So let me start this review out by venturing into a slight history lesson of the personal sort. Why, you ask? Well, it’s my blog and I feel like setting the scene.
I never owned an N64 growing up. PSOne, sure. Gameboy Color, you bet your ass. But N64, not so much. For this reason, my previous experience with Pokémon Snap before this past weekend amounted to an hour at a friend’s house, where at the age of twelve we were too preoccupied with online chat rooms to stay too focused. This brings me to nearly fifteen years later (feel old yet?) and my next experience with Pokémon Snap.
Original N64 box art. Colorful enough?
Pokémon Snap should be used by gamers as olives are for wine tasters; a good palate cleanser. From my experience, I cannot recall many (if any) games I’ve played that have had the same effect on me as Snap. It’s just relaxing. The premise behind Pokémon Snap (for the uninitiated) is simple. You take the role of an up and coming Pokémon photographer and are selected by an eager Professor Oak to help him complete his Pokémon Report. Much like other Pokémon games, you are tasked to complete the hard work while Oakey bastes in the results. Lazy fucker.
A doduo? Snap him quick!
To sum up the gameplay, think on-rails shooter minus the death/murder. The objective is to photograph (or snap!) different types of Pokémon in different poses. Sounds simple enough right? It should, because it is. To help you in your challenge, players unlock items such as an apple (to attract Pokémon), a Pester Ball (to shock Pokémon out of cover) and a Flute (to cause certain Pokémon to react with new poses). The game gets interesting when pushing to uncover all Pokémon available. Scenarios such as attracting a Slowpoke to the river’s edge so that it may dip its tail in the river, get bit by a Shellder, and hence, evolve into a Slowbro, are the game’s best moments.
Pokémon Snap is not a difficult game. Far from it in fact. You proceed through the levels at a leisurely pace, trying to spot Pokémon doing interesting things while aiming for higher scoring photos. There’s no impending doom compelling you on. No rival to best. Not even a boss to challenge you. It’s just a nice time in the woods/volcano/river/etc. taking photographs.
Some slight detractions from the game include the total amount of Pokémon present and the length, however, after snapping all 63 available Pokémon in the five hours it took me; I had one prominent feeling: satisfaction. I’m not sure if there are many other games out there that compare to Pokémon Snap, but the idea of a HD version of a similar game has my mouth watering.
Want this in 1080p? Of course you do!
To sum up my impressions: Pokémon Snap is a good game. Maybe not great. Definitely not bad. But certainly enjoyable. I very much recommend to anyone who has yet to experience it to give it a shot. A general affection for (or nostalgia towards) Pokémon is not completely required but obviously helps the experience.
No scores here folks but I’ll give it the good ol’ fashioned Moriarty two-thumbs up!
Let me know what you think in the comments.
Later
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