THE DEFINITIVE VERSION™ OF
POLICENAUTS
More of an interactive buddy-cop film than a game, Policenauts is an extremely fun and surprisingly deep time capsule that is heavily inspired by 80s western cinema such as Lethal Weapon, and Bladerunner.
RELEASES
PC-98 - 1994
| PROS: | - Unique dither-style pixel art |
| CONS: | - Non-FMV cutscenes |
| NOTES: | - No English translation |
3DO - 1995
| PROS: | - Higher frame rate than PlayStation
- Mouse Support |
| CONS: | - Worst video compression |
| NOTES: | - No English translation |
PLAYSTATION - 1996
| PROS: | - Highest console resolution 
- Mouse Support |
| CONS: | - Censored [Minor sexual content]
- Low framerate FMV cutscenes |
| NOTES: | - Port of the 3DO Version |
SATURN - 1996
| PROS: | - Additional flashbacks sequences
- Lightgun support
- Higher frame rate cutscenes
- In-game database
- Mouse Support |
| CONS: | - 260p Resolution [accurate?] |
| NOTES: | - Play on a CRT or use a shader |
ADDITIONAL RELEASES
| PSP - 2008 | - Emulated PlayStation version |
| PS3 - 2008 | - Emulated PlayStation version |
| PS VITA - 2012 | - Emulated PlayStation version |
NOTABLE DIFFERENCES
ART STYLE
PC-98 vs Console art style.
DEFINITIVE VERSION™
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I had to play this so many times to make my final decision, but Sega Saturn managed to edge out the PlayStation and is no doubt the Definitive Version of Policenauts. I was ultimately swayed by both the higher framerate FMV sequences, and the use of the lightgun; not to mention the additional and less censored content.
I don't think you should sleep on the PC-98 version, and it might be worth grabbing a translator app and giving it a go as the graphics are highly stylized and are considered somewhat of a lost artform.
Pro-tip: Use a mouse, the controller acceleration just never feels right.
SUPPLEMENTAL
CITATIONS
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