Hydro Thunder

Hydro Thunder is my favorite game that makes use of water physics, with Splashdown 2 being the only other one in the running. Both are wonderful racing games that share similar qualities such as variable water choppiness, a large variety of exciting tracks, and many hidden shortcuts. But Hydro Thunder is faster and has boost jumping, which Splashdown 2 does not. Hydro Thunder also has a large range of boats to choose from, with each one having its own handling and acceleration style. Each new boat you race with will have a completely different feel from the other ones. Even compared to other arcade racing games, it’s rare to find so much variety in such a small package.

I grew up with the PS1 version, and only in recent times have I acquainted myself with the Dreamcast version. The playstation version is the more accessible version of the two. The boats are easier to handle, and the AI is far easier to beat. The Dreamcast version, on the other hand, will whip you around the track if you don’t have a good handle on it, and the AI is brutal. No cheat codes in either game, so if you want to unlock all the bonus stages in the DC version, you must become a GOD. Additionally, the graphics are much nicer in the DC version, as you might expect. Both versions are great for their respective consoles, though I’d still end up going with the DC version with its improved physics and closer representation of the arcade experience.

Hydro Thunder doesn't play like a 'racing' game in the traditional sense. Other boats are racing alongside you on the track to make you feel like you're fighting for the lead, but what you are really playing is an action packed time trial game. Considering that most of the tracks in this game follow a point-to-point layout, you could almost consider this a 'water rally' game, though there's more to it than just reaching the end in the fastest amount of time. In addition to following the main route, a large part of the game's challenge comes from discovering shortcuts, hitting boost pickups, and pulling off technical boost jumps in order to beat the #1 time.

A 'boost jump' is a technique that will launch your boat upwards, meaning you will have access to more of the track. You can skip over short walls and, more importantly, reach shortcuts with it. Some of these shortcuts are obscured behind a waterfall or hidden behind a clever jump. You always need boost in your tank to get around, though some boost pickups are constantly moving from left to right, or are hanging in the air. Or both! You sometimes need to use a well aimed boost jump in order to grab another pickup, turning a good run into a string of difficult maneuvers. At first, the 1st place position may seem out of reach, but once you fully learn everything a track has to offer, it boils down to execution.

The further you progress, the more extreme the tracks become. The turns get more complicated, the shortcuts and boosts become more difficult to reach, the jumps get bigger, and the environment becomes more treacherous. What starts out as a high paced race through bright, sunny Greece turns into a tour of a flooded, post-apocalyptic New York, filled with orange skies and wreckage. Hydro Thunder has a couple traditional circuits as well, though compared to the more cinematic point-to-point tracks, these won't impress much.

Each boat has its own personality. Some boats will beeline straight in front of them and snap directly to wherever you're trying to point them. Other boats are much more slidey and unpredictable, giving you a higher skill ceiling and top speed if you can manage to wrangle them. The visual designs reflect this. 'Banshee' is wider and uses a pleasant green and blue gradient, which represents its less aggressive floaty handling and turning ability. 'Tidal Blade' is very pointed and is painted with hot rod flames, which signifies its precise handling and straight line speed.

It's rare for any racing game to get every important element down, but Hydro Thunder pulls it off. The boats are interesting, the tracks are exciting, and you feel like you've truly earned the #1 position once you get it. Even if the PS1 is all you have available to experience this game with, it's worth your time.