Overview
Not content with merely racing, Chase H.Q. gave players a mission: catch criminals and wreck their cars. Taito’s arcade hit combined the speed of OutRun with the satisfaction of vehicular justice. The countdown timer created urgency, the criminal chases provided drama, and ramming expensive sports cars to scrap delivered cathartic destruction.
Fast facts
- Developer: Taito.
- Genre: Racing/action hybrid.
- Protagonist: Detectives Tony Gibson and Raymond Broady.
- Vehicle: Black Porsche 928.
Gameplay structure
| Phase | Objective |
|---|
| Chase | Reach criminal within time |
| Ram | Damage criminal’s car |
| Arrest | Criminal surrenders |
| Next stage | New target, new car |
Criminal targets
| Stage | Criminal | Vehicle |
|---|
| 1 | Ralph, Idaho slasher | White sports car |
| 2 | Carlos | Red sports car |
| 3 onwards | Escalating threats | Various |
Turbo system
| Mechanic | Effect |
|---|
| Turbo boost | Limited speed bursts |
| Strategic use | Save for ramming phase |
| Replenishment | Between stages |
Home conversions
| Platform | Quality | Notes |
|---|
| PC Engine | Excellent | Near-arcade |
| Amiga | Good | Solid port |
| C64 | Ambitious | Ocean conversion |
| ZX Spectrum | Impressive | Given hardware |
Series entries
| Title | Year |
|---|
| Chase H.Q. | 1988 |
| Chase H.Q. II | 1989 |
| Super Chase | 1992 |
See also