The arcade version of the game had only two bonus tracks, New York Disaster and Nile Adventure. The easy tracks are usually short and easy with the bonus tracks being the longest and hardest. The tracks in Hydro Thunder like the boats are divided into four classes: easy, medium, hard and bonus. Bonus boats are accessible by entering a combination to access the boat. Medium boats are in the middle, and Hard boats are usually very difficult to control but are very fast. The easy boats tend to be easy to control but they do not have the speed of other classes.
The boats in Hydro Thunder are divided into four categories: easy, medium, hard, and bonus. When combined with the many ramps on the tracks, players can reach short cuts and boost icons that would normally not be accessible otherwise. Another aspect of boosting is the Hydro Jump which is performed by braking and using the boost button. Also by boosting a player can knock other boats into the air, a feature described by the game as the Mighty Hull. When a player has boost fuel they may use the boost button to boost, which allows a player's boat to reach speeds much higher than what would normally be possible. Red boost icons are more scarce than blue boost icons due to the fact red boost icons give more boost fuel. When touched these icons allow the player who touched them to boost. Scattered across the tracks are blue and red boost icons.
The gameplay of Hydro Thunder is similar to Sega's Daytona USA, it consists of racing high-tech speedboats through treacherous environments, from the cold seas of the Arctic Circle, to a post-apocalyptic version of New York City. When combined with the many ramps on the tracks, players can reach short cuts and boost icons that would normally not be accessible otherwise.Arcade version showcasing the boat Banshee racing on the Ship Graveyard track
When a player has boost fuel they may use the boost button to boost, which allows a player’s boat to reach speeds much higher than what would normally be possible. The gameplay of Hydro Thunder consists of racing high-tech speedboats through treacherous environments, from the cold seas of the Arctic Circle, to a post-apocalyptic, flooded version of New York City Surge down Lake Powell, the Nile, or any one of eleven unique tracks from all around the world, all while discovering secret paths, hidden power-ups and special boat movies that will give you the edge you need to cross the finish line first. Choose your vehicle from a selection of thirteen speedboats, each with its own handling characteristics. You’ll be master of the world’s waterways when you’re at the helm of Hydro Thunder, the turbo-charged superboat racing game that will leave all other racing games scattered in its wake. This made the game simulate a real boat, standing out from the sea of car driving games out there. Perhaps the most unique addition to this game was the inclusion of the boat throttle controller. The console includes a subwoofer in the seat to simulate the rumble of the boat’s intensity. Midway’s Hydro Thunder allows you to choose from thirteen unique superboats and eleven tracks of secret paths, hidden power-ups, and a variety of water conditions. Link up to four units for head-to-head racing fun!
Hydro Thunder is arcade simulation at it’s best! This superboat racing game created a timeless classic that is still a blast to play all of these years later.