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System:
Arcade
Genre:
Racing
Publisher:
Midway
Developer:
Midway
Players:
1-8 (1 simultaneously)
Release date/year:
1999
Other systems:
DreamCast, Nintendo 64, PlayStation
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- Hydro Thunder
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1999 Midway - Midway - Arcade
- Racing games come in many forms. Race cars, Semi-trucks, motorcycles and even a Star Wars Pod-racer. With Hydro Thunder, you're strapped into the seat of a high-powered boat in a wild and wreckless race to the finish line! Through several different stages, you'll find competition unlike any other, and when four or machines are hooked together, you're looking at some super fierce racing!
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-Gameplay 8/10-
The main basis of the game is that you must place within the top three to proceed to the next stage. If you're good enough, you can score as first place, and then unlock new boats, and new tracks to race on. The races themselves revolve around the lap system, where the computer controlled opponents gain difficulty with each passing stage. As for in-track design, you'll find that using the jumps, and the turbo button is worth taking the time to learn to use. With that under your belt, you'll find that the races are rather easy against the computer the first few times through. After that, you're on your own!
Multiplayer mode is one of the funnest options about Hydro Thunder, allowing you and your friends to go at it in an all out race to the finish. But don't expect super weapons, special attacks or anything of the like, this is straight-forward boat racing in some pretty cool, and exotic locations as well as some high powered and wicked looking power boats!
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-Control 9/10-
Sitting in a comfortable seat, you've got the steering wheel in front of you, and the speed lever to your right. With different view buttons and a seemingly vibrating seat once you start racing, you're in for a realistic ride! The control for each boat is different, so experimentation is a must before you find the best boat for your skill.
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-Audio 9/10-
Ambient sound effects ring clear, from the bumping of the boats into each other, and then the droning of the boat motors and the high rev pitch of the motor as the turbo kicks into effect. The stage music is high-paced, and keeps the mood moving through-out, but at times, it can drone into the background, leaving you with something that becomes too familiar. A plus is that you can change the music at will with a simple button press on your left!
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-Visuals 9/10-
Each boat, and every track is brought to life with stunning detail and excellent design. Water waves look almost real enough to dive into, and the course designs well done and extremely well designed. Effects such as water slashing up around the boat, waves in the choppy parts of the stages, and even weather effects look awesome! Some problems arise when the racing gets hot and heavy, with some occasional clipping and some visual chopping problems. It's nothing to be overly concerned with, as it happens on an irregular basis, and doesn't effect the game overall.
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-Quarter Crunching 10/10-
This is definitely a game that will drain your wallet. With the addicting game play, and plenty of tracks to race through, along with the fact that it's up to 8 players interconnected, you'll find Hydro Thunder, at a buck a credit, the most expensive fun you've had in a long time!
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-Overall 9/10-
A damned near perfect game, a little more variety in the stage selection as well as a little more action probably would set this above the standard. As water racers go, this one is one of the best on the market, but not quite enough to be perfect. Gear up, strap in, dump your money and get racin'! It's worth the trip.
//KasketDarkfyre
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