<s>
Hydro	B-Application
Thunder	I-Application
is	O
an	O
inshore	O
powerboat	O
racing	O
video	O
game	O
,	O
originally	O
an	O
arcade	O
game	O
in	O
February	O
1999	O
and	O
later	O
released	O
for	O
the	O
Sega	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
as	O
a	O
launch	O
title	O
later	O
that	O
year	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
also	O
released	O
for	O
PlayStation	B-Device
and	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
64	I-Operating_System
in	O
early	O
2000	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
game	O
is	O
part	O
of	O
Midway	O
's	O
Thunder	O
series	O
of	O
racing	O
games	O
,	O
which	O
includes	O
Offroad	B-Application
Thunder	I-Application
,	O
4	B-Application
Wheel	I-Application
Thunder	I-Application
,	O
and	O
Arctic	B-Application
Thunder	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Hydro	B-Application
Thunder	I-Application
Hurricane	I-Application
,	O
a	O
sequel	B-Language
to	O
Hydro	B-Application
Thunder	I-Application
,	O
was	O
later	O
released	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
on	O
July	O
27	O
,	O
2010	O
on	O
Xbox	B-Device
Live	I-Device
Arcade	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
version	O
received	O
favorable	O
reviews	O
,	O
while	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
64	I-Operating_System
and	O
PlayStation	B-Device
versions	O
received	O
mixed	O
or	O
average	O
reviews	O
,	O
according	O
to	O
the	O
review	B-Application
aggregation	I-Application
website	O
GameRankings	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Its	O
popularity	O
merited	O
its	O
inclusion	O
on	O
the	O
compilation	O
disc	O
Midway	B-Application
Arcade	I-Application
Treasures	I-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
which	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
2005	O
for	O
the	O
GameCube	B-Application
,	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
,	O
and	O
Xbox	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
gameplay	O
of	O
Hydro	B-Application
Thunder	I-Application
is	O
similar	O
to	O
Sega	O
's	O
Daytona	B-Application
USA	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
boats	O
in	O
Hydro	B-Application
Thunder	I-Application
are	O
divided	O
into	O
four	O
categories	O
:	O
easy	O
,	O
medium	O
,	O
hard	O
,	O
and	O
bonus	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
tracks	O
in	O
Hydro	B-Application
Thunder	I-Application
,	O
like	O
the	O
boats	O
,	O
are	O
divided	O
into	O
four	O
classes	O
:	O
easy	O
,	O
medium	O
,	O
hard	O
,	O
and	O
bonus	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
arcade	O
version	O
of	O
Hydro	B-Application
Thunder	I-Application
utilizes	O
the	O
same	O
basic	O
cabinet	O
as	O
Midway	O
's	O
earlier	O
Hyperdrive	B-Application
,	O
and	O
was	O
also	O
sold	O
as	O
a	O
conversion	O
kit	O
for	O
that	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
has	O
the	O
same	O
cabinet	O
seat	O
as	O
Atari	O
's	O
San	B-Application
Francisco	I-Application
Rush	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
also	O
has	O
the	O
same	O
steering	O
wheel	O
on	O
the	O
control	O
panel	O
as	O
Cruis'n	B-Application
USA	I-Application
,	O
minus	O
the	O
standard	O
foot	O
pedals	O
,	O
and	O
adds	O
a	O
variable	O
position	O
throttle	O
with	O
forward	O
,	O
neutral	O
and	O
reverse	O
directions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
also	O
has	O
an	O
unusual	O
volume	O
adjustment	O
,	O
where	O
the	O
regular	O
play	O
volume	O
is	O
usually	O
set	O
lower	O
than	O
the	O
feedback	O
volume	O
for	O
the	O
subwoofer	B-Application
in	O
the	O
seat	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
to	O
the	O
arcade	O
,	O
Hydro	B-Application
Thunder	I-Application
has	O
been	O
ported	O
over	O
to	O
several	O
home	O
consoles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
PlayStation	B-Device
version	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
includes	O
a	O
career	O
mode	O
not	O
found	O
in	O
the	O
other	O
versions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
version	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
has	O
graphics	O
that	O
are	O
more	O
detailed	O
and	O
closer	O
to	O
the	O
arcade	O
version	O
than	O
the	O
other	O
console	O
versions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
64	I-Operating_System
version	O
allows	O
up	O
to	O
4-player	O
local	O
multiplayer	O
(	O
instead	O
of	O
just	O
2-player	O
)	O
when	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
64	I-Operating_System
Expansion	O
Pak	O
is	O
present	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
standalone	O
Windows	B-Application
version	O
was	O
released	O
exclusively	O
through	O
budget	O
re-releases	O
in	O
Europe	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
port	O
became	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
few	O
Sega	B-Application
All	I-Application
Stars	I-Application
titles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Midway	O
Games	O
had	O
plans	O
to	O
create	O
a	O
double	O
pack	O
for	O
Hydro	B-Application
Thunder	I-Application
and	O
San	B-Application
Francisco	I-Application
Rush	I-Application
2049	I-Application
under	O
the	O
name	O
Hydro	O
Rush	O
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
,	O
but	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
cancelled	O
and	O
the	O
project	O
moved	O
to	O
Midway	B-Application
Arcade	I-Application
Treasures	I-Application
3	I-Application
(	O
a	O
compilation	O
of	O
Midway	O
's	O
many	O
racing	O
games	O
)	O
for	O
GameCube	B-Application
,	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
,	O
and	O
Xbox	B-Application
,	O
and	O
was	O
also	O
included	O
in	O
the	O
later	O
Midway	B-Application
Arcade	I-Application
Treasures	I-Application
Deluxe	I-Application
Edition	I-Application
for	O
Windows	B-Application
-	O
neither	O
of	O
these	O
versions	O
were	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
arcade	O
original	O
,	O
but	O
rather	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
port	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
version	O
received	O
favorable	O
reviews	O
,	O
while	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
64	I-Operating_System
and	O
PlayStation	B-Device
versions	O
received	O
mixed	O
or	O
average	O
reviews	O
,	O
according	O
to	O
the	O
review	B-Application
aggregation	I-Application
website	O
GameRankings	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
GameSpot	O
gave	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
version	O
a	O
positive	O
review	O
,	O
over	O
a	O
week	O
before	O
its	O
U.S.	O
release	O
date	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Now	O
,	O
with	O
Hydro	B-Application
Thunder	I-Application
,	O
Midway	O
has	O
finally	O
created	O
the	O
boat-racing	O
game	O
that	O
will	O
bring	O
this	O
sub-genre	O
to	O
the	O
forefront.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Three	O
issues	O
later	O
,	O
Jeff	O
Lundrigan	O
of	O
the	O
same	O
magazine	O
(	O
now	O
labeled	O
NextGen	O
)	O
said	O
that	O
"	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
version	O
is	O
just	O
shy	O
of	O
being	O
a	O
perfect	O
conversion.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Five	O
issues	O
after	O
that	O
,	O
Eric	O
Bratcher	O
said	O
that	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
64	I-Operating_System
version	O
was	O
"	O
not	O
as	O
pretty	O
as	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
version	O
,	O
but	O
if	O
you	O
own	O
an	O
N64	B-Operating_System
,	O
you	O
need	O
this	O
game.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Game	O
Informer	O
praised	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
port	O
being	O
as	O
well	O
done	O
as	O
the	O
original	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
version	O
and	O
gave	O
praise	O
for	O
the	O
decent	O
frame	O
rate	O
for	O
the	O
two	O
player	O
mode	O
and	O
noting	O
where	O
other	O
racing	O
PlayStation	B-Device
games	O
lack	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Dan	O
Elektro	O
of	O
GamePros	O
October	O
1999	O
issue	O
said	O
of	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
version	O
:	O
"	O
With	O
killer	O
visuals	O
,	O
good	O
physics	O
,	O
and	O
addictive	O
gameplay	O
,	O
Hydro	B-Application
Thunder	I-Application
will	O
help	O
anchor	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
on	O
its	O
maiden	O
voyage	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Still	O
,	O
Hydro	B-Application
Thunder	I-Application
swims	O
more	O
than	O
it	O
sinks	O
,	O
and	O
is	O
at	O
least	O
a	O
renter	O
for	O
all	O
race	O
fans.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Six	O
issues	O
later	O
,	O
however	O
,	O
Lamchop	O
said	O
of	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
64	I-Operating_System
version	O
,	O
"	O
Like	O
the	O
Titanic	B-Application
,	O
Hydro	B-Application
Thunder	I-Application
takes	O
to	O
the	O
water	O
well-equipped	O
,	O
but	O
slow	O
gameplay	O
is	O
the	O
iceberg	O
that	O
sinks	O
it	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
issue	O
later	O
,	O
Jake	O
The	O
Snake	O
said	O
of	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
version	O
,	O
"	O
If	O
you	O
like	O
arcade-style	O
racers	O
and	O
want	O
a	O
break	O
from	O
automobiles	O
,	O
do	O
n't	O
miss	O
the	O
boat	O
on	O
Hydro	O
Thunder.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Cam	O
Shea	O
of	O
Hyper	O
gave	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
version	O
84%	O
in	O
its	O
January	O
2000	O
issue	O
,	O
saying	O
,	O
"	O
After	O
playing	O
the	O
arcade	O
version	O
,	O
it	O
has	O
to	O
be	O
said	O
that	O
Hydro	B-Application
Thunder	I-Application
is	O
a	O
very	O
faithful	O
port	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Graphically	O
this	O
is	O
a	O
good	O
thing	O
,	O
but	O
in	O
terms	O
of	O
replay	O
value	O
,	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
version	O
suffers	O
for	O
its	O
arcade	O
heritage	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Five	O
issues	O
later	O
,	O
however	O
,	O
Arthur	O
Adam	O
gave	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
64	I-Operating_System
version	O
72%	O
,	O
saying	O
that	O
it	O
"	O
does	O
n't	O
give	O
the	O
impression	O
of	O
speed	O
to	O
make	O
it	O
a	O
worthwhile	O
racer	O
,	O
feeling	O
more	O
like	O
a	O
gentle	O
ride	O
up	O
an	O
escalator	O
being	O
powered	O
by	O
monkeys	O
pulling	O
a	O
rope.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Midway	O
had	O
plans	O
to	O
create	O
a	O
sequel	B-Language
for	O
Hydro	B-Application
Thunder	I-Application
;	O
however	O
,	O
the	O
project	O
was	O
soon	O
cancelled	O
and	O
never	O
recreated	O
,	O
though	O
it	O
did	O
result	O
in	O
the	O
formation	O
of	O
the	O
Thunder	O
sub-series	O
including	O
Offroad	B-Application
Thunder	I-Application
and	O
Arctic	B-Application
Thunder	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
spiritual	O
successor	O
to	O
Hydro	B-Application
Thunder	I-Application
,	O
titled	O
H2Overdrive	B-Application
,	O
was	O
developed	O
by	O
Raw	O
Thrills	O
with	O
the	O
assistance	O
of	O
the	O
former	O
Midway	O
San	O
Diego	O
members	O
who	O
worked	O
on	O
the	O
original	O
arcade	O
version	O
of	O
Hydro	B-Application
Thunder	I-Application
,	O
released	O
in	O
May	O
2009	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
sequel	B-Language
titled	O
Hydro	B-Application
Thunder	I-Application
Hurricane	I-Application
was	O
released	O
for	O
Xbox	B-Device
Live	I-Device
Arcade	I-Device
.	O
</s>
