Hydro Thunder/Controls

Controls in all versions of the game have the basic form of: Left, Right, Accelerate (forward), Brake (backward) and Boost. Pick up the Boost targets as you go through the game to enable the boost. Use the boost version of super start to get a 4 second boost right at the beginning (see further down).

Super Starts
There are various ways to get a super start, all involve using the controls of the boat during the 3-2-1 start sequence. The most effective I've found is the boost super start—a way of getting a jump start at the beginning as well as a 4 second boost immediately. To pull this off, perform the following: as soon as the track appears you should be holding the brake or boost control (note: for the IBM PC and Sega Dreamcast versions hold brake, for Nintendo 64 and Sony PSX hold boost). As soon as the figure 3 starts to fade switch to the accelerate control. When the figure 2 starts to fade switch back to the brake/boost control. When the figure 1 starts to fade switch back to the accelerate control. Done correctly this will get you that jump start (literally a little jump on the IBM PC and Sega Dreamcast) as well as a 4 second boost—you'll have to wait for the engines to switch to boost mode though.

Hydro Jumping
At any time you have some boost in reserve & are on the flat you have the option of performing a jump. To do so, follow the sequence of accelerate-brake-boost (let go of each in turn). You will find better performance by overlapping the switch from brake to boost, the longer the overlap, the higher the jump (up to a maximum).