If you’re a fan of Mario Kart, but are looking for a game that is more like an arcade-style racing game that keeps your adrenaline pumping, you’re really going to love ExciteBots: Trick Racing.  I’m a big fan of playing games on the Wii nightly with my family, and we play them all!

I get fit with the Wii Fit and EA SPORTS Active and we knock down walls with Boom Blox.  Now, we get to enjoy the intense, super fast game play that ExciteBots: Trick Racing brings to the table.

I’m not the best at racing games.  I loved going to the arcade back in the day and sitting down to play Pole Position (remember that?!) but find that anytime I try to play Mario Kart, I get my butt whooped.  The thing I like about ExciteBots: Trick Racing is that even though I’m still getting my butt whooped, it’s got so much action packed in, I don’t have a second to feel stupid or doubt my racing abilities!

I just sat as I watched my 31 year old husband smack talk (playfully, now) with my 4 year old son as they looked through the selection of robotic animals to race with (I chose a pink rat of some kind.  Not the rat’s biggest fan but hey, it was pink!) and then they started on the race.

It’s pretty neat, because instead of just having you control the Wii Wheel that comes with the game, you actually have to do the tricks the game tells you to do.  If you get caught on a branch, you rotate your wheel to gain momentum and then are flung off to get some extra air as you race ahead to catch up to the challengers.

Players are rewarded for their driving skills, of which I have none.  I sat by and watched as my husband earned stars for huge jumps, cool tricks and daring feats at high speed.

ExciteBots: Trick Racing even keeps it light and funny by throwing in mini-challenges along the way like pie throwing, goal shooting and even poker playing right in the middle of the off road track!

My husband has been playing Mario Kart for 15 years, and while he loves and will continue to play that game, he said when it comes to actual driving simulation games, ExciteBots: Trick Racing is a very high-intense, fast paced driving game that continues to interest him.

Since I play to very terribly, it’s great for me to race against my four year old but when my husband feels the need to play with challengers more his level, he has the option to play up to six people using the Nintendo Wi-Fi connection.

I absolutely have to give this game credit, though.  Normally, when I compete against someone in a game I get very tense and anxious that I’ll look stupid if I mess up.  ExciteBots: Trick Racing actually made me feel kind of cool when I wrapped myself around a tree.  It called it a “sweet move” and without thinking, had me shaking my wheel to get myself back in the game.

I think this is a product suitable for players of any level and at just $36.99, you’re in for hours of single or multi-player fun!