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| Pokémon Snap | |
| Developer: | Nintendo |
| Publisher: | Nintendo |
| Release date: | July 01, 1999 |
| Genre: | First person rail shooter |
| Game modes: | Single player |
| ESRB/ELSPA ratings: | Everyone (E)/3+ |
| Platform: | Nintendo 64 |
| Media: | 64-megabyte cartridge |
Pokémon Snap is a Pokémon game released for the Nintendo 64, where the objective is to take as many quality photographs of Pokémon in their natural habitats as possible.
The player plays as the character Todd, who has also appeared in the Pokémon TV series, in which he temporarily joins up with Ash and friends to persue his career in Pokémon photography. In Pokémon Snap, he is summoned by Professor Oak to an unusual island in order to help him with a report. Professor Oak needs some good pictures for his report, and from past experiences he knows Todd is the right person for the job. He sends Todd to Pokémon Island, a large island with varying climate and geographic regions where Pokémon live mostly undisturbed by humans.
| Contents |
Gameplay
Up to 60 pictures can be taken on each course. They are rated on the Pokémon pose, if the picture is centred, the closeness to the creature and whether other Pokémon of the same type are in the photo. These add up to give a total score for the course. Various upgrades become available later on in the game. These include apples and music to attract Pokémon, and the ability to speed up the buggy.
Some have commented that it is most similar to a rail shooter in terms of gameplay. The path through the course is pre-determined, and the aim is to "shoot" as many pictures as possible.
It has been praised for its originality and fresh ideas. It has also been criticized for only including 60 out of the 151 Pokémon around at the time, and only having 7 levels (with limited replay value).
Scoring
When a stage is finished, the pictures taken are shown to Professor Oak and he evaluates them using the following criteria:
- Size
This category concerns the size of the Pokémon on the screen. If it is too small or goes over the edge of the picture, full points are not given.
- Pose
This evaluates the pose the Pokémon is presenting on the picture. It is influenced by both the Pester ball and the Poké Flute.
- Technique
To obtain maximum points in this category, the subject must be on the middle of the shot.
- Other Pokémon
If there are two or more of the same Pokémon, a bonus is given.
Items
- Pokémon Food
These are simply red apples. They can be used to either knock a Pokémon, lure it or interact with the courses.
- Pester Ball
A gas-filled Pokéball-like device that can be thrown at Pokémon to trigger certain reactions, also interacting with some courses.
- Poké Flute
Using the flute will make most Pokémon react to it by starting dancing, performing special moves or doing some other unusual action.
- Speed Up
Very useful on the re-runs of the courses, this item will make your Zero-One travel a lot faster than originally.
Courses
The Beach: Your adventure begins on the beach, but this is not a holiday. There are Pokemon all over the place to snap, including sleeping Snorlax, Surfing Pikachu and a Meowth getting attacked by Pidgeys.
The Tunnel: Once there was an old power plant here, but it has now been abandoned and is home to mostly electric Pokemon. Be on the look out for Zapdos.
The Volcano: The action is hotting up as Todd rolls into the the island's volcano. Fire Pokemon rule in this zone and the only other Pokemon here is a Magikarp. Be on the watch for a large fire egg- rumor has it that inside is a young Moltres just itching to be born.
The River: After the heat of the volcano, it is time to cool off in this peaceful river. The good thing is that you have control over Zero One in this course.
The Cave: It's dark and mysterious in the cave. Many different Pokemon await your arrival. Can you save Jigglypuff and Pikachu from Koffing and Zubat, and help a young Articuno break free of its shell?
The Valley: Fasten your safety belts and clench your camera! It's gonna be a bumpy ride down the crazy river rapids.
The Rainbow Cloud: The final place to snap Pokemon, well actually, only one: Mew!
Pokémon Signs
These act like secrets that the player must find in order to fully explore the game. There is one per course (except on Rainbow Cloud):
- Beach - Kingler - Rocky formation on the beginning of the course, to find it look to the left and a bit to the back.
- Tunnel - Pinsir - A shadow found on the right-side wall almost at the end of the course, if you released Zapdos from the egg.
- Volcano - Koffing - Appearing in the form of purple smoke with pester balls are thrown into a certain volcano in the start of the course.
- River - Cubone - Large rock formation on the right bank of the river and hidden behind the smoke of the flower (Vileplume).
- Cave - Mewtwo - Seemingly stars of light at mid-course, they later reveal to be a constellation of Mewtwo if photographed.
- Valley - Dugtrio - The easiest to spot of them all. It's the three mountains very close together ahead, when the course starts.
Pokémon In The Game
- Bulbasaur: A blue Pokemon with a bulb on it's back. Located in the River and Cave (the latter are actually disguised Ditto).
- Charmander: A small orange lizard with a flaming tail. Located in the Volcano.
- Chameleon: A red lizard with a flaming tail. Located in the Volcano.
- Charizard: A large dragon with a flaming tail. Located in the Volcano.
- Squirtle: A blue turtle Pokemon. Located in the Valley.
- Metapod: A green cocoon Pokemon. Located in the River.
- Butterfree: A purple butterfly. Located in the Beach.
- Kakuna: A yellow cocoon Pokemon. Located in the Tunnel.
- Pidgey: A small brown bird. Located in the Beach.
- Pikachu: A cute yellow mouse. Located in the Beach, Tunnel, River & Cave.
- Sandshrew: A armadillo Pokemon. Located in the Valley.
- Sandslash: A sharp clawed hedgehog. Located in the Valley.
- Vulpix: A orange fox with six tails. Located in the Volcano.
- Jigglypuff: A pink round Pokemon with big eyes. Located in the Cave.
- Zubat: A blue bat Pokemon. Located in the Tunnel and Cave.
- Vileplume: A blue plant wearing a large pink flower. Located in the River.
- Diglett: A small mole Pokemon. Located in the Tunnel.
- Dugtrio: A cluster of three moles: Located in the Tunnel.
- Meowth: A white cat Pokemon. Located in the Beach.
- Psyduck: A yellow duck with a constant headache. Located in the River.
- Mankey: A small monkey with a pig nose. Located in the Valley.
- Growlithe: A puppy Pokemon with striped fur. Located in the Volcano.
- Arcanine: A large dog Pokemon with striped fur. Located in the Volcano.
- Poliwag: A tadpole Pokemon. Located in the River.
- Weepinbell: A large flycatcher Pokemon. Located in the Cave.
- Victreebel: A vicious flycatcher Pokemon. Located in the Cave.
- Geodude: A living rock with arms. Located in the Valley.
- Graveler: A bulky rock Pokemon. Located in the Valley.
- Rapidash: A horse Pokemon with a fiery mane. Located in the Volcano.
- Slowpoke: A pink beaver-like Pokemon. Located in the River.
- Slowbro: Slowpoke wearing a shell on his tail. Located in the River.
- Magnemite: A one-eyed magnet Pokemon. Located in the Tunnel.
- Magneton: A trio of magnet Pokemon. Located in the Tunnel.
- Doduo: A two-heade ostrich Pokemon. Located in the Beach.
- Grimer: A brown sludge Pokemon. Located in the Cave.
- Muk: A grey sludge Pokemon. Located in the Cave.
- Shellder: A clam Pokemon sticking out it's tongue. Located in the River.
- Cloyster: A large clam Pokemon. Located in the River.
- Haunter: A spooky ghost Pokemon. Located in the Tunnel.
- Electrode: A red and white Pokemon that looks like a Pokeball. Located in the Tunnel.
- Koffing: A floating purple gas ball. Located in the Tunnel.
- Chansey: A pink egg-shaped Pokemon. Located in the Beach.
- Kangaskhan: A brown kangaroo complete with child. Located in the Beach.
- Goldeen: A elegeant goldfish Pokemon. Located in the Valley.
- Staryu: A golden starfish Pokemon. Located in the Valley.
- Starmie: A purple starfish Pokemon. Located in the Valley.
- Scyther: A green mantis Pokemon. Located in the Beach.
- Jynx: A weird Pokemon resembling an opera singer. Located in the Cave.
- Electabuzz: A yellow and black Pokemon. Located in the Tunnel.
- Magmar: A dragon-like fire Pokemon. Located in the Volcano.
- Magikarp: A floppy red fish. Located in every level except Rainbow Cloud.
- Gyarados: A raging blue sea dragon. Located in the Valley.
- Lapras: A gentle blue water Pokemon. Located in the Beach.
- Ditto: A pink blob. Located in the Cave. (disguised as Bulbasaur).
- Eevee: A cute brown fox-tailed Pokemon. Located in the Beach.
- Porygon: A virtual man-made Pokemon. Located in the River.
- Snorlax: A fat sleeping Pokemon. Located in the Beach.
- Articuno: A legendary blue bird. Located in the Cave.
- Zapdos: A legendary yellow bird. Located in the Tunnel.
- Moltres: A legendary flaming winged bird. Located in the Volcano.
- Dratini: A small dragon Pokemon. Located in the Valley.
- Dragonite: A large cute dragon Pokemon. Located in the Valley.
- Mew: A legendary pink cat-like Pokemon. Located in the Rainbow Cloud.
External Links
- Official Nintendo Pokémon site (http://www.pokemon.com)
- Pokémon Snap - Game Info - GameFAQs (http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/n64/data/23131.html)
- IGN's coverage of Pokémon Snap (http://ign64.ign.com/objects/002/002335.html?ui=gamefinder)
- Pokémon Snap - Unofficial rankings - Cyberscore (http://www.cyberscore.net/game.php?game_id=142)