Learn About the Game Police Patrol
You know that thrill of tearing through city streets with sirens wailing? That’s the core of Police Patrol, an iconic coin-op from the late ’70s that somehow still feels fresh when you picture it. You slide your hands onto a little wheel-and-yoke controller, the world unfolding in simple monochrome lines, and suddenly you’re in charge of keeping the peace. There’s no fancy 3D engine here—just raw, immediate action where you and your partner dash after getaway cars and rescue stranded civilians.
The gameplay is as straightforward as it gets, but don’t let that fool you into thinking it’s easy. Each level tosses you a handful of crooks to chase down before time runs out. Nabbing a perp is a sweet victory: you ram them just right, spin ’em out, and watch your score climb. Miss too many chase targets or let civilian accidents slip by, and those sirens won’t be singing your praises for long. It’s a constant push-and-pull between aggressive pursuit and cautious navigation of traffic jams and roadblocks.
What really sells Police Patrol is the sensation of teamwork—even if it’s a one- or two-player cabinet. You and a buddy can coordinate who takes the left lanes and who sweeps up the alleys, shouting encouragement (or mock curses) as you streak toward the next checkpoint. When you nail that perfect stop and hear the chime of success, it feels like you’ve just defused a ticking bomb together. It’s oddly social for something so pixel-stripped.
Even decades later, Police Patrol’s influence bubbles up in countless chase sequences and arcade racers. Collectors love tracking down the original cabinets, complete with their chunky controls and retro charm. Whether you first tried it at your local arcade in ’78 or you’re only hearing about it now, there’s something universally satisfying about being the law in a high-speed pursuit—especially when it all comes down to a single, well-timed bump on a black-and-white screen.