It perfectly balances “challenging gameplay” with “easy to play,” resulting in victories that feel rewardingly hard-won. Hydro Thunder Hurricane is a very solid arcade title that’s well worth every penny, and it definitely gets my recommendation. Multiplayer is a blast because the action is lighthearted, lightning fast, and crazy fun, thanks to matches that last only a few minutes at a time. There are also tunnels and secret passages aplenty, some of which you’ll need some imagination to spot. Special badges and other goodies are spread liberally throughout the levels for you explorers to find. An option for turning this audio commentary off would have been welcome. Unfortunately, he also gives snarky commentary when you fare poorly, of which there are only a handful of recorded phrases. If the game has a downside, it’s undoubtedly your incessantly chatty radio coach who announces when Boost is ready for use, or when you’re “in the draft” of another boat (which increases your speed). Man-made race tracks in Tokyo and Seoul provide extra challenges due to their short lengths it can be demanding to advance from 16th place to medal position with such a short track. The game’s designers really let their imaginations fly with the eight levels, which take you through both realistic locations like the canals of Paris or the rivers of Babylon, to fanciful locales like the waters of Asgard (complete with a ginormous Thor that tries to destroy you with his hammer during one memorable moment). “Novice,” “Pro,” and “Expert” boats and races become available as you increase your skills. Trigger your Boost with the “A” button and you’ll go wildly faster than you did before, or you can tap the “X” button to give yourself a short “Boost jump” into the air, which can be helpful in acquiring various items. The orbs are placed all throughout the levels in strategic spots, and once you run into them, your boat transforms, with bigger, more powerful engines popping out. Only by nailing these floating orbs will you ever win a race. The key to Hydro Thunder, just like in the classic arcade game, is Boost. Finally, Championship mode pits you against other racers in multi-level events that test all of your skills in tandem. There’s also Gauntlet mode, where you race through the levels while trying to avoid red barrels floating in the water that explode on impact. There are eight maps in all, but a wide variety of ways of playing them, from standard head-to-head Races to Ring Matches where you try to steer through dozens of giant hoops. “HYDRO THUNDER!!” shouts the announcer when you first start up the second title in Xbox‘s “Summer of Arcade.” If those words sound familiar from the ghosts of arcades past - or even if they don’t - let them usher you into the fast-paced world of high-speed boat racing.Īs Xbox Arcade titles go, Hydro Thunder Hurricane looks and plays every bit as good as any off-the-shelf title, with gorgeous visuals, detailed maps, and tremendous replay value.Īs you play and win points, you’ll be rewarded with tons of power-ups in the form of more powerful boats and new maps to race through.
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