The virtual Xbox LIVE Arcade is the perfect place for Hydro Thunder Hurricane, what with its growing repertoire of the old school.
No self-respecting ‘90s kid doesn’t know Hydro Thunder. Even those of us who lived consoleless childhoods still recognize the game – even the somewhat ridiculous name – from weekend excursions to the local arcade. The massive nostalgia factor in Hydro Thunder Hurricane should, by the laws of retro appeal, make it enjoyable.
Hurricane feels almost exactly like Hydro Thunder, with the biggest change being the controller and addition of online play. You choose from a series of high-tech speedboats divided by difficulty, starting at Novice.
Single-player is divided into four modes. 'Race' is self-explanatory, while 'Ring Master' has you racing alone and hitting the preset number of rings on the watery track. 'Gauntlet' is the second challenge type mode and involves avoiding explosive barrels. 'Championship' works like a grand prix event that combines the three above modes.
Speed is everything in Hurricane. Tracks are littered with blue and red gas tanks that provide ‘boost,’ which allows you to speed up (temporarily) and perform impressive jumps. You also need to keep an eye out for shortcuts and the occasional environmental hazard, but aside than that, it’s all very straightforward. There are no other power-ups or nasty surprises from other drivers to deal with. In fact, actively trying to eliminate other boats will wreck yours instead.
Multiplayer lacks the same variety single-player boasts, but the human element makes it more interesting. All boats and courses are already unlocked in online multiplayer, regardless of your progress in single-player. Matches are either the standard Race or the more interesting Rubber Ducky, in which two players are designated Duckies and other players need to stop them.
The split-screen support in Hurricane, believe it or not, feels more complete than what you’ll find in most other games, even AA titles. Four players can hook up to one console and still participate in online multiplayer, though local split-screen has the most limitations on playable modes.
Hydro Thunder Hurricane is defined by its simplicity and nostalgic appeal, and I respect that. A few changes were made to modernize the game, and the visuals are plenty vibrant (alive, even), despite remaining relatively unchanged. I had an issue with the controls, though any experienced gamer can adapt after a few rounds.
The game is plenty fun, but the 1200 Microsoft Points ($15) attached feels a bit steep for what Hurricane offers. Cutting that figure down to 800 Points – a five dollar difference – would have made it a much easier sell.
Final score: 7.0 / 10
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