New Pokémon Snap is the long-awaited sequel that fans of the original Nintendo 64 game have been waiting for since the late ’90s. This more relaxed spinoff doesn’t involve capturing Pokémon in Pokéballs but in photos. With several more generations of Pokémon to work with, there’s a lot more variety in the ecosystems.
Despite being a chill photography game, New Pokémon Snap does have a plot for players to experience. Without spoiling the content of the ending, the player learns more about the history of the Lental Islands and the Illumina phenomenon, culminating in a photography outing with a legendary Pokémon. However, even after the credits roll, there are still things for players to do. Here's a look at what seasoned photographers can do after beating New Pokémon Snap.
What to Do in New Pokémon Snap’s Postgame
Get All 4 Stars for Each Pokémon
- Each Pokémon in the game exhibits four different behaviors for players to photograph, with one star being the most common and four stars being the rarest. Experimenting with the in-game mechanics to trigger and record each one will bring the player one step closer to seeing everything there is in the game.
Get Each Diamond Rank for Each Star
- There are four different scoring ranks a photo can obtain: bronze, silver, gold, or diamond. Factors such as the Pokémon’s size, direction, and background elements contribute to the scoring. Finding the optimal shot for every single Pokémon behavior can be tricky, but for those looking to have a perfect Photodex, it’s a worthwhile endeavor.
Find Every Legendary
- The climax of the story might conclude with an encounter with a legendary Pokémon, but there are several more hiding throughout the Lental Islands. Discovering each one and snapping a photo of its four-star behavior will contribute to the game’s 100% completion, but getting the four-star photo is part of the challenge. Some of the legendaries have cryptic requirements that need to be solved in order to obtain the four-star photo, which are fun puzzles for players.
Post Photos Online
- Thanks to the internet, one big new addition the first Snap installment didn’t have is the ability to share photos online! Not only can players check out the photos taken by players on their friend's list, but each photo can be edited in a variety of ways. Blur and filter effects can make a photo look more dynamic, while well-placed stickers can make for a funny gag.
Aim for a High Course Score
- After completing the game, Professor Mirror will tell the player about the new Course Score system. Up until this point, all photos were scored individually. In this mode, however, all the photos in a single outing are tallied up and recorded. Players can go online and see what players scored the best in each area of the game. This feature is perfect for those who want to become master photographers, granting them a system to test their skills against others online and compete for the world record.
New Pokémon Snap is available on the Nintendo Switch.