The Nintendo 64 era brought a lot of magic to gamers in the late 90’s. If you weren’t crazy about the likes of Super Mario 64, Goldeneye 007 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, then something offbeat probably got your attention, Like Pokémon Snap. This photograph-friendly adventure was a big hit in the classic gaming era, but, surprisingly enough, neither Nintendo nor The Pokémon Company felt the need to bring it back, despite fan demand. However, that changed this morning when a new Pokémon Snap game was confirmed during the latest Pokémon special. Though details are light at the moment – the game is currently in active development with no release date – the prospect of Snap’s return is a pretty big deal for some. But why? Well, there are a few things to consider with its debut on the Switch.
Finally, A New (But Old) Kind of Pokémon Adventure
While Pokémon games have been rather engaging to fans, there’s something about Pokémon Snap that remains truly addictive. Perhaps it’s finding the best opportunity to take the greatest pictures you possibly can within this world; or the mere challenge of stacking up points as you attempt to snap a pic of the rarest of Pokémon creatures. It’s not your typical adventure in the franchise, and that’s a big reason why folks like it so much. Plus, being on the Switch, some new features could be added to enhance its gameplay.
For example, with the system’s Gyro sensors, you can actually use your Switch like a real-time camera, getting the right focus on in-game characters to attain the best picture imaginable. For that matter, you can configure gameplay with the Pro Controller or JoyCons and really make the experience feel like all your own. But then there’s another feature that could skyrocket this game beyond the legacy of the original Nintendo 64 release – and that’s community.
Gotta Share ‘Em All
With Pokémon Snap on the Switch, players should be able to easily go on the Nintendo Switch Online page and share their pictures with others. That would vastly open up the game’s community, as you can flip through pages of Pokémon pics taken by friends and newcomers. Granted, you might learn a little too much about some of these users, like an unhealthy obsession with Psyduck. (Yeah, we know you’re out there.) But still, this could not only open up users that play the game, but also Switch Online subscribers as well.
It will be a far cry from the sharing features for the N64 version of the game, which required you to take your memory card to a nearby Blockbuster (remember them?!) and print them out to show to your friends. Hopefully, we’ll see some feature that lets us do that from the comfort of our own home, so we can adorn our walls with pictures of all Pokémon. (And, suffice to say, not just Psyduck.)
Will There Be a Story As Well?
While Pokémon Snap worked very well in its simplicity, the Nintendo Switch version has a great opportunity here. It could include some form of storyline that could tie in with the current Pokémon games. This isn’t confirmed, by any means, but look at the current arc available in Pokémon Sword and Shield, particularly with its DLC. The Pokémon Company could have a field day throwing in a story that requires players to look for particular Pokémon types, or maybe even seek out hidden routes. That could open up Snap’s replay value significantly. If not, hey, sometimes simple works. Just cruising through the islands and snapping pics of every Pokémon you lay your eyes on will add up to hours of fun; and you might even be able to compete with friends in real-time to see who can get the best score out there.
Gotta Catch ‘Em All, Soon Enough
It’ll be a while before we see how Pokémon Snap shapes up for the Switch. But the possibilities are endless, between new features to bring other players into the fold; more Pokémon types; additional routes; and additions to gameplay. It obviously will be a welcome title to both N64 fans and die-hard Pokémon players, whenever it does arrive. You can get more details on the official page here.
In the meantime, we suggest checking out the original N64 version. It’ll deliver some retro goods as you go through your summer days, while getting you prepared for the new adventure ahead. It’s just a shame Blockbuster isn’t open anymore. Hey, maybe they can come back as well…?
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