Hydro Thunder (DC, 1999)
Graphics-7.5 Sound- Control-8 Challenge-
Level Design-8 Frustration-7.5 Fun-7.5* Originality-5
Overall Score-
*1-player
+ Over the top arcade physics and atmosphere, 2-player split screen (lower framerate), boost mechanic (slowly draining speed increase which you need to manage throughout the race), good variation, 14 tracks, alternate paths
+/- Some tracks are short with multiple laps while some are longer and with only a single lap (can't tell from the selection menu), need to unlock harder tracks and better boats in tiers (easy, medium, hard, bonus), some invisible walls (better than having you respawn earlier on the track perhaps?)
- Loading between menus, doesn't auto-save progress (need to go back to main menu and do it manually), annoying sfx when running out of boost power, no quick retry option (Quit takes you back to the title screen), 2-player versions of the tracks above Easy level also require unlocking
Level Design-8 Frustration-7.5 Fun-7.5* Originality-5
Overall Score-
*1-player
+ Over the top arcade physics and atmosphere, 2-player split screen (lower framerate), boost mechanic (slowly draining speed increase which you need to manage throughout the race), good variation, 14 tracks, alternate paths
+/- Some tracks are short with multiple laps while some are longer and with only a single lap (can't tell from the selection menu), need to unlock harder tracks and better boats in tiers (easy, medium, hard, bonus), some invisible walls (better than having you respawn earlier on the track perhaps?)
- Loading between menus, doesn't auto-save progress (need to go back to main menu and do it manually), annoying sfx when running out of boost power, no quick retry option (Quit takes you back to the title screen), 2-player versions of the tracks above Easy level also require unlocking