Policenauts
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| Policenauts | |
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| Developer(s) | Konami (PC98) Konami Computer Entertainment Osaka (3DO, PS) Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (SS) |
| Publisher(s) | Konami |
| Designer(s) | Hideo Kojima |
| Release date(s) | July 29, 1994 (JP) |
| Genre(s) | Adventure game (interactive cinema) |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
| Rating(s) | CERO: 15+ |
| Platform(s) | NEC PC-9821, 3DO Interactive Multiplayer, Sony PlayStation, Sega Saturn |
| Media | CD-ROM + floppy disk (PC-98) 2 CD-ROMs (3DO, PS) 3 CD-ROMs (SS) |
| Input | mouse, joypad, light gun (shooting sequence only) |
Policenauts (ポリスノーツ Porisunōtsu?) is a Japanese adventure game written and directed by Hideo Kojima and developed and published by Konami. It was initially released for the NEC PC-9821 computer platform in 1994; followed by updated versions for the 3DO, PlayStation and Sega Saturn game consoles released between 1995 and 1996.
It is a graphic adventure game played mostly from a point 'n click interface, although during some key points at the game, the player has to go through shooting sequences against adversaries in order to maintain their progress in the game and at some point, the player has to deactive a bomb implanted by a criminal.
The game is considered as a sequel to Hideo Kojima's previous title, Snatcher, due to the similar gameplay, although the connection between the two titles in terms of storyline are merely tangential. This confusion is probably derived from a phrase used to promote Policenauts in a trailer, which describes the game as "The next generation of Snatcher". This phrase referred to the style and technology used, instead of a sequel.
Policenauts, like Snatcher before it, pays various homages to previously-existing films. The most obvious being Jonathan's and Ed's (the main characters) respective resemblances to Riggs and Murtaugh from Lethal Weapon.
Policenauts has achieved a cult following since its initial release in Japan. However, the game has not been released outside Japan (as of 2006) despite a proposed localization of the Saturn version, various online petitions, and apparently an offer on Konami's US message boards from writer/translator Nick Des Barres.
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[edit] Release dates
- July 29, 1994 — PC-9821 (Japan)
- April 21, 1995 — 3DO Interactive Multiplayer (Policenauts - Pilot Disk) (Japan)
- September 29, 1995 — 3DO Interactive Multiplayer (Japan)
- January 19, 1996 — Sony PlayStation (Japan)
- February 9, 1996 — Sony PlayStation (Policenauts - Private Collection) (Japan)
- September 13, 1996 — Sega Saturn (Japan)
[edit] Storyline
The game's protagonist is a man named Jonathan Ingram, who is one of the five titular "policenauts" (astronauts with police authority) assigned to ensure the safety of Beyond Coast, mankind's first fully-functional space colony, in 2013. Jonathan is lost in space and presumed dead after a freak accident occurred during a space-walking experiment, but is found nearly 25 years later after thanks to the cold-sleep module which spared his life and preserved his youth. The actual game begins in 2040, when Jonathan (now a private investigator working in the town that used to be Los Angeles) is visited by his estranged wife, Lorraine. She asks for Jonathan's help in solving the disappearance of her husband Kenzo Hojo, the only clues he left behind being a torn leaf, a set of capsules and the word "Plato". Jonathan is reluctant to take her case at first, but after witnessing Lorraine's murder at the hands of a masked assailant, Jonathan agrees to return to outer space (in spite of his cosmophobia) to fulfil her final request. There he is reunited by his former partner from his LAPD days, Ed Brown, who agrees to help Jonathan find Kenzo Hojo.
[edit] Versions
[edit] NEC PC-9821
The initial version of Policenauts for the PC-98 is the most primitive of all four. The graphics aren't up to par with the other versions and the FMV sequences weren't implemented yet. On the other hand, the PC-98 edition has the longest voice recording track of all versions and contains a few obscure scenes not in any of the console versions of the game. It is also the only version that has "talking heads", which show the character's emotion, displayed on the lower part of the screen while the characters speak, much in the same way as the console versions of Snatcher. These were removed in later versions to allow for the inclusion of subtitles during dialogue sequences. This version came in CD format, along with a 2 HD system floppy disk and a sticker for a user disk.
[edit] 3DO
Not long before the PC98 version was released, a 3DO version was announced. Prior to its release, Konami issued a "Pilot Disk" containing a demo of the game, various interviews with celebrity-like figures in the Japanese game industry, a glossary of terms used in the game and behind the scenes info on the game. The full 3DO version came in two discs and now featured FMV sequences featuring cel-based animation by AIC, combined with low-budget CG. This was the first version of the game for a game console.
[edit] Sony PlayStation
The PlayStation version of the game made further improvements by adding digital effects to the game's graphics with transparency effects and such, with some of the static and animated images (including at least one of the FMV sequences) being completely redrawn and beautified. A premium disc was released for the PlayStation, titled Policenauts: Private Collection, which shared several of the same contents as the 3DO version's Pilot Disk.
[edit] Sega Saturn
The final version of Policenauts was released for the Sega Saturn and was over three discs long. It came packaged with a black slipcase and hardbound art book. Many elements of the Private Collections/Pilot Disk editions became standard features in this version (including a glossary of terms used in the game) and a scene from the PC98 version (missing from other versions) was restored. The Saturn version was the only version to support the use of a light-gun peripheral for the shooting sequences. This version was planned to be localized in the US, but translation difficulties prevented that from happening.
[edit] Cancelled U.S. version
Despite various fan petitions and Hideo Kojima's increased popularity in the west due to the Metal Gear Solid series, no version of Policenauts was ever released outside of Japan. Reportedly, the 3DO and PlayStation versions were both considered for U.S. release, but only the Saturn version was officially announced and then cancelled.
A press release for the game was issued on Konami of America's website on May, 1996. The press release included comments by Randy Severin (former Senior Product Manager of KOA) and Andrew Donchak (consumer division president of KOA at the time). Moreover, a mock-up cover art was shown to retailers and on certain promotional materials. The U.S. version was quietly cancelled with no official explanation.
While many fans have made their own speculations for the cancellation, the official reason (according to an interview between Hideo Kojima and Mamoru Oshii published in a Japanese Policenauts guide, conducted on August 8, 1996) was (admittedly strange-sounding) timing problems between the English dubbing and the on-screen action during the animated FMV scenes.
Several fans in North America and Europe have since attempted online petitions to localize the game in English. All of them has been unsuccessful so far.
Artemio Urbina of Junker HQ organized a fan translation of the game in 2002, after experimenting with the kanji and hiragana character tables found within the game. So far there is no word on the progress of the translation.
[edit] Cast of characters
Jonathan Ingram (voiced by Hideyuki Tanaka) Age: 30 (55 according to census registration). The protagonist. One of the five "original cops" which comprised the Policenauts. He was stranded in space for 25 years after a space-walking accident, only to be found alive, cryogenically frozen in his "survival ball". He developed Cosmophobia (fear of space) after this incident and has remained on earth as a freelance P.I in Old Los Angeles. He returns to outer space (Beyond) under Lorraine's request.
Ed Brown (voiced by Shozo Izuka) Age: 55. The chief of the Beyond Coast Police's Vice Squad. He was Jonathan's partner during their days in the LAPD and was also one of the "original cops". He is a devoted father to both of his children, Anna and Marc. He renews his partnership with Jonathan after 28 long years in an effort to find meaning in his life once more.
Karen Hōjō (voiced by Kikuko Inoue) Age: 26. The heroine of the game. Daughter of Lorraine and Kenzo Hojo, she is a popular anchorwoman in Beyond and bears a striking resemblance to her mother. Behind the camera, she faces a serious dilemma as she suffers from secondary aplastic anemia.
Tony Redwood (voiced by Kaneto Shiozawa) Age: 23. A member of the Advance Police squad, which is the BCP's equivalent of the Swat Team. He is a "Frozener", a race of artificially-conceived humans who are resistant to space environment. He is an ace pilot who can manipulate an EMPS (Extravehicular Mobility Police Suit, the mecha used by the BCP) like mere limbs, which earned him the nickname of "Mr. Goddard", after the EMPS model used by the AP squad.
Gatse Becker (voiced by Osamu Saka) Age: 56. One of the "original cops", Becker is the general director of the BCP and the commander-in-chief of the AP squad, giving him the highest police authority in all of Beyond.
Joseph Sadaoki Tokugawa (voiced by Iemasa Kayumi) Age: 60. One of the "original cops". He quit the force years ago in order to inherit his family's company, Tokugawa Group, after his father retired. He is the most powerful man in Beyond and has a huge influence over the media. He is also the board chairman for ISPA (the International Space Project Agency).
Salvatore Toscanini (voiced by Masaharu Sato) Age: 58. One of the "original cops". He was forced into early retirement from the police and now works as the security chief of Tokugawa's facilities on the moon in order to pay off his alimony bills from two divorces, which he couldn't support with his pension alone.
Meryl Silverburgh (voiced by Kyoko Terase) Age: 24. A member of BCP's Vice Squad and one of Ed's subordinates, Meryl was once a member of High Tech Special Forces Unit FOX-HOUND, but sometime after the unit was disbanded, she went to Beyond looking for action. She is a big tomboy, but also shows a softer feminine side when she's with Dave. Another character by the same name appears in Metal Gear Solid.
Dave Forrest (voiced by Bin Shimada) Age: 25. Meryl's partner within the Vice Squad. He is the total opposite of Meryl, as he is a huge pacifist who dislikes violence and prefers to disarm criminal instead of shoot-to-kill. Despite this, the two get along really well and are really close. He is a junk food addict who is always seen carrying burger.
Lorraine Hōjō (voiced by Chiyoko Kawashima) Age: 55. Jonanthan's ex-wife. She married Kenzō after Jonathan was presumed death and then gave birth to her daughter, Karen. Lorraine goes to Jonathan in order to track down Kenzo, after he disappeared for three weeks, only to be murdered by a masked assassin after leaving Jonathan's office.
Chris Goldwin (voiced by Chiyoko Kawashima) Age 41. The director of the BCCH (Beyond Coast Central Hospital), the largest hospital in Beyond. She was a magazine model during her teen-aged years, when she became acquainted with the "Original Cops" at the time.
Anna Brown (voiced by Yumi Toma) Age: 16. Ed's teen-aged daughter, who attends the UCBC (University of California, Beyond Coast), where she is majoring in Bioethics. She has taken over all household duties at the Brown residence after her mother, Catherine (Ed's wife), died.
Marc Brown (voiced by Junko Hagimori, although he speaks only in grunts) Age: 8. Ed's adopted son. Marc's real parents were killed during a shoot-out with the police. Marc's biological father had stabbed his wife (Marc's mother) to death and was going after the child, which left Ed no choice but to kill him. The incident has left Marc a mute boy and Ed was unable to use a gun since then. Their relationship as father and son is awkward at best as a result.
Kenzō Hōjō (unvoiced) Age: 53. Lorraine's current husband. He is the head of Tokugawa's DDS Development Team. He has disappeared from Beyond without a warning.
Victor Jurgens (voiced by Kohei Miyauchi) Age: 65. The BCP's forensic specialist. A stubborn, but energetic old man, originally from Russia. He uses a machine called AID for all analysis.
Jun Ishida (voiced by Naoki Tatsuta) Age: 24. A pharmacist who is in charge for management and administration of the BCCH's pharmacy.
Michael Saitō (voiced by Nobutoshi Kanna) Age: 26. The receptionist and security guard at Tokugawa Pharmaceuticals. A really minor character in the game.
[edit] References to/in other Kojima games
- Policenauts contains several references to Snatcher. This includes cameos by Random Hajile and Napoleon, the appearance of a Snatcher calendar in Jun Ishida's office and reference to Lucas World (the basis for Lucas Land in Snatcher). The music from the club Outer Heaven in Snatcher can be heard in the background of one of the messages on Jonathan's answering machine. Also, Victor Jurgens has in his office a bottle of the same sunscreen found in Snatcher. The police station's shooting range has a hidden Snatcher target as well, complete with a green eye, and the music changes to an exclusive remix of "Pressure of Tension" from Snatcher while the target is used.
- A bar called the "Solid Snake" can be seen next to Jonathan Ingram's office during the Opening Intro in Old LA. Next to it is a sign with the word "Queen" in it, which could be a reference to the Queen's Hospital sign in Snatcher.
- The EMPS takeoff scene from Act 3 can be seen in the original Metal Gear Solid, where Otacon tells Solid Snake about his fondness of anime.
- The original promotional poster for Policenauts can also be seen inside the Computer Room in the Nuclear Warhead Storage Building in Metal Gear Solid. The same poster can also be seen in the Computer Room in the B2 Floor inside the Shell 1 Core in Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty.
- In addition to sharing one character (Meryl Silverburgh), the Metal Gear Solid series contains a few visual references to the character Dave Forrest. This includes Solid Snake's real name (David), the orange vest worn by Meryl in the end of Metal Gear Solid and goggles on EVA's neck in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. Additionally, in an early version of MGS3's script, The Boss also wore goggles during the battle at the end of the game, and the flowers in the field were going to be poppies, the plant featured heavily in Policenauts.
- Cardboard Box 2 in Metal Gear Solid 2 contains a Tokugawa Electronics marking on it.
- The suit worn by Raiden in Metal Gear Solid 4 is made by Tokugawa Heavy Industries. Raiden also appears to use the same kind of white artificial blood featured in Policenauts (a Codec call with the Colonel in Metal Gear Solid 2 reveals that Raiden is using artificial blood during the game, though not the white-colored first generation type; it could be the third generation type, which contains 100% artificial blood cells and is red in color).
