Policenauts exists within a stange limbo state. For years only a select few outside of Japan had played it, allowing it to take on a reverence that far outweighs the game's actual quality.

Policenauts is good, don't get me wrong. It's at its best when the game is fulfilling its promises of a gritty Sci-Fi Space Detective Noire Thriller. There are some genuinely great moments of tension and mystery and these moments are made all the more fun when playing with the Sega Virtua Gun/Stunner. The story on offer here is engaging and the exhaustive amount of world-building through text is a Kojima fan's wet dream.

But.

This is Kojima at his grossest. Every woman in this game - except for one or two - can be ogled, commented on, hit on, or groped. It's frequent, uncomfortable, and at one stage required to progress the plot. I can't tell if the intent was for comedic effect, some sort of roundabout reference to eroge, or just plain perviness. Either way, it does actively hamper my enjoyment and immersion in the story and makes the overall experience noticeably worse.

If you've exhausted all other avenues for Kojima's brand of storytelling Policenauts is worth your time, but be prepared for a level of uncomfortableness. Otherwise play the much cooler, better, and less creepy (SEGA CD) SNATCHER.