Snatcher and Policenauts

[A.G.]

OK, so who is well familiar with Snatcher and Policenauts? I’ve been toying around with the notion of adding a small page to MGF about those two games since they are the other 2 of 8 games that were actually created and directed by Kojima. I’m know the versions and differences rather well, but I’ve never played them. I played a little bit of Snatcher, but that’s about it. So I would need help with the plot.

So... any Junkers out there? LOL

[A.G.]

I've downloaded the fan translation of the MSX Snatcher and playing through it right now. Awesome game! Very cool approach!

[cernex]

Well, I own the Sega Cd version (as you saw before), and I have played it quite a lot, so I'm familiar with Snatcher, at least that version.

The MSX version is incomplete, though, as it doesn't have Act. 3. I, personally, don't recommend it that much, as it has some long loading times.It's bearable, yes, but try the Sega CD version instead. Plus, it's official,

I have no knowledge whatsoever, though, of Policenauts, as I don't know any Japanese at all, and there aren't any "real" fan translations just yet. At least not that I know of.

[A.G.]

I, personally, don't recommend it that much, as it has some long loading times.It's bearable, yes, but try the Sega CD version instead. Plus, it's official

Hmmm... then you didn’t do your homework. For a guy that agrees with me on Kojima’s importance, I’m surprised you say that. And hearing you put down the MSX version... what happened to "the original" argument? Granted, the change made to Snatcher CD-ROMantic was bigger than the changes made to MG1 and MG2, but still. Kojima made changes to the original game. I find it strange that you accept Snatcher but not the MG updates. Anyway, I’ve done extensive research on both games now and this is how it works for Snatcher:

1988 – Snatcher came out on the NEC PC-8801 and the MSX2 (one month apart). The game was was missing Act 3. Directed by Kojima.

1990 – SD Snatcher was released by Kojima, which did have the third Act, though the game had that super-deformed style. It should be noted that the ending is different than future versions.

1992 – Snatcher CD-ROMantic is released for the PC Engine. This is the complete Snatcher, with new graphics, finalized Third Act, and Voice Acting. This is also the last version that was created by Hideo Kojima and features no censorship.

The future PlayStation and Sega revisions were not made under Kojima’s supervision and featured many edits, especially in gory or adult scenes (like the dog Alice and the shower scene). BTW, did you know that Katherine is 14 originally? In US they made her 18. Kinky Japs!

On a related note, I recently purchased the PC Engine Snatcher CD-ROMantic (complete) and the 3DO Policenauts. Figured it would be a nice addition to my collection as Kojima’s two other works.

[cernex]

Jul 22, 2008 9:45:19 GMT -5 A.G. said:

Hmmm... then you didn’t do your homework. For a guy that agrees with me on Kojima’s importance, I’m surprised you say that. And hearing you put down the MSX version... what happened to "the original" argument? Granted, the change made to
Snatcher CD-ROMantic was bigger than the changes made to MG1 and MG2, but still.

Who's talking about teh' TurboGraphx-16 version? I said Sega CD.

Kojima made changes to the original game. I find it strange that you accept Snatcher but not the MG updates. Anyway, I’ve done extensive research on both games now and this is how it works for Snatcher:

Adding Act 3 which, you knows, was the last bit of story that Kojima wasn't able to put on either the PC-8801 or the MSX version isn't either an update or a "change": it's called "completing the damn thing"

1988 – Snatcher came out on the NEC PC-8801 and the MSX2 (one month apart). The game was was missing Act 3. Directed by Kojima.

Yes. You need to know, however, that it was missing Act 3 out of time reasons.

Also, this versions were uncensored.

1990 – SD Snatcher was released by Kojima, which did have the third Act, though the game had that super-deformed style. It should be noted that the ending is different than future versions.

Yes, but SD Snatcher is a completely different thing.

1992 – Snatcher CD-ROMantic is released for the PC Engine. This is the complete Snatcher, with new graphics, finalized Third Act, and Voice Acting. This is also the last version that was created by Hideo Kojima and features no censorship.

Yes. This is the complete "Kojima" vision of Snatcher.

The future PlayStation and Sega revisions were not made under Kojima’s supervision and featured many edits, especially in gory or adult scenes (like the dog Alice and the shower scene). BTW, did you know that Katherine is 14 originally? In US they made her 18. Kinky Japs!

Told you plenty of times before (on other discussions) that the Saturn and PSX ports were terrible AND not directed by Kojima. So... ok.

You know, for a guy who was supposed to debate about a version of Snatcher, you forgot the most basic thing: TALKING ABOUT THE VERSION I'M TALKING ABOUT.

There's really nothing to argue about here: you missed the whole point, and by a long shot. You confused a version which was released only in Japan and has no fan translation whatsoever WITH a version that was only released on U.S.A, translated by the same guy who translated MGS, and had an intro based on the original comic intro from the booklet.

There's a thing here, that I think you don't get. The MSX and PC-8801 versions are INCOMPLETE versions. They don't have all of Kojima's vision, nor the whole gameplay bits (2 fights removed), plus it has the whole conclusion missing and leaves the game in a cliffhanger. This was NOT what Kojima had envisioned for Snatcher, as Act 3 HAD BEEN ALREADY BEEN WRITTEN. When a game has A WHOLE CHUNK OF GAMEPLAY AND STORY out of time and monetary reasons, it can't be compared, not even by a long-shot, to the complete vision of the game.

And this is were the Turbo-Graphx 16 version (the one you started talking about, BTW) enters the fray.

With more budget (a.k.a: Voice acting) and more time, Kojima FINALLY had time to COMPLETE the game and make it how he wanted it to. The PC-8801 and MSX versions are almost DEMOs of these version. So there's really nothing worth discussing: much rather have all of the thing that just a chunk of it.

There are also NO FAN TRANSLATIONS of these version, which makes it really hard to recommend to people who DON'T SPEAK JAPANESE.

The Sega CD version (the one I WAS talking about, and the one you forgot to mention in your "extensive homework") is a translated port of the Turbo-Graphx-16 version with an added intro (based on the intro of the comic booklet, which by the way, you can completely ignore AND read the comic instead if you're that picky) and some censorship (which sucks ass indeed). HOWEVER, completely the opposite with MG1 and MG2 which have been fan-translated, there is NO FAN TRANSLATION of the COMPLETE Snatcher by Kojima, ergo, I RECOMMEND this one because, as fan-translated the MSX version is, it's INCOMPLETE.

It wasn't "complete" and then "upgraded" or "updated", it was simply INCOMPLETE.

BTW, I also know the intro song is different. I don't know why they changed it.

I think I rest my case. Investigate better next time around.

[A.G.]

Who's talking about teh' TurboGraphx-16 version? I said Sega CD.

I know what you said. And I'm talking about you "not recommending" playing the MSX version. Sorry, but it is the original and I'm curious to see how it is.

Adding Act 3 which, you knows, was the last bit of story that Kojima wasn't able to put on either the PC-8801 or the MSX version isn't either an update or a "change": it's called "completing the damn thing"

Now you're arguing over the degree of change. Bottom line here is the word "change". You can debate this back and forth, but the fact remains is that MG1, Snatcher, and MG2 were CHANGED to the final products. CHANGED by Kojima. Back on Snatcher, any changes made to the PlayStation and Sega versions were NOT made by Kojima. That matters to me.

Yes. You need to know, however, that it was missing Act 3 out of time reasons.

I'm fully aware of that. Like I said, I did my research.

Yes, but SD Snatcher is a completely different thing.

I know that. But I was listing all the Snatcher versions Kojima worked on, since I really don't know your level of familiarity with the game. And SD Snatcher was the first to feature Act 3.

You know, for a guy who was supposed to debate about a version of Snatcher, you forgot the most basic thing: TALKING ABOUT THE VERSION I'M TALKING ABOUT.

What makes you think I'm looking for a Snatcher debate? You suggested the Sega Snatcher. I told you I had no interest in it since I'm only interested in the two Kojima versions (1988 and 1992). It's really that simple. I've looked on YouTube and saw enough clips of the Sega version, mostly for the plot of Act 3. But as far as collecting, I don't see myself getting that version. I'm playing the MSX version because I can play it on an emulator.

I think I rest my case. Investigate better next time around.

WTF! You've told me NOTHING in your post that I didn't already know.

I don't think we're talking about the same thing here. I'm not desputing that the Sega one would be the most logical one to play if you only speak English. And I don't really recall starting any debates about this.

[cernex]

Well, golly, if you want to play an incomplete version of a Kojima game (ergo, an incomplete experience), please, go ahead.

[A.G.]

Dude, I'm not trying to be an ass. I know knew next to nothing about Snatcher, outside of MG references. So with the MG series done, I was curious to explore the Snatcher/Policenauts mythos. I've done the research on versions and now I'm taking it one step at a time. But rightfully, I wanted to start at the beginning.

You are correct, however, if I want Act 3 I have no choice but to go with Sega. Do you know a quality emulator and a place to get a Sega Snatcher rom? A place that won't give viruses! LOL

[cernex]

Jul 22, 2008 20:45:03 GMT -5 A.G. said:

Dude, I'm not trying to be an ass. I know knew next to nothing about Snatcher, outside of MG references. So with the MG series done, I was curious to explore the Snatcher/Policenauts mythos. I've done the research on versions and now I'm taking it one step at a time. But rightfully, I wanted to start at the beginning.

You are correct, however, if I want Act 3 I have no choice but to go with Sega. Do you know a quality emulator and a place to get a Sega Snatcher rom? A place that won't give viruses! LOL

As a matter of fact, yes I do. Normally I use Sega fusion (http://www.coolrom.com/emulators/genesis/71/Fusion.php) to play games that no longer work on my Sega CDX (CD reader's a piece of sh*t). It works pretty well... though you need to look for the bios first, and run some small-scale configuration (if I managed to pull it out, so will you. A simple "Sega CD bios" search on google was all I needed)

The .iso? Huurm... well, here's the .iso:

www.coolrom.com/roms/segacd/258/Snatcher.php

Cool Rom is your friend too, you know?

Enjoy.