History VisualNovel / Snatcher

* ShoutOut: In the Sega CD version, the Outer Heaven bar is filled with clients dressed in Konami costumes, with characters dressed as VideoGame/{{G|anbareGoemon}}oemon, [[VideoGame/RocketKnightAdventures Sparkster]], [[Franchise/{{Castlevania}} Simon and Dracula]], [[VideoGame/{{Contra}} Bill and Lance]], and [[VideoGame/LethalEnforcers Mr. Ueda]]. The Platform/PlayStation and Platform/SegaSaturn versions replaces Bill and Lance with [[VideoGame/{{Twinbee}} Light and Pastel]], Sparkster with [[VideoGame/LivePowerfulProBaseball Pawapuro-kun]], and Mr. Ueda with "Designman." The bartender was also redesigned to resemble the Golem boss from ''[[VideoGame/{{Gradius}} Salamander]]''.

''Snatcher'' is an adventure game written and directed by Creator/HideoKojima early in his career, set in a CyberPunk universe (with clear ''Film/BladeRunner'' overtones), and with all of the quirkiness Kojima eventually became known for. It uses a menu-driven interface similar to other Japanese adventure games, with occasional shooting sequences that uses a 3x3 grid (originally designed for aiming with a numeral keypad). First released in UsefulNotes/{{Japan}} for the UsefulNotes/PC88 and UsefulNotes/{{MSX}}2 computer platforms in 1988, these two early versions were text-only and ended the story at Act 2, [[SequelHook which was intended to set up a sequel that never got made]]. Instead, Konami ended up remaking the game as an RPG for the [=MSX2=] titled ''VideoGame/SDSnatcher'' in 1990, which depicted the characters in a [[SuperDeformed chibi]] art-style, but also concluded the story in its own manner. Kojima would later revisit the original ''Snatcher'' in 1992, with a remake for the [[UsefulNotes/TurboGrafx16 PC Engine]] Super CD-ROM[[superscript:2]] add-on titled ''Snatcher [=CD-ROMantic=]''. This version redrew the game's visuals to better suit the console's specifications, and added voice acting to certain key scenes in the story, with the game's soundtrack being composed of a mix of chip-generated and redbook music. It also adds a third act that concludes the story set up by the previous two acts, which drew some of its plot elements from ''SD Snatcher'''s extended ending.

Konami decided to localize ''Snatcher'' to English with a UsefulNotes/SegaCD port [[RemadeForTheExport released exclusively in North America and Europe]] in 1994, although Kojima was not involved with this version (having moved on from ''Snatcher'' by this point to work on [[VisualNovel/{{Policenauts}} his next project]]). Because of its late release during the Sega CD's lifespan, only 25,000 copies were manufactured. Original copies are now collector's items, both because of the aforementioned small print run, and also as a result of being the only official English localization of the game. ''Snatcher'' would receive another set of re-releases in 1996 for the newly-released 32-bit consoles, the UsefulNotes/PlayStation and the UsefulNotes/SegaSaturn, with these versions once again being specific to Japan.

** [[spoiler:When Random saves Gillian's life for the ''second'' time, a cutscene shows Gillian comically chasing Random's motorcycle in the earlier Japanese versions of the game, as Metal pulls him along by his trenchcoat. The Sega CD version changes this to show Gillian clinging onto the back of the motorcycle for dear life (even though the dialogue for this scene apparently wasn't updated to match). This change was carried over to the subsequent Saturn and UsefulNotes/PlayStation ports.]]

* {{Bowdlerise}}: The first three versions of the game, released only in Japan for the [[UsefulNotes/PC88 NEC PC-8801]], UsefulNotes/{{MSX}}2, and [[UsefulNotes/TurboGrafx16 PC Engine]] Super CD-ROM[[superscript:2]], are totally uncensored. The game was subsequently ported to three more consoles ([[UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis Sega CD]], Sony UsefulNotes/PlayStation and UsefulNotes/SegaSaturn), all of which were toned down in various ways.

* DirectorsCut: ''Snatcher [=CD-ROMantic=]'', a version of the game developed for the [[UsefulNotes/TurboGrafx16 PC Engine]] Super CD-ROM[[superscript:2]] and released only in Japan in 1992, is this. All other versions of ''Snatcher'' are either incomplete (the original 8-bit versions), or censored (the three subsequent versions). Fortunately, the overseas Sega/Mega CD version from 1994 was derived from ''[=CD-ROMantic=]'', and despite some minor [[{{Bowdlerise}} bowdlerizations]], it's a faithful port that doesn't compromise the game's integrity as much as the subsequent 32-bit versions of ''Snatcher''.

* LighterAndSofter: Played straight in the form of ''VideoGame/SDSnatcher'', an RPG remake of ''Snatcher'' done in ''[[SuperDeformed chibi]]" style and released exclusively for the UsefulNotes/{{MSX}}2 home computer in 1990.

** Played straight in the 32-bit versions of the game. Indeed, Gillian's apartment looks quite bleak in the UsefulNotes/SegaSaturn and UsefulNotes/PlayStation versions of ''Snatcher''.

* ShoutOut: In the Sega CD version, the Outer Heaven bar is filled with clients dressed in Konami costumes, with characters dressed as VideoGame/{{G|anbareGoemon}}oemon, [[VideoGame/RocketKnightAdventures Sparkster]], [[Franchise/{{Castlevania}} Simon and Dracula]], [[VideoGame/{{Contra}} Bill and Lance]], and [[VideoGame/LethalEnforcers Mr. Ueda]]. The UsefulNotes/PlayStation and UsefulNotes/SegaSaturn versions replaces Bill and Lance with [[VideoGame/{{Twinbee}} Light and Pastel]], Sparkster with [[VideoGame/LivePowerfulProBaseball Pawapuro-kun]], and Mr. Ueda with "Designman." The bartender was also redesigned to resemble the Golem boss from ''[[VideoGame/{{Gradius}} Salamander]]''.

* TrailersAlwaysSpoil: A demo disc for ''Snatcher [=CD-ROMantic=]'', known as the ''Pilot Disk'', came out in advance of that version of the game in 1992. Among other things (like a playable demo), it includes a lengthy, slickly-produced trailer for the full game, rendered by the [[UsefulNotes/TurboGrafx16 PC Engine]] in real-time without any FMV. Versions of ''Snatcher'' had been available for years by that point, and the trailer is understandably heavy on spoilers. Unfortunately, ''Snatcher [=CD-ROMantic=]'' was to effectively be a DirectorsCut of the game, featuring a lengthy conclusion to the plot yet unseen by the public. As well as [[LateArrivalSpoiler spoiling the known plot of the game up to that point]], the trailer has ''no'' qualms about generously spoiling the '''new''' content as well. (Beware!)

* UpdatedRerelease: Kojima and his team saw fit to remake the original [=PC-88=] and [=MSX2=] versions four years later as a CD-ROM title for the [[UsefulNotes/TurboGrafx16 PC Engine]], adding not only the originally planned ending, but also improved graphics and voice acting. The PC Engine version was released as ''Snatcher [=CD-ROMantic=]''. The later Sega CD localization and PS/Saturn re-releases are based on this version.

* ExpositionBreak: The finale is one comparable in length and impact to most ''Franchise/MetalGear'' games.

* {{Foreshadowing}}: While being taken to Chief Cunningham's office, Mika describes him as the real ''[[VideoGame/{{MetalGear}} Big Boss]]'' of Junker HQ. [[spoiler: Guess who ends up being an enemy in disguise?]]

* ProductionThrowback: Since this was Kojima's first game after the original ''VideoGame/MetalGear'', there's quite a few references throw in. Most notably Gillian's robotic partner, who was built after the "Metal Gear menace from the late [=20th=] century" and whose leitmotif theme is the "Theme of Tara" from the original MSX game. Other references include Benson Cunningham's former membership within FOXHOUND, the Outer Heaven nightclub, and the inclusion of Dr. Petrovich as one of the developers behind the Frankenstein Project that created the Snatchers.

* {{Transplant}}: Metal Gear Mk. II eventually found work as Old Snake's ItemCaddy in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid4'', while Cunningham got a RaceLift and was turned into a ScaryBlackMan in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidPortableOps''. Half of everyone else, though, couldn't score anything bigger than their own cards in the ''VideoGame/MetalGearAcid'' series.

* AllThereInTheManual: The manuals for the PC-88, [=MSX2=], and PC-Engine versions all featured an elaborate plot guide with information about the game's backstory and setting. (Typical for computer games of TheEighties, the home computer versions both share the same manual, which is very detailed and elaborate even for the era.) The American Sega CD manual is unfortunately very basic by comparison, including only the character bios and a guide to JUNKER HQ. The European Mega CD manual thankfully has the whole plot guide translated.

* [[invoked]]TechnologyMarchesOn: Jean's [[MacGuffin floppy disk]]. Partially justified in that Jean is shown to have old-fashioned tastes, since his computer is a vintage PC-68 from TheEighties.

* AlternateContinuity: Compared to ''VideoGame/MetalGear2SolidSnake'' and all the ''Metal Gear'' games that followed it. In ''Snatcher'', the events of ''Metal Gear'' happened by means of explaining what Metal Gear's namesake is. However, given that ''Solid Snake'' is set in 1999, and the Catastrophe happens before that in the ''Snatcher'' continuity, the ''Metal Gear'' franchise pretty much ignores Snatcher aside from giving it an occasional ShoutOut.

''Snatcher'' is an adventure game written and directed by Creator/HideoKojima early in his career, set in a CyberPunk universe (with clear ''Film/BladeRunner'' overtones), and with all of the quirkiness Kojima eventually became known for. It uses a menu-driven interface similar to other Japanese adventure games, with ocassional shooting sequences that uses a 3x3 grid (originally designed for aiming with a numeral keypad). First released in UsefulNotes/{{Japan}} for the UsefulNotes/PC88 and UsefulNotes/{{MSX}}2 computer platforms in 1988, these two early versions were text-only and ended the story at Act 2, [[SequelHook which was intended to set up a sequel that never got made]]. Instead, Konami ended up remaking the game as an RPG for the [=MSX2=] titled ''VideoGame/SDSnatcher'' in [=1990=], which depicted the characters in a [[SuperDeformed chibi]] art-style, but also concluded the story in its own manner. Kojima would later revisit the original ''Snatcher'' in 1992, with a remake for the [[UsefulNotes/TurboGrafx16 PC Engine]] Super CD-ROM[[superscript:2]] add-on titled ''Snatcher [=CD-ROMantic=]''. This version redrew the game's visuals to better suit the console's specifications, and added voice acting to certain key scenes in the story, with the game's soundtrack being composed of a mix of chip-generated and redbook music. It also adds a third act that concludes the story set up by the previous two acts, which drew some of its plot elements from ''SD Snatcher'''s extended ending.

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