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New Pokémon Snap

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New Pokémon Snap[a] is an on-rails first-person photography game developed by Bandai Namco Studios and published by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company for the Nintendo Switch. It is a sequel to the 1999 Nintendo 64 game Pokémon Snap. Announced in June 2020, it was released on April 30, 2021. Players explore an archipelago in an autopilot hovercraft and photograph Pokémon in order to conduct research about their ecology.

New Pokémon Snap
The game's icon is a colorful, stylized 3D render of photographs of various Pokémon creatures
Game icon
Developer(s)Bandai Namco Studios
Publisher(s)
Director(s)Haruki Suzaki
Producer(s)
  • Toyokazu Nonaka
  • Akira Kinashi
  • Takato Utsunomiya
  • Kazunori Sugiura
Designer(s)Yasuhito Kobayashi
Programmer(s)Sei Nakatani
Artist(s)Tomo Moriya
Composer(s)Hiroki Hashimoto
SeriesPokémon
Platform(s)Nintendo Switch
Release
  • WW: April 30, 2021
  • CHN: July 16, 2024
Genre(s)
Mode(s)Single player

Gameplay in New Pokémon Snap is similar to its Nintendo 64 predecessor; courses consist of on-rails photography sessions, new courses are unlocked as players progress, items awarded to the player allow for real-time interaction with the environment, and photographs are able to be saved for later viewing. The laboratory of Pokémon researcher Professor Mirror acts as a space for players to review their research on wild Pokémon and their habitats, manage their photo album, customize their account, and interact with online features. The lab also functions as a hub for course selection and serves as another photography course the player can unlock.

The Pokémon photo scoring system has been expanded upon, with letter rankings added for an additional challenge. Certain courses may only be unlocked by achieving a baseline score, and capturing Pokémon in specific poses, recorded in a journal, results in additional bonuses. Courses can be explored at different times of day, offering the player chances to capture unique Pokémon and poses and interactions.[1] The player can also access "Illumina" stages that allow the player to capture photos of Pokémon in their Illumina form.

Synopsis and gameplay

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The player photographs Pokémon in their natural habitats to build a "Photodex", using fruit to lure them closer.

In New Pokémon Snap, the player's avatar is a Pokémon photographer[2] who travels to the Laboratory of Ecological and Natural Sciences (L.E.N.S.) in the Lental region[3][4] to help the research studies of Professor Mirror and his assistants Rita and Phil.[5][6][7] Taking photographs adds information to a compendium called a Photodex,[8] which contains entries for more than 200 different Pokémon.[9] While working on the Photodex, the player also investigates the Illumina phenomenon, where Pokémon and plants exhibit a strange luminescence.[10]

For each research expedition, the player travels in the NEO-ONE hovercraft to safely photograph Pokémon in their natural environments, including jungles, deserts and beaches.[2][5] Each photo the player takes is graded by Professor Mirror on a scale of one to four stars based on how rare the current activity of the Pokémon is.[11][12] Each photo is also given a score taking into account things like shot composition, how close the Pokémon is, and whether they are facing the camera or not.[2] Players can decide to save those photos to the Photodex, which can hold up to four photos of each Pokémon (one at each rating).[13] As players take higher-quality photos, they earn Expedition Points that go toward improving the Research Level of each area in the Lental region. Achieving higher research levels will open up more levels to explore in that area.[13][14]

To get better pictures, the player is encouraged to use various tools to coax out rarely-seen Pokémon reactions on camera.[15] To lure Pokémon out, players can use a fruit called a fluffruit,[16] or play a melody that can get some Pokémon to dance.[17] They can also throw an item called an Illumina Orb to cause Pokémon to glow.[18] The orbs serve to not only help the player take pictures at night,[14] but also potentially change a Pokémon's behavior. Depending on the Pokémon, the Illumina orb can help wake up sleeping creatures, or even sometimes cheer them up.[17] Players can find hidden Pokémon in the area by using their camera to scan for them.[19]

After Professor Mirror grades the player's photographs, players can retouch their photos using the Re-Snap feature.[1] This allows the player to change parameters like zoom, blur, and brightness, as well as add photographic filters, photo frames, and stickers.[19] These edited photos can be saved to a personal photo album separate from the Photodex.[1][14] Players can upload their photos online to share with other players, who in turn can help get their favourite photos be featured in-game by liking them, known as giving Sweet! Medals.[18][20]

Development

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New Pokémon Snap was developed by Bandai Namco Studios and published by The Pokémon Company and Nintendo.[21] Bandai Namco had previously developed the Pokémon fighting game Pokkén Tournament, in which Pokémon were depicted as part of an interconnected world, coexisting with humans. According to game director Haruki Suzaki, who directed both titles, it was this depiction of Pokémon that helped the studio earn the opportunity to work on New Pokémon Snap.[22]

Suzaki's vision for the game was to keep the basic gameplay from the original, while adding new features that reflected how people currently interact with photographs.[23] He explained, "The result is a simple game of taking pictures in a world where Pokémon are alive and well in nature, but at the same time there is a variety of contemporary ways to play with photography."[24]

It was announced during the Pokémon Presents presentation on June 17, 2020,[25] and was released on April 30, 2021, for the Nintendo Switch.

An update released on August 3, 2021, adds three new areas to explore and 20 more Pokémon, bringing the total to 234.[26][27]

Release and promotion

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New Pokémon Snap was released on April 30, 2021, in North America and Japan, about 22 years after the release of the original Pokemon Snap.

To promote the game, Nintendo announced company collaborations. A Pokémon Go in-game event, held from April 29 to May 2, featured Pokémon from the Lental region.[28] Nintendo also worked with Fujifilm to introduce a mobile app on launch day that lets players use a Instax Mini Link printer to print out screenshots stored on the Nintendo Switch, including photos taken in New Pokémon Snap. Before printing, the app allows users to decorate their photos with filters and photo frames inspired by the game, as well as from other games like the Mario franchise and Animal Crossing: New Horizons.[29][30]

Reception

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New Pokémon Snap received "generally positive reviews", according to the review aggregator Metacritic.[31]

Awards and accolades

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The game was nominated for Best Family Game at The Game Awards 2021.[45]

Sales

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New Pokémon Snap sold 194,385 physical copies within its first week on sale in Japan, making it the best-selling retail game of the week in the country.[46] In the United Kingdom, it sold four times as many physical copies at launch as its predecessor game, also taking the number one place in sales.[47] It had sold 2.07 million copies by June 30, 2021.[48] It had sold 2.4 million copies as of December 2021.[49]


Notes

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  1. ^ New Pokémon Snap (Japanese: New ポケモンスナップ, Hepburn: Nyū Pokemon Sunappu)

References

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  1. ^ a b c McWhertor, Michael (March 24, 2021). "New Pokémon Snap Brings the N64 Classic to the Instagram Era". Polygon. Archived from the original on March 24, 2021. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Bankhurst, Adam (January 14, 2021). "New Pokémon Snap: April Release Date Announced". IGN. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  3. ^ "New Pokémon Snap". www.pokemon.com. Archived from the original on April 29, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  4. ^ Lada, Jenni (January 14, 2021). "New Pokemon Snap Screenshots Show Pokemon Like Scorbunny, Squirtle". Siliconera. Archived from the original on April 29, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  5. ^ a b "New Pokémon Snap™ for Nintendo Switch - Nintendo Game Details". www.nintendo.com. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  6. ^ Plagge, Kallie (June 22, 2020). "New Pokemon Snap Announced for Switch". GameSpot. Archived from the original on June 17, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  7. ^ Reed, Chris (February 26, 2021). "New Pokemon Snap Is Up for Preorder". IGN. Archived from the original on April 2, 2021. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  8. ^ Wood, Austin (June 17, 2020). "New Pokemon Snap announced for Nintendo Switch". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on June 17, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  9. ^ Phillips, Tom (January 14, 2021). "New Pokémon Snap releases in April, with over 200 creatures to film". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  10. ^ Summers, Nick (January 14, 2021). "'New Pokémon Snap' Hits the Nintendo Switch on April 30". Engadget. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  11. ^ Craddock, Ryan (February 26, 2021). "New Pokémon Snap Gets New Trailer, Photo Mode and Competitive Online Rankings Unveiled". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on February 27, 2021. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  12. ^ Fahey, Mike (February 26, 2021). "Here's How the New Pokémon Snap Works". Kotaku. Archived from the original on February 27, 2021. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
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  14. ^ a b c Knezevic, Kevin (March 24, 2021). "New Pokemon Snap Sticks Close to the Original's Formula, and That's a Good Thing". GameSpot. Archived from the original on March 24, 2021. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  15. ^ Farokhmanesh, Megan (March 24, 2021). "New Pokémon Snap Adds Nighttime Photography". The Verge. Archived from the original on March 24, 2021. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
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  22. ^ Valentine, Rebekah (April 14, 2021). "New Pokémon Snap Was Given to Bandai Namco Because of Pokkén Tournament". IGN. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  23. ^ "New Pokemon Snap-regisseur over hoe we nu Foto's Maken, Animaties en de Pokémon-selectie". gamer.nl (in Dutch). April 15, 2021. Archived from the original on April 29, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  24. ^ Liao, Shannon (April 14, 2021). "'New Pokémon Snap' Developer Discusses the Game's Big Changes from the Original". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  25. ^ Minotti, Mike (June 17, 2020). "New Pokémon Snap Planned for Nintendo Switch". VentureBeat. Archived from the original on June 17, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  26. ^ Walker, John (July 29, 2021). "New Pokémon Snap Adds Free Content, Like More Monsters". Kotaku. Archived from the original on July 31, 2021. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  27. ^ Diaz, Ana (July 29, 2021). "New Pokémon Snap Update Will Add New Courses and 20 More Pokémon". Polygon. Archived from the original on July 31, 2021. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  28. ^ McWhertor, Michael (April 15, 2021). "Pokémon Go Is Having a Pokémon Snap Event". Polygon. Archived from the original on April 30, 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  29. ^ Watts, Steve (April 22, 2021). "Nintendo Switch and Fujifilm Printing App Launches Just in Time for New Pokemon Snap". GameSpot. Archived from the original on April 30, 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
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  33. ^ Goroff, Michael (April 28, 2021). "New Pokémon Snap Review Pic-achu". EGM. Archived from the original on April 28, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  34. ^ Shea, Brian (April 28, 2021). "New Pokémon Snap Review – Photographic Memory". Game Informer. Archived from the original on April 28, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
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  43. ^ MacDonald, Keza (April 28, 2021). "New Pokémon Snap Review – Chilled Photography Game Could Be Snappier". The Guardian. Archived from the original on April 28, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  44. ^ Donaldson, Alex (April 28, 2021). "New Pokemon Snap Review: A Lovely Warm Hug of a Game, but Be Prepared for the Grind". VG24/7. Archived from the original on April 28, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  45. ^ Ankers, Adele (November 16, 2021). "The Game Awards Nominations Announced". ign.com. Archived from the original on November 16, 2021. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
  46. ^ Romano, Sal (May 13, 2021). "Famitsu Sales: 4/26/21 – 5/9/21 [Update 2]". Gematsu. Archived from the original on December 6, 2021. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  47. ^ Dring, Christopher (May 2, 2021). "New Pokémon Snap launch is four times bigger than original". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on August 1, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
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  49. ^ "Financial Results Explanatory Material - Fiscal Year Ended March 2022" (PDF). Nintendo. May 10, 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 10, 2022. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
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