Wii's "Trick Racing" is alot of fun, contagious

When I bought "Excitebots Trick Racing" for the Nintendo Wii, I was wondering when Ashton Kutcher was going to jump out from behind the cash register and tell me "You just got Punk'd!" The childish kart-racer game looks like a joke. You drive robotic bug-creatures that convert to vehicles and race to earn customizable colors and new critters. In a market full of lame titles targeted at the pre-teen age group, "Excitebots" accomplishes what few Wii games do - it is easy to learn, challenging to master and fun to play.

Each of Nintendo's "Excite" games focuses on the fantasy and fun of racing, not realism. The series began in the 1980s with "Excitebike" and then "Excitebike 64." Years later, the Wii-launch title "Excite Truck" pleased critics and owners alike. "Excitebots" expands on what worked in "Excite Truck."

The remote is held horizontally or snapped into a Wii Wheel (also used with "Mario Kart Wii"). For $50, the game and wheel come bundled together, or it's $40 for the game by itself.

By performing small and simple motions, you can use speed boosts and do simple spin tricks. In addition, the environmental hazards and power-ups give you opportunity to pull off some amazing and whimsical actions.

Your excitebot's ability to transform shapes allows for some creative course obstacles and short cuts. For example, each vehicle can extend a mechanical arm that will grab poles and rods (think of chin-up bars and basketball poles) to swing round. By moving the Wii remote, you can build momentum and release with a timed flick to earn bonus speed and stars for proper execution.

Though your main goal is winning the race, stars are also a big motivator. Tricks or technical driving skills earn you stars, which unlock new creatures and colors. Finishing in first or second place gives you a lot, but to truly excel, you'll need to perform tricks as you race. In later levels, it will take some keen strategy to do enough stunts to succeed while maintaining the lead.

Besides the general racing modes, there are plenty of mini-games spun-off from power-ups. For example, one game puts a giant soccer ball in your way, and you ram it with your vehicle into a goal as you drive by. In "poker mode" you selectively drive through cards on the track to get the best five-card poker hand for more stars. These mini-games are just OK, but they do add some playing time--which is handy since you can unlock every track in a few gaming sessions. There also is online multiplayer racing where you can earn more stars by winning against real opponents.

My only disappointment is that "Excitebots" has no charisma in its character design or style. The cover definitely doesn't sell this one. Once you try the game, however, you will agree that the fun is contagious. It's time to dust off your Wii wheels; this one is worth taking for a spin!

Marcus Anderson is a freelance writer and video game reviewer.