Arcade flyer/ Blue Shift (consoles/PC)Orpheus 'Soundstation' Hanley,ReleaseArcadeMarch 1999DreamcastSeptember 9, 1999Nintendo 64 & PlayStationFebruary 29, 2000WindowsApril 6, 2001PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo Gamecube2005Mode(s),SoundAmplified andDisplayHorizontally oriented, medium resolution raster, color CRTHydro Thunder is a sub-series game, originally an arcade game and later released for the as a launch title in 1999. It was also released for and in early 2000.

Unused Text James Cameron Rules Developer message. Figure Eight Figure Three-8 Unused track names. 1 CREDIT / 1 COIN 1 CREDIT / 2 COINS 3 CREDITS / 4 COINs 1 CREDIT / 2 COINS 4 CREDITS / 4 COINS 1 CREDIT / 2 COINS 1 CREDIT / 2 COINS 3 CREDITS / $1.00 1 CREDIT / 2 COINS 4 CREDITS / $1.00 1 CREDIT / 25 CENTS 4 CREDITS / $1.00 1 CREDIT / 2 x 25 CENTS 3. Jul 14, 2012  Hydro Thunder was the best boat racing game to ever hit the arcade, and the Dreamcast version carries that tradition to the consoles. However, it suffers from a user-unfriendly interface and brings absolutely no extras home.

This game is part of Midway's Thunder series of racing games, which includes, and., a to Hydro Thunder, was later released for the on July 27, 2010 on Xbox Live Arcade. Arcade version showcasing the boat Banshee racing on the Ship Graveyard trackScattered across the tracks are blue and red boost icons. When touched these icons allow the player who touched them to boost. Red boost icons are more scarce than blue boost icons due to the fact red boost icons give more boost fuel.

When a player has boost fuel they may use the boost button to boost, which allows a player's boat to reach speeds much higher than what would normally be possible. Also by boosting a player can knock other boats into the air, a feature described by the game as the Mighty Hull. Another aspect of boosting is the Hydro Jump which is performed by braking and using the boost button. When combined with the many ramps on the tracks, players can reach short cuts and boost icons that would normally not be accessible otherwise.The boats in Hydro Thunder are divided into four categories: easy, medium, hard, and bonus. The easy boats tend to be easy to control but they do not have the speed of other classes. Medium boats are in the middle, and Hard boats are usually very difficult to control but are very fast.

Bonus boats are accessible by entering a combination to access the boat. The tracks in Hydro Thunder like the boats are divided into four classes: easy, medium, hard and bonus. The easy tracks are usually short and easy with the bonus tracks being the longest and hardest. The arcade version of the game had only two bonus tracks, New York Disaster and Nile Adventure. Hydro Speedway was present as a hidden track. The console versions add two more, Catacomb and Castle Von Dandy, making four in all.Development and release The arcade version of Hydro Thunder utilizes the same basic cabinet as Midway's earlier. It has the same cabinet seat as 's.

It also has the same steering wheel on the control panel as, minus the standard, and adds a variable position with forward, neutral and reverse directions. The game also has an unusual volume adjustment, where the regular play volume is usually set lower than the feedback volume for the in the seat. This is intended to place the player 'in the game' and make the player feel like an actual pilot of a powerful, high-tech speedboat.In addition to the arcade, Hydro Thunder has been ported over to several home consoles.

The PlayStation version of the game includes a career mode not found in the other versions. The Dreamcast version of the game has graphics that are more detailed and closer to the arcade version than the other console versions. The Nintendo 64 version allows up to 4-player local multiplayer (instead of just 2-player) when the is present. A standalone Windows version was released exclusively through budget re-releases in Europe. The Dreamcast port became one of the few titles. Had plans to create a double pack for Hydro Thunder and under the name Hydro Rush for the.

However, the game was cancelled and the project moved to (a compilation of Midway's many racing games) for, and, and was also included in the later for Windows - however neither of these versions were based on the arcade original, but rather the Dreamcast port.Sequel Midway had plans to create a sequel for Hydro Thunder; however, the project was soon cancelled and never recreated - though it did result in the formation of the Thunder sub-series including. In January 2009, announced a spiritual successor titled, developed with the assistance of the former Midway San Diego members who worked on the original arcade version of Hydro Thunder. On March 26, 2010, a sequel titled was announced for. Microsoft had bought the rights to the series after Midway was acquired by It was released on July 28, 2010.Reception reviewed the arcade version of the game, rating it four stars out of five, and stated that 'If you've been longing for the next exciting racing game after Rush: The Rock, it's here.' Scored the Dreamcast version of Hydro Thunder at 8.7 out of 10.Jeff Lundrigan reviewed the Dreamcast version of the game for, rating it four stars out of five, and stated that 'Buy it.

You won't be disappointed.' Eric Bratcher reviewed the Nintendo 64 version of the game for, rating it three stars out of five, and stated that 'Even without two-player, this is still a really fun game, though still a bit, um, shallow.' Bratcher reviewed Hydro Thunder 64 in the next issue, rating it four stars out of five, and stated that 'Looking for the next Waverace 64?' References. Retrieved October 13, 2012. Parkin, Simon (July 26, 2010).

Retrieved October 13, 2012. McWhertor, Michael (March 26, 2010). Retrieved March 27, 2010. 'Finals'. September 7, 1999. Archived from on May 19, 2013.

Retrieved October 13, 2012. Lundrigan, Jeff (October 1999). Vol. 2 no. 2. P. 106. Bratcher, Eric (February 2000). Vol. 3 no. 2. P. 94.

Bratcher, Eric (March 2000). Vol. 3 no. 3.

P. 89.External links. at. at the.

Product Information. Straight out of the arcade and into your home via the Dreamcast is Hydro Thunder by Midway.

Hydro Thunder is a direct port with the only difference between the home version and that of the arcade is the addition of two more tracks. Only two modes of play exist, race alone or against another player.

There are no championships to race for or time trials to beat. Simply choose your track, select a boat, and head out to the water.While no special modes of play exist, there are tracks and boats to be unlocked. Hydro Thunder allows players access to three boats and three tracks at the start of the game. New boats will be released depending on your finish on each of the three tracks. A player must finish in one of the top three positions on each track for new boats to become available. Boats each have their own advantages in areas such as control, stability, and speed.Tracks are unlocked in the same way as boats. A top three finish in each of the first three available tracks is needed in order to unlock new tracks.

On the new tracks a top two finish will be required and so on. No difficulty settings are featured in Hydro Thunder but when new tracks are released they will contain an increased difficulty level. The first three tracks are considered easy, the next three medium, and the three after that hard.In total there are 13 boats and 13 tracks. The tracks included are: Lost Island, Thunder Park, Arctic Circle, Greek Isles, Lake Powell, The Far East, Venice Canals, Ship Graveyard, New York Disaster, Nile Adventure, Hydro Speedway, Catacomb, and Castle Von Dandy. An excellent racing gameHydro Thunder was game originally released on the Arcades. But, for those like me who never played the arcade game, Hydro Thunder brings an excellent racing experience. And even if you have played the arcade game, the Dreamcast version still has that same racing fun to offer.While the game isn't loaded with game modes, the main attraction about Hydro Thunder is that it's just plain fun to play.

Each race course is loaded with scenery and effects, so much that I've often felt like I was taking an amusement park ride. You control a boat and you simply race each course to place as high as you can in the rankings.

Along the way, not only will you be taking in the beautiful look of each course, but you'll also be collecting boosts. On your HUD, you'll see a boost gauge which looks just like a fuel gauge with an 'E' and a 'F'. As you collect boost, the needle moves toward the F and as you use boost, the needle moves toward the E. There are many boosts to pick up, and as long as you collect them all, you'll be using boost throughout most of the race, making the racing not only fun, but fast too.

As you use your boost, you can slam into another racer to send his boat flying across the track.When you start the game, you'll begin racing easy courses with easy boats. Sonic and the black knight walkthrough part 1 with opening. Place third on each of these, and you'll move onto the medium courses. Place second on each medium course, and then you'll move onto the hard courses. The difficulty in the game came be challenging.

If you don't pick up boosts and take some shortcuts in the harder courses, you won't finish high in the standings. You must find all of the shorcuts and boosts to win.The graphics in this game are just amazing.

Despite being a nine year old game on a nine year old console, the graphics still live up to today. The colors are great and the graphics are crisp and sharp.

You'll see many great water effects including waves, waterfalls, and all kinds of colorful effects as you race each course. You'll race through caves, waterfalls, rivers, ancient landmarks, volcanoes, all kinds of stuff. Whether you win or not, seeing the scenery of each course is a reward on its own. The framerate is usually smooth, although it can dip on occasions.The sound is also pretty cool. Each boat makes a different engine noise, and it gets louder when you boost. There is music, but between your engine noise and the sounds of other boats, you barely hear it. When you're boosting and you have other racers around you, it can get pretty loud.

But if you've used all your boost and the other racers aren't close to you, it can suddenly get very quiet. But that usually won't last long. There are many sound effects, from hearing waterfalls to waves splashing. Sometimes while you're racing, a police boat will come out and race along side of you and blare his siren. If you boost into him, his boat will fly and he'll let out a comical yell. In one course, you fall down a waterfall and as you do, you'll hear a 'Yee Haw' or even the tarzan yell.

These are just some of the amazing sound effects. I have noticed, however, that sometimes the sound does stick.Simply put, Hydro Thunder is an amazing racing game. It's an exciting experience you won't find in any other racing game.

While it doesn't have many game modes, and the difficulty may be tough for some, the thing that keeps you coming back is the fun. And to add to that fun, you can plug in a second controller and race against a friend.

So, go ahead, set sail.