ExciteBots: Trick Racing Review

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(More customer reviews)There is no question about the appeal of racing games on the Nintendo Wii. After the massive success of Mario Kart Wii last year, it has honestly been very difficult to see that if Nintendo can actually top itself again. Well, Nintendo has shown that eagerness again. When the Wii got launched in 2006, one of the introduction titles was Excite Truck. the game did a good job at showing the need for speed onto the Wii. But the game was sadly overlooked in place of other titles like Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess, and the dynamic Wii Sports, which of course came with the system. Well, Nintendo is going to try the racing series yet again, and this time it is a bit stranger than before.
Excitebots: Trick Racing for the Nintendo Wii, brings in the wild, and honestly a bit weird into the gaming, as you race not cars or trucks, but robotic animals. Yes, robotic animals like Bats, Grasshoppers and Beatles. It might seem akward, but it does bring in a new twist in racing. The gameplay does work as it did before with Excite Truck, the way to score and unlock new races, is to perform outrageous stunts like Ring Jumps, perform tricks, and smash your opponents. The graphics look good, but the gameplay is also interesting. You can control the game like you did before with Excite Truck, by steering the controler like it is a wheel, or you can also use the Wii Wheel, which comes with this package, or if you've bought Mario Kart Wii.
There are a few new things here that make the game a bit strange. One of the things includes the extra bonuses you get during the race, are from racing stunts like throwing and scoring in darts, from trying to score a bowling strike, to tossing a pie in the clowns' face. You can also score stars by performing twirls on hanging bars. This requires a lot of control and especially tight timing. The other new feature is the use to play against other racers online through the Wi-Fi. It makes the games a bit interesting, as you score your way first to the finish line, as you and as many as 5 other racers make your way through tracks around the world from Asia, Africa, and Europe.
While there are a lot of new things here, there sadly is a few faults with the game. The first big disadvantage is the control. It can be very tricky at first, but it takes awhile to get used to. Also, unlike Mario Kart Wii, you cannot use the Gamecube or Wii Classic Controllers either. The game mainly uses the Wii-mote. The second disadvantage is the online gaming. While you can race against other Excitebots online, they could've allowed it to allow more than just 6 racers for a match.
You can buy Excitebots: Trick Racing with, or without the Wii Wheel definitely. But, if you haven't bought Mario Kart Wii, you might want to get the expanded version with the Wii Wheel, for a bit more extreme gameplay. Nevertheless, despite a few faults, Excitebots: Trick Racing definitely brings in a bit of weirdness into gameplay that is sure to knock you off your rockers. If you haven't yet played Excite Truck, than you'll definitely want a new spin on what makes the Wii extreme with Excitebots: Trick Racing.
Graphics: B
Sound: B
Control: B 1/2-
Fun & Enjoyment: B- for solo; B 1/2- for multiplayer
Overall: B-

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Gameplay In ExciteBots: Trick Racing players race around internationally located tracks in the form of their favorite insect, amphibian or mammal themed bot. Each bot has its own special abilities which will serve players well when they find themselves on the right terrain to take advantage of these. As with pretty much any racing game, a major goal is to complete the course at the highest speed possible, but players are also tasked with performing stunts and participating in mini-games. Players win bonus stars for crossing the finish line sooner, but stunts, style and these mini-games are as important as speed. For example: have you ever wished that you could play poker while racing? Think you can toss a dart or roll a bowling ball while leaving the competition in the dust? ExciteBots provides you with your chance. Stars can be traded for a variety of goodies, like new vehicles, tracks, icons and statues. Control Schemes The control scheme of ExciteBots is easy and fun. The game canbe played with just a Wii Remote or via the combinationof a Wii Remote and a Nintendo Wheel accessory/any third party wheel.The 2 Button on the Wii Remote controller is the gas. The + control padgives drivers a speed boost. Players turn the Wii Wheel accessory leftor right to steer, tilt the Wii Wheel in midair to glide or to adjustpitch for perfect landings, swing the Wii Wheel in circular motions aroundboost bars to build up speed and press the A Button to activate itemsor to cash in hands in Poker Mode. Key Features
Special ExciteBots: Trick Racing bundle features included Nintendo Wii Wheel.
The game takes the big-air thrills and simple pick-up-and-play controls of ExciteTruck and ramps up the fun with a constant barrage of funky challenges and mini-games performed at blinding speed. Players shoot goals, throw pies and even play poker in the middle of rowdy races around off-road tracks.
Having your vehicles drive, walk or fly around the track quickly is one thing, but it's more important to go around in style. Players earn stars for huge jumps, cool tricks and daring feats at high speed.
Six players can race online* via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection in both Excite Race and Poker Race modes. If friends can't join online, players can exchange ghost data via WiiConnect24 and challenge their friends to outdo their most daring tricks.
2-player multiplayer versus mode featuring split screen display is also available for local play.
Special Moves Just as in ExciteTruck, drivers can hit blocks that morph the terrain before their eyes and create ramps from which players can launch mega-jumps. Players can aim for and swing around boost bars or open presents that unleash a variety of wild items, such as bottle rocket boosts or clacker mouths that chomp on other racers to slow them down. Mini-Games Now what about those mini-games. Do you know of any other game that features high-speed robotic racers combined with bowling, poker, clown faces and sandwich making? Didn't think so, but how do these game work?
Soccer: Drive into the soccer ball and attempt to hit it into the goal.
Bowling: Drive through the pins and attempt to get a strike.
Darts: Line up your bot and let the dart fly. Try to hit bull's-eye in the distance.
Clowns: Hit the clown in the face with a pie by throwing it at just the right angle and speed.
Sandwiches: Drive through the ingredients in the proper order to make a delicious sandwich.
*Note that broadband access is required for online play.

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Nintendo Wii Sport HD Bundle - 5 Games, HD Cables, and More Review

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(More customer reviews)I love how the ad says HD ready, 480p is NOT HD. Try again.

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Whether they're young or old, expert gamers or beginners, Wii players will express themselves with intuitive motion control using the Wii Remote: a flick of the wrist to swing a baseball bat or tennis racket, a backswing and follow-through to send a golf ball flying over a pristine fairway. Wii Sports, packaged with the Wii console, introduces players to those and many other experiences. The sleek Wii console, no larger than a stack of several DVD cases, includes a Wii Sports Game Disc ( 5 games; Baseball, Tennis, Golf, Bowling and Boxing), a sensor bar, a standard composite cable, a Wii stand, a Wii Remote, and a Nunchuk for even more exciting game-control possibilities. Key Features: Provides an immersive, engaging experience like no other, where the player is more connected to the game than ever before. Wii Remote utilizes motion sensor control allowing players to be a part of the game through natural and intuitive movement. Wii offers entertainment for every member of the household. Anyone of any age or skill level can pick up and play games on Wii. Virtual Console offers access to a library of downloadable games. Select games from the original Nintendo Entertainment system, Super NES and Nintendo 64 as well as new content that will be designed specifically for Wii. Wii plays all Nintendo GameCube video games. Wii offers more than just games. With the Wii Menu, you can check the news, create a caricature of yourself and play yourself in a game, view and send personal photos, or even check the weather. The Nintendo Wii Console includes: One Wii Remote One Nunchuk Wii Sports Game Disc (5 games; Baseball, Tennis, Golf, Bowling and Boxing) Power cord Sensor bar Standard AV composite cableHD Ready with HD Pro Component Cable for Wii

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Wii Review

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(More customer reviews)The Nintendo Wii is the most inexpensive of the current generation of gaming consoles. It provides motion sensing controllers and 480p graphics. We tested the Wii before its launch day (I'm a game reviewer), and we had our own unit in our home the morning of launch day. Here are our findings.
The Wii is designed around a menu of "channels". There is of course the game-playing channel, where the Wii will play any Wii or GameCube game. Simply load the disc in and go. There is a Mii channel where you set up a profile and avatar to connect to all your game playing. The Photos channel lets you look at photos on your TV. Other channels for news, weather, and online shopping require an interent connection; the news and weather were not actually working at launch time.
The system does NOT have a regular network cable port, which both the PS3 and XBox 360 have. Instead, it works with built in wireless or with a USB network adapter. I am a firm proponent of wireless - less clutter! So I am thrilled that they offer wireless automatically. With the PS3, you have to pay extra for the 60 gig unit to get this built in. The XBox 360 requires extra hardware as well.
It's hard to generalize gameplay on any console - it really depends on what games you buy. That being said, the comes-with-it software of Sports is really quite fun and is about as basic as you can get. You swing at baseballs, lob tennis balls, bowl, box and play golf. A "fitness" mode puts you through a variety of tasks and then calculates your fitness age, sort of like how Brain Age keeps track of your mental age. If you did both every day, you could aim to be as fit mentally and physically as possible!
In a world where video games = couch potato, it really is quite amazing to have a game where it natively expects you to move and be active. You don't lounge back and gain pounds here while playing games. Boxing can be quite strenuous, jabbing, blocking and weaving in real life. Tennis involves quick reflexes and strong arm movements. Bowling might be the most relaxed of the sports, but even there you are standing, moving, swinging. You get your heart going at least a little, and get some exercise. My boyfriend had a sore arm after playing for a number of hours, in a good way, as he would from exercising.
The 480p resolution is certainly not high def 1080p like the other two systems. It's something you accept when you're paying such a low price for the console. But really, it's not that big a deal. I still play the old Zeldas and love them for their gameplay, even though you can't see the pores in Link's face. If they are going for the cartooney characters and environments, 480p is DVD quality and is quite good. If you really, really crave high definition super realism in your games, then the Wii might not be the best choice for you. However, if you're fine with playing games with a more impressionist / cartooney look to them, the 480p can show that quite nicely. For example, there aren't fans in the stands for baseball - there are colored blocks.
Nintendo has always been known as a "Kid's Console" - but I really do think with the Wii that they have become a "Family Console". It's not just kids who will enjoy this. Seniors can have fun bowling without knowing anything "Tricky" about how to use a video game unit. It's very intuitive. Moms can easily play with their kids, each with their own Wii profile. Adults having parties can have fun passing the controllers around. Family groups can share slideshows on the big screen while hanging out and drinking wine. Every person who has come over - from 8 to adult - has instantly understood and enjoyed the Wii, without much explanation at all.
With the price tag being so low, a gaming household that "needs" a higher end system can easily save up their money to get that XBox 360 or PS3 - and still be able to justify to get a Wii for the fun, casual gaming stuff to share with their non-gaming friends.
Well recommended! Since I own all three systems, and am playing all three wirelessly, feel free to contact me if you have any further questions.
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Update: One year later, and the Wii is still going strong! It's really funny how many people said the Wii would bomb because it wasn't as good as the PS3 or 360 - and here we are a year later and the Wii is still the system that people are really wanting to get. Hospitals are getting Wiis for their patients to play with. Senior centers are getting Wiis for their residents to play games together with. I was just on a cruise ship and they had Wii tournaments going on every day! This is a fantastically fun system that we really enjoy playing with and that literally the whole family can have fun with. There are great games for kids, great games for teenagers, great games for adults. I am really very pleased with how the Wii has held up and the game set available for it.
Update 2: 2 years later! Our Wii is still adored in our household, used just as much as the PS3 and XBox 360. I was just at a bar and they had two Wiis set up for people to play with, and everybody loved them. This really is an "every person's gaming system".
I'm running out of space here, but my nintendo.bellaonline.com site has full articles on exactly what you get in this box, and what else you should buy so you have a full system to play with.

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