26. Excite Bike

Nintendo. Excite Bike. Virtual Console. 2007.











Rating
E for Everyone

Plot Summary
Excite Bike is a side-scrolling motocross game that gives players the option between racing against computer racers or solo against time. At the start of each race players have the option of selecting one of five different playable tracks. Players must finish in the top three finishers to advance to the fifth and final Excite Bike championship race. Players control their racer using the directional pad on the Nintendo classic controller and accelerate using the a or b button. Players must be conscious of their acceleration speed and be aware of the visible overheat meter, because if they don't, the bike will crash, affecting the qualification to next round. Excite Bike players also have the ability to create their own tracks with ramps, bridges, and other obstacles.

Critical Evaluation
Originally released in 1984 for the Nintendo Entertainment System, Excite Bike returns with a new and improved version for the Nintendo Wii Virtual Console. The virtual Console release of this classic game allows players to save their track creations, which was something that the original release was not capable of. The same classic racing sound effects and game play are employed in this emulation, and the ability to create custom track obstacles will be just as fun for gamers today as it was over 15 years ago. Gamers can still knock riders off the road, crash land, and race to set time track records. There is beauty in the simplicity of the 8-bit graphics and minimal controls that make this game so enjoyable. The one downside to this new release is that Nintendo failed to add a two player option that would make this game more popular for group gaming. Racing games have come a long way, and many of the elements that make Excite Bike so popular, such as customizable tracks, and saved best times, are now staples in the racing genre of video games.

player's Annotation
8-bit racing has never looked so good. Relive the challenging courses, tough time trials, and avoid overheating in the Nintendo Wii virtual console release of Excitebike!

Virtual Console information
The Nintendo Virtual Console is a specialized section of the Nintendo Wii shopping channel that allows players to purchase Nintendo Points, which can be used in exchange for downloads of classic video games from systems like Super Nintendo, Sega Master System, and even arcade hits. The classic games for download are made available through emulation software, with most games costing between 500-1200 points. 1,000 points costs right around ten dollars, with more expensive games being the ones that come from newer systems with larger file sizes. Nintendo makes access to classic games obtainable for everyone with a broadband internet connection, and is currently trying to amass the greatest playable video game archive in history.

Genre
Racing, Sports

Curriculum Ties
N/A

Reading Level
N/A

Challenge Issues
N/A

Reason For Selection
There has been a sudden resurgence in the world of classic gaming with the popularity of the Nintendo Wii. The Wii shopping channel allows new gamers and classic gamers alike to purchase downloads of the games that made Nintendo famous and successful. Repackaging the games for a new generation is important to show teens how far video games and technology have come so that they can appreciate gaming history. I selected the games that I did for the blog assignment because they were the only games that I had access to. My brother is a huge fan of classic gaming and the majority of games he owned were on the virtual console.