GamingGuest UserJanuary 11, 2022japanese, subculture, original, dystopian, mecha, illustration, Illustration, 3d, adventure, game, gaming, sega, police, policenauts

Policenauts: A Cyberpunk Classic

GamingGuest UserJanuary 11, 2022japanese, subculture, original, dystopian, mecha, illustration, Illustration, 3d, adventure, game, gaming, sega, police, policenauts

Policenauts is a 1994 adventure game directed by Hideo Kojima and published by Konami.

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It was originally released for the PC before eventually releasing for the Sega Saturn, the Playstation, and Panasonic’s 3DO console. It is mostly played with a point and click interface and the game progresses by clicking and examining objects on the screens and using up dialogue options with the characters.

The story begins in 2013, where humanity selected five of the world’s best policenauts [police officers with astronaut training] to maintain law and order on mankind’s first space colony, “Beyond Coast.” One of the five selected [and our main character] is LAPD officer Jonathan Ingram, who got caught in a freak accident while testing out new equipment and is presumed dead. In reality, the equipment’s cryogenic survival unit preserved him and he is later found and revived 25 years later.

In 2040, Jonathan is now working as a private investigator back in Earth in Old Los Angeles when his old wife, named Lorraine visits him. Lorraine asks for Jonathans help in solving the disappearance of her husband, named Kenzo Hojo. However, the only clues left behind were a torn leaf, a set of capsules and the mysterious word “Plato.”

While initially reluctant to accept the case, Jonathan witnesses Lorraine being killed after she leaves his office. Eager to fulfill Lorraine’s final wish, Jonathan heads back to Beyond Coast to solve the mystery while enlisting the help of the Vice Chief of the Beyond Coast Police Department, and former LAPD partner, Ed Brown.

The game is later praised by critics for the animation and voice acting along with Kojima’s ability to create storylines, and his technical writing and worldbuilding. Another thing of note is the absolutely beautiful character design courtesy of Hitoshi Nagao. Aside from this, along with Kojima’s other game Snatcher, Policenauts is considered to be a foundation for Kojima’s work in the now legendary Metal Gear franchise.