Virtually Overlooked: Snatcher [update 1]
by JC Fletcher 
{ Feb 22nd 2007 at 12:45PM }
Update: screens!Welcome to our new weekly feature, Virtually Overlooked, wherein we talk about games that aren't on the Virtual Console yet, but should be. Call it a retro-speculative.
This week, we'd like to talk about Snatcher, a Sega CD game from Konami released in the US in 1994. The game was also released in Japan for the MSX2, PC8801, PC Engine CD-Rom, Playstation, and Saturn.
Why the game hasn't been announced for Virtual Console yet: Not too long ago, the obvious answer to this question would have been "because it is a graphical text adventure." Luckily, however, the DS has changed that, bringing an era where graphical text adventures are the subjects of rabid fandom. What hasn't changed is that Snatcher is a Sega CD game, and Nintendo has made no announcements regarding support for CD systems. The size of the files may be prohibitive, although it would be possible to save space by compressing the sound and music.
Why we think it should be on the Virtual Console: Speaking of rabid fandom, Snatcher sits right at the intersection of two massive, militant fanbases: adventure game fans and Hideo Kojima fans. The mastermind behind the postmodern, insane Metal Gear series is also responsible for Snatcher, and Kojimania permeates every aspect of the game, from obvious sci-fi movie influences to self-referential secrets to a Konami-themed bar, all set in a futuristic Kobe, Japan (home of Neo Kobe Pizza!) The Metal Gear Mk.2, seen in Metal Gear Solid 4, even makes its first appearance in Snatcher.
Snatcher features rudimentary shooting sequences, which are kind of a chore with the Genesis controller (Lethal Enforcers owners could also use the Justifier gun) but which would be great fun with the Wiimote ... if Virtual Console games had pointer functionality. The Wii doesn't have much in the way of mature games with deep storylines, and the futuristic noir of Snatcher would fit the bill perfectly, at almost no cost to Nintendo.
What would you like to see on the VC? Let us know! Or, if you want to discuss about this week's Overlooked game in the comments thread, we can't think of anything we'd rather do on a Thursday than chat about Snatcher.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jackson Pritt @ Feb 22nd 2007 1:17PM
Personally, I'd like to see a lot of classic Sierra or LucasArts adventure games ported over to the Wii. There's a TON of great content there that the newer generation of console gamers never got a chance to see, especially the Space Quest series, the original Sam & Max, and Full Throttle. While these games would be clunky and annoying to navigate with a control pad the Wiimote makes a perfect replacement for the mouse.
Phoenix Wright has proven that a good storyline and a good interface can make adventure games hot-selling products on consoles despite their trend of weak returns on the PC. I doubt it would cost very much to make single-disk multipacks of classic adventure game series', which could then be followed up by new offerings in the same vein once consumers are hooked.
The Wii needs adventure games, and adventure games need consoles like the Wii if the genre is going to survive.
PS: I think a good subject for later discussion might be the Dreamworks game "The Neverhood" or maybe "Grim Fandango." There's a really rich history of classic PC adventure games that could be easily ported over to the Wii.
UpIrons @ Feb 22nd 2007 1:31PM
One of my favorite Sega CD games was Jurassic Park. It was so unlike other Jurassic Park games and had a storyline that was closer to that of the movie. It even had quicktime 3D clips of the Jurassic Park visitor center as you would move from room to room and was just a unique game. I have it on emulation but I would love to play it again on the Wii. I see no reason why they couldn't do it. I also liked the very glitchy but otherwise fun version of Dracula on Sega CD.
Gozan @ Feb 22nd 2007 2:10PM
And I still say they should put Amiga games on the Wii. Loads of Europeans would pay cold, hard euros to play Speedball 2, Wizkid, Turrican, It Came From The Desert, Flashback, Stunt Car Racer, First Samurai, etc. Heck, I'd even get Shadow of the Beast. (Fortunately, Sony probably holds the rights to that one now, since they bought Psygnosis).
Get on the ball, Nintendo of Europe. Show us you care.
MasterExploder @ Feb 22nd 2007 8:14PM
Lunar!!!
Patrick @ Feb 22nd 2007 2:50PM
Not really sure how you can list all the things they would have to do to it (compress music and sound, add wiimote pointer code, add segacd hardware emulation) and then say it would be "at almost no cost to Nintendo."
But, I agree that the genre would be welcome on the Wii.
scepia @ Feb 24th 2007 3:01AM
"compress music and sound"
takes a $30 program on the computer
add wiimote pointer code"
Nintendo isn't doing that for any VC games
"add segacd hardware emulation"
Nintendo 64 is emulated exactly
Chyld989 @ Feb 23rd 2007 2:12AM
Personally I'd rather see some rockin' Saturn games on there, like Dragon Force or Albert Odyssey...but that's just me.
Tamakun @ Feb 27th 2007 3:21AM
I never had a SegaCD or Snatcher back in the day, but I remember playing it once and I was hooked. I did manage to play it about 3-4 years ago and I just wish it came out on more common systems than the SegaCD, but I loved the voice acting.
I would seriously pay a premium to have Snatcher updated on the Wii. With that rumour floating around, I'd love to see the original included, too. ;)