Snatcher (1988) and Policenauts (1994) — what are your favorite versions?

[xuvetyn96]

These two early Kojima games both have a handful of different releases. I first played Snatcher a couple years ago and went with the Sega-CD release, which I thoroughly enjoyed (except for that third act, but that's a different conversation). I'd like to replay Snatcher and will probably want to try out a different version, and am yet to play Policenauts. The PC-98 version of Policenauts has some crisper pixel art, but I've been unable to find if there's a translation patch for it. On the other hand, the 90s anime look of the console releases is awesome too.

So for any fans of these games: what are your favorite versions?

 

[SkunkyBeaumont]

I gotta go with the Sega/Mega CD version of Snatcher as well.
I hear the Saturn Version is the version to play for Policenauts, but I'll have to get back to you on that.

 

[clinte]

• Snatcher: Mega CD (Sega CD) version (avoid the japanese PS1/SAT remakes)
• Policenauts: Saturn version (ENG translation v1.0.1). There are some differences to the PS1 version that makes it better on Saturn, for example: "When touching girls breasts they bounce longer...the PSX version has censored bouncing."

 

[SkunkyBeaumont]

• Snatcher: Mega CD (Sega CD) version (avoid the japanese PS1/SAT remakes)
• Policenauts: Saturn version (ENG translation v1.0.1). There are some differences to the PS1 version that makes it better on Saturn, for example: "When touching girls breasts they bounce longer...the PSX version has censored bouncing."

Goddamn it Kojima.

 

[Stookymalarkey]

Goddamn it Kojima.

Can you really be surprised he had that in his games, considering what what you can potentially do in the MGS series? I'm referring to

Spoiler

Catching Meryl in her underwear

,

Spoiler

Having Snake jerk off to the bikini poster on the Tanker

,

Spoiler

Raiden getting pissed on in Big Shell

,

Spoiler

Making Eva's breast swing in the Medical Viewer

and

Spoiler

Making the BnB Corps members sexily pose once you destroy their armor and point a camera at them

Post automatically merged: Dec 26, 2024

I've only played the Sega CD version of Snatcher but I hear that nothing story-wise was removed compared to the MSX version. Heck, it had Act 3 which the MSX game didn't have. The other things I hear was changed was that

Spoiler

Katrina was aged up to be 18

,

Spoiler

the female snatcher you shoot doesn't have one of her breasts pop out after you "retire" her

and

Spoiler

Gillian covers up most of Katrina's body when he accidentally walking in her in the shower

 

[Mithraslogos]

These two early Kojima games both have a handful of different releases. I first played Snatcher a couple years ago and went with the Sega-CD release, which I thoroughly enjoyed (except for that third act, but that's a different conversation). I'd like to replay Snatcher and will probably want to try out a different version, and am yet to play Policenauts. The PC-98 version of Policenauts has some crisper pixel art, but I've been unable to find if there's a translation patch for it. On the other hand, the 90s anime look of the console releases is awesome too.

So for any fans of these games: what are your favorite versions?

For Snatcher, I still think the Mega CD version is the best one; for Policenauts, I love the Saturn version.

 

[SkunkyBeaumont]

Can you really be surprised he had that in his games, considering what what you can potentially do in the MGS series? I'm referring to

Spoiler

Catching Meryl in her underwear

,

Spoiler

Having Snake jerk off to the bikini poster on the Tanker

,

Spoiler

Raiden getting pissed on in Big Shell

,

Spoiler

Making Eva's breast swing in the Medical Viewer

and

Spoiler

Making the BnB Corps members sexily pose once you destroy their armor and point a camera at them

Post automatically merged: Dec 26, 2024

I've only played the Sega CD version of Snatcher but I hear that nothing story-wise was removed compared to the MSX version. Heck, it had Act 3 which the MSX game didn't have. The other things I hear was changed was that

Spoiler

Katrina was aged up to be 18

,

Spoiler

the female snatcher you shoot doesn't have one of her breasts pop out after you "retire" her

and

Spoiler

Gillian covers up most of Katrina's body when he accidentally walking in her in the shower

Goddamnit Kojima.
​

 

[RageBurner]

Sega CD for being the most viable option when it comes to Snatcher (still hoping to play the PCE one some day). As for Policenauts, the Saturn one just feels more refined, it i s my preferred way to play.

 

[xuvetyn96]

Seems like general consensus favors the Saturn release of Policenauts. I'll have to check it out! I've never actually played a Saturn game before.

 

[RageBurner]

I suggest you use Mednafen with the Mednaffe frontend. It's a little annoying to set up at first but it's worth it.

 

[Stookymalarkey]

If you are planning on getting the Saturn version, thankfully The Repo got it. Also, I have found that Retroarch has a Saturn core that works if you don't want to bother with Mednafen. Though I have to warn you that it tends to be behind Mednafen in terms of having the latest changes (one of the cores is based off of it) and may not be as accurate.

 

[SkunkyBeaumont]

If you are planning on getting the Saturn version, thankfully The Repo got it. Also, I have found that Retroarch has a Saturn core that works if you don't want to bother with Mednafen. Though I have to warn you that it tends to be behind Mednafen in terms of having the latest changes (one of the cores is based off of it) and may not be as accurate.

Yabause appears to run it just fine.

 

[baronvonellis]

I played almost to the end of Snatcher, the stupid shooter parts really annoyed me though when you have to shoot the little robot bugs. I'd be really involved in the dialog and story which goes at a slow pace and then out of nowhere a super fast twitch shooting gallery would pop up out of the blue. It's so jarring. I ragged quit several times, and I kept dying over and over again. One section took me about 20 tries to get though, I quit at another bug shooter section in the 3rd act and haven't finished it yet. I think those sections added nothing to the game and severed to really frustrate me.

 

[RageBurner]

I agree with you, the shooting really serves no purpose.

 

[xuvetyn96]

I played almost to the end of Snatcher, the stupid shooter parts really annoyed me though when you have to shoot the little robot bugs. I'd be really involved in the dialog and story which goes at a slow pace and then out of nowhere a super fast twitch shooting gallery would pop up out of the blue. It's so jarring. I ragged quit several times, and I kept dying over and over again. One section took me about 20 tries to get though, I quit at another bug shooter section in the 3rd act and haven't finished it yet. I think those sections added nothing to the game and severed to really frustrate me.

That was my biggest gripe with the game, especially in Act 3. 90% of the act is made up of back to back, difficult shooter sections. It felt like they were just thrown in to pad the game with some more "exciting" gameplay even though I was perfectly content with the visual novel-esque interface since, as you mentioned, the dialogue, story, and atmosphere of the game are great. In my opinion, you aren't missing much though. The third act just doesn't compare to the first two.

Post automatically merged: Dec 27, 2024

I suggest you use Mednafen with the Mednaffe frontend. It's a little annoying to set up at first but it's worth it.

Good to know, I was thinking of getting Mednafen so I'll check out Mednaffe. Out of curiosity, why the need for a frontend?

 

[RageBurner]

That was my biggest gripe with the game, especially in Act 3. 90% of the act is made up of back to back, difficult shooter sections. It felt like they were just thrown in to pad the game with some more "exciting" gameplay even though I was perfectly content with the visual novel-esque interface since, as you mentioned, the dialogue, story, and atmosphere of the game are great. In my opinion, you aren't missing much though. The third act just doesn't compare to the first two.

Post automatically merged: Dec 27, 2024

Good to know, I was thinking of getting Mednafen so I'll check out Mednaffe. Out of curiosity, why the need for a frontend?

Now I don't remember exactly if Mednafen comes with one or not, but if it doesn't, you'd have to handle every little bit of usage using command line which... while not impossible, it is, nevertheless a little annoying. Mednaffe isn't the only frontend, but I feel it is the most elegant and easy to use.

 

[prnzo von Goon -l-]

the Sega CD version I tried to play through back in the day on a JVC Genesis/Sega CD combo console thing was scratched so I got real involved n far only for it to freeze up n almost wore off the strong buzzsauce I had goin with a W T F balloon hovering my hapless head. disappointing but it was later rectified on emu n thank you thread-maker for the reminder for me to resume my save game on the MSX version. I've been playin the Policenauts on the translated iso Sega Sanshiro style on the Yabause that was a spotty emu for me for years until I set it for Pro Action Replay - which, for whatever strange inexplicable reasons, kept Yabause stable for me without having to use its core on Retroarch. my Saturn was stolen from the 1st apartment I lived in alone, along with my Xbox OG but they left the Dreamcast lol - they must've mystically sensed the laser was gonna go from the goddamn'd GD-R's that some guy at work gave me stacks of. we had no idea back then! just figured they were cheap pieces ov shit (though my 80's-to-end of eternity Sega Phanboi-ismz self-sugarcoated any such blasphemous declarations)

funny how I was gonna say Sega CD n Saturn for Snatcher & Policenauts respectively, as if it was gonna be against the grain or individuality-identity empowerment - then I read everyone has already beat me to the punch lol o_O

 

[Stookymalarkey]

Now I don't remember exactly if Mednafen comes with one or not, but if it doesn't, you'd have to handle every little bit of usage using command line which... while not impossible, it is, nevertheless a little annoying. Mednaffe isn't the only frontend, but I feel it is the most elegant and easy to use.

Mednafen is purely command line, so if you want a UI to interarct with it you'll need a frontend like Mednaffe.

 

[SkunkyBeaumont]

Mednafen is purely command line, so if you want a UI to interarct with it you'll need a frontend like Mednaffe.

Write a batch file or script?

 

[pipolaplaya]

Write a batch file or script?

Yep, a small batch file will do just as well. You can also tweak the config file by hand.