Magical Chase

Magical Chase

Overview & History

Released by Quest in 1991 for the PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16, Magical Chase stands as one of the most mechanically polished and notoriously expensive horizontal scrolling shoot-'em-ups of the 16-bit era. The story follows Ripple, a mischievous young witch who accidentally opens a forbidden book, unleashing wicked monsters into the world. To prevent the inevitable scolding from her teacher and save the realm, Ripple embarks on a whimsical, spell-slinging quest. Due to its late-era release and extremely limited print run—particularly in North America where it was distributed late in the TurboGrafx's lifecycle—original physical copies have achieved legendary status among retro collectors. Despite its cute, pastel-hued aesthetic and fairy-tale themes, the game offers a deceptively deep and challenging arcade-style challenge.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Unlike traditional shmup protagonists confined to sleek starfighters, Ripple rides on a broomstick alongside her two customizable, rotating familiar star-sprites. Players can adjust the formation of these familiars on the fly using a dedicated button, allowing their magic projectiles to fire forward, backward, or in defensive circles to block incoming enemy bullets. The game features an in-game currency system; enemies drop star crystals that can be spent at wandering shops between stages. Here, players can stock up on smart bombs, health-restoring potions, speed-ups, and an array of screen-clearing offensive spells. Across six vibrant stages—ranging from haunted forests and clockwork castles to surreal dreamscapes—the difficulty scales dynamically, offering multiple difficulty settings and a sprawling arsenal of magical upgrades that make every playthrough intensely rewarding.

Keyboard Controls

• Arrow Keys / D-Pad: Move Ripple on her broomstick across the screen
• Action Keys: Attack / Jump
• Enter: Start / Pause