Chase H.Q.

Chase H.Q. is a driving action game that mixes high-speed racing with police pursuit gameplay. Players take the role of Tony Gibson, an officer of the special “Chase Headquarters” task force, whose mission is to bring dangerous criminals to justice. Each stage begins with a briefing call identifying the suspect and their vehicle, after which the chase begins.

Gameplay is divided into two phases. First, players must race through city streets, highways, tunnels, and winding mountain roads to catch up with the suspect’s car before the timer runs out. Traffic and roadside obstacles must be avoided, as collisions slow progress and waste precious time. Once the target vehicle is reached, the second phase begins: ramming the fleeing car repeatedly until it is disabled. Extra time is granted during this phase, but suspects often require numerous hits before being stopped.

To aid the pursuit, the patrol car is equipped with a limited number of turbo boosts that deliver sudden bursts of speed. Each case presents different criminals to apprehend, including smugglers, kidnappers, and gang leaders, with their vehicles ranging from sports cars to trucks. Levels grow progressively more difficult, demanding quick reflexes, efficient driving, and precise timing to complete.

Distinctive for its time, Chase H.Q. combined the fast-paced thrills of arcade racing with a crime-fighting theme, setting it apart from other racers. The emphasis on cinematic car chases, branching roads, and aggressive takedowns made it a defining entry in the police pursuit subgenre, and it remained a popular arcade and home conversion title well into the 1990s.