FREEZE-ZX – Issue 3 – Chase H.Q.

RELEASED: April 2026
CURRENT STOCK: Coming soon.

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LOAD “ISSUE 03”
Time to LOAD a new issue of FREEZE-ZX. Go and grab yourself a cuppa…

PROGRAM: ISSUE 03
Welcome to another fresh and exciting issue of FREEZE-ZX. Enjoy!

COVER FEATURE: CHASE H.Q.
We’re stepping into this neon‑lit world of Chase H.Q. for the very first time – a genuine baptism of fire – armed only with fresh, fully adulted eyes and a willingness to finally see what all the fuss has been about. We already know that it’s going to be far superior than the dire Commodore 64 version, but just how good is it going to be? There’s only one way to find out!

WHAT THE PRESS SAID! CHASE H.Q.
We take a look back at exactly what the UK gaming Press thought of Ocean Software’s conversion of Chase H.Q. We’re hoping it’s good!

THE SINCLAIR SIN-BIN
We share another collection of spectacularly woeful ZX Spectrum games as immortalised in the annals of Sinclair User issue 26 from May 1984. These include Hicksted, Diamond Quest, Jungle Adventure, 1994, and Defenda. Good grief… something in this dumpster has definitely gone off!

SECRET SQUIRREL INVESTIGATES
We take another deep-dive into ZX Spectrum game code alongside our cheeky furry companion. He’s found some hidden messages for you in Bug Blaster and Zarjaz. Tut-tut.

THE DEVELOPERS’ DEN: BILL HARBISON
As is tradition here at FREEZE Towers, we sit down with someone who was actually part of the original Chase H.Q. development team. This time around it’s the lovely and talented Bill Harbison, graphics artist extraordinaire. Bill shares his charming journey into the world of computers and how it led him to crafting visuals for the ZX Spectrum.

HIS WORK IN PICTURES: BILL HARBISON
Bill’s ZX Spectrum artistry takes centre stage in this visual celebration.

OLDIE GOLDIE: THINGY AND THE DOODAHS
Another old favourite steps into the spotlight. This time it’s the delightful oddity Thingy and The Doodahs from Americana. Okay, I already know you’re going to roll your eyes at me for this one. You’ll be thinking, “Why on earth has Vinny picked this game?” The truth is simple: I just loved playing it. It was cheap (£2.99), it offered great value with its 200+ screens, it was easy to pick up, and it delivered pure, exploratory fun. What more could anyone want? Pure joy.

NEW & EXCLUSIVE POKES ‘N’ CODES
We’ve talked about the games, and now it’s time to dive into some cheats to help you along the way (not that you need them!). We’ve got a cracking list of POKES ‘N’ CODES for Thingy and The Doodahs, Baby-Man 4, Laser Zone, Pi-Balled, and Blue Thunder. You cheat!

BYTE-SIZE REVIEW: BABY-MAN 4
At FREEZE Towers, we’ve always had a soft spot for top‑tier cartooning, and we’ll happily pounce on any game that dishes up bold, cartoon‑style visuals. Luckily for us, BABYMAN VS. TERMINATOTS PART 2 from PuttyCAD serves that up in spades. But does the gameplay live up to the artwork’s delightful charm? Time to shove it into the notorious FREEZE‑O‑Matic™ and see what survives the process. Brace yourself… things might get messy!

A beautifully printed A5 ZX Spectrum fanzine delivered straight to your front door.