Five Reasons to be HYPED for New Pokémon Snap

New Pokémon Snap, the follow-up to the brilliant Nintendo 64 classic, is finally releasing on the Nintendo Switch this week, so we thought we’d talk about five things that have got us HYPED to play the game.

– There are over TWO-HUNDRED Pokémon to find in New Pokémon Snap

So listen, I know that there are close to nine-hundred Pokémon out there these days, which is a LOT. It’d be unrealistic then to think that they’d all appear in New Pokémon Snap, really. That’s not to say that it’s lacking in numbers though, with over two-hundred available for the player to discover across their adventure.

That’s a heck of a lot more than the sixty-three that featured in the Nintendo 64 original and spans across multiple generations, so there’s no doubting that you’re going to uncover some of your favourites. Add to that the fact that DLC and updates are commonplace these days, so who knows – that roster might end up expanding further and further post-release…

– Gyro controls will make the game’s photography more immersive

One of the best features of the Nintendo Switch is its gyro controls, with it adding a sense of realism and freedom when moving in first-person experiences. As you can imagine, this is going to be great to use in New Pokémon Snap; especially when you need to move quickly to grab a swift snap of a quickly moving Pokémon.

It’s just going to make the photography more immersive for gamers, with the many sights of the Lental Region much easier to uncover when you can quickly spin around to grab a look. It’ll be JUST like using a real camera… well… if you play in handheld mode, that is!

– Photography lovers will adore New Pokémon Snap’s enhanced Photo Mode

One thing that has surged in popularity over the years is the Photo Mode of games, so it’s only natural that New Pokémon Snap jumps in on the trend. Players are able to snazz up their favourite shots, whether that’s by applying filters, including stickers, adding a fancy border, or just fine-tuning other aspects of their photos. Players can share creations with their friends and family too, so why not show off a little?

I remember taking plenty of shots that I loved in the original game, so this is something that really appeals to me. I’ve never been hugely invested in the Photo Mode of games, but come on… it’s Pokémon… I’m going to spend HOURS sharing my creations.

– Research levels will keep players invested in the game’s adventure

I’ve spoken to a lot of gamers who haven’t played the original game that have dismissed New Pokémon Snap because they’re not interested in ‘just taking photos of Pokémon’. Wrong! There’s so much more to the experience than that, with players earning points based upon the quality of their shots that will increase their Research Level. As this increases, new options open in the game that add a real sense of progress to the experience. It’s something that was present in the original game, but it’s expanded upon here.

Let’s not forget that New Pokémon Snap has some puzzle-like elements to it too. Some Pokémon will need coaxing to appear, with different items to use when luring them out or making them react in different ways. Experimentation is key to your success and I can’t wait to see all of the different things I can do to grab the PERFECT shot.

– There are different pathways that open up the world

Whilst the original did have hidden pathways for players to discover, New Pokémon Snap offers more of an emphasis on different routes through each of its environments. It’s hard to eliminate a sense of linearity when playing a game that’s on-rails, but being able to change up the direction you take in order to explore the different nooks and crannies of each area gives the player a greater sense of control as they seek out each Pokémon.

It adds more replayability, more freedom, and will ultimately make the Lental Region even more intriguing to explore – especially with the new day-and-night mechanic that changes up the Pokémon you can discover at any given time.