- JP release: 21st March 1999
- NA: release: 26th July 1999
- PAL release: 23rd March 2000 (AUS), 15th September 2000 (EUR)
- Developer: HAL Laboratory
- Publisher: Nintendo
- N64 Magazine Score: 80%
This is a game I had as a kid, and I ended up trading it in (for a Robot Wars game on Game Boy, for all things) because of how much is annoyed me. All these years later, I still have the same major problem with the game: I can’t push back my ideals of a great photo in favour of what the game likes to have as a great photo.
Pokémon Snap is an on-rails shooter where you shoot Pokémon…with a camera (I’m sure that joke has been done many times before). Your vehicle moves on its own, but you can look in all directions to try and take photos of pokémon. Throughout the game, you will unlock apples, bombs and a flute that let you manipulate pokémon to get them into special poses, or to cause new ones to appear. This aspect of the game is the best part, as its a puzzle to solve.
At the end of each level, Professor Oak grades you on your photos. They have to be in the centre of the screen, take up most of the photo and ideally be striking a pose. You also get additional points for additional photos of the same pokémon in the same photo – other types don’t count. Which is my biggest issue with the game, especially as the game sets up many nice photos of multiple types – such as a diglet and pikachu playing together.
Solving the puzzle aspects of Pokémon Snap is a lot of fun, but I really don’t like the actual photography part of it.
Fun
Pokémon Snap also has the distinction of being the best realisation of the Pokémmon universe to date. The locations are perfect – familiar and yet somehow other-worldly. The monsters behave just like you’d expect them to, and are cute beyond belief. Plus, there’s a challenging and engrossing game to play.
Martin Kitts, N64 Magazine #45
Remake or Remaster?
Recreating these levels in New Pokémon Snap as additional content would have been nice.
Official Ways to get the game
There is no way to buy a new copy of Pokémon Snap the only official way to play is to rent it via the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pak.
Re-releases
2007: Wii Virtual Console
2016: Wii U Virtual Console
2022: Nintendo Switch Online (Subscription Only)
Europe
Japan
North America
N64 Games by Date
1997: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
1998: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
1999: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
2000: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
That’s the thing though… it isn’t really a joke at all. Pokemon Snap is basically a Star Fox game, with a very heavy emphasis on scoring and optimisation of said scoring. Granted, it lacks the ability to duck & weave through enemy fire and the surrounding environment, but the set of items that you get gives you enough ability to interact with the environment & choose/alter your path to make up for this and seperate it from your typical light gun game. I’ve said it many times before and I still believe this.
This is the biggest part of the game’s appeal that most people do not understand (and indeed, something that Namco failed to understand with its Switch sequel; as they turned it into more of a sleepy safari photography game). Pokemon Snap is an arcade score-attack rail shooter, just wearing a photography skin. Everything involving the photography aspect of the game is just mere window dressing around the core rail-shooter gameplay. It’s a proper rush to see those scores multiply as you game the system to achieve the most optimal photos possible 😀
If I have any major flaw to levy against the game though? It’s that there is an optimal path to take with each stage; with only certain types of photos leading to the best possible score. I’d chalk this one up to an overall lack of Pokemon variety and a limited number of stages, with only a mere 63 Pokemon being available in-game and just 6 stages in total… a casualty of being moved from 64DD to standard N64 cartridge no doubt.
Either way, I still love the hell out of the original N64 game; it really does help scratch that Star Fox itch :hehe:
Well you see, most people just don’t understand it’s basically a Star Fox game. 😉
Was hovering over Pokémon Snap on NSO yesterday evening. Would have hopped on it for a refresher had I known it was next in line for this thread.