Hydro Thunder

"A SPLASH IN YOUR COLLECTION!"

Hydro Thunder was the FIRST game I ever bought for my Dreamcast when it initially came out on 9 9,1999. Boy what a day that was. I remember coming home that night plugging the system to my 21'' TV and Whoa! I was on a ride! Ok, now on to the review.

Graphics: 9.87452 OK The initial graphics were just plain STUNNING to me when I first played the DC version. Of course with very little arcades left in my area now I never played the arcade game....much. Well, going from the DC and then playing the Arcade you can some differences. The DC graphics (while still VERY good) are slightly small and not quite as detailed as the arcade ''big'' brother. Still the closet I ever seen from Arcade to Home!

Sound 10: Variable. I love the fact on many of the newer game nowadays. You can fully control the sound and volume control. If I get tired of the boat noise or music I can simply turn it down. The tunes (WOW I can hear them!) are much clearer than the arcade brother. You can hear the monkeys and natives throwing the spears and the New York noise and the wild Egyptian nightmare raging around you (I love that track).

Control 8: Well, it takes some getting used to. But the best boat I was able to use was Midway. I opened up the Hard track in the legit way. But I fudged to open up the Bonus tracks. Only complaint for this game would be...it's not a race. It is a Turbo hunt for racing impossible odds against a perfect computer! Ouch.

Re-playability: The games a few options. A 2 player game is available and all the tracks are not all selectable like the arcade version (whimper), but have to be earned. You'll be working long and hard to opne the tracks and extra boats. There are one or two tracks that were not on the arcade system! Once you open all tracks (or cheat to open them up in accursed frustration!), save your game and play any track at any time. Without cheating the re-playability factor IS high to open all tracks. Otherwise I would try not to kill your controller just because you just beat your best time ever and still made 7th place on a track. Hammers are good for something...

Overall 9: I can not help it but play Hydro Thunder to get a fast racing fix, something missing from other racing games. Opening the Bonus tracks and boats is next to impossible, but probable (I guess), which are VERY fun! You'll be coming back to this game after a while. The environments of the different area are done well. I just wish the soundtrack was better. Still one of top 4 racing DC games in my book!

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 02/14/02, Updated 02/14/02