From StrategyWiki, the video game walkthrough and strategy guide wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
(Starting versions page)
 
m (Getting Started -> Gameplay)
 
(9 intermediate revisions by 6 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Header Nav|game=Hydro Thunder}}
{{Header Nav|game=Hydro Thunder}}
===Arcade===
==Arcade==
The original.  Never actually played it myself, so I can't comment.
'''Hydro Thunder''' was originally released in arcade version. It is in the same cabinet as [[Cruis'n USA]] and [[Off-Road Thunder]], with the difference of Hydro Thunder having no foot pedals, and including a three-position throttle with forward, neutral and reverse settings. The arcade version is also notable for its immersive sound setup, with regular play volume set lower than the feedback volume of the subwoofer in the seat. This original version also does not contain the [[Hydro Thunder/Catacomb|Catacomb]] and [[Hydro Thunder/Castle Von Dandy|Castle Von Dandy]] tracks. In addition, some tracks are hidden and can only be accessed with codes.
Apparently does not contain the Catacomb & Castle Von Dandy tracks.
Some of the tracks are hidden from normal play also.


===Sega Dreamcast===
==Sega Dreamcast==
Control of the boats is not always good & sometimes they don't respond to
Of the console versions, the Dreamcast has the best visual quality. Effects are quite realistic, with the lightning flashes sometimes making it difficult to see your surroundings. The control of the boats is sometimes unresponsive, even at reduced speeds. There are 13 tracks in the game, although it says 14 in the manual due to the "test" track being pulled before the game was released. One detriment is the cumbersome name entry system, which only utilizes the {{dc|Left|Dpad}} and {{dc|Right|Dpad}} directional buttons with no auto-repeat or memory of prior entries.
turning even if you go at a snails pace—really frustrating when you don't
get the angle right when heading for an obscured boost. Only thirteen
tracks are in the game, not the misprinted 14 that is in the manual (the
'test' track got pulled before release). Lighting on some levels makes for
difficult visuals, but realistic.  This version has the most annoying name
entry system for high scores as the control is via the control pad's left &
right with no auto-repeat and the game does not remember the last name
entered.


===Sony Playstation (PSX)===
==Sony PlayStation==
Graphically the worst of the lot.  Plays well with a good sense of speed.  A
This version plays well with a good sense of speed, although it can be a little too dark in places and the graphics are the worst of the lot. As with the Dreamcast version, control of the boats is not always good and sometimes they don't respond to turning no matter how slowly you go. This version has two additional features to the basic 13 tracks: ''Time Trial'' and ''Circuit Mode''. In ''Time Trial'' you get to pick a course and run through it without any opponents.
little too dark in places though. As with the Dreamcast version, control of
the boats is not always good & sometimes they don't respond to turning even
if you go at a snails pace. Has two additional features to the basic 13
tracks: Time Trial & Circuit Mode. In Time Trial you get to pick a course &
run through it without any opponents.


In Circuit Mode you have a pot of money & enter each track. You have to
In ''Circuit Mode'' you spend money to enter a track, and each track has prizes which increases with difficulty. You have to race all the easy tracks before being allowed to enter any medium tracks, race all medium before hard, and all hard before bonus. You can race the tracks within each difficulty in whichever order you care to. You begin with a pot of $3,000 and it costs $500 for easy tracks, $1,000 for medium, $1,500 for hard and $2,000 for the bonus tracks. Prize money is $3,000 for 1st place, $2,000 for 2nd place and $1,000 for 3rd. The high score is based on your earnings only, not the amount left after track entry fees, so a maximum of $39,000 is possible.
race all the easy tracks before being allowed to enter any medium tracks,
race all medium before hard & all hard before bonus. You can race the
tracks within each difficulty in whichever order you care to. You begin with
a pot of $3,000 and it costs $500 to enter each of the easy tracks, $1,000
for medium, $1,500 for hard and $2,000 for the bonus tracks. Prize money is
$3,000 for 1st place, $2,000 for 2nd place and $1,000 for 3rd—nothing for
any other place. The high score is based on your earnings only—not the
amount left after track entry fees—so a maximum of $39,000 is possible.


===Nintendo 64===
==Nintendo 64==
Graphically OK. Plays very sluggish and gets far too dark in far too many
The Nintendo 64 version is the middle of the road choice. It has decent graphics, and somewhat sluggish controls. It may be a little too dark for some players, and it doesn't support a good sense of speed.
places to really see what you're doing. No sense of speed in this version at
all.  Very big letdown compared to other versions.


===IBM PC===
==Windows==
Visually superb but the qwerk with the super start was off-putting at first.
This version is visually superb, and control of the boat is responsive, although the [[../Gameplay#Super Starts|super start]] can take some getting used to. Record entry is the easiest of all versions, as the developers took into consideration the keyboard being present so you can simply type it in. There are some great visual effects in terms of lighting, but this can make some areas of the game difficult to navigate until you are used to the course.
Control of the boat is responsive. Record entry is the easiest as the
 
developers took into consideration the keyboard being present so you can
{{Footer Nav|game=Hydro Thunder|prevpage=Boats}}
simply type it in. Some great visual effects in terms of lighting but this
can make some areas of the game difficult to navigate until you are used to
the course.
{{Footer Nav|game=Hydro Thunder|prevpage=Walkthrough|nextpage=}}

Latest revision as of 03:41, 16 June 2021

Arcade[edit]

Hydro Thunder was originally released in arcade version. It is in the same cabinet as Cruis'n USA and Off-Road Thunder, with the difference of Hydro Thunder having no foot pedals, and including a three-position throttle with forward, neutral and reverse settings. The arcade version is also notable for its immersive sound setup, with regular play volume set lower than the feedback volume of the subwoofer in the seat. This original version also does not contain the Catacomb and Castle Von Dandy tracks. In addition, some tracks are hidden and can only be accessed with codes.

Sega Dreamcast[edit]

Of the console versions, the Dreamcast has the best visual quality. Effects are quite realistic, with the lightning flashes sometimes making it difficult to see your surroundings. The control of the boats is sometimes unresponsive, even at reduced speeds. There are 13 tracks in the game, although it says 14 in the manual due to the "test" track being pulled before the game was released. One detriment is the cumbersome name entry system, which only utilizes the Left dpad and Right dpad directional buttons with no auto-repeat or memory of prior entries.

Sony PlayStation[edit]

This version plays well with a good sense of speed, although it can be a little too dark in places and the graphics are the worst of the lot. As with the Dreamcast version, control of the boats is not always good and sometimes they don't respond to turning no matter how slowly you go. This version has two additional features to the basic 13 tracks: Time Trial and Circuit Mode. In Time Trial you get to pick a course and run through it without any opponents.

In Circuit Mode you spend money to enter a track, and each track has prizes which increases with difficulty. You have to race all the easy tracks before being allowed to enter any medium tracks, race all medium before hard, and all hard before bonus. You can race the tracks within each difficulty in whichever order you care to. You begin with a pot of $3,000 and it costs $500 for easy tracks, $1,000 for medium, $1,500 for hard and $2,000 for the bonus tracks. Prize money is $3,000 for 1st place, $2,000 for 2nd place and $1,000 for 3rd. The high score is based on your earnings only, not the amount left after track entry fees, so a maximum of $39,000 is possible.

Nintendo 64[edit]

The Nintendo 64 version is the middle of the road choice. It has decent graphics, and somewhat sluggish controls. It may be a little too dark for some players, and it doesn't support a good sense of speed.

Windows[edit]

This version is visually superb, and control of the boat is responsive, although the super start can take some getting used to. Record entry is the easiest of all versions, as the developers took into consideration the keyboard being present so you can simply type it in. There are some great visual effects in terms of lighting, but this can make some areas of the game difficult to navigate until you are used to the course.