The Pokemon series has seen countless games by this point, both in the main series and the wealth of spin-offs. A few of those spin-offs still stand out due to their uniqueness, and none more so than Pokemon Snap.
Released on the Nintendo 64 in 1999, Pokemon Snap was a different breed of game that wasn't focused on battling or adventuring. Instead, players observed Pokemon in their natural habitats and endeavored to take the best photos possible.
Pokemon Snap was a novel idea that instantly grew a dedicated host of fans. Unfortunately, though, Nintendo and the Pokemon Company have never returned to the idea, something that should absolutely be amended on the Switch.
Pokemon Snap Is Still The Series' Most Unique Spin-Off
Even after 20 years, Pokemon Snap remains one of the most unique spin-offs the series has seen. At its core, Pokemon Snap is a relaxing experience that has players traveling through diverse environments in on-rails sequences. Each stage had tons of Pokemon packed in, roaming around the player, sleeping, playing, and more. Stages would need to be replayed multiple times to see and find everything, and players could even interact with Pokemon by throwing apples, playing a Poke-flute, and more.
Pokemon Snap was a huge change of pace for the series, something another Nintendo 64 game, Hey You Pikachu, also tried to do. The player could go at their own pace and soak in the sights. Ultimately, Pokemon Snap captured exactly what works so well about the series; the adorable creatures and their weird personalities. It added another dimension to Pokemon at the time, letting players see the creatures have fun and interact with each other outside of battling. With modern technology, Pokemon Snap could explore this idea even more, lushly detailing different Pokemon's environments and daily habits.
Why The Nintendo Switch Is Perfect For Pokemon Snap
It seems obvious that a new Pokemon Snap would be on a Nintendo console, but the Switch is the perfect place for a Snap experience. Visually a Pokemon Snap game could be stunning on the system, especially if it's done in the same stylized version of Pokemon Sword and Shield. Past that, the gyroscope controls on the system would work wonders.
Players could play Pokemon Snap in handheld mode and simply move the system around as their camera, adding another layer of immersion to the experience. TV mode, on the other hand, could simply use the Joy-Cons to aim the camera. Since the release of the first game, nearly 1000 extra Pokemon have been added, creating boundless opportunities for picture taking. The game could work with Pokemon Home to even bring in players' own unique Pokemon, nicknames and all.
The core picture-taking mechanic could also be expanded upon. The touch screen would allow players to edit photos with a ton of fun designs and changes. An online system could help players share photos with others around the world, or even just by using the screenshot feature on the Switch itself. There are so many opportunities to expand on Pokemon Snap's gameplay, and the Switch's features present a better opportunity than ever before. With Pokemon Sword and Shield out and getting an expansion pass, it's unlikely that the system will see another mainline Pokemon game in its lifespan. With that, there's plenty of room for a big spin-off like Pokemon Snap to get attention.