Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Chicago 90 puts you in the shoes of both sides of the law, offering a classic cat-and-mouse experience that feels surprisingly fresh. As a gangster, you’ll weave through busy streets, dodging police patrols and laying low until the heat dies down. The tension builds with every close call, forcing you to master tight turns, planned route choices, and quick accelerations to escape capture.

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Switch to the other side, and the game transforms into a strategic pursuit thriller. As a cop, you’ll coordinate blockades, pursue suspects with sirens blaring, and try to anticipate the gangster’s next move. There’s a real sense of satisfaction when you finally corner a fleeing suspect, thanks to responsive vehicle handling and varied police tactics that keep each chase dynamic.

Chicago 90’s three difficulty levels add genuine replayability. Beginners can learn the ropes with a forgiving AI that allows for mistakes, while veterans can crank up the challenge for adrenaline-fueled showdowns. The gradual ramp-up in difficulty ensures that you never feel bored or overwhelmed, striking a balance that encourages you to refine your skills over time.

The simplicity of the premise belies a surprisingly deep system of risk and reward. Whether you’re choosing which district to operate in as a gangster or deciding how many units to dispatch as a cop, every choice feels meaningful. This strategic layer, combined with the immediate thrill of high-speed chases, creates a gameplay loop that’s easy to pick up but hard to put down.

Graphics

Visually, Chicago 90 embraces a retro aesthetic with top-down sprites and a city map that’s easy to read at a glance. The layout of the streets, alleyways, and landmarks is clear, helping you plan your routes or anticipate ambush points. Though it doesn’t push modern graphical boundaries, the style oozes charm and nostalgia.

Vehicle sprites are distinct and well-animated, making it simple to identify police cars, getaway vehicles, and civilian traffic. The pixel art is crisp, and the color palette draws clear lines between law enforcement (bright blues and whites) and criminal elements (dark reds and blacks), enhancing visual clarity during frantic pursuits.

Subtle environmental details—like flickering streetlights, moving pedestrians, and neon signs—bring the city to life without cluttering the screen. These small touches contribute to the atmosphere, making each district feel like its own unique slice of 1930s-style Chicago. Even on higher difficulty settings, the clear visuals prevent any confusion about where everyone is on the map.

Overall, the graphics serve the gameplay perfectly. They strike a balance between functional clarity and period-appropriate style, ensuring that you always know what’s happening, even when the action heats up. If you appreciate retro-inspired visuals that never get in the way of gameplay, Chicago 90 delivers.

Story

Chicago 90 doesn’t overwhelm you with cinematic cutscenes or elaborate backstories; instead, it centers on a straightforward premise: crime versus justice in a gritty urban playground. This minimalist approach lets the gameplay carry the narrative, allowing your own experiences to shape the story as you play.

As a gangster, your tale unfolds through your clever escapes and successful heists. Each narrow getaway and brush with the law adds a new chapter to your personal legend. Conversely, as a cop, the story is driven by the thrill of the chase and the satisfaction of restoring order. The emergent narrative is fueled by player actions rather than scripted events.

While there’s no deep character development or intricate plot twists, the game’s setting—a stylized version of 1930s Chicago—provides enough atmosphere to keep things engaging. Period-appropriate details like sirens, radio broadcasts, and street layouts hint at a larger world beyond your immediate objective.

This lean narrative design means you’re free to focus on mastering the mechanics and creating your own memorable moments. In a way, the lack of a heavy-handed storyline is a strength, allowing you to become the protagonist of your own crime saga or law enforcement blockbuster.

Overall Experience

Chicago 90 shines as a compact, high-energy experience that caters to both casual players and challenge seekers. The dual roles of gangster and policeman keep the gameplay varied, ensuring that you never tire of the core mechanics. Whether you’re in for a quick session or a marathon chase, the game holds up beautifully.

The intuitive controls and straightforward objectives make it accessible to newcomers, while the three difficulty tiers offer veteran players the chance to test their limits. The balance between strategy and action is well-tuned, creating moments of strategic planning as well as heart-pounding pursuits.

From its polished retro visuals to its tight gameplay loop, Chicago 90 delivers an engaging package that feels both nostalgic and timeless. It’s the kind of game you can jump into for a few minutes or settle in for hours, and it rewards both approaches equally.

For anyone seeking a fast-paced action game with a touch of strategic depth and a dash of 1930s flair, Chicago 90 is a standout choice. It may not dazzle with cinematic storytelling or cutting-edge graphics, but its core design is solid, entertaining, and endlessly replayable.

Retro Replay Score

6.2/10