Super Chase: Criminal Termination was first released into arcades by Taito in 1993, followed soon after by a Super Nintendo version called “Super Chase HQ“. It is an enhanced sequel to the classic Chase HQ, and Special Criminal Investigation, and features viewpoints that change, depending on where you are in the game, and what vehicle you’re driving. In fact, this moving camera feature has been so well implemented by the developers that it really enhances the dynamism of the exciting car-chase gameplay.

The arcade version has a number of unique features, like enemies jumping onto the hood of your car, and motorbikes driving over you. Neither of which are seen in the SNES version. There’s just all-round more detail in the arcade version, and the graphics scaling is much faster and smoother, which helps in a game of this type.

In fact, in later levels you get to drive a heavy truck, to help ram your targets into submission. You enter the truck by driving up a ramp into its trailer, then you magically appear inside the truck cabin, sat at the driving seat… There’s no messing around in this game!

While the Super Nintendo version of this game is better-known, the arcade original is the one to play as it is orders of magnitude better. As good as the SNES was: it couldn’t compete with Taito‘s arcade hardware of the time, nor could it compete with the steering wheel, pedals and gear-shift controls of the arcade cabinet. Not to mention the essential turbo button on the gear stick.

Eventually, all new arcade versions of “Super Chase: Criminal Termination” were manufactured as “Super Chase HQ“, and the “terminating criminals” part was quietly forgotten about.

The initial title of this game – Super Chase: Criminal Termination – is strange because it’s vaguely threatening, and also a generic bundle of words that are not particularly easy to remember. But it is very much worth searching for on ROM sites, because it’s one of those great games that is buried under a ton of other generic names, and can sometimes be hard to find, but is an undisputed classic in terms of great arcade driving games.

The first Chase HQ was an adrenaline rush, but Super Chase: Criminal Termination (aka Super Chase HQ) explodes out of nowhere with intense driving action and superb controls, making it a must-play game. It’s a sequel that is arguably even better than its classic parent.

More: Super Chase HQ on Wikipedia