Would you like to make this site your homepage? It's fast and easy...
Yes, Please make this my home page!
Policenauts
Review by fuzzyhobbit
Policenauts. A game not many have played, but
everyone has seen. In Hideo Kojima's masterpiece Metal Gear Solid
the character "Otakon" talks about anime a cinema of
flying mechs appears--that's Policenauts, Kojima's masterpiece
before Metal Gear Solid. Furthmore, the game itself is a Prequel
of another Hideo game, Snatchers. Do not worry, the only thing
that connects the game is the game style, art, and world premise.
There is some much to say about the game's story so without
further ado...
Story--10 The game has a wonderful story. You are
Jonathon Ingram, a private eye. Thirty years ago you were a
Policenaut(police man and astronaut) on the space station Beyond
Coast when your space suit is sabotaged and you enter chryogenic
sleep for twenty five year. Five years ago you were found--your
wife remarried with a daughter, you job gone, you life no more.
So now you are a private investigator. The game begins with
Jonathon having an unexpected visitor--his ex-wife. She asks you
to return to Beyond Coast and investigate the people who are
after her husband. Jonathon agrees and moments later she is
killed. Now he journies back to Beyond Coast(back to his past) to
unravel the mystery involving his past enemy, science, and the
entirety of Beyond Coast. Art, Style and Presentation--10 This
game features the grand Anime art of Konami. Amazing stuff. The
science fiction world is Blade-Runner-esque and immersive. The
menus and options are great. The Anime cinemas are wonderful(two
CDs full) and the voice acting puts many "normal"
Animes to shame. I love this art style! The character designs are
excellent--even if they are similar to Lethal Weapon. And you'll
be amazed to meet Meryl Silverburg. I miss the immersive
environments and story of cinematic adventure games--this one is
one of the best.
Sound and Music--10 Another amazing feature of
Policenauts. This game has some of the most amazing Background
music you'll ever hear. It's breathtaking. I am sure many of you
can remember the "du,du,du,d,d,du" jingle from the
Konami company logo in the opening sequence of Metal Gear Solid.
That tune is part of the background of the main theme of
Policenauts. Every time you hear this simple phrase of notes a
smile comes upon you face--it is utterly stimulating. The other
music and sound are all amazing and environmental--they still
haunt me.
Graphics--9 I would give them a 10, but they are
somewhat static and low resolution(Playstation's fault, not
Hideo's). Other than that, they are beautiful. The incredible art
IS the entire game graphics with some nice extra effects to make
them more than just stills(the beginning screens with the
changing colored light on Jonathon's face and desk is nice). Once
again I mention the quality character designs and enviroment
perspectives. I truly love the game's graphics and am looking
forward to seeing more of Konami's anime artwork.
Gameplay--9
Once more I would give it a 10, because I am a nut for these
kinds of games, but I think it's a 9 for non-fans of the
cinematic adventure genre(many don't know they are fans because
these games are now quite rare). It's simple. You control a
cursor on the screen and interact with items, people and places.
You click next to the enviroment picture to access a menu to
travel to other areas. The system they use when conversing with
other characters is quite good and features many choices to say.
All the other amazing aspects I mentioned above mix with the
quality gameplay to insure a perfect experience.
Conclusion--10
Policenauts is the intelligent and perfect experience that is now
rare amongst the current generation of games. I recommend
everyone trying out this game and plead that game companies make
more games of this style. Konami, where is the next in this
serie? Are you reading Hideo? I hope so. I have one last thing to
note--the game is Japanese and very story driven, so beware. I
can't say much else--this title leaves a person breathless and
speechless.
Reviewer's Score: 10 / 10
