Vector Unit Brings Back Arcade Favorite With Hydro Thunder Hurricane

March 26, 2010

Vector Unit Brings Back Arcade
Favorite With Hydro Thunder Hurricane

Exclusive Sequel Debuts at Penny
Arcade Expo East

Microsoft Game Studios and developer
Vector Unit today announced Hydro Thunder Hurricane, an Xbox LIVE
Arcade-exclusive sequel to the legendary Midway speedboat racing arcade game.
Featuring all-new, over-the-top themed environments, rocket-powered speedboats,
gorgeous visuals, and amazing dynamic water physics, Hydro Thunder Hurricane is
the adrenaline dripping sequel fans have been waiting for.

Hydro Thunder Hurricane includes 8
brand new "theme park" environments, each set in a different location around the
globe. Each world is packed with animated surprises, destructible objects, and
special events that players trigger in-game. New game modes include Ring Master,
a series of slalom-style challenges with progressive difficulties; Gauntlet, an
explosive new take on time trial; and a series of multi-event Championships. Fan
favorite speedboats from the original Hydro Thunder also make a return like
Razorback, Cutthroat, and the flying saucer shaped Rad Hazard with beautifully
redesigned models, multiple unlockable skins, and articulated boost animations
with massive rockets folding out from hidden compartments. Each boat features
unique handling characteristics.

"We’re huge fans of the original
Hydro Thunder," says Matt Small, Creative Director at Vector Unit. "There’s so
much there that already works — the exhilarating boost speeds, the crazy
shortcuts, the gigantic jumps and drop-offs. We knew we wanted to keep all of
that — even add more of it. At the same time, we had to bring something new to
the table, something more than just recreating the original game with high-res
graphics."

Technical Director Ralf Knoesel
adds, "We decided to take the ideas that worked from the original, and then
start over from scratch. The water physics engine is completely new. Everything
affects the racing surface — the boats leave wakes behind them that other boats
can jump off or draft in, falling rocks and explosions create huge waves, we’ve
got wave machines, whirlpools, the works. The water is always changing, so you
never get exactly the same race twice."

Hydro Thunder Hurricane introduces
support for 8-player online racing on Xbox LIVE.. The game also allows for local
split screen multiplayer with up to 4 players — or any combination of local and
online play. In addition to races, players can team up in the new Rubber Ducky
game mode.

Hydro Thunder Hurricane is
showcasing at Penny Arcade Expo East at booth #811 this weekend. The game
launches summer 2010, exclusively available only on Xbox LIVE Arcade.