Hydro Thunder

""The better version of all home console releases.""

After getting addicted to the arcade counterpart of Hydro Thunder, I decided to purchase Hydro Thunder along with my Dreamcast on the Dreamcast's U.S. launch date (9/9/99). Though it wasn't quite as good as the arcade version, it's ended up saving me tons of money by allowing me to play this fun and addictive boat racing game at home.

When I first played this version of the game, I felt kinda disappointed. I was hoping for a game that was more like the arcade version. There were several things I felt were disappointing, but after I played other home console versions, I realized that this version of the game was perhaps the best. I could only hope for a re-release of the game, done better to get maximum performance from the Dreamcast, though I'm pretty sure something like that will never happen. But perhaps a sequel is on the way.

GRAPHICS: 9/10
Beautiful graphics still persists here in the first home console release of the game, making the game look great still. However, there are problems here that was not in the arcade version. Graphics had a lag in loading time and could also be grainy at times. It just seemed to me that this was a rushed version to have it out at launch. Remarkably, there was no real problems with graphics overall and the problems I mentioned are very minor. The game looks beautiful for a home console game.

CONTROL: 9/10
While it's not the perfect control of the arcade steering wheel, the Dreamcast controller seemed nearly as perfect for control of the game. The trigger buttons worked great as the gas and brake for your boat. My only real problem laid with the analog joystick which didn't offer as good control as the arcade game had. Overall, however, the analog joystick is a step up from having to use the directional pad for control, so there are no real complaints here.

SOUND: 9/10
Basically the same music and sounds that was in the arcade game but on the Dreamcast. Overall, the music didn't really do much for the game as racing music, but it was still pretty much upbeat and didn't take anything away from the game. The sounds were still pretty perfect, from the roar of your ships engine to the bumps and scraps of your boat hitting other boats and hitting walls, etc. The game's music could have been better, but it's pretty good as it is.

FUN FACTOR: 10/10
An almost perfect arcade translation, Hydro Thunder for the Dreamcast was a great title for the system's launch. Having this title for my Dreamcast has saved me many dollars in the arcade. It's still addictive, and trying to unlock all the secret boats and tracks keeps you wanting to play the game.

OVERALL: 10/10

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 04/11/01, Updated 04/11/01