Pokemon SnapPokemon Snap is a camera game. While it sounds lame at first, this proves to be addicting as soon as play begins. You're a Pokemon photographer, in a cart on tracks, taking pictures of rare and common Pokemon to show to Professor Oak. Oak then rates your pics on several factors. They are....
Size- How much of the frame the Pokemom takes up, large=higher points.
Pose- If it's flying or running. Special ones include exploded Electrode, angry Kangaskhan etc... If it's a picture of a Pokemon's backside, very few points are given.
Technique- Multiplies score by two if Pokemon is in the middle of the frame.
Special Pokemon- Surfing Pikachu and Singing Jigglypuff are some examples. Special Pokemon give a set bonus.
Same Species- If there are more of the same Pokemon in the picture, you can get more points.
Really a lot goes into it, and getting high scores for rarer Pokemon can be tough. Let's begin the review.
I like the graphics on this game. More than on Stadium. Seeing the Pokemon in their natural element is nice, and the visuals are pretty good. This game has less of the sharp, blocky graphics you see on most N64 games and really runs smoothly.
Sound is somewhat nice. The music is kind of meh, but Professor Oak's high pitched, "Welcome back!" is a real gut buster. A lot of Pokemon cries can be heard in the field, which is more realistic.
This game is addicting. I spent hours trying to get good pics of my favorite Pokemon, which is no easy task, as rarer ones like Gyarados and Scyther can be tough to find. To put it shortly, this game is fun. Really fun. Hitting Snorlax with Apples is fun. Throwing Pester Balls at Bulbasaur only to find that they're Dittos, is fun. Trying to get a pic of Mew is hard. And fun. I don't know why but I often go back to the game and take pics of Pokemon even if I know it won't net me a higher score. It's just addicting. Maybe it's my biased Snap-obsessed self, but this one earns a ten.
As fun as Snap is, it does fall flat in one department. Out of the 151 Pokemon in Gen I, only 60 or so were included in this game. To my knowledge, some of fan favorites not included were... Blastoise, Venusaur, Mewtwo(well he does serve a purpose ;) shhh...), any of Machops or Abra's family, Eeveelutions, Raichu... Come on! If they aren't going to put them all in, then at least let me take cute pics of Growlithe! By limiting our options, the game does lose a bit of its appeal. Getting some rare Pokes can be hard, but it doesn't take too long, and one could probably blow through the game in 2-3 hours.
The controls aren't so bad, and the the game isn't very hard. Mastering Pester Ball and Apple throwing could take a while, but once learned are usefully deployed skills. Getting a pic of Mew was always a little tough for me, but the game isn't very hard by normal standards.
Unfortunately, the game doesn't work in the RGR which is a shame, because it robs many children of a very good game. I'm blessed enough to own a copy, and played just yesterday. The game is as good as ever, and I would recommend running to a retro game store if you didn't get to enjoy this game firsthand like I did.
All in all, I don't know of any games like Snap. It's the only picture-taking game I know of, and is as unique as it is entertaining.
Graphics
9 Sound
8 Addictive
10 Depth
5 Difficulty
5