Whoooo doggggyyyy! What’s better than a clear blue sky, sandy beach, and crystal clear water? Hot dogging a three thousand horsepower hydroplane boat through that water, leaping over waterfalls, picking up boost cans, and blasting by your pathetic competition, that’s what. I’ve been craving a new racing game on Xbox LIVE Arcade, because after Mad Tracks, Scrap Metal, Things on Wheels, and the too-much-neglected GripShift, there aren’t very many racing titles available. Now Hydro Thunder Hurricane fills that gap. Originally an arcade game, this fondly-remembered powerboat racing title now finds its way, completely and beautifully redesigned, onto Xbox LIVE Arcade.
And you’re off!
First off, the game looks great and has that feel of speed you need in a racing game. In single player race mode, you race your boat against 15 other competitors on watercourses that are either point-to-point or involve multiple laps. Each of the environments has some crazy element to it, like sea monsters on Monster Island, or the Viking boat in Storming Asgard, and these elements can change from lap to lap (it’s quite the surprise when the sea monster rears its head on the last lap of Monster Island).
Harder than it looks.
It’s more than just pure racing. Similar to other great watersports games of the past, like Wave Race 64, Hydro Thunder Racing has Ring Master events where you must guide your boat through hoops in the water across all eight tracks at three different difficulty levels: Novice, Pro, and Expert. Additionally, Gauntlet mode introduces you to exploding barrels (I hate when that happens) and you must avoid them and still complete the course under a certain time limit in an attempt to gain bronze, silver, or gold trophies. And there are even ten championships in which to compete.
Even within the single player mode, there’s lots to do and plenty of reasons to keep going back to the tracks. You always believe you can cut a little bit more time off your run in order to get that Gold trophy, and the game thoughtfully highlights the gamertag that is just ahead of you on the leaderboards during your run, so there’s always that incentive. Every race you complete in first, second, or third gives you additional score which unlocks new races, events, or boats as you go. Additionally, each of the eight environments has ten hidden packages, some of which are devilishly difficult to locate, and some of which can only be accessed by certain speedy boats (I’ve got seven packages on Lake Powell and know the eighth is on a high cliff after the dam but I can’t seem to get it – feel free to post your solutions in the comments). Collect eighty packages for an achievement.
Get that speed boost; you’ll need it.
Multiplayer for up to four players, either locally via split-screen or online, is available with the option to join a quick match, search for a match, or play with your Xbox LIVE party. Achievements might be a little rough for achievo freaks. Oh sure, you get 35 gamerscore right away for earning a bronze in any single player event. But trying to get that final 10 gamerscore for earning a gold in every event in the single player game is going to drive me crazy for sure. And what about all those packages? Still, I’m going for it because this is one of the most enjoyable racing games available. With lots of fun and replayability, give this one a try when it comes to Xbox LIVE Arcade July 28!
They really!!!!!!!!!!!!! Need to get rid of the higlighted names
I can't see the freakin track!
Use Rad Hazard and boost jump off the dam at an angle facing the package and hopefully you'll get it.
anyone know where the 10th package is in monster island?
anyone know where theres a guide to the packages im lazy but i want all the boat skins
Thanks Nick, I definitely plan on trying that. I've found 10 packages on Tsunami Bowl, Storming Asgard and Paris Sewers. I can see 10 for Lost Babylon but just can't get that last one that's beyond the finish line. Tried boost jumping off the top ramp with Rad Hazard and never seem to get there. Anyway, I'll keep trying! Feel free to post your package solutions here.
i remember playing this at all my favorite arcades i ruled the waters haha i got the game and it is as awsome as i remember
I love this game. My Xbox Live buddy helped me get all of the packages. But I say, the hardest skins to get are not for getting all of the packages in a race. It's the "Win this race on this map" that is hard to get.
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