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.4 196
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.
An iconic graphic cyberpunk game that is an integral part of Hideo Kojima's career and with that a significant piece of video game history. And the intro theme of this game has one of the best saxophones in video game music.
Snatcher came into my life at a weird time when I was questioning who I was, what I wanted, what parts of me were real and what I was just pretending to be. I thought I was just going to play a cool Blade Runner-style detective game. Instead, I got a story about identity, memory, and loss that stuck with me more than most games ever have.
Gillian Seed’s search wasn’t just for answers about the Snatchers it was a search for himself, for the pieces of his past that slipped away. That hit me. Hard. The fear of not knowing who you really are, the ache of trying to reconnect with someone you once loved but barely remember… it was more than sci-fi. It was human.
The world felt lived-in, lonely. Everyone wore masks some literal, some emotional. And through it all, that tension never let go. That feeling that something was always just slightly off.
When I finished it, I didn’t feel like I beat a game I felt like I woke up from a dream. A little shaken, but grateful. Because Snatcher isn’t just about robots stealing faces. It’s about clinging to the pieces of yourself that matter. The ones that make you you. Even when everything else is gone.
we need this in here, not only it's a really interesting game, but it's a game from one of the best game devs of all time. it's a classic and we need to convince konami to bring it here
the Sega CD port of Snatcher is the only official English-language localization of the game, and it has never been re-released. Consequently, genuine copies of the game tend to be unreasonably expensive at online auction.
I'm honestly kinda shocked that Konami never sought to bring this back out for Western audiences, especially since Hideo Kojima became so much more well-known following the success of Metal Gear Solid.
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