Excitebike
Side-scrolling motocross racer with a track editor and turbo boost mechanic.
Excitebike is a 1984 racing video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Entertainment System. Directed by Shigeru Miyamoto and designed by Toshihiko Nakago, it was the first game in the Excite series and became one of the best-selling games on the console in North America. Its smooth side-scrolling engine was a technical achievement, but the engine used for Super Mario Bros. (1985) was developed independently.
- Designer/Director
- Designed by Toshihiko Nakago, directed by Shigeru Miyamoto (often credited as producer/manager)
Lore & Background
Excitebike was designed and directed by Shigeru Miyamoto. The game features two main gameplay modes: Selection A (solo race) and Selection B (against computer opponents). The player controls a motocross racer, using the A button to accelerate and the B button for a turbo boost that can overheat the engine if used too long, requiring a cooldown. The engine temperature can be reset by driving over arrows on the course. The player can shift lanes and balance the racer midair after jumps. Obstacles include gaps, rough patches, and bottlenecks. A Design Mode allows players to create tracks using 19 types of hurdles, with save/load functionality via the Famicom Data Recorder, which was unreleased outside Japan.
Reader's Guide
Excitebike was a critical and commercial success, spawning several sequels and multiple re-releases on platforms such as the Wii and Wii U Virtual Console, Nintendo Classics service, and the NES Classic Edition. Enhanced versions include VS. Excitebike for arcades (1984) and Famicom Disk System (1988), the latter featuring a two-player VS. Excite mode, new music by Soyo Oka, and saveable tracks. A Satellaview remake, Excitebike: Bun Bun Mario Battle Stadium, replaced human racers with Mario characters. The game's side-scrolling engine was key to the development of Super Mario Bros., enabling smooth acceleration. Excitebike has been praised for its simple yet strategic controls and its innovative Design Mode. It was ranked among the best NES games by IGN and Game Informer, though Kotaku editor Jason Schreier called it the worst game on the NES Classic Edition without explanation.
Did You Know?
- Excitebike was the first game in the Excite series.
- The smooth side-scrolling engine from Excitebike was not directly reused for Super Mario Bros.; that game had its own engine.
- VS. Excitebike was an arcade game, not a Famicom Disk System title. The FDS version of Excitebike lacks two-player mode and Soyo Oka's music.
- Excitebike is an unlockable bonus game in Excitebike 64 and Animal Crossing.
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