Excitebike (Japan, USA)

In Excitebike, players take on the role of a motocross racer, participating in challenging races across various tracks. The primary objective is to finish within a time limit or achieve a high position in tournaments.

The gameplay of Excitebike focuses on bike control skills. Players use the A button to accelerate and the B button for a turbo boost, but must pay close attention to the engine's temperature gauge. If the engine overheats (temperature bar fills up), the bike will stop for a few seconds to cool down, causing you to lose your advantage. Additionally, players can adjust the rider's weight by pressing up or down on the D-pad to balance the bike while airborne over jumps, allowing for smoother landings and maintaining speed.

The tracks in Excitebike are designed with various obstacles such as dirt mounds, mud pits, and large ramps. Improper landing after a jump can cause the bike to crash, costing you valuable time to recover. Skillfully navigating these sections, while avoiding collisions with other racers (in Championship mode), is key to victory.

The game offers three main play modes. "Selection A" is a single-race mode with a time limit to finish. "Selection B" is the Championship mode, where you must race against AI opponents to win a series of tournaments. The most distinctive feature of Excitebike is its "Design Mode." This mode allows players to freely create and build their own tracks using available parts like ramps, mud pits, and straightaways. This was a very advanced and unique feature for its time, providing immense replayability.

With its simple yet effective 8-bit graphics, distinctive sound effects, and addictive gameplay, Excitebike has become one of the classic NES titles, beloved for its blend of speed, skill, and creativity.