Overview
Hit the turbo. Watch the temperature. Excitebike delivered satisfying motocross racing with a critical resource management twist—overuse the turbo and your engine overheats, forcing a trackside cooldown. The included track editor let players design their own courses, pioneering user-generated content on the NES.
Fast facts
- Developer: Nintendo R&D1.
- Designer: Shigeru Miyamoto.
- Innovation: Built-in track editor.
- Temperature: Engine management mechanic.
Racing mechanics
| Element | Function |
|---|
| Acceleration | A button |
| Turbo | B button (builds heat) |
| Lane switching | Up/down movement |
| Wheelies | Control landing angle |
Temperature system
| State | Effect |
|---|
| Cool | Full turbo available |
| Warming | Approaching danger |
| Overheated | Forced trackside stop |
| Cooldown | Wait to resume |
| Arrow tiles | Cool engine instantly |
Track elements
| Obstacle | Challenge |
|---|
| Small ramps | Minor jumps |
| Large ramps | Big air |
| Mud | Slows bike |
| Speed arrows | Boost and cool |
| Other riders | Collision hazard |
Track editor
| Feature | Capability |
|---|
| Design Mode | Build custom tracks |
| Elements | Full obstacle set |
| Testing | Play your creation |
| Saving | Famicom Disk System only |
Game modes
| Mode | Description |
|---|
| Selection A | Solo time trial |
| Selection B | Race against CPU |
| Design | Track creation |
Landing mechanics
| Angle | Result |
|---|
| Level | Clean landing |
| Nose down | Crash |
| Wheelie | Speed boost |
Legacy
| Influence | Area |
|---|
| Track editors | User content standard |
| Resource management | Strategic racing |
| Excite series | Excite Truck, Excitebots |
See also