Chase HQ 2 Review (Console)

Last Updated on January 22, 2024

A review of Chase HQ 2 on the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive including a final verdict and score.

The Chase HQ games found success in the arcades, and there have been multiple entries over the years. I’m reviewing Chase HQ 2 on the Sega Mega Drive, not to be confused with the 2007 arcade game sharing the name.

A refreshing spin on the racing genre

• Developer: Taito
• Platform: Sega Genesis/Mega Drive

Chase HQ 2 is a driving game with a twist. Instead of racing for first place, you’re out to catch criminals and run them off the road. Thanks to the arcade pedigree, gameplay is wonderfully simple. A mission briefing explains what you’re up against; you pick from a Sports Car, 4X4, or a Truck and race to wreck your opponent. 

The sound and visuals are simple but serviceable. Vehicles that matter are detailed enough, but it’s hard not to notice the same few ugly pedestrian cars. Each stage is surprisingly varied, with unique environments and hazards.

Colliding with your target is accompanied by a satisfying ‘thud,’ and the soundtrack is great. I have little to complain about in the sound department.

Chase HQ 2 is addictive, and I appreciate how each vehicle performs differently. Each car offers different speeds and handling, but there’s so much more than that. For example, on the icy roads of stage 3, using the Sports Car is a death sentence as it spins out on the ice. The Truck, on the other hand, effortlessly handles the harsh conditions. This is a game where your decisions matter, and it’s possible to fail a mission based on poor car choice alone. 

Sweet but short

While I have a lot of love for arcade games, they do have some drawbacks when brought to consoles. The game is incredibly short, at only 5 stages. For this Chase HQ 2 review, I found I can beat the whole game in less than 15 minutes, which is a shame, as what’s on offer is so enjoyable. 

I also have to give a special mention to the pedestrians, as it feels like they are out to get you. Imagine your typical Sunday driver, but horrendously drunk and half asleep, and you have a good idea what you’re up against. I get that these cars are meant to be hazards, but they can lead you into unavoidable sticky situations. Chase HQ 2 is pretty stingy on Credits, which means there’s little margin for error. Once you figure out the best vehicle for each stage, there’s little incentive to use the rest.

While a little frustrating at times, Chase HQ 2 is a satisfying romp from start to finish and leaves me hungry for more. Experimenting with different cars is satisfying. It’s just a shame that once I discovered the optimal vehicles, the title lost the replayability I’d found in other racers on the system, like Lotus Turbo Challenge.