Snatcher (スナッチャー, Sunatchā^?) is a cyberpunk-themed adventure game. It has gained a small cult following due to its mature storytelling, adult themes and, in later versions, voice acting. It was heavily influenced by various sci-fi and noir films, especially Blade Runner.

Snatcher was written and directed by Hideo Kojima. It was developed and published by Konami. Originally released in Japan for the NEC PC-8801 and MSX2 in 1988, it was remade for the PC-Engine in 1992 and ported to the PlayStation and Sega Saturn in 1996. A Sega CD version was also produced specifically for English localization in North America, which was also released in the PAL region for European counterpart, the Mega CD. The 8802 and MSX2 versions were originally intended to have a simultaneous release, but delays regarding the latter partly caused by Kojima taking a vacation trip to Shikoku following conclusion of the development of the first Metal Gear had the two being released nearly a month apart.^[1][2] The game originally was going to be called "Junker," and at the time it started development, all text was written and photocopied due to Kojima's development team lacking a word processor.^[3] The name was settled with Snatcher, after the original title was rejected as a trademark, with similar stories existing with Metal Gear and Policenauts.^[4]

SD Snatcher, a JRPG reimagining with a cutesy "chibi" aesthetic, was made for the MSX2, although difficulties during development forced the development team for Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake to temporarily suspend their current project to help the team, with there being rumors that the latter game would end up cancelled as a result.^[5]

It later got a radio drama in 2011, titled Suda51's SDatcher. It was produced by Kojima Productions, and Kojima himself acted as the project's drama planner.

Plot overview

Prologue

On June 6, 1991 (1996 in the English version), 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 and Eastern European 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 lifeforms, 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 JUNKER, the player's goal is to track down the source of the snatchers and discover Gillian's mysterious connections with them.

Act 1: Snatch

The first act of the game deals with Gillian's first day on the job as a JUNKER (Judgement Uninfected Naked Kind and Execute Ranger in the Japanese version; Japanese Undercover Neuro Kinetic Elimination Ranger in the English version), trying to solve the murder of a fellow JUNKER operative and learns some information about the Snatchers.

Act 2: Cure

The second act is a continuation of the investigation from the first act. In this act, Gillian learns the true motives of the Snatcher menace and also learns a shocking truth about JUNKER headquarters. The PC-88 and MSX2 versions end the game at this point.

Act 3: Junk

The third act, which is first introduced in the PC Engine version and included in every subsequent version, reveals the truth about Gillian's past and his relationship to the Snatcher menace. In the epilogue, Metal Gear Mk. II will have a differently shaped body depending on the console played.^[6]

Cast of characters

JUNKER

• Gillian Seed - The protagonist. An amnesiac with mysterious ties to the "Snatcher" menace. He joins JUNKER as its newest "Runner", a type of field operative.

• Mika Slayton - The receptionist at JUNKER HQ. A young attractive woman of Japanese and Jewish descent.

• Benson Cunningham (Cunningum in the Japanese versions) - JUNKER's commanding chief. A veteran in the special forces. He is mentioned in game to be a former member of FOXHOUND.

• Harry Benson- JUNKER's mechanic. A survivor of the Catastrophe. Designer of the robotic navigators "Little John" and "Metal Gear Mk. II." He also supplies Gillian with his blaster.

• Metal Gear Mk. II - Gillian's robotic sidekick. A "navigator" who serves as an on-site forensic analyzer and has a built-in videophone. He is modeled after the Metal Gear mecha which appears in the video game of the same name, specifically the TX-55. A similar robot appears in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.

• Jean Jack Gibson - 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. He is found dead by Gillian and Metal, his head completely wrenched off of his body by snatchers.

Other main characters

• Jamie Seed - 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.

• Randam Hajile (Spelt "Random Hajile" in the Sega CD version) - A mysterious bounty hunter who is after the snatchers himself. Rides a one-wheeled motorcycle known as the "Road Runner". His name is "Elijah Madnar/Modnar" spelt backwards and resembles a younger Elijah. The liner notes indicated that he was meant to survive the events of Snatcher in the MSX2/PC-8801 versions of the game, much like in SD Snatcher, although the later CD versions had him being killed.^[7]

• Napoleon - Gibson's informant. A Chinese immigrant who suffers from a constant allergy from SNOW-9, similar to how winter was part of the Emperor Napoleon's downfall, hence the name.

• Katrina Gibson - Jean Jack's young daughter. Works as a model. Her house is attacked by snatchers later on in the game but she manages to find refuge in Gillian's apartment. In the Japanese version, her age is given as 14 years old, and the player can sniff her panties while she's showering before walking in on her. This was toned down significantly in the overseas version by listing her age as 18, removing the former event, and altering the latter to remove nudity.

• Isabella Velvet - An award-winning film actress who also works as a dancer at the "Outer Heaven" night club.

• Freddy Nielsen - A freelance Taxi Driver suspected of being a snatcher.

• Lisa Nielsen - Freddy's young wife.

• Ivan Rodriguez - An amateur air surfer also suspected of being a snatcher.

• Chin Shu Oh - The Director of Queens Hospital.

• Elijah Madnar ("Elijah Modnar" on Sega CD) - A Russian scientist involved in a top secret Soviet project prior to the events of the Catastrophe.

• Petrovich Madnar ("Petrovich Modnar" on Sega CD)- Elijah's father, also a scientist. He fled from the Soviet Union alongside a young Harry Benson at the time of the Catastrophe. Shares his name with a character from the original Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake.

Allusions to the Metal Gear series

Because of Snatcher being created by Hideo Kojima, there were at least two allusions to the Metal Gear franchise in his work.

• As noted above, the Metal Gear Mk. II and Petrovich Madnar are based on the TX-55 Metal Gear and Dr. Petrovich (Dr. Madnar), respectively.
• Also noted above, Cunningham is said to be a member of FOXHOUND, and is described to be the "Big Boss" around JUNKER HQ in an optional dialogue.
• One of the locations was the Outer Heaven night club, named after the mercenary nation-state and military base of the same name.

Allusions in the Metal Gear series

Also for the same reasons as above, there are also some allusions to Snatcher in the Metal Gear franchise itself.

• The rumored project mentioned in Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake in that Madnar was involved in that turned Big Boss into a cyborg was codenamed "Project Snatcher," after the titular menace in the game.
  • On a similar note, the opening sequence for the game has some elements, namely the blueprint for Metal Gear D, resembling a similar sequence for the opening of Snatcher regarding a Bioroid monitor.^[8]
• The main antagonist of the IdeaSpy 2.5, a radio drama within Metal Gear: Ghost Babel's Japanese and European releases, was named Junker Expensive of America, after the protagonistic group within Snatcher.
  • The same company was also mentioned in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots as the name of the company responsible for the creation of the Arsenal Compress item.
• Chernoton, Russia was mentioned as being the original target for REX's stealth nuke before Liquid changed the trajectory to Lop Nor, China.
• Lt. Benson Cunningham was reused for a character in Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops and its expansion pack, Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops Plus, although with a noticably different design and personality. In addition, his NTSC passcode is a direct reference to Snatcher (JUNKER).
• The Metal Gear Mk. II in Metal Gear Solid 4 was based on the same robotic buddy from Snatcher, itself based on the TX-55 Metal Gear from Metal Gear.
• Also in Metal Gear Solid 4, Solid Snake's appearance in Third Sun is identical to Gillian Seed's appearance in Snatcher.
• In Chapter R-00 of Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, one of the buildings had a sign on top that said "Queen Oleen Court", referring to both the Queens Hospital and the Oleen Hospital locations.
• In the mission "Jamais Vu" for Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes, Raiden has to fight off Body-Snatchers enemies at the United States Naval Prison Facility in Cuba. This was deliberate, as the mission was made to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Snatcher. In addition, one of the songs included in the collectible tape "Jamais Vu" was the song "Pleasure of Tension" from the same game. It was also given a lesser reference in the mission equivalent "Déjà Vu" for the same game, where Miller will identify the "snowfall" at Cuba while playing with the Classic Snake or Cyborg Ninja skins as "the SNOW-9 pollen," referring to the material from the Snatcher franchise.
• During one of the NPC chatter on Mother Base, one of the present soldiers briefly speculates that Quiet may have been a bioroid.

Other Easter Eggs

• In the opening sequence for the game (specifically, the portion showing the blueprint of a bioroid's head), there were pieces of text that said "Hideo Canon" and "Yoshi Saportor", referring to Hideo Kojima and mech designer Yoshihiko Ohta.^[8]
• The scene that shows the Konami Omni Building has signs that have the names of Kojima, Matsui, and Kinoshita, alongside logos for NEC, ASCII, and Sony.^[9]
• When analyzing the hair/skin samples for the murderers of Jean-Jack Gibson in act 1, the Metal Gear's monitor has the terms "Metalslave" and "Naoki" pop up a few times. This is exclusive to the PC-8801/MSX2 version of the game.^[10]
• The Junker Eye training center was based on the Sega arcade machine Bull's Eye, which coincidentally was released around the same time as Snatcher.^[11]
• In the Japanese manual, there was a reference to a criminal organization called "Salamander",^[12] which referenced a game made by the company Team Metalsave.^[13]

Reception

Reception (Sega CD)
Publication	Score
Allgame	4.5 / 5[14]
Computer and Video Games	90%[15]
Electronic Gaming Monthly	42 / 50[16]
Famitsu	33 / 40[17]
GameFan Magazine	90% 100% 90%[18]
GamePro	4 / 5[19]
GamesMaster	90%[20]
GameSpy	10 / 10[21]
Console Obsession	9 / 10[22]
Entertainment Weekly	A[23]
Game Players	80%[19]
Games World	92%[24]
Mean Machines Sega	85%[19]
Mega Fun	87%[25]
Next Generation	3 / 5[19]
RPGFan	95%[26] 97%[27]
Ultimate Future Games	85%[28]
The Video Game Critic	A[29]
Compilations of multiple reviews
Average Score	89% (21 reviews)
Awards
Electronic Gaming Monthly Best Games of All Time (#69)[30]
Retro Gamer Top Ten Mega CD Games[31]

Snatcher has been critically acclaimed by reviewers. Famitsu gave the PC Engine version a score of 33 out of 40.^[17] Upon release of the Sega CD version, GameFan magazine gave it scores of 90%, 100%, and 90%, with one reviewer praising it for "new shooting sequences, perfect voice acting, rockin' art, incredible music, and the most involving videogame storyline ever" while another reviewer praised it for "ungodly carnage, the greatest story ever, and the interface that is just the coolest". Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the Sega CD version scores of 9, 9, 7, 8, and 9, commenting positively on the graphics and the intricacy of the storyline;^[16] the reviewer Dano concluded that it is a "top-notch Sega CD title."^[19]

Mean Machines Sega described it as "a breathtakingly detailed game which is so full of nice touches and extras that going about your everyday Junker duties becomes as enjoyable as hunting down the Snatcher units" and rated it as one of their "top three Mega CD games of all-time".^[19] The February 1995 issue of GamePro, while critical of the linear quest, simplistic combat, and "conservative and old-fashioned" music, summarized the game as a "smart-looking, lengthy, interactive graphic adventure", making particular note of the intellectually stimulating investigations, compelling graphics, and strong cyberpunk storyline;^[32] the reviewer Toxic Tommy concluded that it is "a cool science fiction CD saga that rewards patience, persistence, and plodding."^[19] Future Publishing's Ultimate Future Games described it as a "compelling" game with a "big, entertaining story" but criticized "some sections" for moving "slowly".^[28] Next Generation gave it a mixed review, describing it as "mildly ground breaking" for the Sega CD but criticizing its mixture of "mature character relationships" with "strained comic relief" and aspects of the voice acting and interface.^[19]

Retrospective reviews have also been positive. Electronic Gaming Monthly ranked it number 69 in their top 100 "Best Games of All Time" list in 1997,^[30] and described it as "an awesome cyberpunk adventure game" in 1999.^[33] In 2005, 1UP praised Snatcher for being an ambitious cyberpunk detective novel graphic adventure that pushed the boundaries of video game storytelling, cinematic cut scenes and mature content in its time.^[34] Kurt Kalata of Gamasutra and Hardcore Gaming 101 praised the game for its graphics, soundtrack, high quality writing comparable to a novel, voice acting comparable to a film or radio drama, post-apocalyptic science fiction setting, light gun shooter segments, and in-game computer database with optional documents that flesh out the game world, though not its use of the amnesia theme.^[35] According to Kalata, the Sega CD version of Snatcher was for a long time the only major visual novel game to be released in America,^[35] where it gained a cult following.^[36] Retro Gamer included the Mega CD version among the top ten games on the platform, describing Snatcher as "the ultimate interactive movie."^[31]

RPGFan gave the game scores of 95%^[26] and 97%,^[27] praising it for its "amazing story line," every character's "superb development and revelations," the "twists and turns in the plot," and the game's ending.^[26] Niall MacDonald of Console Obsession gave the game a score of 9/10, praising it for its "solid game world" as well as "excellent story, stylised visuals and deep concepts." He recommended the game to fans of film noir and cyberpunk, concluding that it is "not just an excellent interactive movie, but an example of gaming at its finest."^[22] VentureBeat considers Snatcher to be a "masterpiece" that surpasses the writing and storytelling of Blade Runner.^[37]

Gallery

Images of Metal Gear Mk. II captured by EndofBeyond.tumblr.com

External links

• Hardcore Gaming 101 - Article on the game and regional differences with photos. (Backup link here)
• Play-through by Slowbeef

Notes and references

1. ^ HIDEO_KOJIMA on Twitter: "1/2 Nov 26th was the day the PC88 version of "SNATCHER" was released, 34 years ago. Actually, the MSX2 version, which was supposed to be released at the same time, was delayed by one month, so only the 88 version was released on that day. https://t.co/8hgxVOeCOq" / Twitter
2. ^ HIDEO_KOJIMA on Twitter: "2/2 After "Metal Gear" development was finished, I took a one-week vacation to Shikoku for a short trip. Although I was in the MSX development department, I clearly stated PC88 in the proposal and it became a reality." / Twitter
3. ^ HIDEO_KOJIMA on Twitter: "1/2 The first proposal submitted to the company. A photo that I published and posted on Hideo blog long time ago. I was 24 years old at the time. There was no word processor, so everything was handwritten and photocopied. At first, the title name was "JUNKER". https://t.co/gnrqHQUzod" / Twitter
4. ^ HIDEO_KOJIMA on Twitter: "2/2 The trademark was not approved, and the name was changed to "SNATCHER," the name of the enemy. "METAL GEAR" was also called "INTRUDER" at the time of planning. "POLICENAUTS" was initially "BEYOND"." / Twitter
5. ^ https://thearkhound.tumblr.com/post/177046851093/metal-gear-2-solid-snake-development-anecdotes

   The MSX of Our Youth Part 3

   by Hideo Kojima Continuing from the previous issue, we will reveal further anecdotes regarding the development of Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, the final MSX game we made.

   Part 4

   The game developers became battlefield otakus

   Since one of our goals for Solid Snake was to pursue realism, we spent the days and nights gathering as many reference materials we could think of as possible such as movies, books and model guns. The reference materials and model guns were piling up like a mountain on the top of my desk and people were even starting to show up covered in full combat fatigues. We even met with an author who was a former Green Beret. We secluded ourselves to a mountain in order to play a survival game using infrared guns. Thus, our work became a hobby and our geeky daily life became a simulation of the game. All of the equipment that were photographed for the game’s packaging and manual belonged to members of the development staff. The crawling characters that appear in the game were even roughly designed after staff members who were acting out the poses.

   Part 5

   The development of the game was temporarily suspended

   While in the middle of development, progress on SD Snatcher was compromised, so the entire Solid Snake team was brought in to lend them support. There were voices whispering that the development of Solid Snake might be halted under those conditions, but development resumed without incident after SD Snatcher was completed and the game was released shortly afterward. In retrospect, that incident provided a suitable cooling-off period so we could look into Solid Snake more calmly. By the way, did you know that the final shot of the ending features the MSX boot-up sequence? This message contains a flood of emotion towards the MSX, which has walked alongside me up to this point . To the users who supported us, as well as our staff… The MSX will keep on being a page of my youth (that was a very moving ending).
6. ^ End of Beyond — Each version of Snatcher (that contained Act III)... (Archived)
7. ^ https://twitter.com/Arc_Hound/status/963417449164169216
8. ^ ^{a b} https://twitter.com/Arc_Hound/status/1010360725443923968
9. ^ https://twitter.com/Arc_Hound/status/997187157931511808
10. ^ https://twitter.com/Arc_Hound/status/995471955917721600
11. ^ https://twitter.com/Arc_Hound/status/992815306518286339
12. ^ https://twitter.com/Arc_Hound/status/1024490078276669442
13. ^ https://twitter.com/Arc_Hound/status/1024487021967028224
14. ^ Sutyak, Jonathan (2014-12-10). Snatcher - Overview - allgame. Archived from the original on December 10, 2014. Retrieved on 2016-03-11.
15. ^ Computer and Video Games, issue 158.
16. ^ ^{a b} "Review Crew: Snatcher", Electronic Gaming Monthly, EGM Media, LLC, December 1994, p. 44. 
17. ^ ^{a b} スナッチャー まとめ [PCエンジン] / ファミ通.com (2014-02-22). Retrieved on 2016-03-11.
18. ^ Junker HQ Image. Junkerhq.net. Retrieved on 2015-04-10.
19. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h} Snatcher: Did Critics Love Hideo Kojima's Thriller in 1994?. Defunctgames.com (2014-07-11). Retrieved on 2015-04-10.
20. ^ GamesMaster, issue 24, p. 82.
21. ^ Classic Review Archive - Snatcher (2009-05-19). Archived from the original on May 19, 2009. Retrieved on 2016-03-11.
22. ^ ^{a b} Niall Macdonald, Snatcher Sega-CD Review, Console Obsessions.
23. ^ Strauss, Bob (2015-01-17). Snatcher. EW.com. Retrieved on 2015-04-10.
24. ^ Games World, issue 7, p. 20.
25. ^ DIE Kult-Seite über die alten Spiele-Magazine und Retro-Games!. Kultboy.com. Retrieved on 2015-04-10.
26. ^ ^{a b c} RPGFan Reviews - Snatcher. Rpgfan.com. Retrieved on 2015-04-10.
27. ^ ^{a b} RPGFan Reviews - Snatcher. Rpgfan.com. Retrieved on 2015-04-10.
28. ^ ^{a b} Ultimate Future Games - Issue 02 (1995-01)(Future Publishing)(GB). Archive.org. Retrieved on 2015-04-10.
29. ^ http://videogamecritic.com/segacdsz.htm
30. ^ ^{a b} Electronic Gaming Monthly, issue 100, pages 100-160 (116)
31. ^ ^{a b} Top Ten Mega CD Games. Retrogamer.net (2014-04-11). Retrieved on 2015-04-10.
32. ^ "Snatcher", GamePro, IDG, February 1995, p. 118. 
33. ^ (1999) "Video Game Buyer's Guide". Electronic Gaming Monthly.
34. ^ http://www.1up.com/features/retroactive-metal-gear
35. ^ ^{a b} Kurt Kalata, Snatcher, Hardcore Gaming 101.
36. ^ Kurt Kalata, Policenauts, Hardcore Gaming 101.
37. ^ http://venturebeat.com/community/2011/12/28/snatcher-was-influence-by-this/