Excite Truck

"I'm not a racing game fan. But then again, Excite Truck isn't your average racing game."

Excite Truck is a fun, fast-paced racing game, where not only finishing first doesn't always mean brining home a shiny new trophy. That's because in Excite Truck, it's all about the stunts. Spins, drifts, turbo jumps, ring jumps, and truck smashes are what it's really all about. Trust me; even those who aren't racers will enjoy this one.

Graphics: 8
There aren't any major problems in the graphics, most of the graphics, such as the water and the trucks, look detailed and crisp most of the time. My only real concern in this department was some of the trees, whose leaves were simply a flat image on the tree, with no depth. But heck, who looks that close. All in all, the graphics are Wii material, unlike some other Wii games. You can look forward to a very nice looking environment if you are considering buying this game.

Sound: 8
The music really seems to suit the games well. Rock tunes in the background really keep your energy flowing, and I've never noticed anything that I didn't like about the music. The sound effects are your standard racing sounds. Vroom-Vroom, Whoosh, you know the deal. The sound effects are nice, and they don't really become repetitive for a long while. The music on the other hand does become repetitive after a while, bringing the sound score to an eight.

Gameplay: 9
Well, the have a nine here. The controls are incredible, and give you the sense that you are really driving. After playing this game, other racing game controls seem boring and unrealistic. You've been warned, if you ever want to enjoy any other racing game without motion controls ever again, don't play this game. You'll be spoiled. Anyway, another great addition to the gameplay is the concept that the first player to reach the finish doesn't always win. The player with the most stars wins. You earn stars by performing stunts and dangerous tricks. You also receive bonuses for finishing faster. At the end, the player with the most stars wins. We can't leave out the great modes either. There's training for those just starting out, versus for those who want to face off with friends, and excite race and challenge for solo play. All are incredible. The only thing I could ask for would be more variety in the courses. Very good gameplay though.

Replay Value: 8
This game takes a long time to master. Plus, you've got versus mode, and you'll never want to stop playing against your friends. Unlocking all the new trucks, conquering challenge mode, and whooping butt in versus is really all you need for some genuine replay time.

Rent or Buy?
Easy. Buy. Not just because its a good game, but also because you'll need enough time to really enjoy all fo the nice little features this games brings. You can rent it if you want, but let me tell you, that's like buying the left half of a new TV instead of the whole thing.

Pros & Cons
+ Nice Graphics
+ Nice Sounds
+ Amazing Gameplay
+ Nice Replay Value

- Repetitive Music
- Similar Courses, Lacking Variety

~FINAL SCORE~
8/10 - Great

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 01/22/08

Game Release: Excite Truck (US, 11/19/06)