Policenauts

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Policenauts
Cover artwork of the original PC-9821 version.
Developer(s)	Konami (PC98) Konami Computer Entertainment Osaka (3DO, PS) Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (SS)
Publisher(s)	Konami
Designer(s)	Hideo Kojima
Platform(s)	NEC PC-9821, 3DO Interactive Multiplayer, Sony PlayStation, Sega Saturn
Release date	NEC PC-9821: JP July 29, 1994 3DO Interactive Multiplayer JP September 29, 1995 Pilot Disk: JP April 21, 1995 Sony PlayStation JP January 19, 1996 Private Collection: JP February 9, 1996 Sega Saturn: JP September 13, 1996
Genre(s)	Adventure game (interactive cinema)
Mode(s)	Single-player
Rating(s)	CERO: 15+
Media	CD-ROM + floppy disk (PC-98) 2 CD-ROMs (3DO, PS) 3 CD-ROMs (SS)
Input methods	Mouse, joypad, light gun (shooting sequence only)

Policenauts (ポリスノーツ, Porisunōtsu^?) is a cinematic adventure game published by Konami, written and directed by Hideo Kojima. It was initially released for the PC-9821 computer platform in 1994, followed by remade versions for the 3DO in 1995, and PlayStation and Sega Saturn in 1996. The game has never been officially released outside Japan, despite plans for an English localization of the Saturn version. A PSN version for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable was released on the Japanese PlayStation Store on May 14, 2008^[1]

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. The game centers around a detective who travels to a space colony investigate the circumstances surrounding his ex-wife's murder

[edit] Gameplay

The game is set in a primarily first person perspective and uses a point-and-click interface: the player can move the cursor and have the protagonist (Jonathan Ingram) analyze objects around his environment or talk to other characters in the game. Like in Snatcher, the game features shooting segments where the player must defend their character from incoming enemies. The player can use the shooting trainer at the police department to test their reflex and accuracy. There are numerous puzzles in the game, including an event where the player must dismantle a bomb by following their partner's instructions.

The console versions of the game all include support for their respective mouse peripherals. The Saturn version features light gun support for the shooting segments.

[edit] Story

[edit] Plot and setting

The game centers around Jonathan Ingram, one of the five "Policenauts", astronauts with police training, assigned to ensure the safety of Beyond Coast, mankind's first fully-functional space colony in the year 2013. A freak accident occurs while testing a new space walking suit and Jonathan is drifted away into space and is presumed dead by his colleagues. He is found alive and well nearly 25 years later thanks to the cold-sleep module connected to the suit. Three years later, Jonathan (now a private investigator working in the former Los Angeles) is visited by his former wife, Lorraine. She asks for Jonathan's help in solving the disappearance of her current 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. However, after Lorraine leaves his office, she is attacked and murdered by a man in a black motorcycle suit. Jonathan, unable to catch the culprit, decides to fulfill his ex-wife's final request and travels to Beyond. There he is reunited with his former partner from his LAPD days, Ed Brown, who agrees to help Jonathan investigate the circumstances surrounding Hojo's disappearance and Lorraine's murder.

[edit] Characters

The cast of Policenauts from left to right: Michael, Victor, Toscanini, Dave, Meryl, Anna, Ed, Marc, Jonathan, Tokugawa, Karen, Chris, Redwood, Lorraine, Kenzo, Gatse and Ishida.

Jonathan Ingram (ジョナサン・イングラム, Jonasan Inguramu^?) (voiced by Hideyuki Tanaka)

The protagonist. One of the five "Original Cops" (a nickname given in likeness to Project Mercury's "Original Seven") that formed the Policenauts. He was stranded in space for 25 years after a space-walking accident, only to be found alive, thanks to the cryogenic sleep module in his suit. As a result, he is physically younger than his real age.

Ed Brown (エド・ブラウン, Edo Buraun^?) (voiced by Shōzō Iizuka)

The chief of Beyond Coast Police's (BCP) Vice Unit. He was Jonathan's partner during their days in the LAPD and was also one of the Original Cops. He renews his partnership with Jonathan to solve Lorraine's murder.

Karen Hojyo (カレン・北条, Karen Hōjō^?) (voiced by Kikuko Inoue)

Lorraine's daughter, a popular anchorwoman at Beyond who bears a striking resemblance to her mother.

Tony Redwood (トニー・レッドウッド, Tonī Reddouddo^?) (voiced by Kaneto Shiozawa)

A member of the Advance Police (AP) Unit, BCP's equivalent of a Swat Team. He is a "Frozener", a race of artificially-conceived humans who possess genes best suited for an extraterrestrial environment. He is an ace pilot who can control his EMPS mecha as if it was an extension of his own body.

Gatse Becker (ゲイツ・ベッカー, Geitsu Bekkā^?) (voiced by Osamu Saka)

One of the Original Cops, Becker is the chief of the BCP and the commander of the AP Unit.

Joseph Sadaoki Tokugawa (ジョゼフ・サダオキ・トクガワ, Josefu Sadaoki Tokugawa^?) (voiced by Iemasa Kayumi)

One of the Original Cops, he left BCP to succeed his family's business, the Tokugawa Group. He is the most powerful man on Beyond and wields considerable influence over the colony's media.

Salvatore Toscanini (サルバトーレ・トスカニーニ, Sarubatōre Tosukanīni^?) (voiced by Masaharu Sato)

One of the "Original Cops". He quits his job as a police officer due to his dissatisfaction with the lifestyle and now serves as the chief of security at Tokugawa's Moon Plant.

Meryl Silverburgh (メリル・シルバーバーグ, Meriru Shirubābāgu^?) (voiced by Megumi Terase)

A member of BCP's Vice Unit, Meryl is a former member of High Tech Special Forces Unit FOXHOUND and is usually seen wearing military gear. She serves as the basis for the Metal Gear Solid character of the same name.

Dave Forrest (デイブ・フォレスト, Deibu Foresuto^?) (voiced by Bin Shimada)

Meryl's partner within the Vice Unit. Unlike Meryl, Dave is a pacifist who prefers to disarm convicts rather than outright killing them. He wears an orange vest and goggles, and usually appears eating a hamburger.

Lorraine Hojyo (ロレイン・北条, Rorein Hōjō^?) (voiced by Chiyoko Kawashima)

Jonanthan's ex-wife. Lorraine visits Jonathan at his office on Earth, asking him to search for her current husband, Kenzo. She is then murdered by a masked assassin after leaving his place.

Chris Goldwin (クリス・ゴドウィン, Kurisu Godowin^?, also spelled Kris) (voiced by Chiyoko Kawashima)

An attractive middle-aged woman who is the director of the Beyond Coast Central Hospital (BCCH).

Anna Brown (アナ・ブラウン, Ana Buraun^?, also spelled Ana) (voiced by Yumi Toma)

Ed's teenage daughter, who is a college student. She has taken over all household duties at the Brown residence after her mother, Catherine (Ed's wife), died.

Marc Brown (マーク・ブラウン, Māku Buraun^?, also spelled Mark) (voiced by Junko Hagimori, though his "speech" is limited to vain spasmic attempts)

Ed's adopted son. Marc's real father, Ridley, was killed by Ed in a drug-related shoot-out, after Ridley went high and murdered his wife. The incident has left Marc unable to speak.

Kenzo Hojyo (ケンゾウ・北条, Kenzō Hōjō^?) (unvoiced)

Lorraine's current husband, and the head of Tokugawa's Drug Delivery System development team. Disappeared without a trace before the present events of the story.

Victor Jurgens (ビクトル・ユルゲンス, Bikutoru Yurugensu^?) (voiced by Kohei Miyauchi)

An elderly Russian scientist who works for the BCP as a forensic pathologist. Uses a tool called AID (Auto-analysis Identification Device), which is operated by an A.I. named Gorby.

Jun Ishida (ジュン・石田, Jun Ishida^?) (voiced by Naoki Tatsuta)

A pharmacist working for the BCCH.

Michael Saito (マイケル・斉藤, Maikeru Saitō^?) (voiced by Nobutoshi Canna)

A receptionist and security guard at Tokugawa Pharmaceuticals.

[edit] Release history

[edit] Versions

Jonathan Ingram fires his handgun in the PC-98 version. All of the cut-scenes in this version were rendered real-time.

Policenauts was first released for the NEC PC-9821 on July 29, 1994. The PC-98 came in one CD-ROM that included an installation floppy disk. All the cut-scenes were rendered using actual game graphics.

The first console version was released for the 3DO on September 29, 1994, comprised of two CD-ROMs. Animated cut-scenes were added to this version consisting of hand-drawn animation and minimal CG animation, and all the graphics were redrawn. The PlayStation version (January 19, 1996), also on two discs, made further additions by digitally fixing most of the graphics and movies from the 3DO version. The last console version, released for the Sega Saturn (September 13, 1996), on three discs, added support for Sega's Virtua Gun light gun peripheral.

Prior to releasing the standard version of the game, Konami issued the Policenauts: Pilot Disk for the 3DO on April 21 1995. This disc contains a playable portion of the prologue, a glossary of key terms and jargon used in the game, production info and movies, and information about the game's cast and staff. Policenauts: Private Collection was released for the PlayStation on February 9 1996, featuring much of the same content as the Pilot Disk (replacing the playable demo with a shooting trainer). The glossary and shooting trainer are included as gameplay features in the Saturn version.

The PlayStation version has been re-issued twiced. The first time was under the "Konami the Best" label on September 18, 1997. A second reissue under the "PSone Books" series was released on August 7, 2003. The game was added to the PlayStation Store's Japanese Game Archives on May 15, 2008, making the game downloadable for the PSP and PS3.^[1]

[edit] Canceled English localization

Cover art of the cancelled American version.

The Saturn version of Policenauts was officially announced for American release by Konami on May 1996.^[2] A mock-up cover art was produced and featured on a promotional Sega pamphlet packaged with certain games. However, the American version was never released. According to Kojima, work began on the American version, but the developers were unable synch the English dialogue with the animated FMV cut-scenes.^[3] A fan translation has been produced.^[4][5]

[edit] Reception

The game was criticized by some in Japan^{[citation needed]} for its mature sexual content, which allows the player to: fondle the breasts of every female character in the Saturn version (previous versions had slightly fewer opportunities to commit this behavior), all the way from a 16-year-old minor to middle-aged women; fondle the vaginal area, through clothing, of one particular female character; look up the skirt of one particular female character, in a clear Basic Instinct homage; and fondle the legs of one particular female character. While this content is always portrayed in a light-hearted fashion, as per Hideo Kojima's personality, some felt that he had gone too far in this case.

Incidentally, the credits of the game go so far as to contain a specific "Breast Bouncing Supervision" entry, and interestingly, this area was handled by female staff members in every version.

[edit] Soundtracks

A total of four Policenauts related music albums have been released by King Records and Konami in Japan. An original soundtrack and three arranged albums.

[edit] Policenauts (original soundtrack)

Its catalog number is KICA-7653. Released on February 3, 1995. The soundtrack to the original PC-9821 version of Policenauts. Contains 38 tracks ripped from the game's PCM music.

[edit] Policenauts F/N

Policenauts F/N

Released on November 1, 1996. Its catalog number is KICA-7724. Contains arranged versions of music from the game's soundtrack composed by Motoaki Furukawa and Koichi Namiki.

Track listing

1. "Just Who I Need To See"
2. "My Love"
3. "Ana's Theme"
4. "Theme Of News Order"
5. "Lavender"
6. "The Movement Of Clouds"
7. "Girls"
8. "Karen"
9. "Living In The Real World"
10. "Policenauts End Title"

[edit] MIDI Power Pro 3: POLICENAUTS

Released on November 21, 1996. Its catalog number is KICA-7729. MIDI arrangement of Policenauts music. Came packaged with a floppy disk containing the original MIDI versions of certain tracks.

[edit] Snatcher >> Policenauts/Music Collection of Hideo Kojima Black Disc

Released on August 21, 1998. Its catalog number is KICA-7888. Contains music from previous Snatcher and Policenauts albums (originals and arrangements), as well as newly recorded arrangements.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Official Website (Japanese)
• PSone Books Re-release Website (Japanese)
• Policenauts at MobyGames
• Policenauts.net