Snatcher (1992)
Genres:Adventure, Shooter, Point-and-click
Themes:Fantasy, Science fiction
Game modes:Single player
Story:Snatcher is a cyberpunk-themed graphic adventure game directed and written by Hideo Kojima and produced by Konami. The setting and story of Snatcher is heavily influenced by cyberpunk and science-fiction media, taking place in a large futuristic dystopian city. The story revolves around an investigator named Gillian Seed assigned to investigate a breed of bioroids known as "snatchers", who are killing humans and taking their place in society. The game is set in a primarily first person perspective and uses a menu-based interface that allows the protagonist 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. During key points of the game's story, the player must pass shooting sequences to defend Gillian from assailants. These shooting segments use 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.Show more
Vote to bring this game to GOG and help preserve it.3 731
Before he truly hit his stride with Metal Gear Solid, Snatcher marks the first time Kojima really became Kojima. Its dialogue and characters make it a game that immediately intrigues. It deserves to be preserved not just because it's a great game, but also because it's an early example of a growing auteur.
Review of Snatcher: A Timeless Classic from 1994
Rating: ★★★★★☆ (4.5/5)
Snatcher, released in 1994 for the SEGA CD/Mega-CD, is a remarkable title that has undoubtedly earned its place in gaming history. As a fan of both video games and anime, experiencing Snatcher feels like stepping into a vivid, cinematic world that combines the best of both mediums.
Set in a cyberpunk dystopia, Snatcher immerses players in a gripping narrative that revolves around a detective named Gillian Seed, who is on a mission to eliminate bio-engineered robots known as Snatchers. The game is steeped in rich thematic elements inspired by classic sci-fi films and anime—think Blade Runner meets Akira. The storyline is both deep and engaging, featuring memorable characters, plot twists, and philosophical musings on identity and humanity.
One of the standout features of Snatcher is its stunning visual presentation for the time. The hand-drawn graphics, animated cutscenes, and immersive environments create an atmosphere that captivates players and pulls them into this gritty world. Coupled with an impressive soundtrack that enhances the emotional depth of the narrative, the game truly feels like an interactive experience rather than just a standard video game.
Gameplay primarily consists of investigation and dialogue, reminiscent of visual novels. Players will spend time exploring locations, gathering clues, and interrogating characters. While some may find the pacing slow, the depth of the story and characters makes every moment worthwhile. The integration of humor amidst the serious themes adds balance and keeps the experience engaging.
As someone who played Snatcher back in the day on the SEGA CD, I can confidently say that it is a game you’ll want in your collection. Despite its age, the themes it explores and its unique storytelling approach hold a timeless quality that continues to resonate with modern audiences. The nostalgia factor cannot be understated; it serves as a window into
Glad to see this game has a large number of votes. This game totally deserves to become wildly available to everyone, including those not familiar with the game. Don't see any reason to change much with the game, guess you could have the option to have updated graphics, but the original ones are still great. Maybe have to ability to switch between the original English and Japanese voice acting.
Just sad Policenauts from the same creator is not getting enough votes nor love and deserves to be made widely available, maybe the games could be packaged together with a fair price. Hope that mentioning the game may get more to notice the game and add votes to it.
If you ever preserve this game GOG, please do the SegaCD version as the base. It's the best version overall! (high quality on visuals, audio, has Eng dub language, and has an additional final chapter in the story).
In a dream, ultimate version, being able to choose between audio language (English and Japanese), choose between different censorship levels, would be cool as well.
I never got interested in any visual novel or text adventure type of game in the past (the genre does not seem appealing to me), but man I'm glad I gave this game a chance... I think it's a hidden masterpiece gem, that fans of Blade Runner, Terminator, Ghost in the Shell, Metal Gear and Sci-Fi in general would enjoy.
Snatcher is the only game I can recall where I've been genuinely creeped out by its presentation and story to the point where it has disturbed my sleep. That is high praise considering I've played numerous horror titles over the years and have rarely ever been phased.
Those who were able to pick up the Sega CD release (perhaps the definitive version) in the west were treated to a masterpiece of engrossing video game storytelling that sticks with you long after your first playthrough. It really is that good, in my opinion. It's a game that has been screaming for a wider release since the mid-90s.
Legend of Himari 2: Heroes of ZariaThe ambush is in the past! Now you will have to create a party of four heroes, upgrade them, look for new heroes, complete quests, gain fame and, of course, get the best loot in the dungeons.New
Legend of HimariHimari was ambushed! Help her hold out as long as possible, attack enemies, use magic to slay them, maintain Himari’s health level, so she could fight on, and also do not miss!New Action Fantasy
FreelancerEight hundred years prior to the start of our story, bitter conflict divided all of mankind. A handful of colonists struck out on their own to begin anew - far away from the Earth and its turmoil. Several ships were launched with enough equipment and supplies to give the hundreds onboard a fighting chance - but since the area around far-off Sirius had never been surveyed, no one really knew what to expect. What they found was a new frontier of free-flowing natural resources, unexplored territories, great wonders and lurking dangers. Each ship, representing the clusters of people and their earthly place of origin, settled into different parts of the galaxy pre-selected by their ship-board computer to give them the best chance of survival.
Life was hard in the beginning, but over the 800 years the different colonies prospered and expanded their territories, claiming more and more systems for their own. Survival and propagation eventually led to growth and profit as each of the colonies developed specialties and fostered commerce. As the colonies grew and time passed their connections with their roots on Earth dwindled and they lost their memories of the conflicts of the past. Soon their attention was dominated by new, more immediate conflicts. Feelings of lost ancestral connection spurred anachronism in the look of the great cities, and created a somewhat distorted image of each colony's cultural heritage. In the ever-expanding outer edge of the territories, frontier lawlessness prevailed.
The Houses: Each shipboard colony that left Earth carried some memory of its origins in its name. The Liberty carried Americans, The Bretonia flew from The United Kingdom and surrounding territory, The Kusari from Asia, and the Rheinland launched with Germanic cargo.
As each ship settled and colonies began to expand, they knew little about each other and their advancing development. Finally, little by little, the individual colonies found each other and began to set up trade routes to link their systems for commerce and solidarity.
Today, with each colony firmly rooted in its respective corner of the galaxy, the colonies rely heavily on each other for trade and industry but also compete for resources and new territories in the Border Worlds. The colonies mandate member governments in "The New Alliance" within the Sirius sector. To control conflicts, each colony has forged alliances and treaties with others as they have grown. Competition remains fierce, however. Struggles rage for supremacy in business, commerce, resources, power and control. There can be tenuous peace between colonies' political agendas, but the grabs for holdings constantly unsettle the volatile frontier.Our Pick Top Trending Science fiction Sandbox
The Legend of Cyber CowboyLiberate a town from gangs of cybernetic bandits! The Legend of Cyber Cowboy is a top-down twin-stick shooter presented in slick pixel art style.New Action Historical Science fiction
The NeverhoodThe game follows the adventure of a claymation character named Klaymen as he discovers his origins and his purpose in a world made entirely out of clay.Fantasy Historical Comedy
Stupid InvadersStupid Invaders is an adventure game based on the Space Goofs cartoon. The game was dedicated to its creator Jean-Yves Raimbaud, who died before the game was released.Comedy Science fiction
Leaves: The ReturnMononino and the Treefruities fared well without you - until another disaster scattered the leaves of their home tree. Once more, take on the journey and challenging puzzles along the way.
Leaves: The JourneyTravel to the mystic lands of Mononino and help the Treefruities to recover the lost leaves of their home tree. Search for clues to master the many puzzles and challenges on your journey.
Deadzone: RogueDeadzone: Rogue is a roguelite first-person shooter set in deep space. Slay hordes of enemies, loot powerful gear, and customize your loadout during each unique run. Uncover fragments of your past as you piece together the truth behind your mission. Fight. Die. Revive. Repeat.Action Thriller Science fiction
Pokémon SoulSilverPokemon HeartGold Version and Pokemon SoulSilver Version return players to the scenic Johto region first introduced in the beloved original Pokemon Gold and Pokemon Silver games nearly a decade ago. The richly detailed adventure of Pokemon Gold and Pokemon Silver is now enhanced for the Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi systems with updated graphics and sound, as well as new touch-screen features and a host of surprises. Pokemon HeartGold Version and Pokemon SoulSilver Version bring dozens of Pokemon characters back into the limelight for a new Pokemon generation - and longtime fans - to catch, train and battle.Action Fantasy