Hydra (video game)

{{Infobox video game

|title = Hydra

|image = Hydra arcade flyer.jpg

|developer ={{collapsible list|title={{nobold|Atari Games}}|ICE Software
(Amiga/Atari ST/C64)
Moonstone Computing
(CPC/ZX Spectrum)
NuFX (Lynx)}}

|publisher = Atari Games
Domark, Tengen
(Amiga/Atari ST/C64/CPC/ZX Spectrum)
Atari Corporation (Lynx)

|producer = Milt Loper

|programmer = Dennis Harper
Andrew Burgess

|artist = Chuck Eyler
Deborah Short
Nick Stern

|composer = Brad Fuller
Don Diekneite

|platforms ={{collapsible list|title={{nobold|Arcade}}|Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari Lynx, Atari ST, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum}}

|released ={{collapsible list|title={{nobold|1990}}|Arcade{{vgrelease|WW|June 1990{{cite web|url=https://www.arcade-history.com/?n=hydra&page=detail&id=1158|title=Hydra|website=arcade-history.com|access-date=2019-07-18}}}} Amstrad CPC{{vgrelease|EU|1990}} Amiga{{vgrelease|EU|1991}} Atari ST{{vgrelease|EU|1991}} Commodore 64{{vgrelease|EU|1991}} ZX Spectrum{{vgrelease|EU|1991}} Lynx{{vgrelease|NA|1992|EU|1992}}}}

|genre = Vehicular combat

|modes = Single-player

|arcade system = Atari G1

}}

Hydra is a 1990 arcade vehicular combat video game developed and published by Atari Games. In Hydra, the player pilots a hovercraft, trying to deliver top secret items while avoiding mines, other hovercraft, and logs. The player can collect money and fuel and the game uses X-Y yoke control.

Gameplay

File:ARC Hydra (Baja California).png

In Hydra, thieves are trying to steal the treasures from a museum which contain secrets to a weapon, and it is up to the player to stop them. The player is issued an experimental speedboat to navigate the rivers and retrieve the treasures from checkpoints.{{cite journal |title=Hydra Instruction Manual |publisher=Atari |page=1 }} There are nine levels of rivers and oceans. While playing the game, the player can collect money bags for extra cash and crystals for extra fuel. The obstacles are gun embankments, enemy crafts and other nuisances that will slow the player down and may cause the cargo to be dropped and float downstream which will need to be retrieved.{{cite journal |title=Hydra Instruction Manual |publisher=Atari |page=3 }} At the end of each level, the player drops off the cargo and can buy upgrades from a shop to improve the Hydra speedboat.{{cite journal |title=Hydra Instruction Manual |publisher=Atari |page=4 }}

Development and release

Developed by ICE Software and published together by Domark and Tengen, Hydra was ported to the Amstrad CPC in Europe the same year as the arcade original. The following year, it was also ported to the Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum. The Atari Lynx version was developed by NuFX and published by Atari Corporation in 1992.

Reception

Robert Jung reviewed the Atari Lynx version of the game which has been published on IGN. He went on to say the game borrowed "heavily from RoadBlasters", but he found it fun and gave a score of 8 out of 10.{{cite web |url=http://uk.ign.com/articles/1999/07/07/hydra |title=Another excellent arcade adaptation from Atari. Read the full review below. |publisher=IGN Entertainment |author=Robert A. Jung |date=6 July 1999 |access-date=7 April 2018 }} Game Zero Magazine reviewed the game and gave a score of 82 out of 100.{{cite magazine |publisher=Game Zero Magazine |title=Hydra review |date=September 1992 |volume=1 |issue=3 }}

References

External links

[https://atariage.com/software_page.php?SoftwareLabelID=1861 Hydra] at AtariAge
[https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/arcade/583813-hydra Hydra] at GameFAQs
[https://www.giantbomb.com/hydra/3030-15842/ Hydra] at Giant Bomb
[https://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=8160 Hydra] at Killer List of Videogames
[https://www.mobygames.com/game/hydra Hydra] at MobyGames