Aqua Jet splashes back: Namco’s 1996 jet-ski racer hits modern consoles via Arcade Archives

Why this wave racer comeback actually matters

A 90s Namco cabinet getting rescued is always worth a look, but Aqua Jet hits a specific nostalgia nerve. This was the jet ski game you noticed across the arcade floor-the hulking stand-up rig with handlebars you yanked through shimmering polygons. Hamster is bringing it home on August 14, 2025, as part of its long-running preservation push: “Arcade Archives AQUA JET” for Nintendo Switch and PS4, and “Arcade Archives 2 AQUA JET” for Nintendo Switch 2, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. The cabinet is gone, but the question is whether the feel survives the jump to a thumbstick.

Key takeaways

• Two SKUs, five platforms, same day: Aug 14, 2025. $14.99 for Arcade Archives (Switch/PS4), $16.99 for Arcade Archives 2 (Switch 2/PS5/Xbox Series X|S).
• Archives 2 adds modern comforts: rewind, multiple save slots, quick start, plus Original/High Score/Caravan/Time Attack modes.
• It’s single-player only-this is a score-chasing, time-attack style port with online leaderboards, not a multiplayer revival.
• Big question: how well the original cabinet’s handlebar steering and weighty feedback translate to standard controllers.

Breaking down the announcement

Aqua Jet first landed in 1996 from Namco, running on the company’s Super System 22 hardware-the same era that produced Alpine Racer and some of that classic early textured 3D look. Hamster’s split release is straightforward: the “Arcade Archives” label continues to be the faithful emulation package with difficulty toggles, display options, and online high scores; “Arcade Archives 2” adds quality-of-life features like rewind and additional modes on current-gen boxes (and Nintendo’s next machine, explicitly named as Nintendo Switch 2 in the announcement).

The pricing delta is small—$14.99 vs $16.99—but the proposition is different. Archives is the purist lane; Archives 2 is preservation with training wheels and extra challenge formats. Either way, it’s a digital-only launch, day-and-date across all five platforms, which is refreshingly clean for a retro release.

The real story: from big-cab 3D to your couch

Hamster has been stellar at 2D and early-3D preservation, but “big-cab” arcade games are a special problem. Aqua Jet wasn’t just about polygonal waves; it was about leaning on handlebars and feeling resistance as you carved through buoys. Losing the physicality can flatten these games if the control curve isn’t tuned. If Hamster nails analog sensitivity and offers flexible input options, Aqua Jet could still sing—arcade checkpoint racers are built for short, replayable sessions and high-score climbs. If not, expect some wrestling on tight chicanes where the cabinet used to do half the work.

On the upside, Super System 22-era titles have an enduring arcade snap. The visual style—gouraud-shaded waves, bold color, clean silhouettes—ages more like style than fidelity. Hamster’s ports typically target consistent performance with accurate timing; add the series’ CRT-style display options and you’re getting something that feels right, even if it won’t blow minds on a 4K panel. The new Archives 2 Time Attack and Caravan modes fit Aqua Jet perfectly: five-minute score chases and bite-sized runs are how we played these machines anyway.

Value check: which version should you buy?

If you’re on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, or Switch 2, Archives 2 is the smarter buy. Rewind isn’t just a “cheat”; it’s a lab tool for mastering lines and learning where the physics bites. Multiple save slots mean you can preserve practice states, and quick start trims the friction for “one more run.” If you want the purest museum piece—or you’re on Switch/PS4—the $14.99 Archives version still delivers the core: the original game logic, difficulty/display toggles, and worldwide leaderboards.

There’s no multiplayer here, online or split-screen, and that’s faithful to the original cabinet’s solo focus. Whether that stings depends on what you want from a water racer in 2025. If you’re chasing Hydro Thunder-style chaos or Wave Race’s simmy water, temper expectations: Aqua Jet is very much an arcade time-attack experience—short courses, checkpoints, and score pressure.

What gamers need to know before they buy

• Controls will make or break this port. First boot, head straight to input sensitivity and display options. A looser analog curve often helps on modern pads.
• Expect to live in High Score and Time Attack. Caravan mode’s fixed-time structure is great for quick sessions and leaderboard grinding.
• Visuals are authentic, not remastered. Think crisp emulation with optional screen filters, not remakes or new water shaders.
• Single-player only. If you want head-to-head, your competition is the global leaderboard and your own ghost runs.
• Price is fair by Hamster standards, but if you’re on a current-gen box, the extra $2 for Archives 2’s rewind/slots/quick start is worth it.

This caught my attention because late-90s 3D cabinets rarely make it home intact. We’ve seen plenty of 2D classics preserved, but translating unique hardware—bikes, jet skis, ski sticks—into a controller is risky. If Hamster pulls it off, Aqua Jet becomes a perfect “ten minutes between matches” game: learn a line, shave a second, climb a board. If they don’t, it’ll be a curiosity you bounce off after a few choppy corners. Either way, I’m glad it’s getting a second life instead of rusting away in a warehouse.

TL;DR

Aqua Jet returns August 14 on five platforms, split between Arcade Archives ($14.99) and the feature-richer Arcade Archives 2 ($16.99). Expect faithful emulation, modern score-chase modes, and no multiplayer—this is a cabinet racer built for short, addictive runs. The big variable is control tuning; if it feels right on a pad, this one’s an easy summer pickup.