Pokémon Snap

Encyclopedia : P : PO : POK : Pokémon Snap

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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.

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 environs.

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.

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.

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 Pokemon Signs.

Levels

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 contains the hidden likeness of a certain pokémon in the environ (called a "Pokémon Sign"). When the player photographs them all and presents them to Professor Oak, the seventh level is unlocked.

Level 1: Beach

Todd's adventure begins on the beach. However, he has no time to relax. There are pokémon all over the place to photograph, including a sleeping Snorlax, surfing Pikachu, and Meowth being gusted by Pidgey.

Todd's description: What a sunny beach. It looks great! I should get some awesome shots there!
Pokémon Sign: Kingler - A rocky formation at the beginning of the course. The player must pass the rocks (and look back over their left shoulder) to be at the proper angle to see it.

Level 2: Tunnel

Once there was an old power plant here, but it has now been abandoned and is home to mostly electric pokémon. Be on the lookout for Zapdos.

Todd's description: There used to be a Power Plant in this long, dark tunnel. I can't wait to check it out!
Pokémon Sign: Pinsir - A shadow cast on a wall of the right side of the course (very near the end). The player must release Zapdos from its egg beforehand.

Level 3: Volcano

The action heats up as Todd rolls into the island's volcano. Fire types are the only sort of pokémon that can handle the intense temperatures within the crater. Be on the lookout for a large egg; rumor has it that inside is a young Moltres itching to be born.

Todd's description: The boiling magma here makes this place very hot. I'm sweating already!
Pokémon Sign: Koffing - Throwing a pester ball into a certain volcano near the start of the course results in a Koffing-shaped gust of purple smoke.

Level 4: River

After the heat of the volcano, it is time to cool off with a lazy ride down a peaceful river. In this course, the player can guide the Zero-One between the river's banks.

Todd's description: The river here is flowing gently. Someone might be hiding nearby...
Pokémon Sign: Cubone - A large rock formation on the right bank of the river hidden behind the smoke of Vileplume's flower.

Level 5: Cave

It's dark and mysterious in the cave. Many different Pokémon await your arrival. Can you save Jigglypuff and Pikachu from Koffing and Zubat, and help a young Articuno break free of its shell?

Todd's description: This is a scary-looking cave. I bet if I listen carefully, I'll hear lots of strange noises.
Pokémon Sign: Mewtwo - Seemingly stars of light mid-course. When the picture is later developed they are revealed to compose a Mewtwo-shaped constellation.

Level 6: Valley

Todd better fasten his safety belt and hold onto his camera! It's a bumpy, wild ride down the river rapids that carved out this valley.

Todd's description: This river is rapid! I'll have to concentrate hard, or I could miss a good shot!
Pokémon Sign: Dugtrio - Three mountains in the shape of Dugtrio at the very beginning of the course.

Level 7: Rainbow Cloud

The culmination of Todd's adventure: a chance to snap the most elusive of the original 151 pokémon, Mew! The challenge is no longer to find the pokémon, but to penetrate its psychic aura that spoils the exposure.

Todd's description: This is a secret course... In that case, I should find the rarest pokémon!
Pokémon Sign: None, although the first six can be seen as constellations in the night sky.

• Mew

Critical reception

Pokémon Snap has been praised for its originality and fresh ideas. 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). Pokémon Snap has been criticized for including only 60 of the original 151 pokémon and having only seven levels.

Sticker promotion

Upon the game's release, Nintendo launched a marketing gimmick 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 and Lawson in Japan 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 Thanksgiving 1999 in more than 4,500 Blockbuster stores.["Nintendo Strikes Blockbuster Deal"]. IGN. 13 May 1999. Retrieved 11 May 2006.

Trivia

• The music in the Cave level is a remix of the file select music from .
• Pokémon Snap was originally shown as a Nintendo 64DD game.["Pokemon Snap Moves to Cart"]. IGN. 6 January 1999. Retrieved 21 May 2006.
• The Zero-One vehicle is featured as a trophy in Super Smash Bros. Melee.
• Todd Snap also appeared in the Pokémon TV series.

References

External links

• [Official Nintendo Pokémon site]
• [Pokémon Snap game profile] at Nintendo.com
• [Pokémon Snap] at GameFAQs
• [IGN's coverage of Pokémon Snap]

 

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