Back in 1988 Taito released Chase HQ into arcades around the world. It took the driving aspects from many other racing games of the time period and coupled them together with the intense action of a high-speed police pursuit. While this offered a nice change of pace from the typical and often redundant racing experiences found in arcades at the time, it also proved to be a bit too much for some gamers to handle with its short time limits and sometimes sluggish play control. Since the game was fairly popular in arcades, it was obviously ported to quite a number of home computers and game consoles, some better than others. While the TurboGrafx-16 version of the game is widely considered one of the better ports of the arcade classic, it still features many of the critical game play faults that hindered the arcade title. So is this police chase racer worth your Wii Points all these years later?
The game play in Chase HQ is fairly straightforward. You are in control of your sleek black Porsche and you've got to chase after and apprehend the criminal that already has a significant head start on you. To do so, you'll have to drive with your pedal to the floor and somehow navigate the twists and turns of the highway while carefully weaving in between the slower drivers that inevitably get in your way. Once you spot the criminal's vehicle, you'll then have to smash into it until you've done enough damage to make the criminal finally pull over. You can then make your arrest and are awarded bonus points based upon your performance. As if all of this weren't enough, you'll have to do it within a very strict time limit.
The play control itself is very hit or miss. On one hand, the controls are simple enough for just about anyone to pick up quickly. You use the d-pad to move your car from side to side and to shift between the high and low gears. You then have one button for the accelerator and one button for the brake. Unfortunately, these controls are a bit on the sluggish side and can make maneuvering between the slow-moving cars, not to mention the highway itself, a real pain.
To make matters worse, when you smash into another vehicle it can also throw you off the track and into hazards that will make your car spin out. Each time you spin out the criminal will get a little farther away from you. Couple this with the short time limit and it can make apprehending the criminal extremely frustrating. Luckily the game does throw you a bone in the way of four continues. Of course this comes at the expense of the game allowing the criminal to get even further ahead of you before it allows you to press the Start button to continue, further adding insult to injury. If you want to put a positive spin on things you could at least say that this high degree of difficulty is a good thing since it keeps you from just breezing through the game's paltry five levels. This probably won't make most gamers feel any better after they've broken a few controllers in frustration, however.
The visuals in the game are easily its high point. The large color palette of the Turbografx-16 is put to great use in the backgrounds. The scenery in the game is very well constructed and each new area has its own distinct look and feel. While the game doesn't use any of the flashy 3-D visuals so prevalent in today's racing titles, there's still a good deal of realism in the way the track scrolls by, even during the twists and turns that come your way. The cars themselves also show a solid amount of detail in the way they look and move making this Turbografx-16 release easily one of the better looking ports of the classic arcade game.
The music in Chase HQ isn't too shabby either. There are quite a few upbeat musical tracks that seem to fit the Turbografx-16's sound chip perfectly. It's no secret that many developers weren't able to get a good grasp on the Turbografx-16 system's internal sound hardware, but the developers of Chase HQ certainly had no problem making good use of it. The sound effects aren't quite as lucky, as they tend to sound unrealistic, even by 16-bit standards. At least you have the catchy musical score to keep your mind off of the lackluster sound effects.
Playing Chase HQ is sort of a lose/lose proposition. On one hand, Chase HQ is such a short game that any seasoned racing game fan will likely blow through the entire game in 15 or 20 minutes. On the other hand, the game's short time limit and sluggish play control can present those not so adept at racing games with a high degree of frustration thus negating any type of enjoyment from the overall experience. Chase HQ might have been considered a very playable arcade game two decades ago, but it's one of those games that just hasn't aged very well over the years. Unless you just have to own every racing game that's released or you're a big fan of the arcade classic, you might want to pass on this outdated action racing title.
1. Dazza
27 Jun 2008, 10:35 GMT
Lets go Mr Driver!
2. worrybomb
27 Jun 2008, 12:28 GMT
If the version of Chase H.Q. for the TG-16 is the same as the arcade version, then I'll be definitely getting this the day it is release. Had a lot of fun playing the arcade version back in the days.
3. Tony
27 Jun 2008, 20:31 GMT
I eagerly wait the review since this game is announced for July. Its like Out Run meets Cops!
I remember playing this in the Arcade a few times. I remember this being really fun, I also remember how much I love the old arcades back in the day:)
4. Mr 64
01 Jul 2008, 13:37 GMT
Thank goodness it's not the C64 version! I'm still scarred by the playground ridicule of my Spectrum owning friends at the sight of that attrocious port!
5. slangman
01 Jul 2008, 15:25 GMT
I am glad its the Turbografx version over the NES version since its more arcade perfect.
6. Mickeymac
09 Jul 2008, 02:00 GMT
This game looks awesome! With great arcade ports like this, I'm suprised the Turbografx-16 wasn't successful. What happened?
Lucky #7
7. David77
24 Jul 2008, 02:03 GMT
I hope it's really a July release. And I hope it's a good port of the arcade, because i want it!
8. Atlantis1982
25 Jul 2008, 19:07 GMT
@Mickeymac
I know what happened; Nintendo NES happened.
9. Mickeymac
25 Jul 2008, 23:55 GMT
@Atlantis1982
You mean Super NES, right? Because some how, I don't see the NES leading to it's downfall.
10. Link79
26 Jul 2008, 06:45 GMT
Is this a good game? I'm usually not a huge racing fan but if it's well done and fun to play I'm sold.
11. Corbie
28 Jul 2008, 00:09 GMT
This was a fun arcade racer back in 1988, but it's just not held up very well over the years. I remember now why I used to sink so many quarters in the arcade games after trying to beat these strict time limits again.
12. Link79
28 Jul 2008, 01:03 GMT
Sounds like I should pass. Thanks.
13. Mickeymac
28 Jul 2008, 07:46 GMT
How are the controls? Otherwise, I stand by my assumption that this game will be awesome.
14. Draygone
28 Jul 2008, 15:55 GMT
Even if the game doesn't come recommended, you gotta admit, that tunnel effect is pretty cool. I've never seen that effect done in an old racer like this before.
15. sadpanda212
28 Jul 2008, 16:03 GMT
Well I'll still be getting this, I love the game. Hopefully out in the EU soon.
16. slangman
28 Jul 2008, 16:31 GMT
... But now i am put off by the 2 star rating so now i don't think i will be getting this after all. Shame as ONM said this was one of the Turbographx games to look out for.
17. Corbie
28 Jul 2008, 16:39 GMT
As I said, the visuals are the game's high point by far. It's all downhill after that.
18. gamerwizz
28 Jul 2008, 17:15 GMT
is this version better than the master system version
19. spartan547
28 Jul 2008, 17:32 GMT
This game does look kind of cool, but sounds like it would not be good to download. It looks a lot like Top Gear 2.
20. Terrible_Majesty
28 Jul 2008, 20:07 GMT
I confused this game with the fun arcade driving/shooting hybrid, Lucky & Wild. Too bad that will never come out, it has never been ported to any console.
21. Mickeymac
28 Jul 2008, 20:23 GMT
Dang! So it wasn't a good port after all! Oh well, I guess it's a good thing I was short on cash, because I woulda picked this up in a heart-beat, and have to experience the displeasure first-hand. I'll probably get this eventually though, since I'm weak, but I was saving some points for other games, and now I won't be wasting them this. Sad really, since I determined Ys wasn't worth getting, and I don't think I'll get Break In, so basicly out of the whole "Hudson Month", I'll only be getting Star Parodier. Though I could simply sub in some worthwhile games instead
22. PHANTOM93
29 Jul 2008, 01:11 GMT
.....Sounds like the police chase mode from Burnout 2.....
23. Damo
29 Jul 2008, 08:54 GMT
Phantom - that bit in Burnout 2 was inspired by Chase HQ.
To be honest, as much as I love this game it hasn't aged well. The arcade original is pretty shallow and it doesn't help that the TG-16/PC Engine conversion isn't anywhere near perfect. However, if you have a real desire to play this then pick up the Taito Memories collection on the PS2, or the Japanese Saturn Chase HQ/SCI double pack. Or, if you want to play a more advanced variant, pick up Ray Tracers on the PSX, which is a 3D update that Taito did. It can be completed in under an hour but is loads of fun while it lasts and shouldn't cost you much cash money.
24. David77
29 Jul 2008, 21:36 GMT
And beside, I want to know why the arcade version is not on Taito legend 1 or 2
25. Corbie
30 Jul 2008, 04:34 GMT
I'll second the Ray Tracers recommendation. Very cool game.
And I did say in the review that those who loved the arcade classic might like this as well, but to pass for everyone else. Some games age better than others. This one didn't age very well.
26. David77
30 Jul 2008, 23:52 GMT
you're right about the fact that it didn't age well. but it's the same for every racer of it's kind. Most of the racer in you're top 10 racers wanted didn't age well, if not all (mario kart is the only one). We play them for nostalgia reason
27. Tony
31 Jul 2008, 00:29 GMT
@ Draygone
These tunnel effects are way better than anything on 360 or PS3
28. HeikeKagero
31 Jul 2008, 01:41 GMT
This game isn't that bad but it isn't that good either. I had never played this version before until today. I did however play Super Chase H.Q for SNES when it first came out and I enjoyed that one and thought that I would enjoy this one. The time limit is deffinitely annoying though
29. JRAPOCALYPSE
07 Aug 2008, 17:28 GMT
Horrible review! i can beat this version with my eye's closed and i have no issues with control what so ever i think you just suck!! I own this hucard and play it quite frequently,it's a daily beater but a fun game.
30. bobuido
05 Sep 2008, 03:38 GMT
I know I'm only gonna play this once or twice but that's worth £4.20 right? Looks in the air and shakes his fist Dam you nostalgia trips! Making me buy games I won't play... Again!
31. Ike-Mike
05 Sep 2008, 16:07 GMT
I played this game a lot on the Game Boy.
32. CJ
09 Sep 2008, 22:47 GMT
Loved this 18 years ago... but I shouldn't have downloaded it. Breaks my heart; its that rubbish.
33. deggs
25 Sep 2008, 21:22 GMT
where's chase hq 2 for the genesis... i had that and loved it as a kid. you get to use different vehicles and stuff. i bought the snes one recently and it isn't as good (not too keen on the first person car view when the graphics aren't that great)
Leave A Comment
Please login to post a comment.