Hold it, right there. Click! Okay, Pikachu next!
http://www.rarityguide.com/articles/articles/68/1/Hold-it-right-there-Click-Okay-Pikachu-next/Page1.html
By Douglas Shepard (Editor in Chief, RarityGuide.com)
Published on 01/21/2009
Pokemon Snap for the N64 presented something different for the legions of fans. A way to photograph a small number of the Pokemon and share their pictures with friends.
System: Nintendo 64
Title: Pokemon Snap
Publisher: Nintendo/HAL laboratory inc.
Circa: 1999
Overall Rating:
Intro
This is one of those games you just wonder about, play, and find yourself hooked for a good while. It took advantage of the Pokemon craze back in its time of origin and allowed for something not really seen since: Custom, official, Pokemon stickers. While only featuring 63 of the original 151 species of Pokemon, it was a great game to just pick up and play.
Story
You play as Todd Snap, a rising Pokemon photographer. He is recruited by Professor Oak to photograph and document all the species of Pokemon on the island. You’ve given a hover-rover (Zero One) to explore the various geographical and climate regions. You’re trying to document ALL of the various species found all over the island.
Gameplay
The Zero One moves on its own. In many ways this game is akin to a rail shooter, just with a camera. Over the course of the game you receive various items that aid in getting the move challenging pictures. Sometimes using these items is the only way to get either particular pictures of Pokemon or to encounter specific Pokemon.
Bait – Lures Pokemon out, sometimes used to get special poses: can remove obstacles.
Stink Ball – Stuns Pokemon and can force some out of hiding: can remove obstacles.
Flute – Gets any Pokemon up and dancing.
Accelerator – Zips the Zero One along the track useful for quickly locating hard to find Pokemon.
These items are given at staggered intervals, ensuring the need for repeat trips to get photos of all the Pokemon on each course. Sometimes it is recommended to make a trip through a course for one EXCLUSIVE Pokemon.
There are a good number of hidden poses you can get playing through the game. As well the final course, Rainbow Cloud, is only accessible by taking pictures of the hidden Pokemon signs. These signs are natural formations (boulders, rock-faces) that look like a Pokemon when viewed from the proper angle. Sometimes it could take a few shots, but it wasn’t ever very hard to unlock this course.
The final course only has one Pokemon, Mew. To get shots of Mew, one would first have to knock it out of its ball, which blocks all camera shots, using bait or stink balls. Then while Mew is attempting to get back into its ball, you snap pictures like mad.
Multiplayer
None. You just share pictures in real life.
Controls
Getting back into the Zero One after an extended time of no playing (about the time of the Gamecube) only required about 5 seconds remember everything. It’s simple and very easy. There’s just 2 modes of viewing. Not much requires real remembrance as well since all the buttons are clearly labeled on-screen.
Graphics
While Todd in 3D isn’t terribly impressive, the use of the animated Oak and the quality of the Pokemon themselves is very impressive. The game had a strong focus on the animation and seemed to have pulled from it heavily. It honestly contributed to the overall quality of the game greatly.
Sound Effects & Music
The sound effects are quite true to the animation of the game, Pokemon, while them using saying some form of their name. The music and sound effects both are somewhat lackluster, but usually necessary to track some Pokemon down.
Obscurity
It’s a lesser known title in an otherwise very popular series. While a Pokemon title, it didn’t garner all the usual trappings of fame that most of its game-line enjoyed.
Summary/Author’s Take
This is very simple and easy game for the more creative players to enjoy. While a good game to play for a while, that’s about all it is now. The version reviewed here has since lost its ability to print out a sheet of stickers (for $3 from Blockbuster), but there is now a Virtual console one with the ability to post and send your pictures to your friends (much the same concept without the $3 price-tag)
Title: Pokemon Snap
Publisher: Nintendo/HAL laboratory inc.
Circa: 1999
Overall Rating:
Intro
This is one of those games you just wonder about, play, and find yourself hooked for a good while. It took advantage of the Pokemon craze back in its time of origin and allowed for something not really seen since: Custom, official, Pokemon stickers. While only featuring 63 of the original 151 species of Pokemon, it was a great game to just pick up and play.
Story
You play as Todd Snap, a rising Pokemon photographer. He is recruited by Professor Oak to photograph and document all the species of Pokemon on the island. You’ve given a hover-rover (Zero One) to explore the various geographical and climate regions. You’re trying to document ALL of the various species found all over the island.
Gameplay
The Zero One moves on its own. In many ways this game is akin to a rail shooter, just with a camera. Over the course of the game you receive various items that aid in getting the move challenging pictures. Sometimes using these items is the only way to get either particular pictures of Pokemon or to encounter specific Pokemon.
Bait – Lures Pokemon out, sometimes used to get special poses: can remove obstacles.
Stink Ball – Stuns Pokemon and can force some out of hiding: can remove obstacles.
Flute – Gets any Pokemon up and dancing.
Accelerator – Zips the Zero One along the track useful for quickly locating hard to find Pokemon.
These items are given at staggered intervals, ensuring the need for repeat trips to get photos of all the Pokemon on each course. Sometimes it is recommended to make a trip through a course for one EXCLUSIVE Pokemon.
There are a good number of hidden poses you can get playing through the game. As well the final course, Rainbow Cloud, is only accessible by taking pictures of the hidden Pokemon signs. These signs are natural formations (boulders, rock-faces) that look like a Pokemon when viewed from the proper angle. Sometimes it could take a few shots, but it wasn’t ever very hard to unlock this course.
The final course only has one Pokemon, Mew. To get shots of Mew, one would first have to knock it out of its ball, which blocks all camera shots, using bait or stink balls. Then while Mew is attempting to get back into its ball, you snap pictures like mad.
Multiplayer
None. You just share pictures in real life.
Controls
Getting back into the Zero One after an extended time of no playing (about the time of the Gamecube) only required about 5 seconds remember everything. It’s simple and very easy. There’s just 2 modes of viewing. Not much requires real remembrance as well since all the buttons are clearly labeled on-screen.
Graphics
While Todd in 3D isn’t terribly impressive, the use of the animated Oak and the quality of the Pokemon themselves is very impressive. The game had a strong focus on the animation and seemed to have pulled from it heavily. It honestly contributed to the overall quality of the game greatly.
Sound Effects & Music
The sound effects are quite true to the animation of the game, Pokemon, while them using saying some form of their name. The music and sound effects both are somewhat lackluster, but usually necessary to track some Pokemon down.
Obscurity
It’s a lesser known title in an otherwise very popular series. While a Pokemon title, it didn’t garner all the usual trappings of fame that most of its game-line enjoyed.
Summary/Author’s Take
This is very simple and easy game for the more creative players to enjoy. While a good game to play for a while, that’s about all it is now. The version reviewed here has since lost its ability to print out a sheet of stickers (for $3 from Blockbuster), but there is now a Virtual console one with the ability to post and send your pictures to your friends (much the same concept without the $3 price-tag)
|
Story |
|
Photographing, not catching. |
|
Gameplay |
|
Simple. |
|
Multiplayer |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Controls |
|
Clear layout, easy to use. |
|
Graphics |
|
Ignore the people, look at the Pokemon. |
|
SFX and Music |
|
Your own music is advised. |
|
Obscurity |
|
Older Pokemon fans mostly. |
|
Overall |
|
Click, Click, Click … Pika! |
