Hydro Thunder
Typed out by Alex Case
Hydro Thunder
Instruction Manual
-------------------------------------------------Page 1
Says the game is rated Everyone with mild animated violence. It's
compatible with a rumble pak and a controller pak. It says a N64
Expansion Pak is required for a 3 or 4 player game. After that,
Midway Customer Support and shows a telephone number - (903) 874-5092.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Getting Started
2. Controller
3. The H.T.R.A
4. Main Menu
5. Controller Menu
6. Rumble Pak Menu
7. Options Menu
8. Playing the Game
9. Selections
10. Hydro Strategies
11. Easy Tracks
12. Medium Tracks
13. Hard Tracks
14. Bonus Tracks
15. Easy Boats
16. Medium Boats
17. Hard Boats
18. Bonus Boats
19. Hints and Tips
20. Credits
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 3/4
GETTING STARTED
Explains how to insert the N64 Game Pak into the N64 Deck! Then
shows how not to move the Control Stick from it's neutral position.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 5
CONTROLLER
Shows what buttons are which.
Quitting A Game In Progress
Press START to pause the game. The Pause Options Screen will appear.
Highlight QUIT GAME, then press the A Button. Next you will be
notified that you are quitting a game. If you wish to continue and
quit the game, press the A Button. If not, press the B Button to go
back to the previous menu.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 6
THE H.T.R.A.
So, you have your own boat you say? You've tapped out your bank
account and spent endless months building it out of state-of-the-art
racing materials. You've tuned the specialized motors, refined the
hull shape to perfection and won more races than you can count. You're
at the top of the international boat racing game. Nobody comes close.
You long for a challenge.
Then one day that challenge comes to you in the form of a sealed
envelope with no return address. Only the words Hydro Thunder Racing
Association mark the envelope. You open it. Inside, a single sheet of
blue paper, with your name written upon it, simply states, "You have
been chosen as a permanent member of the H.T.R.A." Below, a map and
date are printed. The next secret rare location.
Now, you've certainly heard of the H.T.R.A. There is no signing up
with these guys. Nobody even knows who they are or on which watery
location they'll race next. But if you're good enough and have what
it takes to be one of them, don't worry, they'll find you. This
underground clan of adventurous racing renegades doesn't let anything
get in the way of their racing. No place is to sacred. No time is too
dark. No unexplored waterway is too dangerous. No guidelines. No
restrictions. No manners. No law. These guys are deadly serious and
have only one goal: Do anything to cross the finish line first.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 7
MAIN MENU
Press START at the Title screen to access the Main Menu.
The Main Menu will let you do a variety of things. From here you can
select from a 1-Player or a Multi-Player game, adjust the Sound
Options, view High Scores, and even configure your Controller.
To select an item on the Main Menu, use the Control Pad or Control
Stick to highlight the item. After you have selected, press the A
Button to access the item's menu.
1.) One Player Game 4.) 2-4 Player Game
2.) Controller Menu 5.) Sound Options Menu
3.) Rumble Pak Menu 6.) Hydro Champions Menu
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 8
CONTROLLER MENU
There are two Controller configurations you can choose from. At the
Main Menu, select the Controller image on the left side (the
Configuration Menu) and press the A Button. This will access the
Controller Configuration Menu.
Move the Control Pad or Control Stick Left and Right to view the
different configurations. When playing a Multi-Player game, press Up
and Down on the Control Pad or Control Stick to select the player whose
game controls you wish to change.
CONFIGURATON ONE
STEER - Control Pad or Control Stick
ACCELERATE - A Button
BRAKE - B Button
BOOST - L Button or R Button or Z Button
CAMERA 1 (High View) - Down C Button
CAMERA 2 (Low View) - Right C Button
CAMERA 3 (Pilot View) - Up C Button
CONFIGURATON TWO
STEER - Control Pad or Control Stick
ACCELERATE -L Button or Z Button
BRAKE - R Button or B Button
BOOST - A Button
CAMERA 1 (High View) - Down C Button
CAMERA 2 (Low View) - Right C Button
CAMERA 3 (Pilot View) - Up C Button
Select one of the configurations and press the A Button. If you are
using a Controller Pak, your configuration will be automatically saved
to it.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 9
RUMBLE PAK MENU
On the Main Menu screen (located directly beneath the Controller icon
on the Configuration Menu) is the Rumble Pak icon. Select this and
press the A Button.
The Rumble Pak Menu will allow you to adjust the vibration level in
the Rumble Pak accessory. To adjust the levels, highlight the item by
pressing Up and Down on the Control Pad or Control Stick. Press Left
and Right to move the meter on the item. The left side of the meter
decreases vibration and the right side of the meter increases
vibration. After you have made your adjustments, highlight DONE and
press the A Button. There are four items you can make adjustments to:
BOOST: This will activate the Rumble Pak whenever the boosters on your
boat are engaged.
SPLASH DOWN: This activates the Rumble Pak when your boat splashes
down in the water.
BOAT COLLISION: Whether your boat's "Mighty Hull" system is engaged
or you just happen to smack into another racer, colliding with another
boat will cause the Rumble Pak to shake.
TERRAIN COLLISION: Even though you are driving a boat, there are times
when you just can't stay in the water. If you are trying to jump over
something or make a shortcut, you may hit a bridge glacier, wall or
other part of the track. When you do this the Rumble Pak will
activate.
Note: Remember to insert the Rumble Pak into your Controller only
when prompted to.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 10
OPTIONS MENU
The right side of the Main Menu is the Options Menu. The icon showing
the music note is the Sound Options Menu. The Checkered Flat/Trophy
icon is the Hydro Champions Menu. To access either option, highlight
the appropriate icon and press the A Button.
SOUND OPTIONS:
In the Sound Options Menu, you can adjust the volume of the games Sound
Effects (SFX) and background Music. Each sound's volume can be raised
or lowered by highlighting the option (by pressing UP and Down on the
Control Pad or Control Stick), then by moving the meter Left and Right
(using the Control Pad or Control Stick). The more Left you go will
lower the volume and the more Right you go will raise the volume.
When you are finished adjusting the volumes, highlight DONE and press
the A Button.
HYDRO CHAMPIONS:
The Hydro Champions screen is basically a High Scores screen. This
will display the best times on all of the tracks. To view the times
for different tracks, press Left and Right on the Control Pad or
Control Stick. Pressing the A Button at any time will bring you back
to the Main Menu.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 11
PLAYING THE GAME
The Object of Hydro Thunder is simple: cross the finish line first,
at all costs! Along the way, collect BOOST icons to enable your
boat's specialized engines to fire up and propel you faster. Boost
icons are located throughout all tracks. Some are hidden in secret
areas of the track and some are even invisible! The following will
give you an overview of everything you need to know to win the race.
GAME PROGRESSION
When beginning Hydro Thunder, you will only have access to 3 tracks and
3 boats. Both the tracks and boats are designated as EASY. If you
complete each Easy designated race and place First, Second or Third,
you will gain access to the MEDIUM division boats and tracks.
When racing on the Medium tracks, you must complete each race with a
First or Second place finish to advance to the HARD division. Racing
the Hard boats and Hard tracks takes a lot of skill. It is recommended
that you really master the previous tracks before advancing to these
challenging ones. You must complete each track with a First place
finish to access a special Bonus Track. You must continue to place
First on all the Bonus Tracks to access the Bonus Boats. There are a
total of 4 Bonus Track sand 4 Bonus Boats, if you're good enough to
earn them.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 12
PLAYING THE GAME
BOAT SELECTION
Each boat in Hydro Thunder is unique. Not only in appearance, but
also in control and overall performance. Some boats are faster than
others, while some fly and take turns better. When selecting a boat,
keep in mind which track you will be racing on. Every boat is listed
in detail on pages 21-30.
"MIGHTY HULL"
Developed by the H.T.R.A. (see Page 6), "Mighty Hull" technology is
utilized by every boat in Hydro Thunder. When your boat's boosters
are activated for a short period of time, your boat will flash. This
means that the boat's Mighty Hull is activated. Use your Mighty Hull
power to clear unwanted obstacles and opponents out of your course as
you race to victory. Each boat is unique when it comes to Mighty Hull
activation time.
BOOST ICONS
The tracks in Hydro Thunder are littered with Red and Blue diamond-
shaped Boost icons. Each boost will cause your boat's engines to
transform and enable your boat to travel faster as well as activate
its "Mighty Hull" power. Red Boost icons will give you 9 seconds of
boost fuel. Blue Boost icons will give you 4 seconds of boost fuel.
Use your boost sparingly as you never know when you will need it. Use
your boosters to help your boat take corners faster as well as clear
any obstacles in your way!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 13
PLAYING THE GAME
While you're racing, it's important to both watch and listen for key
information that can help you win the race.
[Picture of the screen and shows what things are on the screen]
When racing against the clock, you must pass specially numbered buoys
(checkpoints) that will give you more time. If your time is getting
short, you will hear the announcer say "Time running low!", followed
by a series of beeps when your race clock enters the single-digit
range.
When running out of booster fuel, the announcer will say "boosters
running low!", followed by another series of beeps when you're almost
empty. Remember, keep an eye on your booster fuel!
You can pause the game by pressing START. When the game is paused,
you can choose CONTINEUE, RESTART LEVEL or QUIT GAME. Highlight each
item by pressing Up and Down on the Control Pad or Control Stick. To
activate the selection, press the A Button. If you choose to quit a
game, you will go back to the game's title screen.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 14
PLAYING THE GAME
Hydro Thunder allows up to four players to race at the same time.
This is done by splitting the screen into sections of two, three and
four. It is important to note that you must have the correct amount
of Controllers plugged into the Control Deck BEFORE turning the POWER
to the ON position. Also remember that the N64 Expansion Pak (sold
separately) is required for a 3 or 4-Player game.
To play a Multi-Player game, at the Main Menu highlight the icon that
shows two boats and press the A Button. Next you will choose how many
racers there will be. You can select by pressing Up and Down on the
Control Pad or Control Stick to highlight the number of players and
then pressing the A Button. Only Player One can control this part of
the selection menus.
Next, Player One can choose the track that the players will be
competing on (track and boat selection instructions are given on the
following page). After the track has been selected, Player One can
choose their boat. After Player One has selected their boat, the
other players may choose their boats.
Refer to the pervious page for On-Screen information. The screens to
the right will show the different screen displays for a Two, Three or
Four-Player game. The placement for each player is shown on the
THREE-PLAYER screenshot.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 15
SELECTIONS
After you have selected how many players there will be, you now will
choose both a track to race on as well as what boat you will be racing
with. Remember that initially you will only be able to race with
three boats and race on three tracks. More boats and tracks will
become available to you as you progress in the game. When playing a
Multi-Player game, remember that you can only race with the tracks and
boats you have unlocked.
To select a boat or a track, press the Control Pad or Control Stick
Left and Right to cycle through the available boats and tracks. To
choose a boat or a track, press the A Button. Each boat and track are
unique with their own secrets and dangers.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 16
HYDRO STRATEGIES
As you gain experience in Hydro Thunder, you will find that each game
is different, depending on your style of racing. Each in the H.T.R.A.
lineup is unique in both appearance and overall performance. Each
track is unique with its onwn shortcuts and tricks to mastering them.
Practice does make perfect in this game. This page is devoted to some
great tricks and pointers to help you along your path.
BOAT DESIGN: You will notice that each boat is different. Some boats
are designed to fly, while others are built for speed. Try to learn
each boat's weaknesses and advantages. You will find that some boats
are very easily knocked around by other boats, while some tend to do
more of the knocking.
HYDRO JUMP: Each boat can use its boosters to propel into the air for
a brief period of time. As your boat is moving forward (by holding
down the Accelerate button), quickly let go and press the Brake button.
Once you have activated the brake, immediately press the Boost button.
This takes practice to learn, but is well worth the effort. Use the
Hydro Jump to access out-of-reach boost icons and gain entry into
secret pathways. Some boats will travel through the air very well if
you can master the Hydro Jump. Using the jump with these boats will
allow you to cut seconds off of your course time.
MIGHTY HULL TECHNIQUES: When your boosters are activated for a short
period of time, your boat will begin to flash. When it does, your
boat's Mighty Hull technology has been activated. While your boat is
flashing, you can ram other boats and send them flying into the air!
Mighty Hull also helps you rid your path of annoying obstacles without
crashing your boat.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 17
EASY TRACKS
THUNDER PARK
A traditional H.T.R.A. circuit track. On a sunny day, Thunder Park
offers a competition-style hydroplane raceway loop. Try to find the
hidden 9 second boost on this track.
Note: When racing on a circuit track, each boost icon can only be
picked up once.
LOST ISLAND:
Located somewhere in the South Pacific, the Lost Island track offers a
fast -paced trek through a volcanic island. Lush greenery, native
villages, ancient ruins and numerous secrets await you!
ARCTIC CIRCLE:
Gigantic ice formations and a variety of wildlife line this unique
track. The race starts near a fishing village high above sea level,
continues in a river that winds its way down a glacier, through water
carved ice tunnels until finally dropping you to the ocean for the
remainder of the race.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 18
MEDIUM TRACKS
GREEK ISLES:
The Greek Isles water track winds through both modern towns and ancient
ruins, providing one of the most visually sunning tracks available.
This is a bright and challenging rack, highlighted by a downhill
sliding finish.
LAKE POWELL:
Lake Powell, located in Utah, is one of the largest man-made lakes in
the world. With its gigantic narrow canyon walls, 1000-year-old
Anasazi ruins and smooth water, it is the perfect place for a high-
speed super-boat race. Unfortunately, the Utah State Police don't
agree.
THE FAR EAST:
The Far East track, located on a river deep in the misty mountains of
China offers a unique blend of challenging river racing and beautiful
scenery. The river drops from the mountains into small villages,
ancient brick canals and even through palace motes.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 19
HARD TRACKS
SHIP GRAVEYARD
This deserted atoll was once a productive military shipyard. Now,
endless numbers of forgotten, decrepit naval ships line the coast as
far as the ey can see, forming a maze-like water raceway in and oat of
hollow steel hulls. Rough waves, shark infested waters, stormy weather
and the military police all await you!
VENICE CANALS:
Ah, Venice. One thinks of lovers, romance and of course the ear-
piercing roar of sixteen super-boat motors tearing through the moonlit
canals! With its extremely sharp turns that never let up, Venice
Canals is arguably the most difficult track in Hydro Thunder.
NEW YORK DISASTER:
A giant meteor has destroyed the Big Apple and flooded its once crowded
streets. Sounds like a fun race, huh? Tear through the remains of the
late city, avoiding the N.Y.P.D. and the countless submerged vehicles
along the way, until you come crashing down to a tragic finish.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 20
BONUS TRACKS
There are 4 Bonus Tracks total along with 4 Bonus Boats. In order to
complete the tracks, you need to practice on them. Try to use a
familiar boat, as opposed to using the bonus boat. They look cool,
but sometimes it's best to race an old favorite. The following is a
brief description of the 4 Tracks you will hopefully unlock.
HYDRO SPEEDWAY
Set at night, Hydro Speedway is another circuit track in the game.
With fast-paced excitement and boost icons at every turn, Hydro
Speedway will test even the best racer.
CATACOMB
Go full throttle through a mysterious cavern willed with crashed ships,
sharp rocks and of course, the competition. Turn and Hydro Jump your
victory, If you can.
CASTLE VON DANDY
Journey to Scotland and take a watery romp through an abandoned castle.
Steer around the moat and ancient graveyard to victory!
NILE ADVENTURE
Race through ancient pyramids and narrow waterways. This track
features danger at every sharp turn. This is the longest track in
Hydro Thunder.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 21
EASY BOATS
DAMN THE TORPEDOES
DESCRIPTION: Damn the Torpedoes is a good introductory boat for
racing. Although it is slower than most boats in speed and Mighty Hull
activation time, it is ideal for the beginner racer.
MOTOR TYPE: Twin 545 HP Turbo-charged Silva Trek motors, each driving
a single extra-large prop.
BOOSTER TYPE: Embedded twin Mega-rockets.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 22
EASY BOATS
MIDWAY
DESCRIPTION: Very stable and not susceptible to being knocked around
by other boats, Midway is another good choice for the beginning racer.
Midway's weaknesses are its slow booster and Mighty Hull activation time.
MOTOR TYPE: Marine 850 HP Browning V-Drive with a single extra-large prop.
BOOSTER TYPE: Twin V-Drive motors.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 23
EASY BOATS
MISS BEHAVE
DESCRIPTION: Able to slice the water for better turning, Miss Behave
is one of the smallest boats in the H.T.R.A. lineup. The boosters are
slightly under-powered but Miss Behave's real strength lies in her
ability to glide while in the air. With parts salvaged from a world
War II aircraft, Miss Behave is the "flyer" of the beginning boats.
MOTOR TYPE: Customized Goffman 1800 HP motor driving twin counter-
rotating props.
BOOSTER TYPE: Binary micro-rockets coupled with a single ultra-blower.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 24
MEDIUM BOATS
BANSHEE
DESCRIPTION: Once a standard hydroplane, Banshee was altered for
H.T.R.A. racing. Banshee is lightweight and easily knocked around by
other boats, but once you've mastered the unique handling of the boat
you may never choose another boat again!
MOTOR TYPE: 900 HP Patterson Fire-Spitter Twin Turbine driving a
single hyper-angle prop.
BOOSTER TYPE: Twin micro-rockets
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 25
MEDIUM BOATS
TIDAL BLADE
DESCRIPTION: Tidal Blade's sleek, dragster-like hull design allows it
to slice through any water condition. When you have activated your
Mighty Hull feature, use Tidal Blade's long bow to knock the
competition out of the water. At times, if Tidal Blade gets bumped it
can be hard to control and keep stable.
MOTOR TYPE: Modified, dual-exhaust 2000 HP Carbonyl dragster motor
driving a specialty monster prop.
BOOSTER TYPE: Twin micro-rockets.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 26
MEDIUM BOATS
THRESHER
DESCRIPTION: Known as the "caddy" of the H.T.R.A. lineup, Thresher is
the easiest boat to control, Big and heavy, the boat is well balanced
and is easy to steer. Although it has a fairly slow Mighty Hull
activation time, Thresher's secret weapon is its ability to knock
opponents around by using its heavy frame.
MOTOR TYPE: Dual 800 HP Turbo-charged Wilson motors, each driving
oversized-props.
BOOSTER TYPE: Swivel-mounted harness with twin mega-rockets.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 27
HARD BOATS
CUTTHROAT
DESCRIPTION: Lightweight and as close to a military jet fighter as you
can get, Cutthroat is one of the best boats in the H.T.R.A. lineup.
Heavily altered and using "borrowed" military hardware, Cutthroat can
soar off of H.T.R.A. ramps or other objects for great distances. Use
this to your advantage. Even though it has an extremely fast Mighty
Hull activation time, it is very light and easily tossed around by
other boats.
MOTOR TYPE: Single 1200 HP Ranck 1 racing engine with dual, counter-
rotating stock props.
BOOSTER TYPE: Binary mega-rocket thrusters.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 28
HARD BOATS
RAD HAZARD
DESCRIPTION: Created with scrap parts found outside U.S. Government
Area 51 property, Rad Hazard is recommended for the most experienced
racers. Use the boosters to help you take corners better. The fast
Mighty Hull activation time helps to keep the competition away. Fast
and powerful, Rad Hazard is a boat to reckoned with.
MOTOR TYPE: Some form of antimatter, subatomic energy, driving a
single dual-cast prop.
BOOSTER TYPE: Bursts of neutralized antimatter ventilation (we think).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 29
HARD BOATS
RAZORBACK
DESCRIPTION: The most difficult boat to control in the H.T.R.A.
lineup! Once thought of as a total design failure. Razorback was
forgotten until an H.T.R.A. member learned the secret to mastering this
fast and furious boat! With speed and Mighty Hull activation time like
no other, Razorback is recommended for only the most experienced racers!
MOTOR TYPE: Triple 650 HP Starich 5.7 inboards, each with a single
DuRanc prop.
BOOSTER TYPE: Triple supercharged outboards, each with dual, counter-
rotating DuRanc props.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 30
BONUS BOATS
These are the elite boats of Hydro Thunder. Only the best drivers will
be able to race with them. These boats will become available as you
beat all the bonus tracks.
If you are fortunate enough to race one of these, you will notice how
different they are from the rest of the H.T.R.A. lineup. Since you are
not authorized (yet) to view these boats, we can only show you their
shadows.
Remember once you gain access to these boats (if you can), save them to
your Controller Pak to add them to your lineup!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 31
HINTS AND TIPS
Here's a few pointers to remember as you take to the water.
-Try pressing the Accelerate and Brake buttons a couple times at the
countdown. If you perform a certain sequence, you will get a 4 second
Boost at the Start!
-Try going through caves and waterfalls. Not only are there a bunch of
short-cuts, but you'll find lost of Boost Icons as well.
-Look for hidden 9 Second Boost on Hydro Speedway as well as Thunder
Park!
-Beware of underwater debris!
-Learn the Hydro Jump! It is essential!!!
-Jumping in the Nile Adventure track will lead to great hitngs!
-WATCH YOUR BOOST FUEL CLOSELY!!!
-REMEMBER THAT IN ORDER TO PLAY A 3 OR 4-PLAYER GAME, YOU NEED AN
EXPANSION PAK!!!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 32
CREDITS
MIDWAY HOME ENTERTAINMENT
HYDRO THUNDER ARCADE TEAM
STEVE RANCK, MICHAEL STARICH, SCOTT PATTERSON, LORI MILLER, DUSTY MONK,
DETMAR PETERKE, ERIC BROWNING, SCOTT GOFFMAN, BRIAN SILVA, DALE
HENDERSCHEID, GARY CARBONELL, ANDY WILSON, ORPHEUS HANLEY AND BRIAN
JOHNSON.
PRODCUER
KEVIN POTTER
ASSOCIATE PRODCUER
SEAN WILSON
ASSISTANT PRODCUER
ED DURAN
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
SAM CALIS
ADDITIONAL TRACK DESIGN
JOHN STOOKEY AND STEVE CRAMER
PRINT DESIGN AND PRODUCTION
MIDWAY CREATIVE SERVICES - SAN DIEGO
TESTING MANAGERS
ROB SABLAN AND HANS LO
TESTING SUPERVISOR
SHEILA JULATON
LEAD PRODUCT ANALYST
JEFF TAMAYO
PRODUCT ANALYSTS
DONALD HAMILTON, SHAWN CHARRON, SEHER BASAK, RICK WAIBEL, RYAN
CASTIGLIA AND GREG ROSARIO
TECHNICAL STANDARD ANALYST
AJAMU SHAW
SPECIAL THANKS
DEBORAH FULTON, IRA KALINA, HUGH BINNS AND NANCY RAMSEY
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 33
CREDITS
MIDWAY HOME ENTERTAINMENT
LEAD PROGRAMMING
PAUL BATES
LEAD ARTIST
COLIN GARRATT
ADDITIONAL ART
CHRIS BOYLE, ADRIAN MANNION AND PAUL ROBINSON
ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING
TIME ROGERS AND DAVE LONG
AUDIO
NEIL BALDIN AND GUY CROCKFORT
QUALITY ASSURANCE LEAD
ANDY COLLINS
QUALITY ASSURANCE
JOHN BAKER, PHILL BENNETT, ADAM TIMMINS AND ANDREW WALKNER
QUALITY ASSURANCE MANAGER
MIKE BOTHAM
DIRECTOR
HUGH BINNS
SPECIAL THANKS
STEVE RANCK, SCOTT GOFFMAN AND ED DURAN
Typed out by Alex Case
Hydro Thunder
Instruction Manual
-------------------------------------------------Page 1
Says the game is rated Everyone with mild animated violence. It's
compatible with a rumble pak and a controller pak. It says a N64
Expansion Pak is required for a 3 or 4 player game. After that,
Midway Customer Support and shows a telephone number - (903) 874-5092.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Getting Started
2. Controller
3. The H.T.R.A
4. Main Menu
5. Controller Menu
6. Rumble Pak Menu
7. Options Menu
8. Playing the Game
9. Selections
10. Hydro Strategies
11. Easy Tracks
12. Medium Tracks
13. Hard Tracks
14. Bonus Tracks
15. Easy Boats
16. Medium Boats
17. Hard Boats
18. Bonus Boats
19. Hints and Tips
20. Credits
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 3/4
GETTING STARTED
Explains how to insert the N64 Game Pak into the N64 Deck! Then
shows how not to move the Control Stick from it's neutral position.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 5
CONTROLLER
Shows what buttons are which.
Quitting A Game In Progress
Press START to pause the game. The Pause Options Screen will appear.
Highlight QUIT GAME, then press the A Button. Next you will be
notified that you are quitting a game. If you wish to continue and
quit the game, press the A Button. If not, press the B Button to go
back to the previous menu.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 6
THE H.T.R.A.
So, you have your own boat you say? You've tapped out your bank
account and spent endless months building it out of state-of-the-art
racing materials. You've tuned the specialized motors, refined the
hull shape to perfection and won more races than you can count. You're
at the top of the international boat racing game. Nobody comes close.
You long for a challenge.
Then one day that challenge comes to you in the form of a sealed
envelope with no return address. Only the words Hydro Thunder Racing
Association mark the envelope. You open it. Inside, a single sheet of
blue paper, with your name written upon it, simply states, "You have
been chosen as a permanent member of the H.T.R.A." Below, a map and
date are printed. The next secret rare location.
Now, you've certainly heard of the H.T.R.A. There is no signing up
with these guys. Nobody even knows who they are or on which watery
location they'll race next. But if you're good enough and have what
it takes to be one of them, don't worry, they'll find you. This
underground clan of adventurous racing renegades doesn't let anything
get in the way of their racing. No place is to sacred. No time is too
dark. No unexplored waterway is too dangerous. No guidelines. No
restrictions. No manners. No law. These guys are deadly serious and
have only one goal: Do anything to cross the finish line first.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 7
MAIN MENU
Press START at the Title screen to access the Main Menu.
The Main Menu will let you do a variety of things. From here you can
select from a 1-Player or a Multi-Player game, adjust the Sound
Options, view High Scores, and even configure your Controller.
To select an item on the Main Menu, use the Control Pad or Control
Stick to highlight the item. After you have selected, press the A
Button to access the item's menu.
1.) One Player Game 4.) 2-4 Player Game
2.) Controller Menu 5.) Sound Options Menu
3.) Rumble Pak Menu 6.) Hydro Champions Menu
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 8
CONTROLLER MENU
There are two Controller configurations you can choose from. At the
Main Menu, select the Controller image on the left side (the
Configuration Menu) and press the A Button. This will access the
Controller Configuration Menu.
Move the Control Pad or Control Stick Left and Right to view the
different configurations. When playing a Multi-Player game, press Up
and Down on the Control Pad or Control Stick to select the player whose
game controls you wish to change.
CONFIGURATON ONE
STEER - Control Pad or Control Stick
ACCELERATE - A Button
BRAKE - B Button
BOOST - L Button or R Button or Z Button
CAMERA 1 (High View) - Down C Button
CAMERA 2 (Low View) - Right C Button
CAMERA 3 (Pilot View) - Up C Button
CONFIGURATON TWO
STEER - Control Pad or Control Stick
ACCELERATE -L Button or Z Button
BRAKE - R Button or B Button
BOOST - A Button
CAMERA 1 (High View) - Down C Button
CAMERA 2 (Low View) - Right C Button
CAMERA 3 (Pilot View) - Up C Button
Select one of the configurations and press the A Button. If you are
using a Controller Pak, your configuration will be automatically saved
to it.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 9
RUMBLE PAK MENU
On the Main Menu screen (located directly beneath the Controller icon
on the Configuration Menu) is the Rumble Pak icon. Select this and
press the A Button.
The Rumble Pak Menu will allow you to adjust the vibration level in
the Rumble Pak accessory. To adjust the levels, highlight the item by
pressing Up and Down on the Control Pad or Control Stick. Press Left
and Right to move the meter on the item. The left side of the meter
decreases vibration and the right side of the meter increases
vibration. After you have made your adjustments, highlight DONE and
press the A Button. There are four items you can make adjustments to:
BOOST: This will activate the Rumble Pak whenever the boosters on your
boat are engaged.
SPLASH DOWN: This activates the Rumble Pak when your boat splashes
down in the water.
BOAT COLLISION: Whether your boat's "Mighty Hull" system is engaged
or you just happen to smack into another racer, colliding with another
boat will cause the Rumble Pak to shake.
TERRAIN COLLISION: Even though you are driving a boat, there are times
when you just can't stay in the water. If you are trying to jump over
something or make a shortcut, you may hit a bridge glacier, wall or
other part of the track. When you do this the Rumble Pak will
activate.
Note: Remember to insert the Rumble Pak into your Controller only
when prompted to.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 10
OPTIONS MENU
The right side of the Main Menu is the Options Menu. The icon showing
the music note is the Sound Options Menu. The Checkered Flat/Trophy
icon is the Hydro Champions Menu. To access either option, highlight
the appropriate icon and press the A Button.
SOUND OPTIONS:
In the Sound Options Menu, you can adjust the volume of the games Sound
Effects (SFX) and background Music. Each sound's volume can be raised
or lowered by highlighting the option (by pressing UP and Down on the
Control Pad or Control Stick), then by moving the meter Left and Right
(using the Control Pad or Control Stick). The more Left you go will
lower the volume and the more Right you go will raise the volume.
When you are finished adjusting the volumes, highlight DONE and press
the A Button.
HYDRO CHAMPIONS:
The Hydro Champions screen is basically a High Scores screen. This
will display the best times on all of the tracks. To view the times
for different tracks, press Left and Right on the Control Pad or
Control Stick. Pressing the A Button at any time will bring you back
to the Main Menu.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 11
PLAYING THE GAME
The Object of Hydro Thunder is simple: cross the finish line first,
at all costs! Along the way, collect BOOST icons to enable your
boat's specialized engines to fire up and propel you faster. Boost
icons are located throughout all tracks. Some are hidden in secret
areas of the track and some are even invisible! The following will
give you an overview of everything you need to know to win the race.
GAME PROGRESSION
When beginning Hydro Thunder, you will only have access to 3 tracks and
3 boats. Both the tracks and boats are designated as EASY. If you
complete each Easy designated race and place First, Second or Third,
you will gain access to the MEDIUM division boats and tracks.
When racing on the Medium tracks, you must complete each race with a
First or Second place finish to advance to the HARD division. Racing
the Hard boats and Hard tracks takes a lot of skill. It is recommended
that you really master the previous tracks before advancing to these
challenging ones. You must complete each track with a First place
finish to access a special Bonus Track. You must continue to place
First on all the Bonus Tracks to access the Bonus Boats. There are a
total of 4 Bonus Track sand 4 Bonus Boats, if you're good enough to
earn them.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 12
PLAYING THE GAME
BOAT SELECTION
Each boat in Hydro Thunder is unique. Not only in appearance, but
also in control and overall performance. Some boats are faster than
others, while some fly and take turns better. When selecting a boat,
keep in mind which track you will be racing on. Every boat is listed
in detail on pages 21-30.
"MIGHTY HULL"
Developed by the H.T.R.A. (see Page 6), "Mighty Hull" technology is
utilized by every boat in Hydro Thunder. When your boat's boosters
are activated for a short period of time, your boat will flash. This
means that the boat's Mighty Hull is activated. Use your Mighty Hull
power to clear unwanted obstacles and opponents out of your course as
you race to victory. Each boat is unique when it comes to Mighty Hull
activation time.
BOOST ICONS
The tracks in Hydro Thunder are littered with Red and Blue diamond-
shaped Boost icons. Each boost will cause your boat's engines to
transform and enable your boat to travel faster as well as activate
its "Mighty Hull" power. Red Boost icons will give you 9 seconds of
boost fuel. Blue Boost icons will give you 4 seconds of boost fuel.
Use your boost sparingly as you never know when you will need it. Use
your boosters to help your boat take corners faster as well as clear
any obstacles in your way!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 13
PLAYING THE GAME
While you're racing, it's important to both watch and listen for key
information that can help you win the race.
[Picture of the screen and shows what things are on the screen]
When racing against the clock, you must pass specially numbered buoys
(checkpoints) that will give you more time. If your time is getting
short, you will hear the announcer say "Time running low!", followed
by a series of beeps when your race clock enters the single-digit
range.
When running out of booster fuel, the announcer will say "boosters
running low!", followed by another series of beeps when you're almost
empty. Remember, keep an eye on your booster fuel!
You can pause the game by pressing START. When the game is paused,
you can choose CONTINEUE, RESTART LEVEL or QUIT GAME. Highlight each
item by pressing Up and Down on the Control Pad or Control Stick. To
activate the selection, press the A Button. If you choose to quit a
game, you will go back to the game's title screen.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 14
PLAYING THE GAME
Hydro Thunder allows up to four players to race at the same time.
This is done by splitting the screen into sections of two, three and
four. It is important to note that you must have the correct amount
of Controllers plugged into the Control Deck BEFORE turning the POWER
to the ON position. Also remember that the N64 Expansion Pak (sold
separately) is required for a 3 or 4-Player game.
To play a Multi-Player game, at the Main Menu highlight the icon that
shows two boats and press the A Button. Next you will choose how many
racers there will be. You can select by pressing Up and Down on the
Control Pad or Control Stick to highlight the number of players and
then pressing the A Button. Only Player One can control this part of
the selection menus.
Next, Player One can choose the track that the players will be
competing on (track and boat selection instructions are given on the
following page). After the track has been selected, Player One can
choose their boat. After Player One has selected their boat, the
other players may choose their boats.
Refer to the pervious page for On-Screen information. The screens to
the right will show the different screen displays for a Two, Three or
Four-Player game. The placement for each player is shown on the
THREE-PLAYER screenshot.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 15
SELECTIONS
After you have selected how many players there will be, you now will
choose both a track to race on as well as what boat you will be racing
with. Remember that initially you will only be able to race with
three boats and race on three tracks. More boats and tracks will
become available to you as you progress in the game. When playing a
Multi-Player game, remember that you can only race with the tracks and
boats you have unlocked.
To select a boat or a track, press the Control Pad or Control Stick
Left and Right to cycle through the available boats and tracks. To
choose a boat or a track, press the A Button. Each boat and track are
unique with their own secrets and dangers.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 16
HYDRO STRATEGIES
As you gain experience in Hydro Thunder, you will find that each game
is different, depending on your style of racing. Each in the H.T.R.A.
lineup is unique in both appearance and overall performance. Each
track is unique with its onwn shortcuts and tricks to mastering them.
Practice does make perfect in this game. This page is devoted to some
great tricks and pointers to help you along your path.
BOAT DESIGN: You will notice that each boat is different. Some boats
are designed to fly, while others are built for speed. Try to learn
each boat's weaknesses and advantages. You will find that some boats
are very easily knocked around by other boats, while some tend to do
more of the knocking.
HYDRO JUMP: Each boat can use its boosters to propel into the air for
a brief period of time. As your boat is moving forward (by holding
down the Accelerate button), quickly let go and press the Brake button.
Once you have activated the brake, immediately press the Boost button.
This takes practice to learn, but is well worth the effort. Use the
Hydro Jump to access out-of-reach boost icons and gain entry into
secret pathways. Some boats will travel through the air very well if
you can master the Hydro Jump. Using the jump with these boats will
allow you to cut seconds off of your course time.
MIGHTY HULL TECHNIQUES: When your boosters are activated for a short
period of time, your boat will begin to flash. When it does, your
boat's Mighty Hull technology has been activated. While your boat is
flashing, you can ram other boats and send them flying into the air!
Mighty Hull also helps you rid your path of annoying obstacles without
crashing your boat.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 17
EASY TRACKS
THUNDER PARK
A traditional H.T.R.A. circuit track. On a sunny day, Thunder Park
offers a competition-style hydroplane raceway loop. Try to find the
hidden 9 second boost on this track.
Note: When racing on a circuit track, each boost icon can only be
picked up once.
LOST ISLAND:
Located somewhere in the South Pacific, the Lost Island track offers a
fast -paced trek through a volcanic island. Lush greenery, native
villages, ancient ruins and numerous secrets await you!
ARCTIC CIRCLE:
Gigantic ice formations and a variety of wildlife line this unique
track. The race starts near a fishing village high above sea level,
continues in a river that winds its way down a glacier, through water
carved ice tunnels until finally dropping you to the ocean for the
remainder of the race.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 18
MEDIUM TRACKS
GREEK ISLES:
The Greek Isles water track winds through both modern towns and ancient
ruins, providing one of the most visually sunning tracks available.
This is a bright and challenging rack, highlighted by a downhill
sliding finish.
LAKE POWELL:
Lake Powell, located in Utah, is one of the largest man-made lakes in
the world. With its gigantic narrow canyon walls, 1000-year-old
Anasazi ruins and smooth water, it is the perfect place for a high-
speed super-boat race. Unfortunately, the Utah State Police don't
agree.
THE FAR EAST:
The Far East track, located on a river deep in the misty mountains of
China offers a unique blend of challenging river racing and beautiful
scenery. The river drops from the mountains into small villages,
ancient brick canals and even through palace motes.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 19
HARD TRACKS
SHIP GRAVEYARD
This deserted atoll was once a productive military shipyard. Now,
endless numbers of forgotten, decrepit naval ships line the coast as
far as the ey can see, forming a maze-like water raceway in and oat of
hollow steel hulls. Rough waves, shark infested waters, stormy weather
and the military police all await you!
VENICE CANALS:
Ah, Venice. One thinks of lovers, romance and of course the ear-
piercing roar of sixteen super-boat motors tearing through the moonlit
canals! With its extremely sharp turns that never let up, Venice
Canals is arguably the most difficult track in Hydro Thunder.
NEW YORK DISASTER:
A giant meteor has destroyed the Big Apple and flooded its once crowded
streets. Sounds like a fun race, huh? Tear through the remains of the
late city, avoiding the N.Y.P.D. and the countless submerged vehicles
along the way, until you come crashing down to a tragic finish.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 20
BONUS TRACKS
There are 4 Bonus Tracks total along with 4 Bonus Boats. In order to
complete the tracks, you need to practice on them. Try to use a
familiar boat, as opposed to using the bonus boat. They look cool,
but sometimes it's best to race an old favorite. The following is a
brief description of the 4 Tracks you will hopefully unlock.
HYDRO SPEEDWAY
Set at night, Hydro Speedway is another circuit track in the game.
With fast-paced excitement and boost icons at every turn, Hydro
Speedway will test even the best racer.
CATACOMB
Go full throttle through a mysterious cavern willed with crashed ships,
sharp rocks and of course, the competition. Turn and Hydro Jump your
victory, If you can.
CASTLE VON DANDY
Journey to Scotland and take a watery romp through an abandoned castle.
Steer around the moat and ancient graveyard to victory!
NILE ADVENTURE
Race through ancient pyramids and narrow waterways. This track
features danger at every sharp turn. This is the longest track in
Hydro Thunder.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 21
EASY BOATS
DAMN THE TORPEDOES
DESCRIPTION: Damn the Torpedoes is a good introductory boat for
racing. Although it is slower than most boats in speed and Mighty Hull
activation time, it is ideal for the beginner racer.
MOTOR TYPE: Twin 545 HP Turbo-charged Silva Trek motors, each driving
a single extra-large prop.
BOOSTER TYPE: Embedded twin Mega-rockets.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 22
EASY BOATS
MIDWAY
DESCRIPTION: Very stable and not susceptible to being knocked around
by other boats, Midway is another good choice for the beginning racer.
Midway's weaknesses are its slow booster and Mighty Hull activation time.
MOTOR TYPE: Marine 850 HP Browning V-Drive with a single extra-large prop.
BOOSTER TYPE: Twin V-Drive motors.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 23
EASY BOATS
MISS BEHAVE
DESCRIPTION: Able to slice the water for better turning, Miss Behave
is one of the smallest boats in the H.T.R.A. lineup. The boosters are
slightly under-powered but Miss Behave's real strength lies in her
ability to glide while in the air. With parts salvaged from a world
War II aircraft, Miss Behave is the "flyer" of the beginning boats.
MOTOR TYPE: Customized Goffman 1800 HP motor driving twin counter-
rotating props.
BOOSTER TYPE: Binary micro-rockets coupled with a single ultra-blower.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 24
MEDIUM BOATS
BANSHEE
DESCRIPTION: Once a standard hydroplane, Banshee was altered for
H.T.R.A. racing. Banshee is lightweight and easily knocked around by
other boats, but once you've mastered the unique handling of the boat
you may never choose another boat again!
MOTOR TYPE: 900 HP Patterson Fire-Spitter Twin Turbine driving a
single hyper-angle prop.
BOOSTER TYPE: Twin micro-rockets
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 25
MEDIUM BOATS
TIDAL BLADE
DESCRIPTION: Tidal Blade's sleek, dragster-like hull design allows it
to slice through any water condition. When you have activated your
Mighty Hull feature, use Tidal Blade's long bow to knock the
competition out of the water. At times, if Tidal Blade gets bumped it
can be hard to control and keep stable.
MOTOR TYPE: Modified, dual-exhaust 2000 HP Carbonyl dragster motor
driving a specialty monster prop.
BOOSTER TYPE: Twin micro-rockets.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 26
MEDIUM BOATS
THRESHER
DESCRIPTION: Known as the "caddy" of the H.T.R.A. lineup, Thresher is
the easiest boat to control, Big and heavy, the boat is well balanced
and is easy to steer. Although it has a fairly slow Mighty Hull
activation time, Thresher's secret weapon is its ability to knock
opponents around by using its heavy frame.
MOTOR TYPE: Dual 800 HP Turbo-charged Wilson motors, each driving
oversized-props.
BOOSTER TYPE: Swivel-mounted harness with twin mega-rockets.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 27
HARD BOATS
CUTTHROAT
DESCRIPTION: Lightweight and as close to a military jet fighter as you
can get, Cutthroat is one of the best boats in the H.T.R.A. lineup.
Heavily altered and using "borrowed" military hardware, Cutthroat can
soar off of H.T.R.A. ramps or other objects for great distances. Use
this to your advantage. Even though it has an extremely fast Mighty
Hull activation time, it is very light and easily tossed around by
other boats.
MOTOR TYPE: Single 1200 HP Ranck 1 racing engine with dual, counter-
rotating stock props.
BOOSTER TYPE: Binary mega-rocket thrusters.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 28
HARD BOATS
RAD HAZARD
DESCRIPTION: Created with scrap parts found outside U.S. Government
Area 51 property, Rad Hazard is recommended for the most experienced
racers. Use the boosters to help you take corners better. The fast
Mighty Hull activation time helps to keep the competition away. Fast
and powerful, Rad Hazard is a boat to reckoned with.
MOTOR TYPE: Some form of antimatter, subatomic energy, driving a
single dual-cast prop.
BOOSTER TYPE: Bursts of neutralized antimatter ventilation (we think).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 29
HARD BOATS
RAZORBACK
DESCRIPTION: The most difficult boat to control in the H.T.R.A.
lineup! Once thought of as a total design failure. Razorback was
forgotten until an H.T.R.A. member learned the secret to mastering this
fast and furious boat! With speed and Mighty Hull activation time like
no other, Razorback is recommended for only the most experienced racers!
MOTOR TYPE: Triple 650 HP Starich 5.7 inboards, each with a single
DuRanc prop.
BOOSTER TYPE: Triple supercharged outboards, each with dual, counter-
rotating DuRanc props.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 30
BONUS BOATS
These are the elite boats of Hydro Thunder. Only the best drivers will
be able to race with them. These boats will become available as you
beat all the bonus tracks.
If you are fortunate enough to race one of these, you will notice how
different they are from the rest of the H.T.R.A. lineup. Since you are
not authorized (yet) to view these boats, we can only show you their
shadows.
Remember once you gain access to these boats (if you can), save them to
your Controller Pak to add them to your lineup!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 31
HINTS AND TIPS
Here's a few pointers to remember as you take to the water.
-Try pressing the Accelerate and Brake buttons a couple times at the
countdown. If you perform a certain sequence, you will get a 4 second
Boost at the Start!
-Try going through caves and waterfalls. Not only are there a bunch of
short-cuts, but you'll find lost of Boost Icons as well.
-Look for hidden 9 Second Boost on Hydro Speedway as well as Thunder
Park!
-Beware of underwater debris!
-Learn the Hydro Jump! It is essential!!!
-Jumping in the Nile Adventure track will lead to great hitngs!
-WATCH YOUR BOOST FUEL CLOSELY!!!
-REMEMBER THAT IN ORDER TO PLAY A 3 OR 4-PLAYER GAME, YOU NEED AN
EXPANSION PAK!!!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 32
CREDITS
MIDWAY HOME ENTERTAINMENT
HYDRO THUNDER ARCADE TEAM
STEVE RANCK, MICHAEL STARICH, SCOTT PATTERSON, LORI MILLER, DUSTY MONK,
DETMAR PETERKE, ERIC BROWNING, SCOTT GOFFMAN, BRIAN SILVA, DALE
HENDERSCHEID, GARY CARBONELL, ANDY WILSON, ORPHEUS HANLEY AND BRIAN
JOHNSON.
PRODCUER
KEVIN POTTER
ASSOCIATE PRODCUER
SEAN WILSON
ASSISTANT PRODCUER
ED DURAN
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
SAM CALIS
ADDITIONAL TRACK DESIGN
JOHN STOOKEY AND STEVE CRAMER
PRINT DESIGN AND PRODUCTION
MIDWAY CREATIVE SERVICES - SAN DIEGO
TESTING MANAGERS
ROB SABLAN AND HANS LO
TESTING SUPERVISOR
SHEILA JULATON
LEAD PRODUCT ANALYST
JEFF TAMAYO
PRODUCT ANALYSTS
DONALD HAMILTON, SHAWN CHARRON, SEHER BASAK, RICK WAIBEL, RYAN
CASTIGLIA AND GREG ROSARIO
TECHNICAL STANDARD ANALYST
AJAMU SHAW
SPECIAL THANKS
DEBORAH FULTON, IRA KALINA, HUGH BINNS AND NANCY RAMSEY
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 33
CREDITS
MIDWAY HOME ENTERTAINMENT
LEAD PROGRAMMING
PAUL BATES
LEAD ARTIST
COLIN GARRATT
ADDITIONAL ART
CHRIS BOYLE, ADRIAN MANNION AND PAUL ROBINSON
ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING
TIME ROGERS AND DAVE LONG
AUDIO
NEIL BALDIN AND GUY CROCKFORT
QUALITY ASSURANCE LEAD
ANDY COLLINS
QUALITY ASSURANCE
JOHN BAKER, PHILL BENNETT, ADAM TIMMINS AND ANDREW WALKNER
QUALITY ASSURANCE MANAGER
MIKE BOTHAM
DIRECTOR
HUGH BINNS
SPECIAL THANKS
STEVE RANCK, SCOTT GOFFMAN AND ED DURAN