http://www.teletext.co.uk/gamecentral/features-reviews/default.aspxen-gbThu, 29 Jul 2010 06:21:38 GMThttp://www.teletext.co.uk/images/Logo64x64.gifhttp://www.teletext.co.ukReview by Roger Hargreaves &#8211; While Britons sit pining for an Elite or Jet Set Willy sequel most major retro games from America and Japan have long ago been brought back, rebooted and reimagined many times over. <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/tTVkEn0huJZXTUzUROGW6-qXp40/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/tTVkEn0huJZXTUzUROGW6-qXp40/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/tTVkEn0huJZXTUzUROGW6-qXp40/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/tTVkEn0huJZXTUzUROGW6-qXp40/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.teletext.co.uk/~ff/Entertainment/Games/Reviews-Features?a=1J8gEs67tFo:iB2Ax-o_j1E:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Entertainment/Games/Reviews-Features?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.teletext.co.uk/~ff/Entertainment/Games/Reviews-Features?a=1J8gEs67tFo:iB2Ax-o_j1E:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Entertainment/Games/Reviews-Features?i=1J8gEs67tFo:iB2Ax-o_j1E:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.teletext.co.uk/~ff/Entertainment/Games/Reviews-Features?a=1J8gEs67tFo:iB2Ax-o_j1E:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Entertainment/Games/Reviews-Features?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.teletext.co.uk/~ff/Entertainment/Games/Reviews-Features?a=1J8gEs67tFo:iB2Ax-o_j1E:XBKO7lOk1NQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Entertainment/Games/Reviews-Features?d=XBKO7lOk1NQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Entertainment/Games/Reviews-Features/~4/1J8gEs67tFo" height="1" width="1"/>
And yet still Britsoft's finest never seem to get a second go.

Instead a significant amount of barrel-scraping has had to take place to find some fresh meat for the retro grinder.

The original Hydro Thunder was the most popular of a line of Midway coin-ops from the turn of the decade that included Offroad Thunder, 4 Wheel Thunder and Arctic Thunder.

Most ended up being converted for the Dreamcast et al., but were only ever really popular in America.

In the manner of many other recent retro rivals this lays somewhere between a straight remake and a sequel.

But it really doesn't matter which because the concepts at work here are not exactly arcane: you drive a giant powerboat really fast and hope you don't crash too often.

There's an old fashioned joy to the game's complete disregard for reality.

From the unlikely handling (real boats can't rotate 45 degrees in the air) to the improbable presence of giant sea monsters and a race around Area 51.

Despite this the game still lacks any real personality and you often worry it's trying a little too hard to channel some '90s arcade wackiness.

At the same time it seems nervous that it will lose the first person shooter crowd and the muted visuals rarely seem as bright or exciting as the original.

Also, many courses and races drag on longer than a pound coin at a real arcade would have let you.

Some interesting use is made of the water though, with mini-tsunamis rearing up to misdirect you and change the nature of the "track".

There's also a clever emphasis on trying to keep a turbo boost going for as long as possible.

Nitro canisters bob temptingly in front of you and hint at a multitude of short cuts and secret areas. Although even then the sense of speed is fairly weak.

Whatever depth the gameplay may lack though there's a good effort at extending the single player with four separate game modes.

There are also two multiplayer modes, including an amusing effort where you have to push a giant rubber duck ahead of your opponent team.

Like many an arcade game though the novelty is fleeting and it's hard not to compare it all with Wave Race 64.

Despite how low tech it may seem now no other game has ever made the water itself seem like your primary competitor, rather than other racers.

In Wave Race 64 fighting for a racing line across the mercurial waves was a constant battle, here it just seems like an occasional inconvenience.

But Hydro Thunder was never interested in even the semi-realism of Wave Race and that's not necessarily a flaw.

It just wants to be a big dumb arcade racer and at that it largely succeeds.

But it does seem a touch expensive at a full 1200 Points, especially as most of its tricks are revealed in mere hours.

And with no real nuance to the driving (piloting?) and an equally shallow personality you get the feeling that if this was still a coin-op you wouldn't be sticking too many coins in past the first few.

IN SHORT: Big dumb fun doesn't have to be quiet this witless, but this is still a fairly competent arcade update.

PROS: There's a clear enthusiasm for the original game and plenty of options, including online multiplayer.

CONS: It lacks the easy charm and exuberance of real '90s coin-ops. Muted visuals and little sense of speed.

SCORE: 6/10 Out: Now (Online)

]]>d141a0bc13c2e95210f44f8524ac8072http://www.teletext.co.uk/gamecentral/features-reviews/d141a0bc13c2e95210f44f8524ac8072/Hydro+Thunder+Hurricane+(360).aspxhttp://www.teletext.co.uk/gamecentral/features-reviews/d141a0bc13c2e95210f44f8524ac8072/Hydro+Thunder+Hurricane+(360).aspx<b>StarCraft II: Wings Of Liberty (PC)</b> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/e_W6_DBTsg7g9sRDnN9DFbHMcZE/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/e_W6_DBTsg7g9sRDnN9DFbHMcZE/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/e_W6_DBTsg7g9sRDnN9DFbHMcZE/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/e_W6_DBTsg7g9sRDnN9DFbHMcZE/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.teletext.co.uk/~ff/Entertainment/Games/Reviews-Features?a=5oZu486Wpcs:vBp11yfScvY:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Entertainment/Games/Reviews-Features?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.teletext.co.uk/~ff/Entertainment/Games/Reviews-Features?a=5oZu486Wpcs:vBp11yfScvY:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Entertainment/Games/Reviews-Features?i=5oZu486Wpcs:vBp11yfScvY:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.teletext.co.uk/~ff/Entertainment/Games/Reviews-Features?a=5oZu486Wpcs:vBp11yfScvY:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Entertainment/Games/Reviews-Features?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.teletext.co.uk/~ff/Entertainment/Games/Reviews-Features?a=5oZu486Wpcs:vBp11yfScvY:XBKO7lOk1NQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Entertainment/Games/Reviews-Features?d=XBKO7lOk1NQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Entertainment/Games/Reviews-Features/~4/5oZu486Wpcs" height="1" width="1"/>StarCraft II: Wings Of Liberty (PC)
This actually came out on Tuesday, but since no one was allowed to play it early our review won't be till Monday.

Commander: Conquest Of Americas (PC)
Another Total War-esque strategy from the people behind East India Company.

15 Days (PC)
A low budget (and as usual German-made) graphic adventure involving philanthropist art thieves.

]]>f0a568ca789c4bb1bb94406cecbcd1d7http://www.teletext.co.uk/gamecentral/features-reviews/f0a568ca789c4bb1bb94406cecbcd1d7/Games+released+tomorrow.aspxhttp://www.teletext.co.uk/gamecentral/features-reviews/f0a568ca789c4bb1bb94406cecbcd1d7/Games+released+tomorrow.aspxArt Academy (DS) <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/6PLE5tz_sDs_a2nduZ2QYgp8ZoA/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/6PLE5tz_sDs_a2nduZ2QYgp8ZoA/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/6PLE5tz_sDs_a2nduZ2QYgp8ZoA/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/6PLE5tz_sDs_a2nduZ2QYgp8ZoA/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.teletext.co.uk/~ff/Entertainment/Games/Reviews-Features?a=5i2eXwuABXE:HafW7lgsZtM:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Entertainment/Games/Reviews-Features?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.teletext.co.uk/~ff/Entertainment/Games/Reviews-Features?a=5i2eXwuABXE:HafW7lgsZtM:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Entertainment/Games/Reviews-Features?i=5i2eXwuABXE:HafW7lgsZtM:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.teletext.co.uk/~ff/Entertainment/Games/Reviews-Features?a=5i2eXwuABXE:HafW7lgsZtM:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Entertainment/Games/Reviews-Features?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.teletext.co.uk/~ff/Entertainment/Games/Reviews-Features?a=5i2eXwuABXE:HafW7lgsZtM:XBKO7lOk1NQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Entertainment/Games/Reviews-Features?d=XBKO7lOk1NQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Entertainment/Games/Reviews-Features/~4/5i2eXwuABXE" height="1" width="1"/>The Last Airbender (Wii/DS)
The Sorcerer's Apprentice (DS)
Art Of Murder: FBI Top Secret (DS)
Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4 (PSP)

GAMES RELEASED ON AUGUST 13
Madden NFL 11 (360/PS3)
We Sing Encore (Wii)
Victoria II (PC)
BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger (PC)
GC: These seem to be the only two versions of Madden coming to Europe.

]]>2eeb3c9d821ae02e197bd7542aa7ca7bhttp://www.teletext.co.uk/gamecentral/features-reviews/2eeb3c9d821ae02e197bd7542aa7ca7b/Games+released+next+Friday.aspxhttp://www.teletext.co.uk/gamecentral/features-reviews/2eeb3c9d821ae02e197bd7542aa7ca7b/Games+released+next+Friday.aspxXbox 360 S 4GB console <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/uNfrMckDpJ-diOIy-_8xqM7nQ4Q/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/uNfrMckDpJ-diOIy-_8xqM7nQ4Q/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/uNfrMckDpJ-diOIy-_8xqM7nQ4Q/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/uNfrMckDpJ-diOIy-_8xqM7nQ4Q/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.teletext.co.uk/~ff/Entertainment/Games/Reviews-Features?a=aQEPUp6AhgE:BZ4yzYX0U5I:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Entertainment/Games/Reviews-Features?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.teletext.co.uk/~ff/Entertainment/Games/Reviews-Features?a=aQEPUp6AhgE:BZ4yzYX0U5I:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Entertainment/Games/Reviews-Features?i=aQEPUp6AhgE:BZ4yzYX0U5I:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.teletext.co.uk/~ff/Entertainment/Games/Reviews-Features?a=aQEPUp6AhgE:BZ4yzYX0U5I:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Entertainment/Games/Reviews-Features?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.teletext.co.uk/~ff/Entertainment/Games/Reviews-Features?a=aQEPUp6AhgE:BZ4yzYX0U5I:XBKO7lOk1NQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Entertainment/Games/Reviews-Features?d=XBKO7lOk1NQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Entertainment/Games/Reviews-Features/~4/aQEPUp6AhgE" height="1" width="1"/>Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days (360/PS3/PC)
Mary King's Riding School 2 (Wii)
Demon's Souls (PS3)

GC: This is the slightly cheaper non-Black Phantom Edition. We'd still advise trying to get the original version though as the guide book really is extremely handy.




]]>8678aa8d06fa83f27e151c1beb03d4b1http://www.teletext.co.uk/gamecentral/features-reviews/8678aa8d06fa83f27e151c1beb03d4b1/Games+released+on+August+20.aspxhttp://www.teletext.co.uk/gamecentral/features-reviews/8678aa8d06fa83f27e151c1beb03d4b1/Games+released+on+August+20.aspxMafia II (360/PS3/PC) <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/j8SZgJnVEDgKJT-qKI7jTlR71R8/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/j8SZgJnVEDgKJT-qKI7jTlR71R8/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/j8SZgJnVEDgKJT-qKI7jTlR71R8/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/j8SZgJnVEDgKJT-qKI7jTlR71R8/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.teletext.co.uk/~ff/Entertainment/Games/Reviews-Features?a=B1XKHqC3k0w:9ZuFJw_c2O4:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Entertainment/Games/Reviews-Features?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.teletext.co.uk/~ff/Entertainment/Games/Reviews-Features?a=B1XKHqC3k0w:9ZuFJw_c2O4:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Entertainment/Games/Reviews-Features?i=B1XKHqC3k0w:9ZuFJw_c2O4:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.teletext.co.uk/~ff/Entertainment/Games/Reviews-Features?a=B1XKHqC3k0w:9ZuFJw_c2O4:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Entertainment/Games/Reviews-Features?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.teletext.co.uk/~ff/Entertainment/Games/Reviews-Features?a=B1XKHqC3k0w:9ZuFJw_c2O4:XBKO7lOk1NQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Entertainment/Games/Reviews-Features?d=XBKO7lOk1NQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Entertainment/Games/Reviews-Features/~4/B1XKHqC3k0w" height="1" width="1"/>Patrician IV (PC)
Gormiti: The Lords Of Nature! (Wii/DS)
Grease: Official Video Game (Wii/DS)
Shattered Horizon (PC)
Battle Vs Chess (Wii/PS3/360/DS/PSP)
SpellForce 2: Faith In Destiny (PC)

GAMES RELEASED ON SEPTEMBER 3
Metroid: Other M (Wii)
H.A.W.X. 2 (Wii/360/PS3/PC)
Ace Combat: Joint Assault (PSP)

]]>a0d12896355ad126edeaa2a92c9b9533http://www.teletext.co.uk/gamecentral/features-reviews/a0d12896355ad126edeaa2a92c9b9533/Games+released+on+August+27.aspxhttp://www.teletext.co.uk/gamecentral/features-reviews/a0d12896355ad126edeaa2a92c9b9533/Games+released+on+August+27.aspx