Game Review: Pokemon Snap

Game: Pokemon Snap
Console: Nintendo 64
Developer: HAL Laborotory
Release Date: September 14th 2000 (PAL)

Listen along with the game OST as you read

Pokemon Snap, is a fun little rail shooter for the N64, where you play the part of a pokemon photographer, Todd and explore the various regions of Pokemon Island, taking pictures of all the species of Pokemon you can find. It's a fairly simple idea for a game, and a nice spin off from the main series.

So the courses in the game consist of various areas such as Beach, Tunnel, Cave, each housing different Pokemon. To begin with you only have your camera, but as the game progresses you can throw apples (or apple shaped Pokemon food as it's described), and pester balls to lure previously shy Pokemon out for a picture. The courses are nicely rendered graphics-wise, as are the Pokemon, inbetween cartoon graphics and realism. Although the early stages can be a little sparse, action-wise compared to other rail shooter games, once you are in possession of the apples to lure Pokemon out, there's a wealth of hidden ones who'll need some skill to get a snap of.

Little changes to levels on re-runs keep play interesting, along with working out the necessary actions to unlock new levels and get pictures of every species. With 7 levels to explore, and assuming you replay each level a few times, its safe to say that there's a lot to explore, even with limited environments to do so. The replay value in this game is high stage-wise; its unlikely, if not impossible that you'll have seen all a stages sights in the first play through. The long term replayability comes from the short length of the game; its a game to pick up if you need a light distraction, with an hour or so to kill. Even if you've beaten the game before, there's the challenge of finding every species and getting the best pictures of them possible.

The music is light hearted and suits each stage, keeping a safari/adventure theme throughout. The menus feature upbeat themes and evoke a Pokemon atmosphere without taking music from other games in the franchise. Sound wise, the Pokemon stay true to the anime with their cries, and there's the odd congratulation from Prof. Oak on a decent photo.

Gameplay-wise the controls are responsive and simple, and any inaccuracy with pester balls should be chalked down to lack of skill, rather than any physics issues. With various different ways to attract and lure Pokemon, all that's required is good timing and reflexes to shoot the perfect photo. Not so much a challenging game as one for the perfectionist, it's easy to get a picture of a Pokemon, but getting maximum points will take all of your concentration.

So once you've taken enough pictures of Pokemon to satisfy Professor Oak, he tells you about the signs hidden around the Island, hailing the existence of Mew, the famous Pokemon which (once you've taken photos of each sign) you are allowed to go and throw pester balls at, in the hopes of achieving a 10,000 point photograph of the little shy legendary.

So, what can we conclude from this experience? A game for Pokemon fans? Most definitely. A game that could have featured more courses? Perhaps, but the replayability of the courses already within the game (not counting the last one with Mew, unless you're a perfectionist) is high. A game that needs more Pokemon species? Again perhaps, but once you have all the pester balls and apples unlocked, there's more than enough to do on a single run, maybe a sequel to this game would solve that one.

In the end, its a nice little extension of the Pokemon world, no need for battling here, no need for badges or movesets, just a nice safari through the world of Pokemon and a relaxing photography excursion.

Rating: 80/100
Grade: B