Chase H.Q.

Chase H.Q.

Overview & History

Developed and released by Taito in 1988, *Chase H.Q.* is a landmark arcade driving game that brilliantly subverted traditional racing tropes by transforming the player into a relentless law-enforcer. Instead of merely vying for the checkered flag, players assume the role of undercover cop Tony Gibson, accompanied by his trigger-happy partner Raymond "Ray" Brogan, operating out of a heavily modified red Porsche 928. The game's narrative follows a gripping episodic structure across five distinct stages, where the objective is to hunt down and violently disable the vehicles of notorious criminals—ranging from bank robbers and drug kingpins to international art thieves—before time runs out. Spawning numerous home ports and sequels, Taito's coin-op classic remains legendary for its cinematic presentation and its iconic, adrenaline-pumping voice sample urging players to "Wrong way! Turn around!" whenever they lose their bearing.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Unlike standard racers that penalize collisions, *Chase H.Q.* actively encourages vehicular combat. Players must aggressively ram fleeing suspect vehicles to deplete their structural integrity bar while dodging standard civilian traffic, sharp turns, and hazardous road obstacles. The game operates on a strict countdown timer, though passing designated checkpoints rewards the player with precious extra seconds. The true strategic depth emerges upon finally catching up to the target criminal's car. At this high-speed juncture, players must slam their Porsche directly into the back or sides of the suspect vehicle multiple times to force them to a halt. To aid in this vehicular beatdown, players have a limited supply of Turbo boosts to close distance quickly, alongside three deployable "Turbo Crash" Super-Chargers. Firing a Super-Charger hurls the player's car forward like a missile, instantly inflicting massive damage upon impact, turning high-speed pursuits into satisfying, explosive showdowns.

Keyboard Controls

• Arrow Keys / D-Pad: Steer the Porsche, accelerate, and apply brakes
• Action Keys: Shift gears (High/Low), activate Turbo, and fire Super-Chargers
• Enter: Start / Pause