SCD What makes Snatcher so beloved?

[TamagotchiTamaHero24's icon TamagotchiTamaHero24 TamagotchiTamaHero24]

When looking into SEGA CD, I consistently hear people bring up Snatcher as the single most unmissable game on the system. I know a few reasons:
1) visually, it’s probably the prettiest game of that generation I’ve seen aside from NEO GEO titles. Just tons of big, beautiful sprites with lots of detail to tell its story.
2) the story itself treats you as an adult and goes for something appealing to that audience at a time when, outside of Japan, that was highly uncommon.
3) It’s a Hideo Kojima title that absolutely shows his filmmaking chops, that is STILL a SEGA CD exclusive for official English releases, and apparently still holds up.

 

[ciro64]

I thought this was the main appeal of Sega CD

 

[TamagotchiTamaHero24's icon TamagotchiTamaHero24 TamagotchiTamaHero24]

I thought this was the main appeal of Sega CD

View attachment 68661

If you asked SEGA of America at the time, probably.

They handled the CD about as poorly as you possibly could have, but Snatcher seems to be an outlier that actually uses the technology in ways that make for something you’d actually want to play.

 

[Cantarella]

it's just got some charm and a look that was rare, and still kind of is in games.
I think the music went a long way towards capturing people.

 

[bjork]

It's a game that's solid in its genre, has the Kojima association, and is on a platform not a lot of people had. So part of it is legit praise, part of it is people who haven't played it just agreeing with those who have. Same as any other obscure title. I have no idea what it goes for nowadays, but I know it's far more than it should be.

 

[UnDubious]

It also has a dope cyberpunk ambiance that few games had at the time, and the story is good. It's honestly best of the old Japanese-style adventure game I've played (what they used to call ADV before people started lumping them in with visual novels).

 

[MajesticSiN]

It's honestly an amazing game that I believe holds up to this day.

 

[TamagotchiTamaHero24's icon TamagotchiTamaHero24 TamagotchiTamaHero24]

It's a game that's solid in its genre, has the Kojima association, and is on a platform not a lot of people had. So part of it is legit praise, part of it is people who haven't played it just agreeing with those who have. Same as any other obscure title. I have no idea what it goes for nowadays, but I know it's far more than it should be.

It goes for “The Repo”.

I should probably look into emulating it. Actually, no, I should DEFINITELY go for that.
Rumor has it that this game had a retail run of 5,000 in the west. Don’t know if I believe that, since many people seem to have had it, but that’s what the streets are saying.

 

[bjork]

It goes for “The Repo”.

I should probably look into emulating it. Actually, no, I should DEFINITELY go for that.
Rumor has it that this game had a retail run of 5,000 in the west. Don’t know if I believe that, since many people seem to have had it, but that’s what the streets are saying.

Keep in mind that a lot of people having it also means changing hands. I had a ton of stuff, but don't any more. Also also keep in mind, especially for 30+ year old CD games, disc rot is a potential issue. I'd for sure emulate it and see what you think. It's really surprising that someone hasn't done a reissue by now? I feel like the mini PC Engine had it, but it was Japanese and last time I looked those things were already pretty steep. Such a weird thing for it to be so highly regarded but so hard to get ahold of.

 

[Otosou]

For me Snatcher (for SEGA CD) is a special case because it has an English dub that doesn't irritate me at all. Always been a dub hater, and especially older games had awful dubs - eternally thankful for those who make undubs - but Snatcher just clicks perfectly even in English. It also has a great soundtrack by Konami Kukeiha Club and great story (Blade Runner is wonderful).

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

I love Snatcher's not-Blade Runner style but I think that gameplay-wise, like Policenaut, is really lacking.

A proper remaster with a better point 'n click gameplay instead of having a list of what you can check would've helped a lot.

This is probably why MGS is also more worthwhile since it has actual stealth based action.

 

[prnzoDraGoonZweiOrta]

I have Snatcher stiLL for meh JVC Gen/Sega CD unit (both Genesis n Sega CD v1 were stolen long ago). my copy doesn't appear scratched but it freezes at a point a bit over halfway through the game, so... emulation is the way to finish for me. also I wanna try the vers for MSX.

started on Policenauts (Saturn vers) - far more to go in it but seems topshelf class all the way thus far

bein that I was gaming on C64 before NES or SMS got released in the USA market... I used to love text adventures/1st-person adventures... Zork trilogy, Tracer Sanction, Mindshadow, the Spider-Man/Madame Webb one... for NES: Shadowgate, Deja Vu, The Uninvited... Sword of Hope for GB (RPG hybrid), the SegaNet Phantasy Star II spinoffs... point n click varieties like Maniac Mansion or Zak McKracken

I stiLL think the 1PA could have a viable modernized take on it... would stiLL be a niche genre at best, but who knows...