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What is Hydro Thunder Hurricane?
http://kotaku.com/5502892/hydro-thunder-returns-with-all+new-xbox-live-arcade-sequel

Midway's classic arcade speedboat racer Hydro Thunder is getting a full-fledged sequel with Hydro Thunder Hurricane, exclusively for Xbox Live Arcade, promising all-new, over-the-top rocket powered speedboat action. (Which you can witness in the game's first trailer!)

Hydro Thunder Hurricane will come to XBLA this summer courtesy of Microsoft Game Studios and developer Vector Unit, bringing with it eight new "theme park" levels and new game modes, including Ring Master "a series of slalom-style challenges with progressive difficulties" and the Gauntlet "an explosive new take on time trial."

While the game's watery racetracks may be new, developer Vector Unit will bring back some of the original speedboats, including Razorback, Cutthroat, and Rad Hazard. Hydro Thunder Hurricane will let you take those races online, with support for up to 8-player online multiplayer. If you're an offline kind of guy, Hurricane also supports four player split-screen.

Vector Unit, the creator of Hydro Thunder Hurricane, was founded by ex-EA and ex-Stormfront Studios developers in 2007. Its principals, Ralf Knoesel and Matt Small, both worked on boat-battler Blood Wake among a great number of other games. So... why a sequel?

"We decided to take the ideas that worked from the original, and then start over from scratch," says Vector Unit technical director Ralf Knoesel. "The water physics engine is completely new. Everything affects the racing surface — the boats leave wakes behind them that other boats can jump off or draft in, falling rocks and explosions create huge waves, we've got wave machines, whirlpools, the works."

Release Date and Price
http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3180281

In case the oppressive heat sweeping across large swaths of the country didn't clue you in, summer is here, and that means it's time once again for Microsoft's "Summer of Arcade" promotion -- a block of new high-profile Xbox Live Arcade titles all releasing within weeks of each other. This year the titles include Limbo, Hydro Thunder: Hurricane, Castlevania: Harmony of Despair, Monday Night Combat, and Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, and Microsoft has issued release dates for each one.

First will be Limbo, a 2D sidescrolling puzzle game with stark black-and-white graphics, on July 21. Then Hydro Thunder: Hurricane -- a sequel to the classic arcade rocket-boat racing game -- on July 28. Then comes perhaps the most exciting of the block, Harmony of Despair -- a new multiplayer 2D Castlevania game from series mastermind Koji Igarashi -- on August 4. Then Monday Night Combat, a third-person multiplayer shooter from Uber Entertainment, on August 11. And lastly, there's the Tomb Raider spin-off Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light on August 18.

As with past Summer of Arcade promotions, there are also a couple of deals to go with all the releases: If you buy at least three of the titles, you'll get 400 Microsoft Points back ($5.00), and if you buy all five, you'll get 1200 points back ($15.00).

Interviews:

G4TV
http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/706052/Hydro-Thunder-Hurricane-Interview.html

GamePlayBook
http://www.gameplaybook.com/news/hydro-thunder-hurricane-interview-xbox-live/

Videos:

Area 51 Gameplay
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDYu_RROdOQ

PAX10 Gameplay
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPpiuefbYJ4

Lake Powell Gameplay
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLKkmK8s0WU

Tsunami Bowl
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5EOekX6YEg

Official Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FANeQRvkABc

Monster Island
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxCJhOczKZo

Lost Babylon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKNUZYjZCso

Screenshots:

Previews:

Destructiod
http://www.destructoid.com/hydro-thunder-hurricane-preview-time--174788.phtml

Joystiq
http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/27/hydro-thunder-hurricane-xbla-preview/

WorthPlaying
http://worthplaying.com/article/2010/5/30/previews/74593/

UGO.com
http://www.ugo.com/games/hydro-thunder-hurricane-preview

GameRevolution
http://www.gamerevolution.com/preview/xbox360/hydro-thunder-hurricane

Achievements:
http://www.xbox360achievements.org/game/hydro-thunder-hurricane/achievements/

There are 12 achievements with a total of 200 points.

Splish Splash 35
Earn a bronze or better in any Single Player event.

It's a Start 20
Earn a bronze trophy or better on every track in Single Player Race Mode.

Medal Master 10
Earn a bronze trophy or better in every event in the Single Player game.

Special Delivery 5
Collect 80 hidden packages.

Golden Delicious 10
Earn a gold trophy in every event in the Single Player game.

Taste My Wake 10
Take first in 10 online Multiplayer events.

People Person 20
Earn 10,000 credits playing online or local Multiplayer events.

Humans Gooood 10
Play a 4 way local Multiplayer race in which all the humans beat all the AI.

Ding Dong 10
Hit one buoy at every checkpoint while racing Lake Powell and still take first.

Spare Change 35
Earn 1,000 credits.

Cha Ching! 25
Earn 5,000 credits.

Loco For Thunder Pops 10
Earn 100,000 credits.

Reviews:

Console Arcade: 4 out of 5
http://www.console-arcade.com/2010/07/26/review-hydro-thunder-hurricane/

Eurogamer: 7 out of 10
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/hydro-thunder-hurricane-review

IGN XBLA: 5.5, Average
http://xboxlive.ign.com/articles/110/1108468p1.html

Rolling Start: 4 out of 5
http://rolling-start.com/reviewsimpressions/137-review-hydro-thunder-hurricane-xbla.html

 

[Zeouterlimits]

Edit: Wrong game, my mistake.

 

[MrTroubleMaker]

nice

 

[StickyFingers]

Day 1

I loved Hydro Thunder back in the days of the Dreamcast.

Over the top speedboat racing FTW!!

 

[JRW]

Looking pretty good, Hydro Thunder was one of my favorite Dreamcast titles.

 

[JustAnotherOtaku]

Day one, can't wait

 

[Linkup]

Apparently the water physics engine sucked the color out of the rest of the game.

 

[Zeouterlimits]

Evidently I've been confusing Hydro Thunder with Hydrophobia, woops, my apologies.

 

[To Far Away Times]

Instant Purchase.

 

[Cold-Steel]

The Dreamcast version was awful as hell but OMG the Arcade version of Hydro Thunder was AMAZING to play.

A lot of the problems with the DC version (slowdown, etc) will probably be non-existent in this version. Can't wait to play it.

 

[Diablohead]

This is a game that I want but going to wait on to hear some feedback before jumping in, I like the DC version but that doesn't mean this version is going to be just as fun for me.

 

[cluto]

Apparently the water physics engine sucked the color out of the rest of the game.

The colors look a little less desaturated in the videos.

 

[PetriP-TNT]

HYDROOOOOOOOOOOOOO THUNDEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEER

right?

 

[twinturbo2]

Fuck trees, I climb bouys motherfucker!

 

[DidntKnowJack]

Well, I loved the DC version. Long load times and all. That's the game I bought with my Dreamcast, in fact. Of course, I went out the next day and bought Soul Calibur and Sonic Adventure, but that's beside the point.

 

[snoopeasystreet]

Humans Gooood 10
Play a 4 way local Multiplayer race in which all the humans beat all the AI.

Never getting all achievements in this game :|

 

[Domstercool]

Feels just like it's been ripped from an arcade cabinet and stuck on consoles. Plays simple but is a hell of a lot of fun. I think fans of the original will enjoy it, it's pretty much the same game with extra modes.

 

[Ranger X]

This is a sequel I've been waiting for a long time.
Day one.

.

 

[Neuromancer]

Can't wait, I'm hoping it supports the MS Wireless Racing Wheel.

I played it at PAX East and it was really cool. The wave physics were really nice looking but also definitely impact how you race.

 

[Lard]

This should be on a goddamn disc.

 

[TheFLYINGManga_Ka]

I'm kind of interested in this. I'm always up for a fun arcade racer.

I want to wait for some reviews though. And the demo.

 

[rareside]

For shame no PS3.... I hate downloadable games but I'd bite in an instant. LOOOOOOVED Hyrdro Thunder.

 

[chubigans]

For shame no PS3.... I hate downloadable games but I'd bite in an instant. LOOOOOOVED Hyrdro Thunder.

Believe it or not, Microsoft owns the Hydro Thunder license now. So no chance of that happening ever!

Anyways, all the videos I've seen make me sad because the music, water physics, and general look don't seem nearly as good as the arcade version was. But, I'll still try it day one.

 

[fernoca]

So many great memories..so many quarters..:lol
$15 is a lot less than what I paid back then to play...and suck at it.

 

[RBH]

This should be on a goddamn disc.

Why?

 

[Speevy]

I wish retail still had genres like this, but since I'm a big fan of digital downloads, I'll buy it.

 

[ResidentDante]

Looks interesting, I will definitely try this out

 

[scitek]

Humans Gooood 10
Play a 4 way local Multiplayer race in which all the humans beat all the AI.

WTF is this shit?

 

[bridegur]

I'm considering buying a 360 simply for this.

 

[SolarPowered]

I promised my cousin that I would buy Castlevania if he would be buy Hydro thunder so I guess I'm doing a good job of selling the game.:lol

Can't wait to blast across the water in HD!

 

[Mdk7]

At E3 it looked pretty ugly, guess i'll skip it.

 

[JaxJag]

WTF is this shit?

Are achievements really that important?

 

[Neuromancer]

WTF is this shit?

A cool achievement?

 

[voltron]

CTRL-F rapid racer


huh?

No one has mentioned Rapid Racer yet? Videos remind me of the Playstation game. I really loved that game despite its flaws.

This looks great.

 

[Diablohead]

WTF is this shit?

An actual achievement, not a hand out.

CTRL-F rapid racer


huh?

No one has mentioned Rapid Racer yet? Videos remind me of the Playstation game. I really loved that game despite its flaws.

This looks great.

Rapid racer, played that demo so much on the ps1, never forget it's music.

 

[Tim-E]

This game reminds me of bowling alleys.

 

[JustAnotherOtaku]

CTRL-F rapid racer


huh?

No one has mentioned Rapid Racer yet? Videos remind me of the Playstation game. I really loved that game despite its flaws.

This looks great.

Heh I'm about to buy Rapid Racer on eBay as way of a little warm up before next Wednesday Enjoyed it back in the day but never owned it so now seems as good a time as any to add it to my collection

 

[Shurs]

Heh I'm about to buy Rapid Racer on eBay as way of a little warm up before next Wednesday Enjoyed it back in the day but never owned it so now seems as good a time as any to add it to my collection

You're about to win a bid on something from Ebay on a Friday to warm up for something coming out on Wednesday? How quickly do you imagine it will take the game to be packed and shipped?

 

[JRW]

The Dreamcast version was awful as hell but OMG the Arcade version of Hydro Thunder was AMAZING to play.

A lot of the problems with the DC version (slowdown, etc) will probably be non-existent in this version. Can't wait to play it.

I dont remember slowdown in the DC version, At least nothing like the awful Xbox port found in Midway Arcade Treasures 3.

 

[JustAnotherOtaku]

You're about to win a bid on something from Ebay on a Friday to warm up for something coming out on Wednesday? How quickly do you imagine it will take the game to be packed and shipped?

I should have it next Tuesday at the latest. I don't literally mean I'm going to finish Rapid Racer before playing Hydro. It'll just put me nicely in the mood.

 

[Chauncy Talon]

About time. I finally can play Hydro Thunder without pumping my $4.75 per hr, high school pay check it. Rugrats' Phil fist pump.

 

[Shurs]

I don't mean to brag, but I just happen to be the 17th ranked racer on the first track of this game.

 

[burgerdog]

I don't mean to brag, but I just happen to be the 17th ranked racer on the first track of this game.

That only tells us one thing, the other reviewers suck compared to you. Prepare to drop like a rock on Wednesday.

 

[GitarooMan]

I've been looking forward to this more than anything else this summer. Love water-based racing, and I love Hydro Thunder. Can't wait

 

[Synless]

An actual achievement, not a hand out.


Rapid racer, played that demo so much on the ps1, never forget it's music.

I disagree about it being a "real" achievement. Having four players to play locally is not an option for everyone.

 

[Shurs]

That only tells us one thing, the other reviewers suck compared to you. Prepare to drop like a rock on Wednesday.

No doubt. I was 7th at the start of the week.

 

[Neuromancer]

I disagree about it being a "real" achievement. Having four players to play locally is not an option for everyone.

I think its a neat idea. It's not often I have that many people over, but when I do it'll be fun to try to get this.

I don't mean to brag, but I just happen to be the 17th ranked racer on the first track of this game.

So, how is it?

 

[Atomski]

Day 1 here as well. Loved the game back in the day. I hope the online is decent .

 

[Vorg]

I'll be all over this game. Love arcade racers.

So Shurs, how good is it?

 

[plagiarize]

I disagree about it being a "real" achievement. Having four players to play locally is not an option for everyone.

so? neither is playing online.

why should it be possible for everyone to get all the achievements in a game?