Classic Games Database
ClassicGames DB

Chase H.Q.

Review
Also known as
Taito Chase H.Q. Taito Presents Chase H.Q. タイトーチェイスH.Q.

Race through traffic to intercept and ram a suspect's vehicle until it stops.

Chase H.Q. was originally released in arcades in 1988, and the NES version was also released in 1988 (Japan, published by Taito). The legacy year matches the NES release year.

About Chase H.Q.

Chase H.Q. is a driving action game where players assume the role of a special police officer tasked with apprehending criminals. The core activity involves a two-part chase: first navigating through traffic to locate a target vehicle, then using physical force to stop it.

Each mission starts with information about a specific suspect and their car. The initial phase requires catching up to this vehicle within a time limit, avoiding collisions that impede progress. Upon reaching the target, the objective shifts to repeatedly ramming it until it is disabled, a process that grants additional time but can require multiple impacts.

The player's car has a turbo function for temporary speed boosts. Criminals pursued include various types like smugglers and kidnappers, driving different vehicles from sports cars to trucks. The game is considered challenging, with levels increasing in difficulty and demanding quick reflexes and precise driving.

This title combined arcade racing with a police pursuit theme, focusing on cinematic chases and aggressive takedowns. Its structure of branching roads and staged pursuits helped define a subgenre of racing games during its period of popularity.

Chase H.Q. Screenshots

10 images
Title
Getting into the car
Taito Monitoring System
Stage 1
Avoid cars like these. They only slow you down
Path fork ahead
First suspect
Brought him down
Arrest Screen
Stage 2