Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

The Wii Remote sits sideways in both hands, with tilting handling the steering. Adjusting the truck in the air helps line up a useful landing before the next burst of speed.

Stars reward more than a clean finish. Big jumps, slides, and close encounters with other trucks make an untidy race surprisingly productive.

Boost offers another chance to chase a better score, but a fast approach still needs a landing. Two-player split-screen gives a friend the other half of the course without a full field of computer opponents.

Graphics

Outdoor tracks put hills, water, and jumps well ahead of the truck. Terrain can change during a race, turning a familiar stretch into a fresh ramp while the vehicle is still approaching it.

Story

Excite Truck puts its attention on the event rather than a driver’s biography. The next race and its star target supply the reason to keep moving.

Its connection to Excitebike lives in speed, jumps, and the importance of a controlled landing. Trucks replace motorcycles, with much more room for an extravagant flight across the course.

Locations provide different backdrops for the competition. Progress comes from improving results and meeting the game’s challenges, rather than following a plotted road trip.

Overall Experience

The best moments arrive when a truck seems to spend almost as much time in the air as on the ground. Keeping that landing pointed toward the next boost makes the simple steering setup satisfying.

Star scoring gives a messy run another chance to succeed. A player who misses first place can still find something worth chasing in a jump or a daring pass.

This was a Wii launch game in North America, released in November 2006. Its appetite for motion controls and exaggerated speed makes it an immediate fit for the console’s early lineup.

Retro Replay Score

7.4/10