An external audio contractor, Robb Mills, was called upon to compose the game's music. V-hulled boats cut through waves, flat-bottomed boats hydroplane across the water, and multi-hulled boats have greater grip in the water. The physics system that controls the water allows multiple types of waves such as wakes and whirlpools, and also adapts to handle different boat hulls and other objects in the water. Fresnel reflections, normal mapping, ray-traced depth fogging and depth-based foam and an adaptive LOD system were built to handle the visuals. The water was programmed for the game using several different techniques. Hydro Thunder Hurricane was released as part of the third annual Xbox Live Summer of Arcade along with titles such as Monday Night Combat and Limbo. It was then used as one of two mystery games for ScrewAttack's Iron Man of Gaming. Hydro Thunder Hurricane was first unveiled at PAX East on March 26, 2010. "If players - especially new players - are too easily frustrated, they just say screw this and drop out, which reduces the number of players and the number of available online games." Development and marketing Vector Unit explained the decision further on their blog. This is to create a more aggressive race, and to allow those with less skill to enjoy racing along with more competitive players. This powerup is dynamic, awarding players leading the race with less boost, while those in the rear are awarded more boost. Instead of "1X" and "4X" boost powerups, multiplayer races feature only one type of boost powerup. Multiplayer races feature a "loser helper" powerup system. The remaining boats on each team try to protect their team's duck while keeping the other team's at bay, with the winning team being first to get their duck across the finish line. In this mode one player on each team pilots a boat in the shape of a rubber duck. In addition one multiplayer-exclusive mode was added, ' Rubber Ducky'. Track times are recorded on leaderboards for players to compete against. Players can also use any combination of splitscreen and Xbox Live players to play online with up to eight players. Up to four players can complete via splitscreen against each other and twelve AI competitors. Hurricane also features a number of multiplayer scenarios. 'Championship' mode is also new to the series, and pits the player in a mixture of tracks and modes. Players must complete the course as quickly as possible while avoiding the barrels. 'Gauntlet' also removes AI competitors, but replaces the rings with explosive barrels littered throughout the water. The objective is to drive through as many rings as possible in the shortest amount of time. 'Ring Master' removes all AI racing competitors and places a sequence of rings throughout a given course. The game also adds three additional single-player game modes in which to compete. Players can choose to race a given mode and track additional times to earn more credits. These credits serve as points which automatically unlock additional gameplay elements, such as boats, skins, new courses and game modes. Some routes can be found by simply driving towards them or smashing through an obstacle, while others require the player to drive over green powerups which lower gates or raise ramps. Hurricane continues the Thunder series tradition of hidden shortcuts and alternate routes in courses. The game's eight tracks are (in order): Lake Powell, Storming Asgard, Monster Island, Tsunami Bowl, Lost Babylon, Paris Sewers, Seoul Stream, and Area 51. Once transformed, players can use acquired boost to increase the speed of the boat temporarily, or to jump over obstacles. As with Hydro Thunder, players can collect boost powerups throughout a course which physically transform the boat into a more aggressive-looking form. The primary mode of gameplay involves a sixteen competitor race to the finish line. Gameplay involves players selecting one of nine boats to race through one of eight courses. Hydro Thunder Hurricane is an arcade-style boat racing game, and the sequel to Hydro Thunder.
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