This article, submitted for the TUS anniversary article contest, briefly reviews the history of "Metal Gear MK-II", a small robot designed for personal use. It made its first appearance in the cyberpunk Kojima game, "Snatcher".
Snatcher is a Cyber-punk theme adventure game written and directed by Hideo Kojima. Ever since its first release in 1988, it has been ported and remakes to many different systems, such as the PC-8801, MSX2, PC-Engine, SegaCD and Mega-CD, PlayStation, Sega Saturn. Various sci-fi and noir films heavily influenced snatcher; the most notably was Blade Runner and The Terminator. The Sega CD version was the only one that was officially translated in English, which was released into the United States on 1994.
Gillian SeedThe story's is about Mankind greatest crises, the appearance of a mysteries android life form, its purpose and origin are unknown. They appear during winter, killing humans, and an Infiltrate society by taking their place of their victims. Employing an artificial skin, they can sweat and even bleed. Part organic, partmachine, they are almost impossible to tell from those they killed. As they steal there victims bodes, in order to take their place. These mysteries invader become know as "Snatchers". Because of this problem, A special police force is setup to combat these "Snatchers". This Special Police Force is called: Japanese Undercover Neuro-Kinetic Elimination Rangers. These "JUNKER" are on a mission to discover and destroy all of the snatchers from the city of Neo Kobe. To help the JUNKER finding Snatchers,JUNKER has little analyzer robots called Navigators to assist them in their investigation to finding the Snatchers.
Metal Gear MK-II (As seen in the TGS 2005 MGS4 trailer)The most amazing thing about one of the Main character in Snatcher, is that he is a direct references to Kojima other game -Metal Gear 1-. Gillian Seed Navigator "Metal Gear Mark II" basic design and his name is from the Metal Gear menace of the late twentieth century, but quite unlike that Metal Gear this one was designed for peaceful purposes. Metal Gear Helps Gillian Seed analyze his data from his investigation to solve clues he discover while in search of Snatcher in Neo Kobe city in Japan. Metal forshort, helps Gillian with his vast programs and information help. Metal is equipped with a variety number of sensors to aid in the detection of possible danger. Metal cansassistant with On-site detection, analysis,recording, and communications, etc. In addition, these sensors can be used to perform direct physical scanning of suspected SNATCHERS if a scanning warrant has been issued. Metal is programmed to ignore orders to scan suspects from his user Gillian, if a warrant has not beengranted. Metal does not have anattacksystem and he is a completely unarmed in combat situation. The main idea behind a navigator is to assist in an investigation's datamanagement, not to fight.
Additional Information about Metal from Snatcher:
English Voice Actor: Lucy Childs.
Height: 980mm.
Length: 310mm.
Width: 530mm (including CRT).
Weight: 50kg.
Internal Capacity: 40 liters.Manufacture: Sept. 13, 2047 (in the game)
-- Article by Love of Hate, 01.11.2005
