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{{Infobox_game |colorscheme=electric|bordercolorscheme=red
{{samename|book of the same name based on this game|Pokémon Snap (book)}}
{{redirect|Snap|other uses|Snap (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox game |colorscheme=electric|bordercolorscheme=red
|name=Pokémon Snap
|name=Pokémon Snap
|jname=ポケモンスナップ
|jname=ポケモンスナップ
|boxart=PokemonSnap.jpg
|boxart=Snap EN boxart.jpg
|caption=Boxart of Pokémon Snap
|caption=Boxart of Pokémon Snap
|platform=[[Nintendo 64]]
|jbox=Snap JP boxart.jpg
|jbox2=Snap JP back boxart.jpg
|jcaption=Boxart of Pocket Monsters Snap.
|jcaption2=Reverse of Pocket Monsters Snap.
|platform=[[Nintendo 64]]<br>[[Wii]] ([[Wii#Virtual Console|Virtual Console]])<br>[[Wii U]] ([[Wii U#Virtual Console|Virtual Console]])<br>[[Nintendo Switch]] ([[Nintendo Switch Online]])
|category=First person rail shooter  
|category=First person rail shooter  
|players=1
|players=1
|developer=[[HAL Laboratory]]
|developer=[[HAL Laboratory]]
|publisher=[[Nintendo]]
|publisher=[[Nintendo]]
|gen_series=[[Generation I]] [[version|side series]]
|gen_series=[[Generation I]] [[Spin-off Pokémon games|spin off]]
|cero=A
|cero=A
|esrb=E
|esrb=E
|oflc=G8+
|acb=G
|pegi=3+
|pegi=3
|release_date_ja=N64 - March 21, 1999<br/>[[Wii|VC]] - December 4, 2007
|release_date_ja=March 21, 1999 <small>(N64)</small><ref>[http://www.pokemon.co.jp/game/other/64-snap/ Pokémon.co.jp - Pokémon Snap (N64)]</ref><br>December 4, 2007 <small>(Wii VC)</small><ref>[http://www.pokemon.co.jp/game/wii/snap/ Pokémon.co.jp - Pokémon Snap (VC)]</ref><br>April 6, 2016 <small>(Wii U VC)</small><br>June 24, 2022 <small>(Nintendo Switch Online)</small><ref>[https://twitter.com/Nintendo/status/1537602471618842624 Pokémon Snap (Switch) announcement] (Japan)</ref>
|release_date_na=N64 - July 27, 1999<br/>[[Wii|VC]] - December 10, 2007
|release_date_na=June 30, 1999 <small>(N64)</small><ref>[http://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-video-games/pokemon-snap/ Pokémon.com (US)]</ref><br>December 10, 2007 <small>(Wii VC)</small><ref>[http://press.nintendo.com/object?id=14206 Nintendo Pressroom] ({{tt|requires login|Username: guest; Password: nintendo}})</ref><!--please replace with a public source if possible--><br>January 5, 2017 <small>(Wii U VC)</small><ref>[http://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/pokemon-snap-wii-u]</ref><br>June 24, 2022 <small>(Nintendo Switch Online)</small><ref>[https://twitter.com/NintendoAmerica/status/1537604982043725824 Pokémon Snap (Switch) announcement] (North America)</ref>
|release_date_au=N64 - September 15, 1999<br/>[[Wii|VC]] - December 14, 2007
|release_date_au=March 23, 2000 <small>(N64)</small><ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/19991012033839/http://nintendo.com.au/poke_snap_framset.html Nintendo Australia] (archive)</ref><br>December 11, 2007 <small>(Wii VC)</small><ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20071215062030/http://www.nintendo.com.au/# Nintendo Australia - News] (archive)</ref><br>August 19, 2016 <small>(Wii U VC)</small><ref>[https://twitter.com/NintendoAUNZ/status/765109466157096964 Nintendo Australia & New Zealand Twitter]</ref><br>June 24, 2022 <small>(Nintendo Switch Online)</small><ref>[https://twitter.com/NintendoAUNZ/status/1537631117846757379 Pokémon Snap (Switch) announcement] (Australia)</ref>
|release_date_eu=N64 - September 15, 2000<br/>[[Wii|VC]] - December 11, 2007
|release_date_eu=September 15, 2000 <small>(N64)</small><ref>[http://www.pokemon.com/uk/pokemon-video-games/pokemon-snap/ Pokémon.com (UK)]</ref><br>December 11, 2007 <small>(Wii VC)</small><ref>[http://www.pegi.info/en/index/global_id/505/?searchString=pokemon+snap PEGI]</ref><br>August 18, 2016 <small>(Wii U VC)</small><ref>[https://twitter.com/NintendoEurope/status/765096436992188416 Nintendo Europe Twitter]</ref><br>June 24, 2022 <small>(Nintendo Switch Online)</small><ref>[https://twitter.com/NintendoEurope/status/1537710759278436352 Pokémon Snap (Switch) announcement] (Europe)</ref>
|website_ja=[http://www.pokemon.co.jp/game/other/64-snap/ Official Site]
|website_ja=[http://www.pokemon.co.jp/game/other/64-snap/ Official site]
|website_en=[http://www.pokemon.com/us/games/videogame-pokemon-snaptm/ Official Site]
|website_en=[http://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-video-games/pokemon-snap/ Official site]
}}
}}
{{Bulbanews|game}}
{{StrategyWiki}}
{{StrategyWiki}}
'''Pokémon Snap''' is a spin-off [[Pokémon]] game for the [[Nintendo 64]].
'''Pokémon Snap''' (Japanese: '''ポケモンスナップ''' ''Pokémon Snap'') is a [[Spin-off Pokémon games|spin-off]] [[Pokémon games|Pokémon game]] for the [[Nintendo 64]]. It was released in Japan on March 21, 1999, in North America on June 30, 1999, in Australia on March 23, 2000, and in Europe on September 15, 2000.


In Pokémon Snap, the famous Pokémon Researcher, [[Professor Oak]], is researching Pokémon on [[Pokémon Island]], and invites [[Todd Snap]], a talented young [[photography|photographer]], to assist in his research. The only current inhabitants of Pokémon Island are wild Pokémon, making it the perfect place to study Pokémon in their natural habitat.  Whereas a trainer may not be able to resist catching the wild Pokémon of the island, Todd's photography skills may equally aid in the Professor's research to complete his {{OBP|Pokémon Report|Pokémon Snap}}.
It was released on [[Virtual Console]] for [[Wii]] in Japan on December 4, 2007, in North America on December 10, 2007, in Australia on December 11, 2007, and in Europe on December 11, 2007; it was released on Virtual Console for [[Wii U]] in Japan on April 6, 2016, in Europe on August 18, 2016, in Australia on August 19, 2016, and in North America on January 5, 2017; it was released on Nintendo 64 - [[Nintendo Switch Online]] application for [[Nintendo Switch]] worldwide on June 24, 2022. The Wii Virtual Console was made unavailable on January 30, 2019, and the Wii U Virtual Console was made unavailable on March 27, 2023.


Rather than catching and training Pokémon, the goal is to explore Pokémon Island and photograph its inhabitant Pokémon. Travel is restricted to tracks designed for the [[ZERO-ONE]], and Todd's equipment includes his [[camera]], apples to use as [[Pokémon food]], [[Pester Ball]]s to knock out or stun Pokémon, and a [[Poké Flute]] to wake sleeping Pokémon. Some of these items Todd gains further into his journey, as well as earning the [[Dash Engine]] to increase the speed of the ZERO-ONE.
In Pokémon Snap, the famous Pokémon Researcher [[Professor Oak]] is studying Pokémon on [[Pokémon Island]], and invites [[Todd Snap]], a talented young [[photography|photographer]], to assist in his research. The only current inhabitants of Pokémon Island are wild Pokémon, making it the perfect place to study Pokémon in their natural habitat. Whereas a Trainer may not be able to resist catching the wild Pokémon of the island, Todd's photography skills may equally aid in the Professor's research to complete his [[Pokémon Report]].
 
Rather than catching and training Pokémon, the goal is to explore Pokémon Island and photograph its inhabitant Pokémon. Travel is restricted to tracks designed for the [[ZERO-ONE]], and Todd's equipment includes his [[Photography|camera]], apple-shaped [[Pokémon food]], [[Pester Ball]]s to knock out or stun Pokémon, and a [[Poké Flute]] to wake sleeping Pokémon. Some of these items Todd gains further into his journey, as well as earning the [[Dash Engine]] to increase the speed of the ZERO-ONE.
 
This game was also {{book|Pokémon Snap|adapted into a novel}} for the [[Pathways to Adventure]] series in 1999. A sequel, [[New Pokémon Snap]], was released for the [[Nintendo Switch]] on April 30, 2021.
 
==Blurb==
Professor Oak needs your help!
 
Professor Oak has asked you to capture the Wild Pokémon of Pokémon Island on film! Tour the Island in your ZERO-ONE vehicle and snap pictures of Pokémon in their natural habitat. Wild Pokémon are often camera-shy, so you'll have to use special items to bring them out in the open. Only the best shots will do for Professor's Pokémon Report so sharpen your photography skills and get ready to SNAP!
 
* The first-ever N64 game to feature the world-famous Pokémon - fully rendered in 3-D!
* Explore the many environments of Pokémon Island, like the sunny beach, the mysterious caves, and even a red-hot volcano!
* Many different types of Pokémon inhabit the island. See how many you can catch on film!
* Print your photos as stickers at Pokémon Snap Stations! Visit www.Pokémon.com or call 1-800-859-4521 for all the details and to find the nearest Snap Station nearest you!


==Characters==
==Characters==
Line 34: Line 55:
==Locations==
==Locations==
* [[Pokémon Island]]
* [[Pokémon Island]]
** {{OBP|Beach|Snap}}
** [[Tunnel]]
** {{OBP|Volcano|Snap}}
** [[River]]
** {{OBP|Cave|Snap}}
** [[Valley]]
** [[Rainbow Cloud]]
* [[Professor Oak's Laboratory]]
* [[Professor Oak's Laboratory]]


==Pokémon==
==Pokémon==
63 species of Pokémon appear in this game:
63 species of Pokémon appear in this game:


Line 112: Line 139:


===Pokémon Signs===
===Pokémon Signs===
Six Pokémon appear in the form of a [[Pokémon sign]].
Six Pokémon appear in the form of a [[Pokémon sign]].


Line 123: Line 149:


==Sticker Stations==
==Sticker Stations==
[[File:Snapstation.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The Pokémon Snap Station]]
[[File:Snapstation.jpg|thumb|200px|The Pokémon Snap Station]]
For a period of time after Snap's launch, Pokémon Snap Sticker Stations were available at {{wp|Blockbuster (movie rental store)|Blockbuster}}, which would print out stickers of pictures which were taken in the game for three dollars. There was also a mode in {{Eng|Pokémon Stadium}} which would take and save pictures of Pokémon and print them out at the Stations.
For a period of time after Snap's launch, ''Pokémon Snap Sticker Stations'' were available at {{wp|Blockbuster LLC|Blockbuster}} in the United States, and {{wp|Lawson (store)|Lawson}} in Japan<ref>[https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/02/25/pokemon-snap-and-print Pokemon Snap -- and Print - IGN]</ref>. These stations which would print out stickers of pictures which were taken in the game for 3 Dollars/300 Yen<ref>[https://pokumon.com/1999-pokemon-snap-photo-contests/ ''1999 Pokemon Snap Photo Contests'' - pokumon.com]</ref>, by loading credits on one of five cards that featured {{p|Bulbasaur}}, {{p|Charmander}}, {{p|Squirtle}}, {{p|Pikachu}}, or {{p|Jigglypuff}}.
 
There was also a mode in ''[[Pokémon Stadium]]'' which would take and save pictures of Pokémon and print them out at the Stations. Special overlays were made to promote ''Pokémon Stadium'', so there exists two variations of the station.
 
Internally, these sticker stations are just a Nintendo 64 with a printer that connects to P4 port, a special version of the cartridge for the printing tasks, and a special cartridge adaptor to switch between ''Pokémon Snap Station'' and ''Pokémon Snap'' or ''Pokémon Stadium''.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20180911142149/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMbjvGvPkV4 ''The Pokemon<!--sic--> Snap Station - Sixty Formula'' - YouTube] (Dead link - private video)</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_UGpRN6AnM&t=3m35s ''VIDEO GAME KIOSKS - Extreme Game Collecting! - MetalJesusRocks'' - YouTube]</ref>
{{left clear}}
 
==Wii Virtual Console release==
Pokémon Snap was re-released for the [[Wii]]'s Virtual Console with a few small changes. This version can upload pictures from the game to the {{wp|Wii Menu#Message Board|Wii's Message Board}}, where they can be transferred to people on the Wii's Address Book.
 
In this release, {{p|Jynx}} were recolored purple from the black color they were in the original game, to reflect the changes in its design and to avoid controversy that Jynx's original design caused.
 
To celebrate this re-release, the Japanese Yahoo! Kids Pokémon page streamed all of the episodes in which Todd Snap appeared from December 14, 2007 to January 14, 2008.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20161024102039/http://park3.wakwak.com/~pokepale/list/movie_sonota.htm] (archived)</ref>
 
==Development==
In 1994, Nintendo put an ad in Famitsu Magazine, seeking to hire new talent for a team that would be given creative freedom when making games. The team, later known as Jack and Beans, would start working in 1995 on three separate projects, one of which was a camera-based game called "Jack and the Beanstalk". The team's inspiration for a camera game came from the [[Nintendo 64DD]]'s ability to read and write data from disks, which had the potential to then move the photos to another medium to print them. <ref>[https://youtu.be/aOIP_sTHDOs?t=396 ''"New N64 Game Facts Discovered" - Did You Know Gaming'' - YouTube]. Translation of an interview from The 64 Dream's May 1999 issue, and Shigesato Itoi's website 1101.com. (6:36 - 16:05 in the video).</ref>
 
By summer 1997, Jack and Beans' three projects were merged into one. Jack and the Beanstalk's characters and setting were then replaced with a Pokémon setting, to give players a clearer motivation and goal for taking pictures.<ref>[https://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/wii/kirbysepicyarn/0/3/ ''Iwata Asks''] - '''Satoru Iwata:''''' "Originally, Pokémon Snap for the Nintendo 64 system wasn't a Pokémon game, but rather a normal game in which you took photos, but the motivation for playing the game wasn't clear. We wondered what players would enjoy taking pictures of, and later on we made a somewhat forced switch to taking pictures of Pokémon"''</ref>
 
Pokémon Snap would be announced for the Nintendo 64DD at [[Nintendo Space World#1997|Space World '97]] in November 1997, with a release planned to coincide with the movie ''[[M01|Mewtwo Strikes Back]]'' the next year - but this announcement was made without informing the development team beforehand. However, the game would not meet this deadline, and in 1998 would change format to a Nintendo 64 cartridge for three reasons: Nintendo could not find a suitable time to release Snap for the 64DD; Snap would not be compatible with [[Pokémon Gold and Silver Versions]], so it had to be released before them; and Snap being on the 64DD would make it the odd one out among existing Pokémon releases on the Nintendo 64.


==Wii Version==
The development team aimed to have several Pokémon appear on screen at once - but to achieve this, they would have to use low-poly models - this meant that they could not use the same Pokémon models and animations as ''[[Pokémon Stadium (Japanese)|Pokémon Stadium]]'', which was being developed at around the same time. The team's animations would not use the [[Pokémon anime]] as reference material - instead, team member [[Benimaru Itoh]] would act as a reference model, posing and acting as various different Pokémon, and other team members would serve as models when Itoh was unavailable.
Pokémon Snap was re-released for the [[Wii]]'s Virtual Console on December 4, 2007 in Japan, December 10, 2007 in the US, December 11, 2007 in Europe, and December 14, 2007 in Australia. This version can upload pictures from the game to the [[wp:Wii_Menu#Message_Board|Wii's Message Board]], where they can be transferred to people on the Wii's Address Book.  


* [http://www.filb.de/?aktion=komm&id=724 Wii-version videos on Filb.de]
Voice acting for [[Professor Oak]] and [[Todd Snap]] was added to the game last-minute, with the lines obtained during a recording session for the Pokémon anime.
 
The idea of printing pictures was tested through various methods, one of which was by using a combination of a Nintendo 64 [[Transfer Pak]], a [[Game Boy]], a [[Game Boy Camera]], and a [[Game Boy Printer]], but the resulting photos would only be grayscale. HAL Laboratory's hardware technician Masayoshi Tanimura then printed the photos as stickers with a video printer, and these stickers were well-received by Nintendo's business partners. The concept of players printing out photos from Snap would later be realized with the ''Pokémon Snap Sticker Stations''.
 
==Staff==
{{main|Staff of Pokémon Snap}}
 
==Gallery==
===Virtual Console icons===
<gallery>
File:PokémonSnapWiiUVCIconE.png|Wii U Virtual Console icon (English)
File:PokémonSnapWiiUVCIconJ.png|Wii U Virtual Console icon (Japanese)
</gallery>


==Reception==
==Reception==
Fans were disappointed by the small number of courses, along with the fact that only 63 of the original 151 Pokémon were included. Despite this, the game received good reviews in the media.
The game received good reviews in the media, scoring a 7.8 on IGN, an 8.0 on GameSpot, and a 77 on Metacritic. The game has a strong fan following, even a number of years later, giving it a status similar to that of a {{wp|cult classic}}.


==Trivia==
==Trivia==
* This game is one of two games that show Magnemite's evolution that is true to the Pokédex (the other being [[Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon]]). In Pokémon Snap, in order to evolve Magnemite, three Magnemite have to be gathered. This differs from the RPG Pokémon games and the anime, where three individual Magnemite are not needed. Ironically, this game also shows a form of Magneton that is not touched on in the anime. In the anime, Magneton is always seen in a connected triangle pattern. In Pokémon Snap, Magneton is seen as three Magnemite floating by themselves, totally unconnected, but in a perfect triangle.
* This is the only game to show {{p|Slowpoke}}'s evolution happening true to the Pokédex. Using Pokémon food, Slowpoke can be lured to the [[River]] where it will dip its tail in the water. When {{p|Shellder}} chomps down on Slowpoke's tail, Slowpoke  will evolve into {{p|Slowbro}}.
* In the Virtual Console version of the game, {{p|Jynx}}'s face is [[Jynx (Pokémon)#Controversy|recolored]] purple.
* Although the game features [[Voice acting in the Pokémon games|voice acting]] from the {{pkmn|anime}} series, certain Pokémon that were given new voices for the dub still have their original Japanese voice acting in the game. These include {{p|Metapod}}, {{p|Diglett}}, {{p|Dugtrio}}, {{p|Magnemite}}, {{p|Magneton}}, {{p|Geodude}}, {{p|Graveler}}, {{p|Psyduck}}, and {{p|Porygon}}.
* Even though [[legendary Pokémon]] cannot be bred (at least, not in a breeding center), it is clearly shown that {{p|Articuno}}, {{p|Zapdos}}, and {{p|Moltres}} are in eggs, which shows they were bred in some sort of way.
* This was the first Pokémon game released for the [[Virtual Console]] service, the only Pokémon game from the [[Nintendo 64]] to be released for the [[Wii U]]'s Virtual Console service and the first Pokémon game released for the [[Nintendo Switch Online]] service.
* The game also features questionable abilities for certain Pokémon such as {{p|Koffing}} being able to hold onto {{p|Jigglypuff}} without any limbs.
* {{p|Ekans}} was intended to be included in the game, but was ultimately cut.<ref name=TCRF>[https://tcrf.net/Prerelease:Pokémon_Snap Prerelease:Pokémon Snap - The Cutting Room Floor]</ref>
* Magikarp can be found in every course in the game (with the exception of [[Rainbow Cloud]]).
* A song called [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CUGNpvdtpE| Fantasic Horror] was cut from the game. The song was meant for a {{type|Ghost}} level, but as there were only three Ghost-type Pokémon in [[Generation I]], said level was cut. Additionally, there was a boss song exclusive to the level that also did not end up in the final game.<ref name=TCRF/>
* Despite being a Nintendo 64 title, only 63 of the then 151 Pokémon are in this game. {{p|Ekans}} can be seen in pre-release screenshots, indicating the number may have been 64 at some point in development.
** Also, a few Pokémon were included without their evolved forms, most notably Pikachu.
* This game was adapted into a {{book|Pokémon Snap|novel}} for the [[Pathways to Adventure]] series.
* Although the game features voice acting from the TV series, certain Pokémon that were given new voices for the dub still have their original Japanese voice acting in the game. These include Diglett, Dugtrio, Psyduck and Porygon who, at the time of the game's release, did not have a dub voice.
* Originally, the game that would become Pokémon Snap was not a Pokémon game. Nintendo President Satoru Iwata himself mentioned that the game was originally "a normal game in which you took photos, but the motivation for playing the game wasn't clear." It wasn't until they introduced Pokémon into the game that HAL's Masanobu Yamamoto thought they had a clarified direction. "That time, adopting the Pokémon world clarified what we should do and the direction we should head, and I came to like Pokémon, so I felt like that had saved us."
* In the [[Pokémon Island River|River]] course, {{p|Shellder}} and {{p|Cloyster}} are shown to be capable of {{a|Levitate|levitating}}, an ability that has not been seen in any other media.


{{-}}
==In other languages==
{{Other games}}
{{incomplete|section}}
{{-}}
 
==References==
<references/>
 
{{Spin-off series}}
{{Project Games notice}}
{{Project Games notice}}
[[Category:Games]]
[[Category:Games]]
[[Category:Pokémon Snap|*]]
[[Category:Pokémon Snap|*]]
[[Category:Nintendo 64 games]]
[[Category:Nintendo 64 games]]
[[Category:Wii games]]
[[Category:Wii games]]
[[Category:Wii U games]]
[[Category:Virtual Console games]]


[[de:Pokémon Snap]]
[[de:Pokémon Snap]]
[[es:Pokémon Snap]]
[[es:Pokémon Snap]]
[[fr:Pokémon Snap]]
[[fr:Pokémon Snap]]
[[it:Pokémon Snap]]
[[ja:ポケモンスナップ]]
[[ja:ポケモンスナップ]]
[[pl:Pokémon Snap]]
[[zh:宝可梦随乐拍]]
[[pt:Pokémon Snap]]

Latest revision as of 11:24, 5 September 2024

If you were looking for the book of the same name based on this game, see Pokémon Snap (book).
Snap redirects here. For other uses, see Snap (disambiguation).
Pokémon Snap
ポケモンスナップ
Snap EN boxart.jpg
Boxart of Pokémon Snap
Basic info
Platform: Nintendo 64
Wii (Virtual Console)
Wii U (Virtual Console)
Nintendo Switch (Nintendo Switch Online)
Category: First person rail shooter
Players: 1
Connectivity: None
Developer: HAL Laboratory
Publisher: Nintendo
Part of: Generation I spin off
Ratings
CERO: A
ESRB: E
ACB: G
OFLC: N/A
PEGI: 3
GRAC: N/A
GSRR: N/A
Release dates
Japan: March 21, 1999 (N64)[1]
December 4, 2007 (Wii VC)[2]
April 6, 2016 (Wii U VC)
June 24, 2022 (Nintendo Switch Online)[3]
North America: June 30, 1999 (N64)[4]
December 10, 2007 (Wii VC)[5]
January 5, 2017 (Wii U VC)[6]
June 24, 2022 (Nintendo Switch Online)[7]
Australia: March 23, 2000 (N64)[8]
December 11, 2007 (Wii VC)[9]
August 19, 2016 (Wii U VC)[10]
June 24, 2022 (Nintendo Switch Online)[11]
Europe: September 15, 2000 (N64)[12]
December 11, 2007 (Wii VC)[13]
August 18, 2016 (Wii U VC)[14]
June 24, 2022 (Nintendo Switch Online)[15]
South Korea: N/A
Hong Kong: N/A
Taiwan: N/A
Websites
Japanese: Official site
English: Official site
Japanese boxart
Snap JP boxart.jpg
Boxart of Pocket Monsters Snap.
Snap JP back boxart.jpg
Reverse of Pocket Monsters Snap.
Bulbanews
Bulbanews has multiple articles related to this subject:
StrategyWiki
StrategyWiki has more about this subject:

Pokémon Snap (Japanese: ポケモンスナップ Pokémon Snap) is a spin-off Pokémon game for the Nintendo 64. It was released in Japan on March 21, 1999, in North America on June 30, 1999, in Australia on March 23, 2000, and in Europe on September 15, 2000.

It was released on Virtual Console for Wii in Japan on December 4, 2007, in North America on December 10, 2007, in Australia on December 11, 2007, and in Europe on December 11, 2007; it was released on Virtual Console for Wii U in Japan on April 6, 2016, in Europe on August 18, 2016, in Australia on August 19, 2016, and in North America on January 5, 2017; it was released on Nintendo 64 - Nintendo Switch Online application for Nintendo Switch worldwide on June 24, 2022. The Wii Virtual Console was made unavailable on January 30, 2019, and the Wii U Virtual Console was made unavailable on March 27, 2023.

In Pokémon Snap, the famous Pokémon Researcher Professor Oak is studying Pokémon on Pokémon Island, and invites Todd Snap, a talented young photographer, to assist in his research. The only current inhabitants of Pokémon Island are wild Pokémon, making it the perfect place to study Pokémon in their natural habitat. Whereas a Trainer may not be able to resist catching the wild Pokémon of the island, Todd's photography skills may equally aid in the Professor's research to complete his Pokémon Report.

Rather than catching and training Pokémon, the goal is to explore Pokémon Island and photograph its inhabitant Pokémon. Travel is restricted to tracks designed for the ZERO-ONE, and Todd's equipment includes his camera, apple-shaped Pokémon food, Pester Balls to knock out or stun Pokémon, and a Poké Flute to wake sleeping Pokémon. Some of these items Todd gains further into his journey, as well as earning the Dash Engine to increase the speed of the ZERO-ONE.

This game was also adapted into a novel for the Pathways to Adventure series in 1999. A sequel, New Pokémon Snap, was released for the Nintendo Switch on April 30, 2021.

Blurb

Professor Oak needs your help!

Professor Oak has asked you to capture the Wild Pokémon of Pokémon Island on film! Tour the Island in your ZERO-ONE vehicle and snap pictures of Pokémon in their natural habitat. Wild Pokémon are often camera-shy, so you'll have to use special items to bring them out in the open. Only the best shots will do for Professor's Pokémon Report so sharpen your photography skills and get ready to SNAP!

  • The first-ever N64 game to feature the world-famous Pokémon - fully rendered in 3-D!
  • Explore the many environments of Pokémon Island, like the sunny beach, the mysterious caves, and even a red-hot volcano!
  • Many different types of Pokémon inhabit the island. See how many you can catch on film!
  • Print your photos as stickers at Pokémon Snap Stations! Visit www.Pokémon.com or call 1-800-859-4521 for all the details and to find the nearest Snap Station nearest you!

Characters

Locations

Pokémon

63 species of Pokémon appear in this game:

Pokémon Signs

Six Pokémon appear in the form of a Pokémon sign.

Sticker Stations

The Pokémon Snap Station

For a period of time after Snap's launch, Pokémon Snap Sticker Stations were available at Blockbuster in the United States, and Lawson in Japan[16]. These stations which would print out stickers of pictures which were taken in the game for 3 Dollars/300 Yen[17], by loading credits on one of five cards that featured Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, Pikachu, or Jigglypuff.

There was also a mode in Pokémon Stadium which would take and save pictures of Pokémon and print them out at the Stations. Special overlays were made to promote Pokémon Stadium, so there exists two variations of the station.

Internally, these sticker stations are just a Nintendo 64 with a printer that connects to P4 port, a special version of the cartridge for the printing tasks, and a special cartridge adaptor to switch between Pokémon Snap Station and Pokémon Snap or Pokémon Stadium.[18][19]

Wii Virtual Console release

Pokémon Snap was re-released for the Wii's Virtual Console with a few small changes. This version can upload pictures from the game to the Wii's Message Board, where they can be transferred to people on the Wii's Address Book.

In this release, Jynx were recolored purple from the black color they were in the original game, to reflect the changes in its design and to avoid controversy that Jynx's original design caused.

To celebrate this re-release, the Japanese Yahoo! Kids Pokémon page streamed all of the episodes in which Todd Snap appeared from December 14, 2007 to January 14, 2008.[20]

Development

In 1994, Nintendo put an ad in Famitsu Magazine, seeking to hire new talent for a team that would be given creative freedom when making games. The team, later known as Jack and Beans, would start working in 1995 on three separate projects, one of which was a camera-based game called "Jack and the Beanstalk". The team's inspiration for a camera game came from the Nintendo 64DD's ability to read and write data from disks, which had the potential to then move the photos to another medium to print them. [21]

By summer 1997, Jack and Beans' three projects were merged into one. Jack and the Beanstalk's characters and setting were then replaced with a Pokémon setting, to give players a clearer motivation and goal for taking pictures.[22]

Pokémon Snap would be announced for the Nintendo 64DD at Space World '97 in November 1997, with a release planned to coincide with the movie Mewtwo Strikes Back the next year - but this announcement was made without informing the development team beforehand. However, the game would not meet this deadline, and in 1998 would change format to a Nintendo 64 cartridge for three reasons: Nintendo could not find a suitable time to release Snap for the 64DD; Snap would not be compatible with Pokémon Gold and Silver Versions, so it had to be released before them; and Snap being on the 64DD would make it the odd one out among existing Pokémon releases on the Nintendo 64.

The development team aimed to have several Pokémon appear on screen at once - but to achieve this, they would have to use low-poly models - this meant that they could not use the same Pokémon models and animations as Pokémon Stadium, which was being developed at around the same time. The team's animations would not use the Pokémon anime as reference material - instead, team member Benimaru Itoh would act as a reference model, posing and acting as various different Pokémon, and other team members would serve as models when Itoh was unavailable.

Voice acting for Professor Oak and Todd Snap was added to the game last-minute, with the lines obtained during a recording session for the Pokémon anime.

The idea of printing pictures was tested through various methods, one of which was by using a combination of a Nintendo 64 Transfer Pak, a Game Boy, a Game Boy Camera, and a Game Boy Printer, but the resulting photos would only be grayscale. HAL Laboratory's hardware technician Masayoshi Tanimura then printed the photos as stickers with a video printer, and these stickers were well-received by Nintendo's business partners. The concept of players printing out photos from Snap would later be realized with the Pokémon Snap Sticker Stations.

Staff

Main article: Staff of Pokémon Snap

Gallery

Virtual Console icons

  • Wii U Virtual Console icon (English)

    Wii U Virtual Console icon (English)

  • Wii U Virtual Console icon (Japanese)

    Wii U Virtual Console icon (Japanese)

Reception

The game received good reviews in the media, scoring a 7.8 on IGN, an 8.0 on GameSpot, and a 77 on Metacritic. The game has a strong fan following, even a number of years later, giving it a status similar to that of a cult classic.

Trivia

  • This is the only game to show Slowpoke's evolution happening true to the Pokédex. Using Pokémon food, Slowpoke can be lured to the River where it will dip its tail in the water. When Shellder chomps down on Slowpoke's tail, Slowpoke will evolve into Slowbro.
  • Although the game features voice acting from the anime series, certain Pokémon that were given new voices for the dub still have their original Japanese voice acting in the game. These include Metapod, Diglett, Dugtrio, Magnemite, Magneton, Geodude, Graveler, Psyduck, and Porygon.
  • This was the first Pokémon game released for the Virtual Console service, the only Pokémon game from the Nintendo 64 to be released for the Wii U's Virtual Console service and the first Pokémon game released for the Nintendo Switch Online service.
  • Ekans was intended to be included in the game, but was ultimately cut.[23]
  • A song called Fantasic Horror was cut from the game. The song was meant for a Ghost-type level, but as there were only three Ghost-type Pokémon in Generation I, said level was cut. Additionally, there was a boss song exclusive to the level that also did not end up in the final game.[23]

In other languages

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References

  1. ↑ Pokémon.co.jp - Pokémon Snap (N64)
  2. ↑ Pokémon.co.jp - Pokémon Snap (VC)
  3. ↑ Pokémon Snap (Switch) announcement (Japan)
  4. ↑ Pokémon.com (US)
  5. ↑ Nintendo Pressroom (requires login)
  6. ↑ [1]
  7. ↑ Pokémon Snap (Switch) announcement (North America)
  8. ↑ Nintendo Australia (archive)
  9. ↑ Nintendo Australia - News (archive)
  10. ↑ Nintendo Australia & New Zealand Twitter
  11. ↑ Pokémon Snap (Switch) announcement (Australia)
  12. ↑ Pokémon.com (UK)
  13. ↑ PEGI
  14. ↑ Nintendo Europe Twitter
  15. ↑ Pokémon Snap (Switch) announcement (Europe)
  16. ↑ Pokemon Snap -- and Print - IGN
  17. ↑ 1999 Pokemon Snap Photo Contests - pokumon.com
  18. ↑ The Pokemon Snap Station - Sixty Formula - YouTube (Dead link - private video)
  19. ↑ VIDEO GAME KIOSKS - Extreme Game Collecting! - MetalJesusRocks - YouTube
  20. ↑ [2] (archived)
  21. ↑ "New N64 Game Facts Discovered" - Did You Know Gaming - YouTube. Translation of an interview from The 64 Dream's May 1999 issue, and Shigesato Itoi's website 1101.com. (6:36 - 16:05 in the video).
  22. ↑ Iwata Asks - Satoru Iwata: "Originally, Pokémon Snap for the Nintendo 64 system wasn't a Pokémon game, but rather a normal game in which you took photos, but the motivation for playing the game wasn't clear. We wondered what players would enjoy taking pictures of, and later on we made a somewhat forced switch to taking pictures of Pokémon"
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Prerelease:Pokémon Snap - The Cutting Room Floor
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