Excitebike 64

Excitebike 64
Developer(s)	Left Field Productions
Publisher(s)	Nintendo
Distributor(s)	Nintendo
Series	Excite
Platform(s)	Nintendo 64, iQue Player
Release date(s)	JP June 23, 2000 NA April 30, 2000 EU June 8, 2001
Genre(s)	Racing
Mode(s)	Single-player, Multiplayer
Rating(s)	ESRB: E
Media/distribution	Cartridge

Excitebike 64 (エキサイトバイク 64, Ekisaitobaiku Rokujūyon) is a video game published by Nintendo and developed by Left Field Productions. It was initially released in North America on April 30, 2000 for the Nintendo 64 video game console. It is the second installment in the Excite series, and is the first 3D game in the series. It is the sequel to the acclaimed Nintendo Entertainment System game Excitebike. It was later succeeded by the Wii game Excite Truck.

Gameplay

Players can choose from one of six riders, each with his own pre-set handling attributes. Players control the bike by using either the control stick or D-pad. They can use the gamepad to accelerate, brake, slide, and use turbo boost. Like in the original, holding down gives the player more air on jumps, while holding up aims the front wheel forward to enable landing on slopes. It chooses to follow the original in giving "extreme" jumps and physics.

Features

The main game features a 20-track season mode. Completing races unlocks more tracks and features. There is a tutorial that teaches players how to play through the 17 different tracks. There are a variety of exhibitions and time trial modes that lets players do more activities other than the main game. A major feature is the track editor, where players can create their own fully functional track and save it into the game. The announcer, Limua, shouts out the tricks and crashes throughout the race. Also featured is the original Exitebike.

Development

The game was revealed by Nintendo to the public at the pre-E3 conference on May 12, 1999. The game was later shown playable the next day.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate scores
Aggregator	Score
GameRankings	89%
Metacritic	88/100
Review scores
Publication	Score
Electronic Gaming Monthly	9/10
GamePro
GameSpot	8.8/10
IGN	9.7/10
Nintendo Power	8.9/10

Critical reception was generally positive. The game received an average 88 out of 100 from the review compilation site Metacritic. IGN commended the game for its "fantastic 3D engine, delightfully realistic physics, intuitive control, brilliantly detailed graphics, ingenious subtleties and tons of options." Game Fan stated "In addition to the superb animation, the game sounds awesome... Its dirt bikes actually sound like the real thing--none of that high-pitched tin squeal you'll find in other sub-par racers." TotalGames.net stated "The tracks are stunning and the physics engine manages to feel realistic, but also work perfectly as a game." CheckOut stated that Excitebike 64 is "A near flawless game that never tries to get too fancy for its own good. It's simple and simply awesome." Electric Playground stated "Added bonuses like the inclusion of the original side-scrolling turbo-cooling itty-bitty-bit masterpiece plus a tremendous hybrid of classic and new with 3D-ified straight and narrow, linear and delineated track design adds great gobs of icing to the cake."

While the game received high praise, certain publications voiced complaints. Gaming Maxx commented that there's "a small drawback if you're coming to this game for the music." Game Critics stated that "The game isn't perfect—I would have liked even more tracks to race on as well as a few more racers." GameSpot stated that "Some will cry about the frame rate, and some will wish the game featured real riders." GameShark stated that "The control isn't the easiest to get the hang of, there were times I thought about snapping that little analog stick right off the controller!"

See also

• Nitrobike

External links

• Official Nintendo Japan Excitebike 64 site