Review: Snatcher (Konami 1994), lurid cyberpunk Sega CD classic

[@megamanmarchek8293]

This is the game that got me into the visual novel genre.

[@jeremysmith4620]

Snatcher takes me back and reminds me of one of my favorite consoles of all time. Kojima's early effort is part of the most insane lineup of games for possibly any US home console system. Sega CD didn't receive that much support, take it from an early adopter that had to save for half a year in addition to my birthday present allotment. It was worth it though, eventually, once the library filled out a little because what it lacked in abundance of titles it made up for many times over with quality. Games like this, Lunar: Silver Star/Eternal Blue, Rise of the Dragon, Popful Mail, Shining Force CD, Dark Wizard, Vay, Flashback, and others weren't exactly original, but the only way I could have gotten to play them at the time. So even though most of the game were just Japanese ports, they were revelations to me. There just isn't a domestic system with more JRPGS and cyberpunk games as a total percentage of its overall releases, plus the releases we did get were of insanely high quality of games for the era in graphics and storytelling. The big budget games such as Rebel Assault and Final Fight were the best versions available at the time on any home system. Even the FMV games were pretty amazing for what they were, some of them anyway. Sewer Shark was trash, but Prize Fighter was terrific and Night Trap was a classic due to the moral panic around it. As a pre-teen boy when Night Trap came out it held a special allure of its own that other games simply didn't. Thanks for reminding me of a terrific game that capped of one of my favorite systems as one of the last releases for the platform. I loved seeing both versions, as all I had ever experienced was the Sega CD version.

[@mackerelphones]

I'm glad my review could remind you of some warm memories eheheh

[@TheDaoOfLatino]

Always happy to see a new video from you.

[@Xpert74]

Having just played through Snatcher for the first time early this year, I really liked it a bunch. Like any piece of media, it's not perfect, but I found a lot to appreciate about its presentation and story. Nice review :)

[@DummyMW7091]

Never played Snatcher, but boy does that opening track slap!

[@mackerelphones]

Whether you mean "One Night in Neo Kobe City" or the one that plays under the narration about the Snatchers--yes. Yes it does

[@Z-Mikes00]

this game needs a major remake. like re2 lvl of remake

[@teruteru6673]

Comment for the algorithm, love your stuff.

[@mackerelphones]

Eheheh, I appreciate it

[@bouncingbluesoul5270]

Such a shame we never got a sequel to this. Snatcher 2 could of expanded the lore even further.

[@jimmyshwoll9643]

Ay, this is like, good production. I love you, man. No, seriously. I LOVE you.

[@maksimilijan5029]

This game shows, that we truly can not go on together, with suspicious minds. (Suspicious minds!)

[@katimavik1983]

thanks man, really awesome video. Wish they would port some of those MSX and pc-98 games to the switch...I always keep an eye open for the retro games they republish on the console

[@Choops6969]

sd snatcher next?

[@chase36chase]

great review! happy new year

[@williamoverton7775]

this games companion piece is Dynamix rise of the dragon. it never gets any love because even though it was made in america it was just as good... sort of

[@ereyla]

Where is the Remake for ps5

[@mackerelphones]

😔

[@Aerosplinter]

And a Randam Hajile spin off?

[@culIen]

A comment, of some kind

[@mackerelphones]

This shows people are engaging with me

[@Z-Mikes00]

u should look into the jp manual. compared to the english one, theres soooooo much lore and world building in it. like even more detailed than dark souls. not as grand or large but rich and detailed. also if u think the objectification here is bad then ur gonna hate policenaughts. kojima got into a fight with sony over them censoring so much of it

[@mackerelphones]

I was aware re: Policenauts but not re: the Japanese manual. They were having fun doing some worldbuilding I reckon. Maybe this is where a some of the stuff in JORDAN comes from in the Sega CD version, since in the MSX2 Snatcher, at least, there's a lot less "lore" in the databanks

[@fabricated]

@@mackerelphones This is all super late, but the manual describes a bunch of stuff like the fairly extensive equipment Junkers get, some of which gets randomly mentioned in game if you scrape super hard for dialog. It's all very Kojima-style future tech that had a lot of thought put into it, and outside of the blaster and medical functions for Metal Gear none of it is used properly by Gillian as almost a joke. For example, the Junker trenchcoat is insanely expensive body armor, custom fit. You're supposed to wear it completely cinched up, and it has high tech plating and armor over vital organs that only work right when you do so. Gillian wears it open, Jean has his closed properly. Junkers get a belt with a self-defense taser function that's supposed to help them escape grappling with a Snatcher, which Gillian doesn''t use against Freddy. Junkers get special gum they can use to stay awake or help them fight that has orally absorbable adrenaline in it. Gillian offhand comments that he just kinda pops it like regular chewing gum for the hell of it.

[@megamanmarchek8293]

​@mackerelphones There are also many optional articles in the J.O.R.D.A.N Computer that elaborate on the plotoints like suspicions breeding conflict. Granted, the characters themselves should have furthered these plot points along, but they subvert your issues somewhat.