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Lots of New Info on Excitebots: Trick Racing

by Jared Rosenberg - March 3, 2009, 4:52 pm EST
Total comments: 30 Source: Nintendo Power

Say goodbye to trucks and hello to mechanical animal and insect vehicles in the Wi-Fi-enabled sequel to Excite Truck.

No one can say that Nintendo isn't good at keeping secrets. For the last two years Minnesota-based developer Monster Games has been slaving away at the development of Excitebots: Trick Racing without a single person outside the company and Nintendo knowing of its existence until last week. According to a local blog, Locally Grown, Monster Games was so secretive that they were known to turn off monitors when they received shipments of bottled water.

The latest issue of Nintendo Power has finally unveiled a number of details about Excitebots: Trick Racing. The new game will feature Wi-Fi support, insect-shaped automobiles, and the return of high-flying jumps. All the features people loved from the first game, such as stunts and crazy track deformation are back in full force.

The developers were "bored" with racing games where coming in first was all that mattered. Just like in Excite Truck, it is possible to win without being the first across the finish line as long as you accomplish some wild stunts. "Fast-paced racing combined with insane stunts is what triggers the rush," explained Monster Games President Richard Garcia and Nintendo Supervisor Hiro Yamada.

One of the big differences this time around is that racers will be driving an assortment of robots inspired by the animal kingdom such as a turtle, a ladybug, a frog, and a grasshopper. All of the motorized animals, which have designs reminiscent of Stunt Racer FX, will have their own unique attributes. Players will also be able to get power-ups to make their vehicles change shape for a short time and race on two legs. The decision to drop trucks came when the developers realized that the insane new tracks and tricks they had devised didn't seem to meld well with their existing four wheelers. "We really wanted to create an offbeat, unconventional design that no one would find anywhere else and would fit with the wacky action. That's how we came up with these robot critters," revealed the developers.

Excitebots will have the same control scheme as its predecessor where players hold the Wii Remote NES style and tilt it left and right to steer and forward and back while in the air to help land the vehicle. It appears that the game will also have some interesting new ways to get speed boosts. Scattered throughout the levels will be red bars that a player's robot will hook onto and begin spinning around upon approach. If a player can successfully spin their Wii Remote replicating the motion their bot is making as they spin around the bar, they will earn some extra speed. The game will also support the Wii Wheel and have online play for up to six players.

Developed by Monster Games, Excitebots: Trick Racing will arrive on store shelves April 20.

Thanks to NeoGaf for details on the number of online players.

Talkback

Flames_of_chaosLukasz Balicki, Staff AlumnusMarch 03, 2009

All I can say is the screenshots look awesome and EXCITE!!

GoldenPhoenixMarch 03, 2009

Sounds like an innovative title without straying too far from Excite Trucks. I am excited.

CalibanMarch 03, 2009

Does Wi-Fi support mean that I will be able to play with y'all online?

GoldenPhoenixMarch 03, 2009

Quote from: Caliban

Does Wi-Fi support mean that I will be able to play with y'all online?

Hopefully it means that and doesn't mean "Get cool new decals for your robots!".

EXCITEment rising...

Mop it upMarch 03, 2009

Quote from: Penguin_Of_Time

The developers were "bored" with racing games where coming in first was all that mattered. Just like in Excite Truck, it is possible to win without being the first across the finish line as long as you accomplish some wild stunts.

I like this idea. I've always thought it disappointing that Mario Kart Wii records only your amount of first-place finishes, as coming in 2nd, 3rd, or even 5th in a 12-player race can still be quite an accomplishment.

Can't go wrong with Wi-Fi races either. I might just have to get this when it is released... although I should probably get ExciteTruck first.

CalibanMarch 03, 2009

Quote from: GoldenPhoenix

Quote from: Caliban

Does Wi-Fi support mean that I will be able to play with y'all online?

Hopefully it means that and doesn't mean "Get cool new decals for your robots!".

That never came to my mind that they could think of doing something so low as that. Heck, now I really hope they don't do such a thing. Unless of course we can race/battle online, with the addition of DLC.

ShyGuyMarch 03, 2009

I don't like the design of the robots. Or the fact that they are robots. The playing card thing is brilliant though.

Mop it upMarch 03, 2009

To people who are questioning online: did you miss this part?

Quote from: Penguin_Of_Time

The game will also support the Wii Wheel and have online play for up to six players.

It doesn't say what modes are available but it's still something.

CalibanMarch 03, 2009

Hooray! Thanks Mop_it_up.
I sometimes read past certain details because I have a short attention span for reading.

Nick DiMolaNick DiMola, Staff AlumnusMarch 03, 2009

Bots seem kind of lame, but doesn't matter because it's essentially Excite Truck 2 (minus the trucks). Epic win!

NinGurl69 *hugglesMarch 04, 2009

is there a REGGIE BOT?

NWR_pap64Pedro Hernandez, Contributing WriterMarch 04, 2009

Win. First day purchase!

Thankfully, these are NOT the transformers rip offs I was envisioning.

StratosMarch 04, 2009

This sounds really interesting after reading this. I like that there is online play and the win-through-tricks idea could play really well.

When I was younger my neighbor (who I thought was the coolest) would come over and we would play 1080 Snowboarding on the 64. I always won the races because he wasted time on tricks. But he'd always discredit my wins because he said that if it were real life he'd have won all the chicks attention for his cool stunts. This game lets you put your money where your mouth is in regards to tricks.

I just hope it is balanced so that wining doesn't become worthless in the fact of stunt racers.

KDR_11kMarch 04, 2009

Quote from: Flames_of_chaos

All I can say is the screenshots look awesome and EXCITE!!

Screenshots? Where?

TanookisuitMarch 04, 2009

Quote from: ShyGuy

I don't like the design of the robots. Or the fact that they are robots. The playing card thing is brilliant though.

I agree.  I think it's ugly as sin.

D_AverageMarch 04, 2009

I want to be excited for this game but those robots just aren't doing much for me.  I'm going to reserve judgement until I can at least see some videos.

UltimatePartyBearMarch 04, 2009

Quote from: Kairon

Thankfully, these are NOT the transformers rip offs I was envisioning.

Funny you mention that, because the first thing that came to my mind when I saw the name Excitebots was Cy-kill vs. Leader 1.

vuduMarch 04, 2009

Quote from: Mop_it_up

I've always thought it disappointing that Mario Kart Wii records only your amount of first-place finishes, as coming in 2nd, 3rd, or even 5th in a 12-player race can still be quite an accomplishment.

I think your memory is a bit fuzzy.  Mario Kart Wii records your win-loss record, but you still get some wins no matter what place you get (as long as you don't come in last).  For example, if you come in third in a 12 kart race you'll get 9 wins and 2 losses.

Mop it upMarch 04, 2009

Quote from: vudu

Quote from: Mop_it_up

I've always thought it disappointing that Mario Kart Wii records only your amount of first-place finishes, as coming in 2nd, 3rd, or even 5th in a 12-player race can still be quite an accomplishment.

I think your memory is a bit fuzzy.  Mario Kart Wii records your win-loss record, but you still get some wins no matter what place you get (as long as you don't come in last).  For example, if you come in third in a 12 kart race you'll get 9 wins and 2 losses.

I know that the game records your win-loss record based on how many people you placed ahead of, and that's nice, but it isn't the same as recording how many times you've placed in each position as there's no way to tell which positions you've placed in to earn those. The win-loss record applies only to Wi-Fi races while the other records apply to all races both online and off, another reason why it would have been nice.

Quote from: Stratos

...the win-through-tricks idea could play really well.

You should play Excite Truck.  It plays extremely well.

TJ SpykeMarch 05, 2009

I got half used to the controls in Excite Truck but never loved them. I know I am not the only one, I hope they improved on what they learned from that game.

StratosMarch 06, 2009

Quote from: Jonnyboy117

Quote from: Stratos

...the win-through-tricks idea could play really well.

You should play Excite Truck.  It plays extremely well.

I've been thinking about giving it a try at some point. Maybe rent it in anticipation for this game?
Does Excite Truck have the 'win-through-tricks' feature?

GoldenPhoenixMarch 06, 2009

Quote from: Stratos

Quote from: Jonnyboy117

Quote from: Stratos

...the win-through-tricks idea could play really well.

You should play Excite Truck.  It plays extremely well.

I've been thinking about giving it a try at some point. Maybe rent it in anticipation for this game?
Does Excite Truck have the 'win-through-tricks' feature?

Yes it does.

StogiMarch 07, 2009

It does...............kinda.

If you want to get the highest grade for any given course, your going to have to drive insanely fast, pull off tricks, and still manage to win the race. It's a riot!

As for the controls, once you get use to them, they really fit the game well.

StratosMarch 07, 2009

Quote from: Kashogi

It does...............kinda.

If you want to get the highest grade for any given course, your going to have to drive insanely fast, pull off tricks, and still manage to win the race. It's a riot!

As for the controls, once you get use to them, they really fit the game well.

I was more referring to multiplayer. If I'm playing with another person could someone who is far behind still win the race by trick points as opposed to winning first?

KDR_11kMarch 07, 2009

Yeah but be careful, winning the race gives quite a few points and even more the longer the other player takes to reach the goal so if you hang back too far you'll have a very hard time making it up in points.

StogiMarch 07, 2009

Winning the race and pulling off insane tricks go hand in hand.

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