Nitrobike Review

[biddenden_sue]

Title: Nitrobike
Format: Wii
Price: RRP £34.99
Wi-Fi: YES
Players: 4
Release Date: 8/2/08
PEGI rating: 3+
Controls: Held sideways using 2 hands

Well, I got this game delivered from Amazon (£16.99 – GREAT value for money!) on Tuesday (2 days ago) and I’ve had a quick zip around the menus and started on Career Mode, so I can do my first WiiTalk review, so here goes…

GRAPHICS

My initial reaction to this game’s graphics was that it was just like a plain lazy PS2 game. I was actually being unfair. After unlocking a few more tracks, I quickly realised that a lot of work had gone into the 20 different racetracks on this disc, and some were definitely more impressive than others. Themes include snowy mountains, deserts, beaches, junkyards (inc airplane graveyards), farmyards and city streets. The riders are quite laughable – they have a very strong anime look about them – colourful spiky hair, huge shoulders and tiny waists (apart from the fat guy, which seems so un-PC by today’s standard!)

There are some lovely graphical touches – such as when you smash through something (especially the glass rings in the 747 Graveyard). Also plenty of explosions when you crash, although these are totally unrealistic. This is an Arcade Racer, and you have to keep reminding yourself of that!

Having taken a look at quite a lot of Wii games now, I feel that I am being fair in giving this game 7.5/10 for graphics.

AUDIO

This is disappointing. There is no option to switch music tracks or load your own MP3’s like in Excite Truck. This game cries out for this function, and I feel it is a shame to just keep thrusting the same heavy rock guitar track on us time after time. At least you can go into options and turn the background music down!

3/10

GAMEPLAY

This is the good bit. You start with a choice of 4 riders (2 guys, 2 girls) with another 6 to unlock. Then there is a choice of 3 turbo-charged bikes, with a further 9 to unlock (the 9th looks suspiciously like it will be a permanently turbocharged version of the 8th, just like in Excite Truck!), and 20 different race tracks to unlock as you progress through the career stages. Each stage consists of a variety of races – some straight races against 9 other people, some time trials and some elimination races (Bike in last place gets blown up on each lap!)

You hold the remote sideways, as in Excite Truck, and use 2 to accelerate, 1 to brake, and the D-Pad to boost. Steering also works in exactly the same way as Excite truck – tilt left or right to turn, tip back to stay in the air longer, and tip forward to come down quicker (and sometimes you will need to – such as when there is a dirty great bridge in your way and you need to get under it!) There are also a load of tricks to learn once you have mastered all that. This control system worked well for Excite Truck, and it works well here.

I haven’t yet tried out the Wi-Fi racing, so I can’t comment on that as yet, although I think all arcade racers should have online play, so I am looking forward to giving it a go. You have the option of a blind race or racing against friends – which as ever, involves exchanging a 12 digit code with others.

In addition to unlocking people, bikes and tracks, there is also the Extras section, which is Concept Art. These people are obviously quite proud of their anime riders! You initially have the Intro Video and Concept Art 1 (The character Jamie) unlocked, with a further 5 sections of Concept Art to unlock.

The emphasis is very much on fun with this game. Reality goes out of the window as you enjoy jumping across chasms, crashing into obstacles and learning mad stunts.

With so much to unlock and so many tracks to choose from, plus online racing, I think this game should score a strong 8/10 for Gameplay.

INNOVATION

Well, it’s Excite Truck with bikes. We’ve all said it. There really isn’t that much difference, other than the fact that you need to win in this game, and don’t get bonus points for stunts, like you do in ET. Biggest difference is the online racing.

4/10

OVERALL THOUGHTS

This game is definitely growing on me, and for under £20 (I would most definitely not buy it at the RRP!), I don’t think you can go wrong! OK, it's never going to win any awards, and highly unlikely to be anyone's FAVOURITE game, but it belongs on your shelf and deserves to be played. It’s definitely not one for the sim driving enthusiasts, but if you like your arcade racers, like me, then you’ll get your teeth stuck into this very quickly! I would definitely recommend it.

SUMMARY

GRAPHICS: 7.5
AUDIO: 3
GAMEPLAY: 8
INNOVATION: 4

OVERALL RATING: 7/10

[FilthyTraxx]

Great review Sue, i was contenplating weather to get this game or not, as i did enjoy Excite Truck, but i think you have just sealed the deal for me, i will be going out to give this one a try!

Cheers Sue!

[NazzWii]

Great review. I'm tempted now.

[FilthyTraxx]

Originally Posted by NazzWii

Great review. I'm tempted now.

I hear ya! These reviews i think really influence that way that you look at a game. I mean, like i said i enjoyed Excite Truck, but didnt know if i would enjoy this but after reading Sue's review on it, it has changed me mind into getting it

[ror100]

Great review Sue, and I agree with you. I think I was a little harsh on the game initially, but I keep going back to it daily.

I'm finding it quite tough though lol.

7/10 is deserved.

[biddenden_sue]

Ooh, I'm glad it's going down well. That was quite nerve-racking, posting my first review, in case people didn't like it.

I hope people appreciate my honesty. Yes, it's worth the money, but it's not the best game you'll ever own.

And yes, I agree with ror100 - it's quite hard!

Now to tackle my entry for the blog competition.

[FooFan]

Nice review

Never have guess it was your first!

I guess the comparison to Excite Truck was always going to be there and it would've had to be something pretty special to top that!
It is only a 'budget' title though, the trouble is that you can get excite truck for £15 now anyways, so it was always going to be a tough job!

[Gukophoto]

God Sue, I didnt realise that was your first review...

Im really tempted by the review and I like the sounds of... My main draw atm is the idea of Online play.. but right now im not sure, should I buy it now, or give it while until the price drops further... Im sure once Mario Kart is out all other racing games will lose at least £5 if not £10 off their street value ...

Erm which would you reccomend more though Sue... Nitro Bike or Excite Truck... I am really torn as Excite Truck sounds the better game, but Nitro Bike has the online play ...

A

[biddenden_sue]

If you are playing mainly alone, go for Nitrobike for the online multiplayer option. If you are going to play with someone else at home, I'd say Excite Truck.

I wouldn't leave it, I'd get it now while release prices are low. I've noticed that games go up in price after their initial release, and then it's difficult to find them at a decent price later (this keeps happening to me)

Find Games show that you can get it for £15.93 from several retailers right now. I doubt if it'll get any cheaper than that in the future!

Just noticed something rather major - the RRP is £34.99!!! I'll amend my review, but I would not buy it at that price!!!

[monkey]

Just ordered my copy now with free next day delivery so will have it for the weekend. Hopefully will get some online play against my fellow wiitalkers.