Lock'n'Chase
Data East Corporation • 1981


In Lock'n'Chase, two players navigate interconnected mazes, collecting items while evading four pursuing police officers named Spiffy, Smarty, Scaredy, and Silly. The gameplay centers around consuming dots scattered throughout the maze; once all are cleared, escape routes become available. Players can strategically use walls to block or even trap the cops, earning bonus points for successfully cornering them. Unlike some contemporary maze games, Lock'n'Chase doesn’t offer power-ups to turn the tables on pursuers—skillful maneuvering and clever blocking are key to survival. A variety of collectibles, ranging from hats and suitcases to cameras and money bags, award escalating point values. The game begins with a recognizable musical flourish: an excerpt from Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 5. Released by Data East in 1981, Lock'n'Chase provides a unique twist on the classic maze formula with its cooperative two-player mode and focus on strategic obstruction rather than power-based reversals. The game utilizes a straightforward control scheme of a four-way joystick and single button for intuitive gameplay.
Details
- Manufacturer
- Data East Corporation
- Year
- 1981
- Players
- 2
- Genre
- Maze / Collect
- Display
- raster, rotated 270°
- Emulation status
- good
- MAME ID
- lnc
Machine data derived from the MAME project.