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POSTED 11/8/10


HYDRO THUNDER HURRICANE

Microsoft
Xbox 360/XBLA

You know how there’s a guy who does movie trailers? We reckon there’s one just for videogames, too. That slightly overwrought, hepped-up guy that bounces between encouraging and snarky – he’s back!

If you don’t remember the arcade game Hydro Thunder from a good decade ago, it was basically Wipeout in boats. Instead of ever-so-pointy rocket-powered spaceships careening around a track, you had out-there rocket-powered powerboats hooning about various lavish waterholes.

Adding the word ‘Hurricane’ to its name for this XBLA reincarnation is more than just unnecessary extra nomenclature, for Hydro Thunder Hurricane is more than just an unnecessary arcade conversion. Much more – if you love a good arcade racer, then you’re going to go doolally over this.

The basics remain – select an OTT, usually day-glo racing boat, and race. There are eight tracks, ranging from a remixed Lake Powell to Asgard in its icy Nordic glory (complete with a massive, cranky, red-eyed Norse god that looks like an escapee from a metal video!), and the cog-laden sewers of Paris to Area 51 and its inherent alien weirdness. You can collect turbo boosts and bonus tokens as you take on not only races, but ‘Gauntlet’ (go that way really fast - if an exploding red barrel gets in your way, turn), ‘Ring Master’ (power through rings) and ‘Championship’ modes (usually one of each type of race strung together).

Four player local split-screen multiplayer’s a hoot, and online play options are plentiful. Think all the good stuff from the original with heaps of extra time-consumingness added, all for a bargain price.

OK, seasick tablets at the ready and over to you guy who does videogame voices… Go! Go! Go!

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ALL WRITTEN CONTENT COPYRIGHT © AMY FLOWER 2008-2018. GAME IMAGES COURTESY OF RESPECTIVE GAMES COMPANIES.