The Policenauts Paradise and Snatcher Shrine

SNATCHER VERSION DIFFERENCES

Snatcher was released on many platforms, and I have played all the home console versions...I have only seen shots of the PC8801 version and the MSX2 version, but Konami just basically upgraded from those versions to the home systems (and, consequently, added ACT 3 to every version thereafter)........Now, Konami released Snatcher on the PC-Engine in '92, but here is something everyone might not know...The Sega-CD version was never released in Japan! So by Japan's release schedule, Snatcher was released in '92 on the PC-Engine, and then not released until '96 on the PSX and Saturn...For once, us Americans were lucky and privileged....In the Sega CD version, you see how well the lip synching is done..thats because it was translated straight into English....Below are some of the differences between all the versions, from the computers versions straight thru to the Saturn version....

*In both the PC-8801 and MSX2 versions, there was no ACT 3 present....Act 3 was first added in the PC-Engine version.....In an old magazine interview conducted for the Sega CD release of Snatcher, a comment was made in regards to this...Hideo Kojima had always felt that the original versions were "incomplete" to him and never properly finished them, due to pressure from Konami to finish the game..Kojima always planned on having Act 3 present, but wasnt able to fully implement it until the PC-Engine version*

*An obvious difference was that there were no voices in the original PC versions...Voices were first added in the PC-Engine version*

*PC-Engine version used more colors (It can display 256 colors, while the Sega CD can display only 64) however, a software technique was used to increase the amount of colors used in the Sega-CD version ( i believe up to 112 colors) Difference between the 2 versions is VERY minimal...nearly all scenes look identical in both versions, and the big "color difference" debate can be put to rest because it barely exists (and i stress the word BARELY highly)*

*In the PC-Engine version, Act three contained no shooting sequences..it was more of just a sit and watch act, while on the Sega CD they added some twists and made you work more!!*

*The clientele of the bar Outer Heaven was changed from popular Manga characters in Japan, to Konami characters in America*

*The music--The Sega CD and PC-Engine versions have the same soundtrack, yet the Sega CD one sounds better..the PC-Engine version sounds more digitized and "cartridge-type" music, while the Sega CD sound more "CD-quality"..However, during voice acted sequences, you hear true cd music on both versions, and while both have different tracks during these sequences, both are exceptionally good..Overall, Sega CD is still better...*

*One scene in the PC-Engine version was totally omitted in the American release..the scene had Gillian and Metal Gear watching a porno and metal gets..how should I say....out of hand...(Note: You DO actually find the tape in the Sega CD release...in Plato's Cavern you can find the video tape on the floor,but Gillian says the technology to play it no longer exists, while in the PC-Engine version Metal Gear can play it)*

Now,onto the remakes on the PSX and Saturn versions....I did not like these versions as much as the previous ones...here is why.....

*A lot of the music was changed or redone, and while some tracks are very nicely done, as a whole the original is still better....*

*Many of the scenes were rendered or totally redrawn, and while a few are very nice, some arent (see pics below)..and one particular character,who looked menacing and forboding in the Sega CD version, looks harmless now and not intimidating at all*

*The beginning of the game was changed too...They added two of the worst CG sequences I have ever seen and they just look awful ..The CG renders were basically the manga from the instruction book and, for Sega CD owners, the added footage in the opening where Gillian tells Jamie he has become a Junker...The manga was beautifully drawn, the added footage for the Sega CD was also beautifully drawn, and these two CGs just ocme nowhere near them....*

* To me, the voices in the Sega CD version were superbly acted, while on the remakes they leave something to be desired...Now,its not cause its only in Enlglish, I play many Japanese games and love the voices...as in Policenauts.....Gillians voice is too deep, and Metal gear sounded too girlish...and someone elses voice was beautifully bass-enhanced on the Sega CD version, now sounds dull*

*Some scenes were actually censored on the remakes....a dogs death was really toned down, and the shot of Gibson and his head now scrolls up so you only see the head once (In the PSX version, they also kinda blot out the shot of Gibsons body too so you can hardly see even THAT!) ...and a shot of a rotting skull is pixelled out in the PSX version*

There are some more minor differences..i.e- a womans exposed chest is shown in all Japanese versions (except the PSX version....damn they really censored the PSX version, right?) while here she was covered up, but all in all, I love the Sega CD version best...The graphics, sound,music, everything to me is just so complete on the Sega CD version.....Also, for once in our lives, us English speaking players got extra stuff in our versions...some examples are a few more scenes in the opening sequence, a close up of Gillian's apartment, and a little more story is told in the ending sequence...once again, this is why the Sega CD is really the best one of all of them....

Ok, enough of my rambling, here are some difference shots between the Sega CD, the Saturn, and the PC-Engine version....Look for yourself at the PC-Engine shots and see how they are THISCLOSE to the Sega CD shots...look below and see what i mean...