Hydro Thunder
About the Game
Hydro Thunder brings Midway's arcade powerboat racing to Nintendo 64 with a lineup of futuristic craft and obstacle-heavy courses built around speed, risk and route knowledge. Eurocom converted the arcade game for the Nintendo 64, with Midway publishing the North American release. You enter the secretive Hydro Thunder Racing Association and compete across waterways that range from conventional race parks to flooded cities, Arctic channels, ancient ruins and other exaggerated environments.
Gameplay & Core Systems
Every race is a sprint through checkpoints against aggressive rivals and a shrinking clock. Red and blue Boost icons add fuel to a separate boost meter, letting you accelerate through corners, smash aside obstacles and activate the temporary “Mighty Hull” effect. Skilled racers can combine braking and boost to perform a Hydro Jump, reaching elevated pickups and hidden shortcuts. Boats differ in top speed, steering, durability and jumping ability, so the best choice depends on both the course and the player's control style.
Progression & Modes
The game begins with three boats and three tracks. Finishing well unlocks Medium and Hard divisions, followed by bonus boats and bonus courses; the complete lineup spans thirteen tracks and thirteen craft. Learning boost placement, alternate routes and each boat's handling is central to advancing.
Multiplayer & Nintendo 64 Features
Local split-screen racing supports one to four players. Two-player competition works with the standard system configuration, while three- and four-player races require a Nintendo 64 Expansion Pak and enough controllers connected before startup. The game also supports the Rumble Pak and Controller Pak. This cartridge has no online mode, subscriptions or server dependency.
More game data: releases, identifiers & technical details
Regional release records and identifiers for Hydro Thunder | N64 | Nintendo 64.
Release and technical facts
| Fact | Value | Release / platform | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Published by | Midway Home Entertainment, Inc. | United States | MobyGames |
| Developed by | Midway Home Entertainment, Inc. | United States | MobyGames |
| Ported by | Eurocom Developments Ltd | United States | MobyGames |
| Multiplayer Options | Same/Split-Screen | Nintendo 64 | MobyGames |
| Multiplayer Game Modes | Free-for-all / One-on-one (VS) | Nintendo 64 | MobyGames |
| Number of Players Supported | 1-4 Players | Nintendo 64 | MobyGames |
| Miscellaneous Attributes | Controller Pak | Nintendo 64 | MobyGames |
| Miscellaneous Attributes | Expansion Pak | Nintendo 64 | MobyGames |
| Miscellaneous Attributes | Rumble Pak | Nintendo 64 | MobyGames |
| Original game disc count | 1 | North America | MobyGames |
| Genre | Racing | North America | PriceCharting |
| ESRB rating | Everyone | North America | PriceCharting |
| Player count | 1 player | North America | PriceCharting |
| Publisher | Midway | North America | PriceCharting |
Regional releases
| Release date | Region / edition | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2000-02-28 | United States | MobyGames |
| 2000-02-29 | North America | PriceCharting |
| 1997-01-01 | PAL | PriceCharting |
| February 29, 2000 | North America | PriceCharting |
Catalog identifiers by release
| Identifier | Code | Region / edition | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPC-A | 031719198153 | United States | MobyGames |
| Nintendo Media PN | NUS-NHTE-USA | United States | MobyGames |
| ASIN | B000035YA0 | United States | MobyGames |
| eBay Product ID | 1400288922 | United States | MobyGames |
| upc | 031719198153 | North America | PriceCharting |
| asin | B000035YA0 | North America | PriceCharting |
| epid | 214700246 | North America | PriceCharting |
Data by MobyGames.com · Catalog data: PriceCharting
