| Snatcher |
Cover of the original PC-8801 version, released in Japan in 1988. |
| Developer(s) |
Konami |
| Publisher(s) |
Konami |
| Designer(s) |
Hideo Kojima |
| Platform(s) |
NEC PC-8801mkIISR, MSX 2, PC-Engine, Sega CD, PlayStation, Sega Saturn |
| Release date(s) |
PC-8801:
JP November 26, 1988
MSX2:
JP December 13, 1988
PC-Engine Super CD-ROM²:
JP October 23, 1992
Pilot Disk:
JP August 7, 1992
Sega CD/Mega CD:
NA December 15, 1994
EU December 15, 1994
PlayStation:
JP February 12, 1996
Sega Saturn:
JP March 29, 1996 |
| Genre(s) |
Adventure (digital comic) |
| Mode(s) |
Single-player |
| Rating(s) |
ESRB: Teen
ELSPA: 18+ |
| Media |
5¼-inch DD floppy disk x5 (PC-88)
Sound Cartridge + 3½-inch DD floppy disk x 3 (MSX)
CD-ROM (PCE, SCD, PS, SS) |
| Input methods |
Keyboard, Joypad, Light gun |
Snatcher (スナッチャー?) is a cyberpunk-themed adventure game published by Konami, written and directed by Hideo Kojima. It was first released in Japan in 1988 for the NEC PC-8801mkIISR and MSX2 computer platforms, followed by a remade CD-ROM version for the PC Engine in 1992, as well versions for the PlayStation and Sega Saturn in 1996. An English version was released for the Sega CD/Mega-CD in 1994 in North America and Europe.
Snatcher is set in a bleak future where a breed of artificial lifeforms, the titular "Snatchers", are killing humans and taking their place in society. The player takes role of Gillian Seed, a newly-recruited agent of the Anti-Snatcher organization JUNKER, who is assigned to investigate the menace.
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.
Story
Plot and setting
On June 6, 1996 (1991 in the Japanese versions)[1], a chemical 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.
Characters
The cast of Snatcher from left to right: Jean Jack Gibson, Harry Benson, Random Hajile, Gillian Seed, Jamie Seed, Katrina Gibson, Benson Cunningham and Mika Slayton.
Note: All spellings used are from the English-language Sega CD version.
- Gillian Seed (ギリアン・シード?)
- 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?)
- 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?)
- 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 resemblence to the character Roy Batty from the film Blade Runner.
- Voiced by: Kaneto Shiozawa (Japanese), Jim Parks (English)
- Mika Slayton (ミカ・スレイトン?)
- 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?)
- 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?)
- 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?)
- The Director of Queens Hospital.
- Elijah Modnar (エリア・マッドナー?)
- 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)
Release history
Japanese versions
Cover art of the PC Engine version, depicting Gillian, Random and Jamie.
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 with no voice acting, instead a unique sounding bleep occurred when a character spoke. The PC-8801mkIISR(PC-88SR) version not only corresponds to three channel output frequency modulation oscillator (YM2203) but also corresponds to the output frequency modulation oscillator of upper compatibility chip YM2603 of YM2203. 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 in this version and has longer load-times. Due to time constraints, the developers were forced to truncate the story at the end of Act 2, leaving out the originally planned ending. Konami released a spinoff titled SD Snatcher for the MSX2 on April 27, 1990. SD Snatcher, an RPG, features an alternate version of the original Snatcher storyline with its own ending.
Snatcher was remade on CD-ROM 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 Sega 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.
English version
American Sega CD cover art depicting Gillian and Metal, illustrated by Yuji Kaida in a realistic style.
An English localization of Snatcher was produced for the Sega CD (or Mega-CD) in North America and Europe, both versions released in December 1994. The Sega 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.
A comparison of the "Snatcher" design between the Japanese PC Engine version (left) and the American Sega CD version (right).
Several changes were made to conform with the different censorship standards outside Japan, mainly due to sexual content.[2] 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.
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.[3]
References
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.
See also
External links
