Snatcher
| Snatcher | |
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 Cover of the original PC-8801 version, released in Japan in 1988. |
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| Developer(s) | Konami |
| Publisher(s) | Konami |
| Designer(s) | Hideo Kojima |
| Platform(s) | NEC PC-8801mkIISR, MSX 2, PC-Engine, Mega-CD, PlayStation, Sega Saturn |
| Release date(s) | PC-8801:
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| Genre(s) | Adventure (digital comic) |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: T ELSPA: 18+ |
| Media/distribution | 5¼-inch DD floppy disk x5 (PC-88) Sound Cartridge + 3½-inch DD floppy disk x 3 (MSX) CD-ROM (PCE, SCD, PS, SAT) |
Snatcher (スナッチャー) is a cyberpunk-themed graphic adventure game produced by Konami, originally released in Japan for the NEC PC-8801 and MSX 2 computer platforms in 1988. It was followed by a CD-ROM-based remake released for the PC Engine video game console in 1992, which was subsequently ported and localized into English for the Mega-CD/Sega CD in 1994. Snatcher was the second video game written and directed by Hideo Kojima, following the original Metal Gear for the MSX2.[1] The game's story centers around an investigator named Gillian Seed, who is assigned to investigate a breed of bioroids known as "Snatchers", who are killing humans and taking their place in society. The game is known for its heavy influence from science fiction cult films such as Blade Runner, Akira and The Terminator.[2]
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[edit] Gameplay
The game is set in a primarily first person perspective and uses a menu-based interface that allows the protagonist (Gillian Seed) to interact with his environment. The player can choose to "Look", "Investigate", "Talk", "Ask" and "Move" (in addition to other options) to acquire key items or receive vital information from other characters. The player can analyze items in Gillian's belongings or show it to other characters. The player uses Metal Gear (Gillian's robotic assistant) to communicate with other characters via a videophone or save their current progress. During key points of the game's story, the player must pass shooting sequences to defend Gillian from assailants. These shooting segments uses a 3x3 grid which the player can target to fire at enemies. A shooting trainer, called "Junker's Eyes", is accessible at Junker HQ that allows the player to measure their accuracy.
[edit] Story
[edit] Plot and setting
On June 6, 1996 (1991 in the Japanese versions),[3] a biological weapon known as Lucifer-Alpha under development in Chernoton, Russia, is released into the atmosphere, resulting in the death of 80% of the Eurasian population which in turn results in the death of half of the world's population. The contaminated area becomes uninhabitable for a decade, when Lucifer-Alpha mutates into a non-lethal form. This tragic event later becomes known as "the Catastrophe".
Fifty years later, a breed of artificial life-forms or bioroids known as "snatchers" began appearing in the artificial island of Neo Kobe City, killing their victims and taking their place in society. Nobody knows exactly what they are or where they come from. As Gillian Seed, an amnesiac working for an Anti-Snatcher task force called J.U.N.K.E.R., the player's goal is to track down the source of the snatchers and discover Gillian's mysterious connections with them.
[edit] Characters
Note: All spellings used are from the English-language Mega-CD/Sega CD version. Alternate spellings from other versions when they differ are provided in parenthesis.
- Gillian Seed (ギリアン・シード, Gulian in the PC-88/MSX version.)
- The protagonist. An amnesiac with mysterious ties to the "Snatcher" menace. He joins JUNKER as its newest "Runner" (a type of field operative).
- Voiced by: Yusaku Yara (Japanese), Jeff Lupetin (English)
- Metal Gear Mk. II (メタルギア Ｍｋ．Ⅱ)
- Gillian's robotic sidekick. A "navigator" who serves as an on-site forensic analizer and has a built-in videophone. His designer Harry Benson claims that he designed Metal after the "Metal Gear threat from the late 20th century" (a bipedal tank from the eponymous video game).
- Voiced by: Mami Koyama (Japanese), Lucy Childs (English)
- Jamie Seed (ジェミー・シード, Jaime in all Japanese versions)
- Gillian's estranged wife, who was found alongside him, with no recollection of her past. Employed at Neo Kobe Pharmaceuticals at the start of the game.
- Voiced by: Kikuko Inoue (Japanese), Susan Mele (English)
- Random Hajile (ランダム・ハジル, Randam in all Japanese versions)
- A mysterious bounty hunter who assists Gillian during the course of the story. Rides a one-wheeled motorcycle known as the "Road Runner", and bears a strong resemblance to the character Roy Batty from the film Blade Runner, as well as Feyd-Rautha from the movie Dune.
- Voiced by: Kaneto Shiozawa (Japanese), Jim Parks (English)
- Mika Slayton (ミカ・スレイトン, Slaton in the PC-88/MSX version)
- The receptionist at JUNKER HQ. A young attractive woman of Japanese and Jewish descent.
- Voiced by: Mina Tominaga (Japanese), Kimberly Harne (English)
- Katrina Gibson (カトリーヌ・ギブスン, Kathaline in the PC-88/MSX version, Katherine in later Japanese versions)
- The young daughter of a JUNKER agent, who works as a model.
- Voiced by: Mina Tominaga (Japanese), Lynn Foosaner (English)
- Harry Benson (ハリー・ベンソン)
- JUNKER's mechanic. He survived the Catastrophe when he was a child. Designer of the robotic navigators "Little John" and "Metal Gear Mk. II".
- Voiced by: Ryuji Saikachi (Japanese), Ray Van Steen (English)
- Benson Cunningham (ベンソン・カニンガム, Cunningum in all Japanese versions)
- JUNKER's commanding chief. A special forces veteran.
- Voiced by: Goro Naya (Japanese), Ray Van Steen (English)
- Jean Jack Gibson (ジャン・ジャック・ギブスン)
- Katrina's father and the only other living field operative of JUNKER at the start of the story. He has a robotic navigator of his own called Little John, which unlike Metal Gear, was not programmed with a voice.
- Voiced by: Isao Inoguchi (Japanese), Jim Parks (English)
- Napoleon (ナポレオン)
- An informant who suffers from allergies.
- Voiced by: Goro Naya (Japanese), Jim Parks (English)
- Chin Shu Oh (陳 周鳳, Chin Syuuhou in the Japanese versions)
- The Director of Queens Hospital.
- Voiced by: Isao Inoguchi (Japanese), Ray Van Steen (English)
- Elijah Modnar (エリア・マッドナー, Madnar in the Japanese versions)
- A Russian scientist who was involved in a top secret Soviet project prior to the events of the Catastrophe.
- Voiced by: Kaneto Shiozawa (Japanese), Jim Parks (English)
[edit] Release history
[edit] Japanese versions
Snatcher was first released in 1988 for the PC-8801 (on November 26) and MSX2 (December 13) computer platforms. The first versions were released on floppy disks and were entirely text-based, instead a unique sounding bleep occurred when a character spoke. Due to time constraints, the developers were forced to truncate the story at the end of Act 2, leaving out the originally planned ending. The MSX version came packaged with a proprietary audio cartridge to match the music and sound effects of the PC-88 version; the graphic screen is slightly smaller and has longer load-times but otherwise no changes from the PC-8801 version. Konami released a spinoff titled SD Snatcher for the MSX2 on April 27, 1990. SD Snatcher, a role-playing video game, features an alternate version of the original Snatcher storyline with its own ending.
Snatcher was remade as a Super CD-ROM² release for the PC Engine under the title of Snatcher: CD-ROMantic, released on October 23, 1992. This version, in addition to offering improved graphics and audio, added voice acting during key portions of the game, as well as Act 3, the planned ending that was not included in the early PC versions. Konami preceded release of Snatcher with a Pilot Disk (released on August 7) containing a playable portion of the game, a trailer-like preview, a database of characters and mechanics of the game, among other features. This was the last version of the game developed by the original team, including Hideo Kojima himself.
In 1996, Snatcher was ported to the PlayStation (February 12) and Sega Saturn (March 29). These two 32-bit versions added slightly redone graphics, a CG animated opening and other subtle changes (most of them derived from the English Mega-CD version). Most of the graphic violence were censored, the talking heads (when a character spoke) were completely redrawn, and the music was completely remixed.
[edit] English version
An English localization of Snatcher was produced for the Mega-CD (or Sega CD) in North America, Europe and Australia, all three of those versions were released in December 1994. The Mega-CD port was produced specifically for the overseas market and was ported from the PC Engine version. The script was translated by Scott T. Hards, with Jeremy Blaustein (who would later translate Metal Gear Solid) supervising the localization. This version adds support for Konami's Justifier light gun peripheral for the shooting segments.
Several changes were made to conform with the different censorship standards outside Japan, mainly due to sexual content.[4] Katrina's age was changed from 14 in the Japanese version to 18 in the English version (due to a nude shower scene she has in the game) and the exposed breast of a dead Snatcher was covered up. A scene featured in the PC Engine, which depicts a dying dog twitching with its internal organs exposed was redone so the dog is no longer twitching. The clientele at the Outer Heaven night club, which were originally parodies of popular sci-fi characters, were changed to Konami characters to avoid any potential copyright infringement. The naked Snatchers were also redesigned to lessen the resemblance with the Terminator robot: their endoskeletons were repainted with olive-colored body parts and their red eyes were changed to green, besides other minimal graphic changes.
The Sega CD version adds an extended opening intro (adapted from the introductory manga story featured in the manual) and Act 3 was revised to allow more interaction with the player. The ending is extended with the addition of Katrina and Mika in the game's final scene, as well as a cameo from Napoleon.
According to Blaustein, the Sega CD version of Snatcher only sold a "couple of thousand units" in North America. He attributes the game's commercial failure due to Sega's waning support of the add-on at the time of the game's release.[5] Because such a small number of copies exist, Snatcher has become one of the rarest and most sought-after Sega CD games, with copies usually going for over $100 USD on marketplaces like eBay and Amazon.com.
[edit] Reception
Snatcher has been critically acclaimed by reviewers. 1UP praised Snatcher for being an ambitious cyberpunk detective novel graphic adventure that pushed the boundaries of video game storytelling, cinematic cut scenes and mature content in its time.[6] Kurt Kalata of Gamasutra and Hardcore Gaming 101 praised the game for its graphics, soundtrack, high quality writing comparable to a novel, voice acting comparable to a film or radio drama, post-apocalyptic science fiction setting, light gun shooter segments, and in-game computer database with optional documents that flesh out the game world, though not its use of the amnesia theme. According to Kalata, the Sega CD version of Snatcher was for a long time the only major visual novel game to be released in America,[7] where it gained a cult following.[8]
RPG Fan gave the game a score of 95%, praising it for its "amazing story line," every character's "superb development and revelations," the "twists and turns in the plot," and the game's ending.[9] Niall Macdonald of Console Obsession gave the game a score of 9/10, praising it for its "solid game world" as well as "excellent story, stylised visuals and deep concepts." He recommended the game to fans of film noir and cyberpunk, concluding that it is "not just an excellent interactive movie, but an example of gaming at its finest."[10]
[edit] Prequel 'SDATCHER'
SDATCHER is a seven episode bi-weekly radio play, airing as part of Hideo Kojima's Podcast, Hideradio. The prequel is written by Goichi Suda and directed by Shuyo Murata. A commercial CD release is planned for December 2011, including the music by Akira Yamaoka. The story revolves around Jean-Jack Gibson, a fellow junker from the original game. A fan translation is available at SDATCHER.net
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Hideo Kojima's career history". Kojima Productions. http://www.konami.jp/kojima_pro/english/prof/00_kojima.html.
- ^ Hopper, Ben (February 20 2001). "Great Games – Snatcher". GameCritics.com. http://www.gamecritics.com/great-games-snatcher. Retrieved 2011-08-24.
- ^ All the dates given in the English version are five years ahead than the ones mentioned in the Japanese. This was done since the English version was first released in 1994, three years after the supposed date of the Catastrophe given in the original PC-88 version.
- ^ Ogasawara, Nob (1994). "Interview with Snatcher's Yoshinori Sasaki". Electronic Gaming Monthly (65): 176. http://community-2.webtv.net/Policenaut/2040Extension/page3.html. Retrieved 2008-06-08.|
- ^ "JUNKER HQ (Interview with Jeremy Blaustein by Chris Barker)". http://junkerhq.net/Jeremy.html. "Blaustein: As for (Snatcher): Sega CD, I think that counting you and me, the game only sold a couple thousand units at most in the US. I know the Sega CD sucked and had no software available for it, but where was everyone when Snatcher came out!? Boy, was that embarrassing - having it fail so badly."
- ^ Retroactive: Kojima's Productions, 1UP
- ^ Kurt Kalata, Snatcher, Hardcore Gaming 101
- ^ Kurt Kalata, Policenauts, Hardcore Gaming 101
- ^ Snatcher, RPG Fan
- ^ Niall Macdonald, Snatcher Mega-CD Review, Console Obsessions
[edit] Bibliography
- HIPPON SUPER!編集部 (November 1992) (in Japanese). スナッチャーのすべて. JICC出版局. ISBN 4796605355.
- 月刊PCエンジン特別編集 (November 1992) (in Japanese). スナッチャー公式 ガイドブック. 小学館. ISBN 4091024092.
[edit] External links
- Snatcher at MobyGames
- Hardcore Gaming 101 - Article on the game and regional differences with photos
- The Snatcher Experience - Comparison between Snatcher and Blade Runner
- JUNKER HQ - Snatcher research, scans and information
- The Kremlin - A Snatcher fansite that mostly focuses on the SEGA CD version.
- Complete playthrough.
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