Hydro Thunder: Hurricane (XBLA)

[Hooe]

Midway's classic arcade speedboat racer Hydro Thunder is getting a full-fledged sequel with Hydro Thunder Hurricane, exclusively for Xbox Live Arcade, promising all-new, over-the-top rocket powered speedboat action. (Which you can witness in the game's first trailer!)

Hydro Thunder Hurricane will come to XBLA this summer courtesy of Microsoft Game Studios and developer Vector Unit, bringing with it eight new "theme park" levels and new game modes, including Ring Master "a series of slalom-style challenges with progressive difficulties" and the Gauntlet "an explosive new take on time trial."

http://kotaku.com/5502892/hydro-thun...-arcade-sequel

My take on this announcement:

[Klocker]

Re: Hydro Thunder: Hurricane (XBLA)

day 1 baby

[Flawless]

Re: Hydro Thunder: Hurricane (XBLA)

Giant Bomb

With Midway and its fortunes long since cast into the wind, you'd be right to think that the chances of getting a sequel to the company's arcade boat racing game, Hydro Thunder, were extremely slim. But that very sequel is on display here at Penny Arcade's PAX East, and it looks like Vector Unit, the independent developer putting it all together under the name Hydro Thunder Hurricane, clearly understands what needs to be done.

Now, Vector Unit didn't actually buy up the rights to Hydro Thunder in a Midway fire sale. As it turns out, it was Microsoft that picked up those rights. Actually, this just has me wondering what other Midway properties Microsoft picked up along the way. But forget about that. Hydro Thunder Hurricane is an Xbox Live Arcade boat racing game that utilizes the same mechanics as the original arcade game, including boost pick-ups and different courses, each with their own distinct visual theme. While the tracks are new, the boats from the original game return with some light redesigns and new skins. Also, at least environment--Lake Powell--will return, though it's an all-new track set in the same area found in the original game.

Like its predecessor, Hurricane is a fast-moving boat racing game where you race against 15 computer-controlled opponents and fight against the waves as you attempt to stay on course and get to the finish line. Unlike the original game, this one will also have online support for up to eight players, splitscreen support for up to four players, and the ability to get those splitscreen games online.

Vector Unit is nearing the finish line and expects the game to be released this summer, and the crew is already thinking about creating some additional tracks to be used as DLC after the game's release.

[Admiral50]

Re: Hydro Thunder: Hurricane (XBLA)

That settles it. I have to buy a(nother) 360

I'd gone a couple years after my 3rd rrod console and sworn to never touch 360 again but this is one of my favourite games of all time and I still play the Dreamcast version fairly often too.

Damn you MS.

On a related note, are all Elite consoles relatively rrod free now?

[Flawless]

Re: Hydro Thunder: Hurricane (XBLA)

Kotaku Hands-on

Just about everything I know after playing the new Hydro Thunder is what you knew if you read today's news about the Xbox-exclusive sequel to Midway's speedboating series. I can add at least one thing: It feels good.

It races, though, like a modern game. Waves on the track bounced my speedboat around. Wakes from other boats rocked mine, but drafting right behind other boats gave me a speed boost. As we raced one course, a biplane flew overhead, dropping bombs. The explosions rocked the track and the ripple effect buffeted my boat. On another course, a geyser in the middle of the water lane shot our crafts into the air and through what might have been an observation deck. Players will be able to trigger some waves of their own, and they'll need to keep an eye out for avalanches and other disasters that might disrupt the water flowing around them.

Small said that all the tracks in the game are new, though some are thematically tied to the original Hydro Thunder. The old voice actors are not back, but the spirit of high-speed racing is. As a player races around the track, they can pick up speed boosts and Hydro Thunder collectibles. He said that the one of the most important elements to retain in the series is the availability of shortcuts. He promised there will be plenty.

Hydro Thunder Hurricane doesn't feel like a radical departure from the original game. It's likely to be one of those sequels that plays the way you think you remember the original playing. But wave physics didn't undulate quite like this back in the arcade and on the Dreamcast. That experience is here and, for better or worse, a rare treat.

[The GIGGAS]

Re: Hydro Thunder: Hurricane (XBLA)

[CaptainZombie]

Re: Hydro Thunder: Hurricane (XBLA)

That settles it. I have to buy a(nother) 360

I'd gone a couple years after my 3rd rrod console and sworn to never touch 360 again but this is one of my favourite games of all time and I still play the Dreamcast version fairly often too.

Damn you MS.

On a related note, are all Elite consoles relatively rrod free now?

For the most part they are and you don't hear much of the Elite Jasper's going RROD route.

[Klocker]

Re: Hydro Thunder: Hurricane (XBLA)

For the most part they are and you don't hear much of the Elite Jasper's going RROD route.

I have had two Falcon chipsets (both 175W power supply) Elites go out each in ~11 months with Video chip problems.... I now have a Jasper (150w) and am hopeful that the issue is behind us with the size and heat reduction

[ExtremeGamer]

Re: Hydro Thunder: Hurricane (XBLA)

Day 1 buy, awesome!! LOVE Hydro Thunder!

[duke776]

Re: Hydro Thunder: Hurricane (XBLA)

Can't wait. I was just playing the ps1 version with one of my friends a few weeks back, that game is the bomb.

[Admiral50]

Re: Hydro Thunder: Hurricane (XBLA)

I must have had some red cordial on the day this was announced. I got too hyped... I've now watched some complete tracks in videos and I have to say the design leaves A LOT to be desired.

Would have much preferrd a HD remake. The power-up icons, announcer and track design are pretty poor.

[The GIGGAS]

Re: Hydro Thunder: Hurricane (XBLA)

Destructoid

What more is there to say? This feels and plays like Hydro Thunder of the past, just better in every way possible. You'd be stupid to pass this one up when it's released later this year.

[Sublime12089]

Re: Hydro Thunder: Hurricane (XBLA)

Cool, I have great memories of playing this at the arcade and on dreamcast

[SouthernBrick]

Re: Hydro Thunder: Hurricane (XBLA)

Wow I haven't played this game in so long. I remember playing this on the N64(I believe) and at the arcade tons of times. I loved that game especially at the arcade. Couldn't get enough of it and I expect this to be good/great because, it seems the only re-makes that are actually good nowadays are XBL arcade games.

[SlimKibbles]

Re: Hydro Thunder: Hurricane (XBLA)

Over the weekend I was looking at the arcade games on XBL while waiting for something to download when I came across this. I think I finally found my replacement for Jet Moto. I LOVE this game. Haven't played multi-player yet but the single player stuff I like.