This is one of those early Nintendo games, alongside stuff like Clu Clu Land, that has some interesting design choices. Excitebike feels more than a motocross game, but one of which later stages require timing and precision to even be placed in the rankings. Staging your boosts, watching your heat meter, maneuvering through obstacles, and setting your landing angles are all critical to mastering these scores.

The added modes are pretty neat too, including races with other bikers and track designing. Truly the first of its kind for the genre.