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Excitebike 64

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Excitebike 64
North American N64 box art
Developer(s)Left Field Productions
Publisher(s)Nintendo
Producer(s)James Maxwell
Programmer(s)Sam Baker
Mike Lamb
Ben Stragnell
Artist(s)Jon Evans
Allan Hayburn
Richie Romero
George Simmons
Composer(s)Matt Furniss
Chris Lamb
SeriesExcite
Platform(s)Nintendo 64, iQue Player
ReleaseNintendo 64
  • NA: May 2, 2000[1]
  • JP: June 23, 2000
  • EU: June 8, 2001
iQue Player
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player, Multiplayer

Excitebike 64[a] is a video game published by Nintendo and developed by Left Field Productions. It was released for the Nintendo 64 on May 2, 2000 in North America, June 23 in Japan, and June 8, 2001, in Europe. It is the second installment in the Excite series, acting as a sequel to Excitebike on the NES, and is the first 3D game in the series. Many real-life dirt bike gear brands are extensively featured throughout the game, such as Bell Helmets, Alpinestars and No Fear.

The game received positive reviews from critics and was later re-released for Wii U via the Virtual Console in 2016. It was also re-released on the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack on August 30, 2023.[2] A third game in the series, Excite Truck, was released in 2006 for the Wii.

Gameplay

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Top: Canyon Chasm track with stunt, Excite 3D, Editor original Excitebike
Bottom: Soccer, Desert Track, Track Editor

Players can choose from one of six riders, each with their own pre-set handling attributes. Players control the bike by using either the control stick or D-pad. They can use the gamepad to accelerate, brake, slide and use turbo boost. As in the original, holding down gives the player more air on jumps, while holding up aims the front wheel forward to enable landing on slopes. The player can also tilt the bike to the side while in the air, to adjust the angle at which they hit the turns, and can sideswipe their opponents.[3] Besides the tracks main course many of the levels have hidden shortcuts, that require the player to slow down and change direction, or use a speed boost for jumping over chasms, from hill to hill, over other vehicles and buildings, choosing to follow the original game in its "extreme" jumps and physics.

Features

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The main game features a 20-track season mode. Completing races unlocks more tracks and features. There is a tutorial that teaches players how to play through the 17 different tracks. There are a variety of exhibitions and time trial modes that lets players do more activities other than the main game. A major feature is the track editor, where players can create their own fully functional track and save it into the game. The announcer, Limua, shouts out the tricks and crashes throughout the race. Also featured is an emulated version of the original Excitebike and a 3D remake of it with the same obstacles called Excite 3D. There are also several other mini games such as a Stunt Course, Hill Climb, a Soccer game with a giant human sized soccer ball, and an "infinite, randomly generated" Desert Track where the player needs to put out ten campfires by driving over them, which Nintendo Power called "one of the coolest concepts ever".[4] As bonus features to the game, cheat modes were introduced, requiring the player to press buttons in a certain order to unlock a hidden "Cheats Menu". From there they could enter passwords that unlocked additional features, such as Invisible riders, Big heads, Debug mode, Midnight mode and even unlocking a picture of the programmers in the game's credits.[5]

Development

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While in development some of the main features they concentrated on were the game's sense of speed, the jumps and the ability to perform tricks, similar to the original game, as well as taking inspiration from the earlier released Wave Race 64.[6] To recreate the riders' movements and tricks the developers used a technique called 'inverse kinematics' to create a life like feel.[6] While other parts of the tracks were littered with bumps, log bridges and streams to run through. Using the N64's Rumble Pak allowed the player to feel these game experiences, as well as such things as making a hard landing.[6] Besides the standard tracks, several mini games were also added as unlockable content. The Desert Track was fractally generated for an endless desert, but despite the random building of its dunes, it also keeps the current configuration in the game's memory, allowing the player to return to the same spot that they once left.[6] The game was revealed by Nintendo to the public at the pre-E3 conference on May 12, 1999.[7] The game was shown playable the next day.

Reception

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The game received "generally favorable reviews", just two points shy of "universal acclaim", according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[8] In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of 29 out of 40.[14]

N64 Magazine mentioned the low quality of other similar games released around the same time and said: "After the lackluster efforts of Jeremy McGrath and Supercross 2000, we now have an intelligent racer."[3] IGN commended the game for its "fantastic 3D engine, delightfully realistic physics, intuitive control, brilliantly detailed graphics, ingenious subtleties and tons of options".[21] Levi Buchanan of GameFan stated: "In addition to the superb animation, the game sounds awesome... Its dirt bikes actually sound like the real thing--none of that high-pitched tin squeal you'll find in other sub-par racers."[16] Michael Wolf of NextGen said, "With all the secrets and special tracks, not to mention the realistic physics that'll make you wince during crashes, this is one motocross racing game that will entertain for hours on end."[23] The Freshman of GamePro said of the game in one review, "It could have been so much more, but Excitebike 64 manages to be only the latest motocross game whose reoccurring bugs mar an otherwise excellent racing game. Various unlocked extras make Excitebike 64 a truckload of fun, but it's playing to get those goodies that kicks up the dirt."[25][d] In another GamePro review, Dan Elektro said, "While you can't help but feel that Excitebike 64 is a few tweaks short of greatness, it's still a quality, enjoyable ride."[26][e]

While the game received high praise, certain publications voiced complaints. GameCritics said, "The game isn't perfect — I would have liked even more tracks to race on as well as a few more racers."[27] GameSpot opined, "Some will cry about the frame rate, and some will wish the game featured real riders."[19]

Another problem the game encountered was that it was one of the last games released for the N64 in Europe, having been released there over a year later than the Japan and U.S. releases. The delay was due to Nintendo's struggle to keep up with the demand for the games Pokémon Stadium and Perfect Dark.[28] This led some to feel that it was released too late in the system's life and if it "had appeared earlier... it would have been a bigger hit".[29]

Nonetheless, the game ultimately went on to sell approximately two million units, according to information provided by former employees of Left Field Productions.[30]

The game was nominated for the "N64 Game of the Year" award at The Electric Playground's Blister Awards 2000, which went to Perfect Dark.[31]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Japanese: エキサイトバイク 64, Hepburn: Ekisaitobaiku Rokujūyon
  2. ^ Three critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the game each a score of 9.5/10, 9/10, and 8.5/10.
  3. ^ In GameFan's viewpoint of the game, three critics gave it each a score of 75, 90, and 81.
  4. ^ GamePro gave the game two 4.5/5 scores for graphics and sound, 3.5/5 for control, and 4/5 for fun factor in one review.
  5. ^ GamePro gave the game three 4/5 scores for graphics, control, and fun factor, and 3.5/5 for sound in another review.

References

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  1. ^ IGN staff (May 2, 2000). "An Exciting New Website". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on April 17, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  2. ^ Phillips, Tom (September 14, 2022). "N64 classic Goldeneye 007 headed to Nintendo Switch Online and Xbox Game Pass". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on October 21, 2022. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Maddrell, Alan (July 2001). "Excitebike 64". N64 Magazine. No. 56. Future Publishing. pp. 56–59.
  4. ^ "Excitebike 64 Guide". Nintendo Power. Vol. 132. Nintendo of America. May 2000. p. 23.
  5. ^ "Excitebike 64 Cheats & Codes for Nintendo 64 (N64)". CheatCodes.com. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on October 17, 2011. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d "Excitebike 64 (Preview)". Nintendo Power. Vol. 121. Nintendo of America. pp. 84–85.
  7. ^ IGN staff (May 12, 1999). "Excitebike 64 Tears Up E3". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on April 17, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  8. ^ a b "Excitebike 64". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on November 6, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  9. ^ McCall, Scott. "Excitebike 64 - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  10. ^ Ham, Tom (May 26, 2000). "Excitebike 64". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on August 24, 2000. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  11. ^ Edge staff (July 2000). "Excitebike 64" (PDF). Edge. No. 86. Future Publishing. pp. 88–89. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 21, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  12. ^ Hager, Dean; Wochok, Cyril; Sewart, Greg (June 2000). "Excitebike 64" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 131. Ziff Davis. p. 164. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 8, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  13. ^ Conlin, Shaun (July 4, 2000). "Excitebike 64". The Electric Playground. Greedy Productions Ltd. Archived from the original on August 17, 2002. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  14. ^ a b "エキサイトバイク64 [NINTENDO64]". Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain. Archived from the original on September 25, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  15. ^ McNamara, Andy; Fitzloff, Jay; Reiner, Andrew (June 2000). "Excitebike 64 - Nintendo 64". Game Informer. No. 86. FuncoLand. Archived from the original on December 10, 2000. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  16. ^ a b Buchanan, Levi (May 2, 2000). "REVIEW for Excitebike 64". GameFan. Shinno Media. Archived from the original on June 20, 2000. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  17. ^ Rodriguez, Tyrone "Cerberus" (June 2000). "Excitebike 64". GameFan. Shinno Media. p. 64. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  18. ^ Mylonas, Eric "ECM"; Weitzner, Jason "Fury"; Ngo, George "Eggo" (June 2000). "Excitebike 64". GameFan. Vol. 8, no. 6. Shinno Media. p. 12. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  19. ^ a b Provo, Frank (May 19, 2000). "Excitebike 64 Review". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on April 11, 2016. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  20. ^ Ellis, James (September 2000). "Excitebike 64". Hyper. No. 82. Next Media Pty Ltd. pp. 70–71.
  21. ^ a b Casamassina, Matt (May 1, 2000). "Excitebike 64". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on April 15, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  22. ^ Green, Mark (July 2000). "Excitebike 64 (Import)". N64 Magazine. No. 43. Future Publishing. pp. 58–61.
  23. ^ a b Wolf, Michael (August 2000). "Excitebike 64". NextGen. No. 68. Imagine Media. p. 91. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
  24. ^ "Excitebike 64". Nintendo Power. Vol. 132. Nintendo of America. May 2000. p. 123. Archived from the original on April 15, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  25. ^ The Freshman (May 2, 2000). "Excitebike 64 Review for N64 on GamePro.com". GamePro. IDG. Archived from the original on December 5, 2004. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  26. ^ Dan Elektro (June 2000). "Excitebike 64" (PDF). GamePro. No. 141. IDG. p. 124. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 7, 2022. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  27. ^ Weir, Dale (June 30, 2000). "Excitebike 64 – Review". GameCritics. Archived from the original on April 16, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  28. ^ "Fast News: Mario Party and Excite Bike delayed until September". Nintendo Official Magazine. No. 94. Future Publishing. July 2000. p. 91.
  29. ^ Fox, Mat (October 20, 2006). The Video Games Guide. Pan Macmillan Ltd. p. 136. ISBN 0-7522-2625-8.
  30. ^ Valay, Brian (November 28, 2015). "Excitebike 64 devs on the game's development – origins, Miyamoto feedback, more". Nintendo Everything. Archived from the original on May 17, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  31. ^ EP staff (2001). "Blister Awards 2000 (Console Games 3)". The Electric Playground. Greedy Productions Ltd. Archived from the original on July 20, 2001. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
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