PixlBit

The original Excitebike is one of the most beloved NES games of all time and also happens to also be one of my most cherished retro titles. When I heard that Nintendo and Monster Games were collaborating to update the title, I was very excited. Once it became available yesterday, I didn’t hesitate for a second to download it. Rather than taking the easy route of just adding 3D graphics, slapping on some minor features and calling it a day, World Rally is a full-fledged modern update that could easily be called a sequel thanks to its many new features. Thankfully, the game is still as fun as the classic and the various additions prove to be fantastic.

If you aren't familiar with Excitebike, the goal of the game is to reach the finish line in the shortest time possible all while avoiding all the obstacles and other racers on the four-lane track. Like the original, the controls are very simple; there's a gas button and a turbo button, and whenever you use turbo your engine will quickly heat up. If used too much, the engine will overheat and you will have to shake the Wii Remote rapidly in order to recover. Doing wheelies and positioning your bike during jumps is dependant on what control scheme you choose; with classic controls this is accomplished with the left and right directions on the D-pad, whereas if you select modern then this is accomplished by tilting the remote to the left or to the right. The motion controls work incredibly well and never feel obtrusive. Control will ultimately come down to preference, as both are perfectly functional.

There are also a couple of new additions to the core formula. You are now able to perform a wheelie in an attempt to ride over another cyclist on the track. If you knock them down while performing this maneuver, your engine will cool down, buying valuable time since your turbo life will be extended. One element borrowed from Excite Truck and Excitebots are the morph tokens. Occasionally in stages you will see one of these tokens, and if you touch it either a huge hill will appear or an obstacle that launches your bike over an expansive distance. The track creator tool, a major component of the original game, also received an update as you can now finally save your creations and trade them with your friends over WiiConnect24.

The single player mode in Excitebike: World Rally has been completely revamped and carries the new name, World Tour. In this mode, there are four cups split into four stages each. As the name of the mode implies, each stage is based on a different location in the world, and I enjoyed seeing backdrops from familiar stages featured in both Excite Truck and Excitebots. Similar to both modern Excite games, players will need to earn at least a B ranking in all of the stages in order to advance to the next cup. The grade you earn is solely dependent on the finishing time of each race, not the star system that has been added in this generation’s games. If players want to unlock everything the game has to offer then they will have to strive for S rankings in each stage.

The multiplayer mode is strictly an online affair. You can play against strangers or friends if you have exchanged friend codes. Playing against strangers will earn you "Anyone Points", while friend matches will net "Friend Points". If a specific amount of points is accumulated then you will be able to unlock additional bikes and other extras. Considering that Monster Games included a two-player splitscreen mode in both Excite Truck and Excitebots, it's a shame that there is no local multiplayer in this game.

Overall, Excitebike: World Rally is an excellent update to the classic NES game. The new additions are satisfying and mesh well with the classic formula. The inclusion of numerous unlockables, online multiplayer and the ability to trade custom levels online, greatly bolster the replay value. If you are a fan of Excitebike there are more than enough additions to justify the 1000 Wii Point price tag.