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 Excitebots
(Wii)
Taking a unique spin on an already successful formula, Excitebots for the
Wii is a frenetic arcade-style racer that adds numerous tricks, stunts and
mini-games to the already solid mechanics that made ExciteTruck so
entertaining. This time around, instead of trucks, you control bots that
take various forms. While the basic design is similar, these new vehicles
implement stunt abilities that allow you to perform some pretty cool
tricks. Shaking and spinning your wii-mote around adds some immersion to
the races. There are also many mini-games, such as rolling over bowling
pins, kicking soccer balls and even playing poker. Excitebots' multiplayer
modes have been enhanced with support for Wi-fi play and split-screen
action. While it seems a bit gimmicky at first, Excitebots adds enough new
elements to the formula to make for a worthwhile sequel. |
Picking up where the Wii launch title ExciteTruck left off, Excitebots
takes the racing series in some interesting new directions. The basic
mechanics and layout of the game should be familiar. Your objective is to
finish each race in first place, but that isn't all you have to do.
Throughout each race, you can earn stars by completing stunts, making
massive jumps and hitting other vehicles. There are loads of hidden areas
in the game as well that you can use for even more points. Each level in
the game gives you a certain number of stars that you need to earn in
order to clear it, and you won't necessarily be able to clear a stage
solely by speed alone. Performing stunts and building up your score is a
key part of the game. Once you've completed all the stages in one area,
you'll unlock the next cup. You have a decent selection of courses at the
start, but things gradually open up as you play through the game. Earning
stars is also important when it comes to buy additional vehicles and
colors, since these can only be purchased once you attain the required
stars. This structure makes Excitebots fairly easy to understand, and it's
simple play controls make the game a quick learner. You steer using the
wii-mote, or a wheel add-on and press on the 2 button to accelerate. If
you want to use turbo for lightning speed, simply press on the d-pad.
However, you only have a limited amount of this to use before your bot
overheats, so use it wisely. Most of the racing is fairly standard, but
there are some truly massive jumps and turns you have to race along. Add
the constantly changing environments and you have an intense, speedy
arcade racing game that challenges your reflexes. Its physics aren't
entirely realistic, especially in the floaty feel when your vehicle is
suspended in the air, but the exaggerated movement and simple,
straightforward arcade-style controls are a big part of Excitebots'
wide-ranging appeal.
Obviously, the biggest change this time
around are the new bots, which take inspiration from animals such as
ladybugs, bats, grasshoppers, mice and more. These vehicles take different
forms and control with more versatility than the trucks did, adding a new
layer of gameplay to the races. They have new abilities and stunts, the
most important of which seem to be grappling hooks. At certain points in
some races, you'll encounter red bars that you need to swing around in
order to progress. Moving the controller around in a series of circular
motions makes you spin faster and faster, earning you more starts when you
launch off. Its kind of difficult to get the hang of at first, but once
you get spinning you'll find that it becomes part and parcel to the
experience. Additionally, you can use the hooks to spin around and get
back on tracks. When your bot crashes, instead of pressing down on the
buttons like you did in the first game, you have to swing the controller
around in order to recover. Each stage is set in a far flung location and
there are several dozen tracks included in the game. The tracks themselves
still change when you hit one of the special power-ups, which makes them
unpredictable. However, now you'll also have to contend with new mini-game
sections where you earn extra stars by successfully completing these
stunts. The new stunts include many sports themed ones, such as kicking a
football through goal posts, knocking down all the pins in a bowling game
or throwing a dart to a target. These add extra stars and beating them is
essential if you want to meet your star quota for each level. Excitebots'
other new mechanic is more subtle, but adds to the gameplay just as much.
When you're faced with a large jump, you can spin your bot around and
perform stunts to make an even higher score bonus. These new elements
combine to build on the existing gameplay from the first game to create
something that feels both familiar and fresh simultaneously.
 These
changes and additions make for a somewhat deeper and more exciting game,
and the developers at Monster Games have added an array of mini-games to
the mix. These can be played separately from the main courses, but you can
still earn plenty of stars. Making your way through all the mini-games has
the added benefit of refining skills and techniques you can apply to the
main races, too. One of the most enjoyable, if odd modes is a poker-themed
game where you build hands out of cards you race over and earn stars for
good ones. It's a lot of fun and signifies the offbeat approach that makes
Excitebots such an unexpected surprise. There are tons of these mini-games
to unlock and while they might seem like frivolous extras, these
mini-games enhance Excitebots' replay value. Another new addition this
time around is the ability to play online against other players with the
new wi-fi mode. Setting this up can be a bit of a chore thanks to those
infernal friend codes, but the effort is worth it, since you can compete
online and earn a ranking on the international leaderboards. From a visual
standpoint, the game hasn't progressed that much in the three years since
the original game, and its engine feels almost identical to the first
game, though maybe a bit slower on balance. The courses show a little bit
more detail, but they still aren't anything to get excited about.
Excitebots' bland music score is a bit of background and doesn't really
add that much to the game. On balance, these problems are relatively minor
and don't detract from what is an otherwise solidly entertaining and fun
title. Those players who enjoyed Excitetruck will definitely want to check
this sequel out, and gamers new to the series will find its almost
non-existent learning curve makes for a racing title with immediate
appeal. It's simple, arcade-style play mechanics make Excitebots an
enjoyable game. There aren't any revolutionary changes this time around,
but this is a title. Excitebots' gameplay is not overly difficult or
intimidating and this game should appeal to a broad audience of Wii
owners.
-
Michael Palisano
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