Airboat

The first appearance of the Airboat in Water Hazard.

The Airboat was created by The Resistance for use in City 17 Canals. It is expertly constructed from used parts and offers exellent maneuverability and speed, making it perfect for rushing through the dangerous and well guarded waters. It can also be fitted with a Gauss Cannon for added firepower.

Construction

Built from the used parts of a dune buggy and a marshland skimmer, the Airboat contains a single seat cockpit with simple controls for driving it, along with two fairly large and sturdy rudders on either side to allow the boat to skip across the water and land. Its speed is governed by an extremely powerful motor, spinning a large fan on the back that pushes the boat along at great speed. This also allows the player to travel across land, as well as water.

Capabilities

The Airboat has a high speed and great handling ability. It can also take a large amount of punishment, and because of its rigid construction and with aid of the fan on the back, it can balance itself if toppled on its side. However, if knocked upside down, then the player will become trapped and will have to get out and push it over him/herself. Reversing can be a problem for the driver, since they cannot see through the large fan on the back, and the fins turn the player the opposite direction to that of a car.

Firepower

The Airboat after being fitted with the Gauss Cannon.

Originally, the Airboat does not have any weapons mounted on it, and it's up to the player to use its speed and maneuverability to dodge the Combine forces in the first section of the canals. However, once the player reaches one of the major Resistance Outposts halfway through Water Hazard and learns that the Combine forces up ahead are more concentrated, he is advised to take along a Gauss Cannon attachment. Taken from a downed Hunter Chopper, it fitted to the front of the Airboat to allow the player to drive and fire at the same time. The weapon itself is extremely powerful (capable of shooting Hunter Choppers down) and contains infinite ammo as well as a zoom function. However, it has a finite power supply, and after being fired for a time, the gun needs to time to recharge before being used again.