10 Greatest NES Video Games Of 1985

As one of my first ever gaming memories, Excitebike certainly holds a special place in my cold, dead heart.

Playing it all these years later I was surprised at just how good it is and how well its thrills and spills have stood the test of time. At its core, Excitebike possesses an enjoyable tension which brings the competitive spirit out of even the most half-hearted gamer. The simple but effective sound effects should always be on full blast when playing this racing classic where you must have one eye on the engine overheat bar at all times to have any hope of making the winner's podium.

This is certainly a game that should be familiar to most NES enthusiasts. The player takes control of a motocross bike and races against the clock and/or CPU controlled rivals on a horizontal scrolling track. Obstacles such as puddles, ramps, jumps and boosts can be traversed or hit head on in a quest to be first across the line. It's hair-raising yet satisfying stuff.

A track editor adds another dimension to the game, as many an hour has been wasted making the worse possible course you could imagine, before forcing a sibling or friend to give it a go.

Excitebike really is one of the NES greats and I, like many others, pined for a two player option. Ports and sequels followed on other systems including a well-received version for the N64 fifteen years later.