Excitebike is a motocross racing video game made by Nintendo of Japan. It was a launch title for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in 1985.
The game was popular for its simple gameplay and fun factor that it is almost always present in a NES player's basic collection of games. It even spawned sequels in succeeding game consoles after the NES.
The Story
You are a motorbike racer and you can challenge the course by yourself, or with some fellow racers. You need to finish in the top 3 in a race to proceed to the next race. And this becomes more difficult after the first few races.
The Graphics and Sound
Graphically, it is good with cheerful colors, I suppose. Being an early NES game, it does not hold up to the games that came out later. One nice touch was that flashbulbs went off during races. And there were little camera men filming the race as you race the tracks. That was a nice detail. It felt as though you were showing off for the cameras as you made your jumps.
The music is very limited. The title screen music is catchy and the motorcycle engine running noise is the best sound in the game. All the other sound effects in the game are forgettable.
The Gameplay
You got to finish the course in record time. Game A is time-trial while Game B is race against other CPU players.
Controlling your motorbike is simple, just a matter of pressing the gas and using the directional pad. There is a wide variety of ramps, obstacles, and barriers placed on the course. These pre-made courses are done well enough. This makes the game still fun today.
The track editor really boosts the game's replay value. Done with the regular tracks? Make one with the track editor. Done with that? Make another new track. The possibilities to create variations are endless. You are only limited by your own imagination.
My Verdict
Excitebike is among the best motorbike games that I have played. All I can say is that this is one cool game for fans of motorcycle racing games to try.
I would heartily recommend that you pick up Excitebike for the NES, or play on emulators and be prepared to be taken back to the past for the fun gameplay.
I loved this one. Such a simple yet addictive game. My favorite in the genre though is probably Kikstart on the Commodore 64. In many ways it is similar but from a different point of view and it's split screen one on one player vs. player (or computer).
Yes, this game was simple yet satisfying.