Excitebike 64

Excite bike 64 is an update of the classic NES title Excitebike and Nintendo have done a sterling job exporting the old gem from the 8 bit era and shoehorning it onto the N64.

The graphics are great, the frame rate is smooth and the tracks (either outdoor or indoor) are all well designed, and most importantly - fun!

Of all the Motocross games out there, the N64's Excitebike is still by far the best. While the visuals may not be able to stand up to the likes of EA Sports' more recent PS2 and Xbox Motocross titles, Excitebike has not been dethroned as the king when it comes to sheer playability.

The way the bikes handle is supreme - it feels so intuitive and the rider and bike feel like two different entities meaning that if you over do the throttle on a corner or attempt a slide that is a bit too optimistic, you WILL come out of the saddle, as it were. Being a motorcyclist myself - and one who has had his fair share of 'mishaps,' I can also say that the physics are very true to life!

The bikes feel really good to control and the slide button is a stroke of genius for getting around tight corners. Another great feature is the temperature gauge in the corner that shows how hot your engine is - if you keep the throttle open for too long, it'll eventually damage your bike.

The sheer number of events, tournaments and extra modes is also commendable. There is a desert based free for all mode where you must scramble over sand dunes in an attempt to beat your rivals to the various camp fires (ala Smuggler's Run); a stunt mode; a weird soccer mode where you have to get the ball in the net by using your scrambler; a hill climb mode (which is a NIGHTMARE!!) and even a version of the classic Excitebike. Add to this the multiplayer options and the thoroughly engaging main tournament (where you have straight races against AI bikers) and there are literally hours of fun to be had.

Excitebike 64 is without doubt the best off-road motorbike game money can buy and with an expansion pak is also a damn good looking one. A refreshing change of genre direction for a company renowned for games featuring balloons and stupid little animals (there's one for Samus!) but one question remains - Why no Gamecube version Nintendo?!

If you like motocross then Excitebike 64 for the Nintendo 64 is a good game for you. Multiple difficulty levels and a wide range of tracks will keep you entertained, and so will the fun mini games, that is until you beat all of the game. Until then this is a good game to sink your thumbs into.