One of the most popular topics of video game discussion, online or otherwise, is the "dream sequel". Almost everyone involved in gaming knows that there are always people clamoring for a remaster, remake, or, for the most ambitious, full sequel to one of their favorite games. Naturally, a popular title mentioned in these discussions was Pokemon Snap, an N64 game which focused on on-rails photography. It was one of the most popular on the console, and its strong presence at game rental stores like Blockbuster (where you could even print out your best photos) naturally endured it to a generation of fledgling Pokemon fans. And in the 20 years following its release, particularly the last few years, calls for a sequel only intensified. To many it was a no-brainer, some even claiming the only reason to not make a sequel would be because Nintendo "doesn't like money". Alas, when all hope seemed lost, New Pokemon Snap was announced for the Nintendo Switch. Finally! Millions of fans would finally have the sequel they were waiting for. And...it sold almost a million less copies on the vastly more popular Switch than the original did two decades ago. This is why the fans aren't in charge of Nintendo.
Okay, maybe that's a bit harsh. New Pokemon Snap is a much welcome update to the Pokemon spinoff series, and in a way, it's just as monumental a title as the original was back in 1999. The original was the first time that Pokemon were rendered in 3D, while in New Pokemon Snap, it's the first time that Pokemon have actually looked good in 3D. These are the visuals every fan of the series hopes for; the environments are impressively detailed and diverse, and traversing a course for the first time is more about taking in the atmosphere than it is trying to get your best photo. That's not to say its perfect-there are still moments of slow downs or frame drops-but there isn't a mainline title in the series that can compete with NPS visually. Pokemon has always been at its best when its focused on exploration, and this game has that in spades. There's a significant wealth of content here, and discovering different Pokemon behavior, and what it takes to create it, is charming and satisfying. And for those that get confused, the newly added requests feature is useful is nudging players in the right direction.
It's also just got such a nice casual feel that makes it a breeze to play. The first few hours of New Pokemon Snap, while you're getting into the swing of picture composition, are great fun. It retains that old school feel of the original with just enough new features to retain its charm, while not deviating from the formula too much. If there was one complaint about Pokemon Snap, it was that it was too short; you won't be hearing the same about this title. For completionists, that leads to a lot of content, most of which is good. The method of unlocking it does get a little stale, though. Each route requires a certain amount of exp. to level up and see more Pokemon, and while the promise of more densely packed routes waiting to be unlocked is promising, progression really takes longer than it needs to, and as a result, the game's pacing starts to drag toward the latter half. Pokemon games are no stranger to mandated grinding, but its not something you'd expect (nor want) to see in what is supposed to be a lighthearted, casual spinoff.
This is compounded by the new photo rating system, which categorizes behavior captured in photos into 4 groups. This is where the game gets a lot of its bulk from, and while its not a fundamental issue, its implementation means that making progress in this game takes longer than it probably should. If you want to get the most experience, you'll need to photograph Pokemon acting 4 different ways, and since only one picture can be submitted per species per round, completing just a single Pokemon's profile will take at least 4 attempts. These are lovely courses no doubt, but they are basically the same thing every time, and aren't exciting or dense enough to hold up to repeat inspection. There's a speed up function given late in the game which definitely helps the tedium, but the fact you unlock it only a few stages prior to the end of the game means that most players won't get to fully utilize it. There's also, bizarrely, a story, which doesn't add much to the game other than dragging out the length even more.
Even if New Pokemon Snap didn't exactly have the sales that the pre-announcement hype would have led you to believe, it would be unfair to call it a failure. Indeed, NPS is a title that harkens back to the days of simpler games, and brings that charm back with it. Some of the uniqueness, like Pokemon evolutions, may have been removed, but on a whole it's an improvement on the original, even if it does get dry towards the end. New Pokemon Snap has enough addicting and relaxed fun for any fan of the franchise, and as a Switch title, one of the best on the console.
Okay, maybe that's a bit harsh. New Pokemon Snap is a much welcome update to the Pokemon spinoff series, and in a way, it's just as monumental a title as the original was back in 1999. The original was the first time that Pokemon were rendered in 3D, while in New Pokemon Snap, it's the first time that Pokemon have actually looked good in 3D. These are the visuals every fan of the series hopes for; the environments are impressively detailed and diverse, and traversing a course for the first time is more about taking in the atmosphere than it is trying to get your best photo. That's not to say its perfect-there are still moments of slow downs or frame drops-but there isn't a mainline title in the series that can compete with NPS visually. Pokemon has always been at its best when its focused on exploration, and this game has that in spades. There's a significant wealth of content here, and discovering different Pokemon behavior, and what it takes to create it, is charming and satisfying. And for those that get confused, the newly added requests feature is useful is nudging players in the right direction.
It's also just got such a nice casual feel that makes it a breeze to play. The first few hours of New Pokemon Snap, while you're getting into the swing of picture composition, are great fun. It retains that old school feel of the original with just enough new features to retain its charm, while not deviating from the formula too much. If there was one complaint about Pokemon Snap, it was that it was too short; you won't be hearing the same about this title. For completionists, that leads to a lot of content, most of which is good. The method of unlocking it does get a little stale, though. Each route requires a certain amount of exp. to level up and see more Pokemon, and while the promise of more densely packed routes waiting to be unlocked is promising, progression really takes longer than it needs to, and as a result, the game's pacing starts to drag toward the latter half. Pokemon games are no stranger to mandated grinding, but its not something you'd expect (nor want) to see in what is supposed to be a lighthearted, casual spinoff.
This is compounded by the new photo rating system, which categorizes behavior captured in photos into 4 groups. This is where the game gets a lot of its bulk from, and while its not a fundamental issue, its implementation means that making progress in this game takes longer than it probably should. If you want to get the most experience, you'll need to photograph Pokemon acting 4 different ways, and since only one picture can be submitted per species per round, completing just a single Pokemon's profile will take at least 4 attempts. These are lovely courses no doubt, but they are basically the same thing every time, and aren't exciting or dense enough to hold up to repeat inspection. There's a speed up function given late in the game which definitely helps the tedium, but the fact you unlock it only a few stages prior to the end of the game means that most players won't get to fully utilize it. There's also, bizarrely, a story, which doesn't add much to the game other than dragging out the length even more.
Even if New Pokemon Snap didn't exactly have the sales that the pre-announcement hype would have led you to believe, it would be unfair to call it a failure. Indeed, NPS is a title that harkens back to the days of simpler games, and brings that charm back with it. Some of the uniqueness, like Pokemon evolutions, may have been removed, but on a whole it's an improvement on the original, even if it does get dry towards the end. New Pokemon Snap has enough addicting and relaxed fun for any fan of the franchise, and as a Switch title, one of the best on the console.