31 – Pokémon Snap
Pokémon Snap is a rarity and a little gem. Usually an on-rails photography simulator wouldn’t have had much success (and by success I mean being able to be published), but fortunately it had the strength of Pokémon brand behind it and this game reached our N64. But Pokémon-ness wasn’t all this game had to offer: the game was genuinely good and entertaining. Ok, let’s see why:
Ok, with 7 on-rail levels, one of which is actually the “final boss” and only 63 movement-scripted Pokémon out of 151, the game could seem pretty scarce of content, limited and repetitive. On the contrary, replayability of the levels is immense, and the limitations that the game imposes on the player are what make the game enjoyable. The interaction among player and the level is in the beginning null (you can basically shoot photos), but as you advance in the game you receive different items (apples, pester ball, a flute…) which can be used to interact with the Pokémon in different ways, from attracting them to making them dance, sometimes with unexpected results, that reward you with better photo chances. Since the same item can be used in different ways (for example, you can use the apples in order to attract a Pokémon or to stun it), each visit of the same level can be different, and you “explore” the level through those different interactions. You can even find alternative routes in the level. Each time you make one of those discoveries (a new route, a hidden Pokémon, a way to evolve a Pokémon…) the sense of accomplishment is incredible.
The fact that the WiiU is going to die without a new Pokémon Snap, when it should have been a launch title, is one of the biggest, and saddest, Nintendo mysteries…
