Special Criminal Investigation
{{Short description|1989 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Special Criminal Investigation
| image = Special criminal investigation arcadeflyer.png
| caption = North American arcade flyer
| developer = Taito
| publisher = {{vgrelease|WW|Taito|EU|Electrocoin}}
| designer =
| platforms = Arcade, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, Master System, PC Engine, ZX Spectrum, Saturn
| release = June 1, 1989{{cite web |title=Special Criminal Investigation (Registration Number PA0000473769) |url=https://cocatalog.loc.gov |website=United States Copyright Office |access-date=4 September 2021}}
| modes = Single-player
| series = Chase
| genre = Racing
| arcade system = Taito Z System
}}
Special Criminal Investigation, also known as S.C.I. for short or as Chase HQ II: Special Criminal Investigation in some home versions, is vehicular combat racing game published by Taito for arcades in 1989. It is the sequel to the 1988 game Chase H.Q.
Gameplay
Instead of the black Porsche 928 of the first game, the player commands a red example of the just-introduced (at the time) Nissan 300ZX Z32 T-Top Turbo. Unlike the first game, the player is able to fire at offending vehicles, with some cabinets containing buttons on the steering wheel, and others having a fire button on the gearshift, along with a button to activate the nitrous boost.
The game brings back protagonists Tony Gibson and Det. Raymond Broady of the first game, and their second game appearance. Broady has taken over the driver's seat this time, while Gibson, as the passenger, serves as the gunman. Also, instead of Nancy, Karen is the officer delivering reports of whom the criminal is pursuing, and what they are driving.
Ports
File:Special Criminal Investigation Cover.jpg
Conversions for Amiga, Atari ST, MS-DOS, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum were released in 1991 by Ocean Software, developed by Glasgow's ICE Software. A conversion for the PC Engine (TurboGrafx-16) was released in January 1991 exclusively in Japan by Taito. Natsume ported it to the Master System. An Amstrad plus/GX4000 version was written but never released, and only a small number of cartridges are known to exist.
In 1996, Taito released an emulation of the arcade original for the Sega Saturn in Japan, bundled together with Chase H.Q. on one disc.{{cite magazine |title=Taito Chase H.Q. Plus S.C.I.: Traffic Cops Take it to the Bad Guys!|magazine=Sega Saturn Magazine|issue=12 |publisher=Emap International Limited|date=October 1996 |pages=28–29}}
Reception
{{Expand section|date=September 2021}}
In Japan, Game Machine listed Special Criminal Investigation on their December 1, 1989 issue as being the second most-successful upright arcade unit of the month.{{cite magazine|title=Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - アップライト, コックピット型TVゲーム機 (Upright/Cockpit Videos)|magazine=Game Machine|issue=369|publisher=Amusement Press, Inc.|date=1 December 1989|page=29|lang=ja}} It went on to become Japan's third highest-grossing dedicated arcade game of 1990, below Super Monaco GP and Winning Run Suzuka GP.{{cite magazine |title="Tetris" Has Still Earned More Than "Final Fight" |magazine=Game Machine |issue=396 |publisher=Amusement Press, Inc. |date=1 February 1991 |page=22 |lang=ja |url=https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19910201p.pdf#page=12}} The arcade game was also a major hit in Europe, particularly the United Kingdom where Taito shipped 1,500 units by January 1990.{{cite magazine |title=International News: London Preview |magazine=RePlay |date=January 1990 |volume=15 |issue=4 |pages=140, 142 |url=https://archive.org/details/re-play-volume-14-issue-no.-4-january-1990-600DPI/RePlay%20-%20Volume%2014%2C%20Issue%20No.%204%20-%20January%201990/page/140}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{WoS game|id=0000906|name=Chase H.Q. II: Special Criminal Investigation}}
{{Chase H.Q. series}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Vehicular combat games
Category:Video games about police officers
Category:Video games developed in Japan
Category:Video games scored by Hiroyuki Iwatsuki