Excite Truck

[demondave]

In the grand racing tradition of Excitebike, get ready for a big-air experience like no other as players rocket their trucks across dynamically changing terrain. Remember tilting your arms while playing Excitebike to try to make your character land a huge jump? Well, that experience is finally a reality with Excite Truck, a wild, off-road race only possible on Nintendos Wii console. Players hold the Wii Remote like an NES controller to control the truck. The 2 button is the accelerator, the 1 button is the brake, the + Control Pad is the turbo … but that's just the beginning. Tilt the Wii Remote right and left like a steering wheel to steer. Once the truck goes airborne, tilt the Wii Remote every which way to line up perfect landings for turbo boosts. Pick up items on the courses to make the terrain deform in real time, turning innocent bumps into massive launch pads that affect not only the player's route, but that of his or her rivals. Players jump and bump their way to the highest score and highest finish. [Nintendo]
here is ign's review of excite truck: IGN.com (http://uk.wii.ign.com/articles/765/765823p1.html)
thought i would post it incase anyone wanted to read it, after reading i am thinking even more about getting this game.
Average score 7/10

Official Website: Excite Truck (http://www.nintendo.com/gamemini?gameid=X-Ip9O46zi1OyeMxBFyfdI_XDV06v7Ne)

To buy this game visit Wii Games (http://wiifind.co.uk/games.html)

[dylan]

I got Exite Truck during the week. As usual I get very exited when I purchase new software and belive every new game is amazing! So I dont know how I will feel about this game in a couple weeks. The overall feel is not that of an unfinished game, just one with out many bells and whistles on its front end. This game is a pure, unashamed arcade racer.

Tracks are lumped together to make a series of 4 or 5 races, starting with the bronze series up to platinum, unlocking them as you go. I think the tracks have great variety, the beaches in Fiji, castles in Scotland, whatever Canada's known for?? Like the tracks the trucks also make a difference to how you play. I think there's about 20-30 different trucks to unlock and then differing paint jobs awarded for success in that vechicle. The trucks give you 5 stats to check:speed, turbo, air, grip and also tells of the handelling type, slow, medium or quick.

I think the size, scale and quality of graphics in this game are as good as anything i've seen on the wii, and the speed and smoothness at which it runs bodes well for the future. At first you have to play through the first basic tutorials before it will let you race. Once done I expect most gamers to cane it through the game in no more than 2-3 days. Luckily upon completion, another option appears on the menu for 'Super Exite Truck'. This is much more competitive racing and although many races were played over and over to achieve the result needed to move on its definatly more fun than a chore. In Super mode, platinum is no longer the highest achievment/toughest tracks, it is the crystal medal that i'm stuck at. The last track came as shock, players of Mario Kart may well think it reminds them of somewhere.

The reason I played this game so hard this week is because I wanted a game of multiplayer. I know multiplayer wont be as fun with only 2 trucks on track, the usual is 6-8 in one player. What I didn't know is that i had complete everything just to unluck multi player.

The controls work a treat, taking no more than about 30mins to feel comfortable holding the wiimote horizontaly. Button2=gas, button1=brake/reverse(not used this one yet) D-pad=turbo, +button=pause menu, with quit, restart and the play your own mp3 sound menu. The only out right trink in the game is a 360spin in the air. This trick looks lame and its not easy to pull off. It should be by holding 1 and D-pad while airbourne and rocking the wiimote left to right. If your lucky your truck might 360 or might end up looking silly for no reward.

Points are quickly racked up during a race for much the same reasons as in the Burnout games, air, drifting, bashing opponents etc etc. Bonus points are awarded after a race for your position, then your race rank is calculated. D,C,B,A and S for true champs. B or higher is needed to open the next track. This can mean coming first but not doing enough or coming fourth with enough points to move on. To open Super exite mode all your orinal tracks must be improved on to an S rating.

I love it and i'm far from dissapointed, will update this if and when I get the multipayer open!

[thelocaluk]

Another brilliant review Dylan :D

I'm getting my hands on a copy of the game later today, so I'm hoping to share your opinion.

[Killer]

Can exciste truck be played in mor ehtan 2 player mode? ie 4 player mode?

[dylan]

No, unfortunatly I belive multiplayer is just 2 trucks at time. Maybe not as hectic as 6 trucks flying round the track. Dont know if it has some kind of catch up help but I think if it doesn't keep the racers close and competitive, it may get boring.

There is also 3 chalenges(minigames) 1) gate challenge, making the next gate gives you extra seconds, missing them looses you time. 2) ring challenge, jump high into the air and streer through a line of rings.
3)smash challenge, like a cross between demolition derby and burnout in a giant shallow lake. The water stops your turbo blowing up the engine.

the last game in particular is great fun and I would love to play it 2 player. But untill i complete the last race, I dont know what I get!

[thelocaluk]

Dylan's review is spot on. Played this myself tonight, easy to learn and play. This game feels like an arcade racing classic from the word go, this could easily compete with other arcade racers out there. For anyone as old as me, your remember the thrill you got from tearing up the tarmac in Out Run for the very first time, well I got the same feeling from Excite Truck :P
It is quite challenging to get S grade in all the tracks, so it should take any average player some while to complete. One gripe is the typical arcade music that gets on your nerves. Luckily however you can play your favourite tunes from off your SD card in the Wii. This is alot better, racing round the courses to my favourite heavy metal tracks is awesome.
So if you like arcade racers get this game, you won't regret it.

[dylan]

What I didn't know is that i had complete everything just to unluck multi player!

Erm. completed Super Exite. Its now given me a new set of races. I reckon access to multiplayer might be through completing the challenges.
I only need 1 more B grade to complete, but I think that will open the next level of challenges. If you were gonna rent this, I wouldn't challenge your mate to a race. You may need to play for a week first(giving you a healthy advantage). Still loving this game, it just keeps getting bigger!

[thelocaluk]

You don't need to unlock multiplayer, just turn on the second Wiimote and Versus mode becomes available. Its not to bad in two player, some circuits are great fun i.e. Scotland & Fiji, but I seem to get more satisfaction playing this game in one player because there's more car to beat. :D

[SuperJario]

Coool, thanks for the review dylan and thanks for backing it up local! I might just go and buy this game today then lol. What i thinks good about this game and i dont know if you've used it yet but i heard you can play your own Mp3 files from your SD whilst playing Excite Truck.


Pretty cool i must say!

[thelocaluk]

Yep, playing your MP3's whilst racing works a treat. You can select the track you want to play from your SD card or select shuffle.

[demondave]

racing along to Frank Sinatra........ could be interesting

[SuperJario]

Nice! so when your playing your own Mp3 song can you still hear the games caution sounds a the motor of the car etc?

[Museaholic]

hasn't really appealled to me, i really like racing games but i dunno :S may get it may not.

[thelocaluk]

Nice! so when your playing your own Mp3 song can you still hear the games caution sounds a the motor of the car etc?

Yep...all the game FX is as it should be, just the music thats changed. Hopefully this feature is used in most upcoming games that feature irritating sound tracks :lol:

[watchdog]

for example Super Monkey Ball lol....most annoying sound ever! I tihnk SSX might have some annoying tracks, hopefully you can do it on there.

[dylan]

cant believe I just needed to turn on second wiimote! I feel a complete doughnut. Thanks for that. Imagine if I had done all of it and not worked that out. Right, feel like a heavy week of racing then gonna post some times and scores in our high score thread.

[leo harrison]

looks good on the advert