Pokemon Snap was notable enough to warrant a sequel on the Nintendo Switch, but many players may not have had a chance to play the original game. Fret not, for Nintendo 64's Pokemon Snap is dropping soon!
As a part of Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack offerings, players are able to play the original, which was one of the earliest Pokemon spinoffs of the series with Pokemon Snap. This cult classic is available to download next week on June 24, and is a complete port of the original.
This game is often described as an on-rails shooter, as players are tasked with taking pictures of various Generation I Pokemon in their natural habitats. Players are fixed to a literal rail as a pod rolls across landscapes from beaches, volcanoes, caves, and more. The goal is to simply take pictures of Pokemon, but with so many different creatures jam-packed into every level in Pokemon Snap, you're bound to see new things every run.
Players are able to interact with these Pokemon in limited ways, but in doing so may result in capturing interesting behaviors. You can, for example, throw an apple at a Charmeleon, who will then fall into a pit of lava and evolve into a Charizard. As a result, in many ways, Pokemon Snap is a puzzle game in addition to its on-rails shooter gameplay. At the end of each run, players' pictures are graded by Professor Oak. It's your job to get the highest score while exploring all the island has to offer.
In 2021, Pokemon Snap received a long-sought sequel with New Pokemon Snap, which has vastly more Pokemon and gameplay elements to spice things up. To reiterate, you can play and experience (or re-experience) the original Pokemon Snap on June 24, which originally debuted on the Nintendo 64. If you'd like to see what we thought about the sequel, be sure to check out our review and many guides!
