The Video Game Critic

     I got my 3rd Wii game recently, Excite Truck, and, man, is it a winner. What makes it work so good is the fact that instead of just using the Wimote to steer, they work the central game mechanic of "floating" your truck in midair to do tricks, get speed bursts, and the like. Plus you have to hit the little exclamtion points to terrain change the big jumps and activate rings, etc. The point is, Nintendo does such a good job in their games to truly utilize the Wimote with more than just superficial ways. I also like how the point tally system makes style and skill more important than just speed, it makes the game that much deeper and replayable. I recommend chacking it out.

     The music is pretty awful, the game should have been packaged with a 6 pack of Mountain Dew so I could really appreciate the extremeness of it all. I loaded my SD card with original Super Mario Brothers music, it is amazing how well that seems to go with this game!

I was thinking about Excite Truck while playing F-Zero GX, and I realized they are pretty similar. Excite Truck is obviously a lot easier, but like F-Zero even beating easy mode takes a little practice, and you have to master the game to beat Expert. Also, the games mainly just have boost powers, but there are a lot of other moves that you can utilize once you get better. I think overall I like Excite Truck more just because of the insane amounts of air, and the fact I could listen to my own music.

I played the demo and it seemed awesome.   I don't have it yet because I amhave trouble finding it for under 40 bucks.  Once I can find it for under 20, which may be several months, I'm gonna buy it.  I hate the fact that games retail for so high, expecially games like this that are supposed to be lacking in options. 

[QUOTE=Edward M] I hate the fact that games retail for so high, expecially games like this that are supposed to be lacking in options.  [/QUOTE]

I found it so inexplicable that every review of the game said it lacked depth once I played through it. The game has more courses than Mario Kart, just as many difficulty levels, much more to master, branching paths in every level, and additional stunt modes. So why didn't reviews of Double Dash say it lacked depth? Excite Truck has an insanely high amount of replay value compared to what the reviews of it stated. I think the trouble was reviewers rushed through it to get the reviews out, and didn't actually play past the normal difficulty.

[QUOTE=The Video Game Critic]I agree with you.  I don't own a Wii but my friend sometimes brings his over, and we had a great time with Excite Truck.  It's pure arcade bliss along the lines of Hydro Thunder.  I love how earthquakes reshape the terrain as you ride across it!
[/QUOTE]

I am glad to hear that others think the same way I do about it.  I am not crazy after all.  I think it's a fantastic racing game, and I think the controls are great too.  I like you steer vertically for ground driving, and horizontally to determine your direction in air.