If you remember the N64, you likely remember the strange tie-in, Pokémon Snap. The game spun-off from the main RPG titles to bring an obscure anime character to the fore. HAL Laboratory and Pax Softnica developed the game to be released in 1999, all about taking photos of the iconic monsters in various locales. As a twist on the on-rails shooter genre, players weren’t awarded points for shooting bad guys, but instead for how well-composed their photography was.
Across multiple levels with different themes, players would photograph various Generation 1 Pokémon and then take their shots back to Professor Oak, Oak would score their shots based on how visible the target was, whether it was a rare spawn, or what kind of action the Pokémon was taking in-frame. A very unique idea that found a surprisingly large niche following.
Now the biggest game franchise in the world is returning to that strange idea in 2021. New Pokémon Snap will debut for the Switch, making full use of the portability and increased graphical power offered by the platform. Fans have been waiting 20 years for a true sequel and now they have it. And it’s well-timed too, as we’re near the 25th Anniversary celebrations of the main series of games.
The new game stars the player teaming up with Professor Mirror in a new region filled with monsters from various Gens. That Dash Engine from the first game is back with some new upgrades to help you traverse new jungle terrain and other hazards as well. See what the Lental region has in store when New Pokémon Snap launches later this year.
To coincide with that launch, the Pokémon Company has also announced a new video fronted by singer Katy Perry, celebrating the franchise and its legacy. Check that out below as well.
Check out the trailer for the game below. New Pokémon Snap launches exclusively for Nintendo Switch on April 30.
