Pokémon Snap

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Pokémon Snap
Pokémon Snap box cover
Developer(s) HAL Laboratory
Publisher(s) Nintendo
Release date(s) Japan March 21, 1999
United States July 27, 1999
Canada July 27, 1999
European Union September 15, 2000
Genre(s) First person rail shooter
Mode(s) Single player
Rating(s) ESRB: Everyone (E)
ELSPA: 3+
Platform(s) Nintendo 64, Wii Virtual Console
Media 128Mb (16MB) cartridge
Input Nintendo 64 controller

Pokémon Snap (ポケモンスナップ Pokemon Sunappu?) is a video game developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. It is part of the Pokémon series, and was first released in North America on July 27, 1999.

Contents

[edit] Story

Todd Snap, a fledgling Pokémon photographer is summoned by Professor Oak to an unusual island in order to help him with a report. Oak needs quality pictures to accompany his scientific findings, and from past experience knows Todd is the right person for the job. Pokémon Island, which contains a variety of climatic and geographic regions, is a place where Pokémon live relatively undisturbed by humans. Using a motorized, amphibious buggy named the Zero-One, Todd explores the island and takes photographs of the wide variety of Pokémon that inhabit its environments.

[edit] Gameplay

From Professor Oak's central research hub, the player can select between the game's various levels and features using a menu system. The path through the levels is largely pre-determined, and is similar to a rail shooter. Up to 60 pictures can be taken on each course. After completing a course, the player selects their best pictures to present to Professor Oak. He rates the photographs on a variety of criterion and gives the picture an overall score. Scoring well in Oak's report and photographing a wide variety of Pokémon is vital to progressing in the game.

[edit] Scoring

Professor Oak evaluates Todd's photographs on the following criteria:

  • Special: if the Pokémon is in an interesting situation or performing some sort of attack an automatic bonus is awarded.
  • Size: this category concerns the size of the Pokémon in the frame. If it is too small or goes over the edge of the picture, full points are not given.
  • Pose: this evaluates the Pokémon's pose. It is influenced by Pokémon Food, Pester Balls, and the Poké Flute.
  • Technique: if the subject is centered in the snapshot, points for everything other than "other Pokémon" are doubled.
  • Other Pokémon: If there are two or more of the same Pokémon in the frame, a bonus is given.

[edit] Items

Items received from Professor Oak serve two purposes in Pokémon Snap: the first is to interact with Pokémon and the environment, resulting in new and better pictures. The second is for convenience. All items must be unlocked by meeting certain in-game criteria.

  • Pokémon Food: Red apples the player can lob into the environment. They can be used to provoke a positive reaction from Pokémon. It can also be used to lure or hit a target and interact with the level. To unlock this item the player must score 14,000 points in the Pokémon Report.
  • Pester Ball: A gas-filled device that can be thrown at Pokémon to provoke a negative reaction. It can also be used to incapacitate a target or interact with the level. To unlock this item the player must score 75,000 points in the Pokémon Report.
  • Poké Flute: Playing the flute will usually affect Pokémon that do not respond to food or the pester ball. The music may cause the target to wake up, dance, or perform some other unusual action. To unlock this upgrade the player must score 175,000 points in the Pokémon Report.
  • Dash Engine: This item allows the Zero-One to travel at a faster pace. It is not only convenient but, if used industriously, can be used to strategically place the vehicle for better shots. To unlock this item, Professor Oak must explain the existence of the Pokémon Signs.

[edit] Levels

Mew playfully floats in front of Todd's camera in the final level.
Enlarge
Mew playfully floats in front of Todd's camera in the final level.

Pokémon Snap only features seven levels. However, the staggered acquisition of items from Professor Oak ensures that the player must re-explore the courses to discover new material. Any of the first six levels has immense replay value if the gamer hopes to locate hidden Pokémon, alternate routes, or photographic opportunities that yield the best scores. Each of the first six levels (Beach, Tunnel, Volcano, River, Cave, Valley) contains the hidden likeness of a certain Pokémon in the environment (called a "Pokémon Sign"). When the player photographs all the signs and presents them to Professor Oak, the seventh level (Rainbow Cloud) is unlocked.

[edit] Pokémon

Here are all Pokémon featured in the game, organized by the levels they appear in.

[edit] Beach

[edit] Tunnel

[edit] Volcano

[edit] River

[edit] Cave

[edit] Valley

[edit] Rainbow Cloud

[edit] Critical reception

Pokémon Snap has been praised for its originality and fresh ideas.[citation needed] The game is also praised for its high production value, such as featuring voice-acting for each individual Pokémon (corresponding with their voices in the animated series).[citation needed] Pokémon Snap has, however, been criticized for including only 63 of the original 151 Pokémon and having only seven levels.[1]

[edit] Sticker promotion

Upon the game's release, Nintendo launched a marketing campaign in which owners of Pokémon Snap could bring the game cartridge to a retail store and print a sheet of 16 stickers featuring the photos they'd taken. Nintendo partnered with Blockbuster in North America, Lawson in Japan and Toys "R" Us and Myer in Australia for the promotion. Stores in these franchises carried "Pokémon Stations" which could print the stickers for a fee of three United States dollars. In North America, the promotion ran through the US Thanksgiving of 1999 in more than 4,500 Blockbuster stores.[2]

[edit] Trivia

[edit] References

  1. ^ Casamassina, Matt. "Pokémon Snap review". IGN. 27 July 1999. Retrieved 15 August 2006.
  2. ^ "Nintendo Strikes Blockbuster Deal". IGN. 13 May 1999. Retrieved 11 May 2006.
  3. ^ "Pokemon Snap Moves to Cart". IGN. 6 January 1999. Retrieved 21 May 2006.

[edit] External links

Pokémon video games
v • d • e
Red, Blue and Green • Yellow • Gold and Silver • Crystal • Ruby and Sapphire • FireRed and LeafGreen • Emerald • Diamond and Pearl
Stadium • Stadium 2 • Colosseum • XD • Battle Revolution
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