Hydro Thunder - PlayStation

The object of Hydro Thunder is simple: cross the finishing line at any cost, and before anyone else. Along the way, there are ‘Boost’ icons to be collected to enable your boat’s engine to power up and propel you even faster. These icons are found in all tracks in Hydro Thunder and, to be truthful, the game would be a dull experience without them. Some are hidden in secret areas of the tracks and some are invisible, which can come as a pleasant surprise when you are falling behind in the race.

At the beginning of Hydro Thunder, the choice of courses and boats is limited to three apiece. Both the tracks and the boats are designated as ‘easy’, but do not for a minute think that you can breeze through this game and unlock everything quickly. ‘Easy’ maybe, but the unfamiliar handling and courses full of twists, turns and unexpected obstacles will make sure you stay frustrated for a good while. Finishing in the top three of each race will allow for progression to the next level, and so on. Master the ‘hard’ level and you’ll be rewarded with four more boats and another four courses to race.

Hydro Thunder is loud (both visually and aurally) fast and cheap (early 2001 saw the PSX version re-launched as one of Midway’s Classics budget range) and as far as Sony’s all-conquering machine is concerned, there’s no real alternative to compete with it.
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