR_11k]

The addition of weapons worries me, I hated the luck focus in Mario Kart. Are they spawned in random item boxes or fixed positions? How often do they get used?

I don't see such a thing.  Skill overcomes luck, and takes advantage of luck.

But at equal skill the impact of luck is too big.

[Stratos]

The new trailers on Game Trailers look pretty good. The idiotic boyfriend of my sister damage my Wii Remore (it still works for action that require just pointing, but doesn't work for actions that require you to shake the controller. This means I have to use a GameCube controller for Mario Kart Wii), so I will need to get a new controller first.

A friend of mine had a similar issue I believe and he said you hold the remote upside down and lightly slap it to get it working again. Supposedly it realigns/loosens the accelerometers.

@Mop it up
I think it is absolutely cute how you use the phrase "Dirty floors" as an expletive considering your name is Mop it up. Very creative.

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

The addition of weapons worries me, I hated the luck focus in Mario Kart. Are they spawned in random item boxes or fixed positions? How often do they get used?

I don't see such a thing.  Skill overcomes luck, and takes advantage of luck.

But at equal skill the impact of luck is too big.

That's only when the situation is taken too seriously, particularly by non-casual gamers.  Impact? kinda subjective.  Otherwise, luck adds lol.

[Mop it up]

The addition of weapons worries me, I hated the luck focus in Mario Kart. Are they spawned in random item boxes or fixed positions? How often do they get used?

I don't see such a thing.  Skill overcomes luck, and takes advantage of luck.

But at equal skill the impact of luck is too big.

Three things:
1. In any game, if all participants had exact equal skill (if it's possible), then it would always come down to luck.
2. It takes skill to utilize luck.
3. It sounds like you're taking the game too seriously. Go play Forza or something if you want to be competitive.

@Mop it up
I think it is absolutely cute how you use the phrase "Dirty floors" as an expletive considering your name is Mop it up. Very creative.

Where do you think I came up with my username? I'm kind of a clean freak, and "dirt" is a four-letter word. Plus, I don't like to use swears as that seems needlessly vulgar.

[KDR_11k]

2. It takes skill to utilize luck.

Anyone can hit with a blue shell, few can prevent losing the race when it's used shortly before the finish line. The skill difference between a successful attack and a successful defense is massive.

[Plugabugz]

I hate having to wait.