Is it dumb to get a Dreamcast just to play Hydro Thunder ?

wageslave

wageslave

CAGiversary!
So, I really like Hydro Thunder and have been thinking about getting a dreamcast just to play it, but I found out that it will be coming out as an arcade port on Midway Arcade Treasures III on the 3 current generation consoles. Was the Dreamcast version of the game much better than the arcade version? I think it may of had a few extra tracks, but I wonder if the Gamecube version might sport better graphics.
 
Your dumb if you do this... but only if its the one game you get. the Dreamcast is an amzing system. Soul Calibur 1 is on par with most current games, and its almost 5 years old. Its a little system with gorgeous graphics and amazingly fun games.
 
um, yeah, but how much is he gonna spend. I bought mine for 35 came with 2 controllers. That was like 3-4 years ago at a pawn shop. I bought it just for Marvel vs. capcom 2. this was before the ps2/xbox version. i dont regret it.
 
[quote name='Kayden']Your dumb if you do this... but only if its the one game you get. the Dreamcast is an amzing system. Soul Calibur 1 is on par with most current games, and its almost 5 years old. Its a little system with gorgeous graphics and amazingly fun games.[/QUOTE] have to agree here plus you can get

sf3 third strike
cvs2 the best version I hear
shemune
ikagura

etc etc
 
I've played Hydro Thunder on both DC and N64. I personally like the N64 version a lot better. The reason why has long been forgotten unfortunately ...
 
However:

The initial run of hydro thunder DC discs was buggy; you'd have to make sure you got the non-buggy one. They're different colors, but I don't remember which is which.

The dreamcast version doesn't let you restart the race, so if you've just missed a shortcut near the start, you're outta luck. which wouldn't be all that bad, except for...

Loading times. The Dreamcast version takes about 17 minutes to load a course.

I emailed Steve Ranck, lead programmer of the arcade version, and he said he liked the playstation version best of all the home versions. And I'm not just saying that because I have it sealed for trade.
 
I wanna get one of the arcade versions. Its an old game, but it still looks good and is really fun.
 
[quote name='eldad9']However:

The initial run of hydro thunder DC discs was buggy; you'd have to make sure you got the non-buggy one. They're different colors, but I don't remember which is which.
[/QUOTE]

I think Midway fucked almost/all their first DC releases. All of the fixed reprints have a green "badge" that reads "HOT! NEW!".
 
Back on topic - "What a concept" ;)

First of all, it really depends what you want. If ALL you want is Hydro Thunder, there are versions on the PC (actually really good, especially the graphics) and video game consoles... so you have plenty of different ways to pick it up. I'm not a huge fan of the game, but I know that both the DC and PC are fun and look great, as I have both versions.

And really, if you want the game, how much is too much to spend? Granted, the cheapasses in all of us want stuff cheap, cheap, cheap. But I traded the bulk of my Xbox games, several PS2 titles, the Grand Theft Auto Music Box set, and maybe even an N64 title or two when Steel Battalion came out just to get it. And while it's VERY cool, I've played the game MAYBE 5 hours total... including about 30-45 minutes on the online expansion to decide it just wasn't what I was hoping it would be. (Not fighting battles in similar mechs, and only having 4 to start was SERIOUSLY lame.) But I digress... ;)

As to the Dreamcast itself, I was NOT an early adopter. I didn't import one, didn't think I'd EVER like Sonic Adventure, and really thought I was better off with a PS2. And while I do prefer my PS2 for the hugh selection of games, the Dreamcast DOES have better graphics (most of the time), and a decent selection of titles that are fun to play. As a wrestling and sports game fan, Royal Rumble, World Series Baseball, the NFL and NBA 2K series... all good stuff. And obviously there are a TON more. So I think if you get a Dreamcast, and your a "serious gamer" that would eventually look for more titles... you'd really enjoy it.

But, it's completely up to you. Personally, I got a black Sega Sports one and 4 black controllers eventually, replacing my white system and perpherials. And while it's in a box at the moment (I'm looking for a new place, HOPEFULLY my first house), I'm looking forward to getting out my DC, N64, and even my Sega CDX eventually to play some of the great games of my time. Great stuff...
 
[quote name='Ruined']Midway Arcade Treasures 3 (XBOX/PS2) is going to feature the arcade version of Hydro Thunder.[/QUOTE]

Actually, the version on MAT3 will be a console version, most likely the DC. Most of the other titles will also be ports of some sort, as none of the current systems are powerful enough to successfully emulate such complex games.
 
[quote name='eldad9']However:

The initial run of hydro thunder DC discs was buggy; you'd have to make sure you got the non-buggy one. They're different colors, but I don't remember which is which.

The dreamcast version doesn't let you restart the race, so if you've just missed a shortcut near the start, you're outta luck. which wouldn't be all that bad, except for...

Loading times. The Dreamcast version takes about 17 minutes to load a course.

I emailed Steve Ranck, lead programmer of the arcade version, and he said he liked the playstation version best of all the home versions. And I'm not just saying that because I have it sealed for trade.[/QUOTE]

To the original poster: you're not dumb at all. In fact, you are very smart. Hydro Thunder is one of my all time favorite games, and the DC version is incredible. I would buy a DC just to play it in a heartbeat.

I actually own all three versions of HT, so here's what I notice:

Playstation - worst graphics, obviously. Framerate is pretty choppy, but amazingly, it has the best sound of any version. There are clips that are missing from the DC versions that this has (for instance, on the Jungle course, it has the bit about "each course in Hydro Thunder is made up of millions of polygons!" or whatever). It also features a Circuit mode, which is kind of like a career mode. For a PS1 game, it's not bad, but it is easily my least favorite of the versions.

N64 - Much better graphics than the PS1, but it just feels slow and sluggish. It's also missing a lot of the sounds. Game play is good, and two player is actually BETTER than one player mode, since the graphics are a bit worse, but the game moves FASTER. You can also play 4 player split, but the framerate is bad and you can't even see your boat! Overall I like this one a bit more than the PS1 version, and in two player mode, it's probably your best bet of any of the three versions.

Dreamcast - Graphics are PHENOMENAL, gameplay is TIGHT. Almost all the sounds are here too (save for the exceptions noted above). Short of having the arcade machine, I cannot imagine a much closer port. In one player, this game is fantastic. Two player mode is a bit of a letdown, as it just runs a bit too slowly to be as enjoyable as the one player mode. Definitely still playable (my wfie and I still play it all the time), but I'd have preferred they did the N64 approach and really cut out some of the cool graphics touches and increased the framerate, but what are you going to do? FWIW, you want to find the one that says "HOT - NEW" in a green burst on the front cover - those are the second runs. I remember having the first run of discs, and could not tell you what the glitch is. Also, I have no idea where the "17 minute load times" came from - they aren't that bad at all, equivalent to the PS1 version.

There is, of course, the Arcade Treasures 3 versions coming up...but they have NO multiplayer modes at all. I would have gladly paid $50 for that set with online play. The other thing to keep in mind is that the Arcade Treasure discs are always mixed bags - sometimes they get things right on, sometimes there are glitches or control issues. As much as I'd love to have a true, arcade perfect version of HT, I am not holding my breath. If they can't get Paperboy right, then I have serious doubts they'll get something like Hydro Thunder right.

BTW - if you do pick up a DC, and I heartily recommend you do, you need to get San Francisco Rush: 2049. This game is a perfect compliment to HT, and has a ton of great mini games that will not be on the Arcade Treasures disc.

If you have any other questions about the differences, let me know - I can boot them up and tell you what's up with each.

RD
 
Check EB Games. I picked up a like-new Dreamcast for $9.99 last summer.

The Dreamcast was $9.99, and a VMU was $7.99. I was laughing that the system was only $2.00 more.

It's one of the CDR capable models, but I never could figure that stuff out.
 
[quote name='rebenns']Actually, the version on MAT3 will be a console version, most likely the DC. Most of the other titles will also be ports of some sort, as none of the current systems are powerful enough to successfully emulate such complex games.[/QUOTE]

well, at the same time, the other two MAT games were all arcade ports IIRC
 
[quote name='Kayden']I wanna get one of the arcade versions. Its an old game, but it still looks good and is really fun.[/QUOTE]

I never liked Hydro Thunder, and the load times are atrocious.

I'd still invest in a dreamcast though. In fact, get two. :lol:
 
I bought that game with my Dreamcast at launch along with Soul Calibur. I don't remember the load times being bad, but I do remember it being an extremely fun game with great graphics. I guess I either traded it in or lost it at some point, I'm wishing I still had it now.
 
FYI.. Gamerush is also a possible place to look. I picked up a second-run copy of Hydro Thunder for $0.99 there... most pawn shops may have a DC system as well which you may be able to get with hookups for under $20 easily... or, at least, I know locally I can do it fairly easily..

I was actually in the same boat as gofishn with regard to buying the game on or around 9/9/99 and then at some point making the mistake of trading it... Did the same with Gauntlet, too...

As for whether it is worth it, well, if you do get a DC, most are correct in that you shouldn't feel just limited to Hydro Thunder. However, since I figure you may be able to get the whole setup for under $30, it probably will be a decent alternative to waiting for MAT3, and I expect both versions will 'look' about the same...

Personally, I'd say get the DC. There are at least 20 other games worth owning for the system that you can probably obtain for under $20, so I don't think it would be a mistake, even if you are never going to import a game...
 
Just glancing at my collection...

Good/Great games that are DC exclusives:

Soul Calibur
Power Stone 1&2
Maken X
Jet Grind Radio
Samba de Amigo
Shenmue
Sword of the Berserk
Justice League

Good/Great games that have the superior version on the DC:

Hydro Thunder
Legacy of Kain
Vanishing Point
Shadow Man
Grandia II (I haven't personally played the PS2 version, but I understand it's not a perfect port)
MDK 2
Rayman 2 (ditto what I said for Grandia II)
Shenmue 2 (import)

This is by no means an all-inclusive list. I didn't mention the 2-D fighters, mainly because I'm not sure which are exclusives - but there's a ton of them, and they're all good. This should at least show you that the DC is definitely still worth owning. :)
 
I picked up a DC this past Black Friday ($9.99) JUST to play Hydro Thunder. Now I have 18 games for it. It's a great system, and Sega Bass Fishing is tons more fun than you would expect with the Rod. SF Rush 2049 is also another must, as is Test Drive LeMans and Virtua Tennis. And as crazy as it may sound, if you ever played NBA Showtime on NBC, that game is a near perfect port.

Do it...you won't regret it.
 
always thought of picking up a DC.. i wouldn't get it just for one game though.. i kinda got my N64 just for the Zelda games and now i ended up with all the games i've wanted for the system sans the Kart games and Star wars Rogue squadron. the DC.. id get for Jet Grind Radio, Crazy Taxi (much better on a DC), and powerstone..

ROb
 
i bought a dc at yard sale for 40 dollars with 12 games fishing rod and 2 steering wheels and a gun, i now have 30 games for it, did not like systym when first came out, but now i play it more then xbox or ps2. so to answer your question, no you are not stupid, its your money. hell i am looking for a 3d0 just to play the orginal need for speed, so dont feel bad
 
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