Policenauts (1994)

3.85 from 62 ratings

251 members have it in their collection · 6 playing now · 119 backlogged · 106 wish listed

How long? Main story 13h · 100% 11h (from 6 logged playthroughs)

Policenauts is an interactive movie/graphic novel/adventure game with a hard science fiction storyline, written and directed by Hideo Kojima, and published by Konami. It was initially released for the PC-9821 computer platform in 1994, followed by remade versions for the 3DO in 1995, and the 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. On August 24, 2009 (in honor of the 46th birthday of the game designer, Hideo Kojima), an unofficial English translation patch was released onto the internet. 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. The game was notable for being an early example of extensive voice recording in video games. It also featured a theme revolving around space exploration and occasional full-motion video cut scenes. The gameplay was largely similar to Snatcher, but with the addition of a point-and-click interface and some first-person shooter segments. Policenauts also introduced summary screens, which act to refresh the player's memory of the plot upon reloading a save, an element Kojima would later use in Metal Gear Solid. The PlayStation version of Policenauts could also read the memory card and give some easter egg dialogues if a save file of Konami's dating sim Tokimeki Memorial is present, a technique Kojima would also later use in Metal Gear Solid. Read less

Details

Developers: Konami
Publishers: Konami
Genres: Adventure, Shooter, Visual Novel
Themes: Action, Mystery, Science fiction

Release dates

Jul 29, 1994 (Japan) PC-9800 Series
Sep 29, 1995 (Japan) 3DO Interactive Multiplayer
Jan 19, 1996 (Full Release) (Japan) PlayStation
Sep 13, 1996 (Japan) Sega Saturn
May 14, 2008 (Digital Compatibility Release) (Japan) PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable

Also available on

Policenauts Pilot Disk (1995) · 3DO

Rating distribution

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Community All Reviews Statuses

Review giopep 4/5 · Oct 10, 2025

The horny Kojima approach to women was out of control and you really have to grind your teeth through it, but apart from that it’s a really good adventure game, with a fascinating setup and deep themes that are still quite relevant and thirty years ago weren’t exactly common in video games. And despite the staticness of the chosen genre, …

3 Comment

Review agersant 3/5 · Jun 27, 2022

Linear visual novel, with a few shooting sections and puzzles
Surprisingly elaborate story set in a detailed 90s anime sci-fi setting
Well-executed presentation (voice acting, anime visuals, soundtrack, cinematography)
Story often grinds to a complete halt as you are tasked with clicking every interactive element and exhausting every dialog option to continue 😥
Neither the shooting nor the puzzle sections …

1 Comment