Excitebots (Wii) Review

Picture Courtesy of wiimedia.ign.com

Excitebots is the "sequel" (kinda sorta) to Excitetrucks that came out right when the Wii was released. It definitely has a common feeling that came out of Excitetrucks, but has its little nuances. Instead of trucks, you race as robots (obviously). The speed is really quick. The turning controls are pretty responsive. It's played with either the Wii Wheel, or the Wiimote sideways.



It has its comedy to it. There are special balloons that you pick up that either change up the track, give you a "weapon" (the weapons are teeth, the rest will only give you stars), or the provide little "minigames" that you can do mid-race. Darts, bowling, soccer are a few to be mentioned. There are different races that you can compete in (Excite race, Poker race). The Excite Race is like Mario Kart's Grand Prix mode. You're able to unlock different races during this mode. Poker race is where you drive around and pick up cards to make poker hands. I haven't raced the Poker Race.



The biggest negative aspects of the game are the stupid "red bar" (people who play the game will know exactly what I'm talking about). It stops the race, makes you spin around a bar 10 times, you flick the Wiimote in time to how you swing on the screen and the higher your bar gets, the faster you go when you let go of the bar. I hate how you can only race each bot 10 times. There also isn't a big bonus for winning a race. If you get enough stars to pass the level, you can finish in last place and still be just fine. I'd rather have this game be a racing game first then a stunt game second. It's seeming like it's the other way around.

Rating: Knuckles