List of Choro Q video games explained

The Choro Q video games are a series of video games based on Takara's Choro Q toy cars (also known as Penny Racers in English-speaking markets). The games have been localised for Western release under many different names, including Gadget Racers, Penny Racers and Road Trip.

Most of these games were developed by external companies, although they are usually credited to Takara since the developers' name rarely appears outside of the ending credits. Some of these developers include Tamsoft (Choro Q, Choro Q 2 and Choro Q 3), Barnhouse Effect (Shin Combat Choro Q, Choro Q HG and Choro Q HG 4), E-game (Choro Q Wonderful!, Choro Q HG 2 and Choro Q HG 3), Electronics Application (aka Eleca) (Choro Q Advance, Choro Q Advance 2, Choro Q: Hyper Customable GB and Perfect Choro Q). Most are auto racing games with extensive opportunities for customization, often including role-playing video game-style elements such as towns and side-quests.

Overseas releases

Only three games in the series were released outside Japan prior to 2001 (including the 1984 MSX game by Taito, which is unrelated to the later Choro Q titles) - Choro Q for the PlayStation (released in Europe only as Penny Racers) and Choro Q 64 for the Nintendo 64 (released in North America and Europe as Penny Racers). However, since 2001 many of the titles have been released in the US and PAL regions as budget titles, by publishers including Conspiracy Entertainment, Midas Interactive Entertainment and Play It!.

Series history

TitleDatePlatformDeveloperPublisherMedia type
Choro Q

チョロQBuggy SPA

1984MSXTaitoNidecom JP
Electric Software EU

Sony Spain SPA

Cartridge
Tape/Softcard
Cartridge
A puzzle game.
Choro Q JP

チョロQPenny Racers EU
Choro Q ver. 1.02 JP

March 1996
1996
December 1996
PlayStationTamsoftTakara JP
Sony Computer Entertainment EU
CD
The first in the Choro Q racing series.
Choro Q 2

チョロQ2

February 1997PlayStationTamsoftTakaraCD
Choro Q 3

チョロQ3

February 1998PlayStationTamsoftTakaraCD
Choro Q Jet: Rainbow Wings

チョロQジェット レインボーウィングス

February 1998
"the best" January 2000
PlayStationAstro VisionTakaraCD
Choro Q Marine: Q-Boat

チョロQマリン Qボート

June 1998PlayStationBarnhouse EffectTakaraCD
The first game in the series to be developed by Barnhouse Effect.
Choro Q 64 JP

チョロQ64Penny Racers NA/EU

1998 JP
1999 NA/EU
Nintendo 64Locomotive CorporationTakaraJP
THQ NA/EU
Cartridge
Combat Choro Q

コンバットチョロQ

February 1999PlayStationBarnhouse EffectTakaraCD
Choro Q Park

チョロQパーク

March 1998Sega SaturnNextech[1] TakaraCD
Choro Q Hyper Customable GB

チョロQ ハイパーカスタマブルGB

July 1999Game Boy ColorElectronics ApplicationsTakaraCartridge
The first entry in Electronics Applications' Game Boy series.
Choro Q Wonderful!

チョロQ ワンダフォー!

August 1999PlayStationE-gameTakaraCD

チョロQ64 2 ハチャメチャグランプリレース

1999Nintendo 64Locomotive CorporationTakaraCartridge
Choro Q Hyper Racing 5http://arcade-projects.com/forums/index.php?thread/1788-st-v-game-i-d-never-seen-before-choro-q-hyper-racing-5/1999ArcadeUnknownUnknownCartridge
Perfect Choro Q

パーフェクトチョロQ

August 2000Game Boy ColorElectronics ApplicationsTakaraCartridge
Choro Q HG JP

チョロQ HGGadget Racers NA
Penny Racers EU

December 2000 JP
2001 NA
2002 EU
PlayStation 2Barnhouse EffectTakara JP
Conspiracy Entertainment NA
Midas Interactive Entertainment EU
DVD
"HG" is an abbreviation for "High Grade".
Choro Q Advance JP

チョロQアドバンスGadget Racers NA
Penny Racers EU

2001 JP/NA
2002 EU
Game Boy AdvanceElectronics ApplicationsTakara JP
Conspiracy Entertainment NA
Xicat Interactive EU
Cartridge
Choro Q HG 2 JP

チョロQ HG2Road Trip NA
Road Trip Adventure EU

2002 JA/NA
2003 EU
PlayStation 2E-gameTakara JP
Conspiracy Entertainment NA
Play It!
CD
Shin Combat Choro Q JP

新コンバットチョロQSeek and Destroy NA/EU

2002 JP/NA
2003 EU
PlayStation 2Barnhouse EffectTakara JP
Conspiracy Entertainment NA
Play It! EU
DVD
CD
CD
Combat Choro Q: Advance Daisakusen

コンバットチョロQアドバンス大作戦

August 2002Game Boy AdvanceTakaraCartridge
Boku no Choro QMarch 2002PlayStationTakaraCD
Choro Q Advance 2 JP
Road Trip: Shifting Gears NA
Gadget Racers EU
2002 JP
2004 NA
2003 EU
Game Boy AdvanceElectronics ApplicationsTakara JP
Conspiracy Entertainment NA
Zoo Digital Publishing EU
Cartridge
Choro Q HG 3 JP
Road Trip: Adventure Avenue NA
Gadget Racers EU
December 2002 JP
Cancelled NA
2003 EU
PlayStation 2E-gameTakara JP
Conspiracy Entertainment NA
Zoo Digital Publishing EU
CD
Choro Q! JP
Road Trip: The Arcade Edition NA
Gadget Racers EU
December 2002 JP
2004 NA
2003 EU
GameCubeElectronics ApplicationsTakara JP
Conspiracy Entertainment NA
Zoo Digital Publishing EU
GameCube Game Disc (MiniDVD)
Choro Q Byun Byun Racer2003Stand-alone TV gameSSD Company Limited
Choro Q HG 4 JP
ChoroQ NA/EU
2003 JP
2004 NA
2005 EU
PlayStation 2Barnhouse EffectTakara JP
Atlus NA
Zoo Digital Publishing EU
DVD
Choro Q Works2005PlayStation 2Barnhouse EffectAtlus and TakaraDVD
Choro Q DSCancelledNintendo DSUnknownAtlusCartridge
Choro Q Wii JP
Penny Racers Party: Turbo-Q Speedway NA
2008WiiBarnhouse EffectTakara TomyWii Optical Disc (DVD)
Choro Q Grand PrixJPDecember 2012AndroidBarnhouse EffectTakara Tomy

References

  1. Web site: Nex Entertainment (formerly Nextech) Product List (under チョロQパーク) . 27 September 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100315124633/http://www.nex-ent.co.jp/Product.html . 15 March 2010 .

External links