Nintendo 64’s Pokémon Snap is a highly acclaimed first-person rail shooter and simulation game. Remember back in the day when you would head down to the Blockbuster to rent video games? It was a cheaper alternative to buying them outright. Pokémon Snap was one of the most rented games because of its immense replay value.
Nowadays, players can take photos of Pokémon in the real world with Pokémon GO. Soon, they’ll be able to train Pokémon in bed with Pokémon Sleep. Is there any place in the modern world for a sequel? Let’s dive into the reasons for and against a Pokémon Snap sequel.
10 HD Graphics (Need It)
The Nintendo 64 is an old video game console with a selling point that it played games in 64-bit. To put things into perspective, the Nintendo Switch has two 32-bit processors that equal 64-bit. However, The Nintendo 64’s graphics pale in comparison to modern consoles. The Nintendo 64’s resolution varied by game, but it was always at or below 640x480.
The image above is not from the original game but could help fans to visualize how a sequel might look. We wish the above snapshot had a better angle of Snorlax. Professor Oak would give this photo a low rating.
9 It Would Be Hard To Beat The Original (Against It)
The original, one and only, Pokémon Snap is a masterpiece in all regards. The game was way ahead of its time since it came out before mobile cameras were popularized. It would be nearly impossible to beat the original since every second is a blast. Watching a Charizard come out of a volcano or seeing a majestic Lapras is bewildering.
Pokémon GO is like Pokémon Snap in many regards, but the concept behind each is different. Pokémon GO involves battling and catching Pokémon in the real world, whereas Pokémon Snap is based solely on taking photos. One can take photos of Pokémon in Pokémon GO, but you can’t send them to Professor Willow for his rating.
8 Unresolved Plot (Need It)
We gained familiarity with characters like protagonist Todd Snap in Pokémon Snap. You play the part of Todd Snap, who is brought to an undisturbed island inhabited by Pokémon. Professor Oak tasks you with capturing photos, so that he may give his ratings. Professor Oak uses the images for his science-related work, but the plot pretty much ends there. Is there another story to bring closure to this adventure?
7 A Sequel Is Doomed To Fail (Against It)
A sequel would be nonsensical at this point because we have alternatives like Pokémon GO and cell phone cameras. It could be argued that a Pokémon Snap sequel would fail because of its simple premise.
Grand Theft Auto V has an option for mobile photography, but it’s a small feature in a much larger game. A sequel could be doomed to fail now that digital cameras are becoming obsolete, and screenshots can be taken in any current-gen console game.
6 New Generation Pokémon (Need It)
Now that we’ve gone over why a sequel would fail, let’s address the elephant in the room that is the abundance of new Pokémon. When Pokémon Snap released, there were only 151 known Pokémon (152 if you count Togepi from the anime).
Decades have passed since the original Pokémon Snap released, which is why a sequel is long overdue. Now that there are over 800 Pokémon waiting to be photographed, a Pokémon Snap sequel is more relevant than ever.
5 The Concept No Longer Makes Sense (Against It)
The concept of taking digital camera photos to a photo lab to be developed is not commonplace like it was before. Typically, photo labs are only visited to blow up the size of pictures.
For the most part, photos are shared through messaging services like text messaging and What’s App. The concept behind Pokémon Snap needs to be changed because much has evolved in the past while. The stark reality is that Pokémon Snap needs an update.
4 A Modern Twist (Need It)
The previous reason against developing a Pokémon Snap sequel brings us to this point for it. A modern twist on a classic video game is what the Pokémon Snap IP needs. The HD image of Blastoise in the above photo should serve as inspiration. Just looking at the realism of the forestry and tall blades of grass makes us want this sequel even more.
Perhaps the sequel should use a cell phone camera instead of a digital camera. It should use gyro aiming like Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons and the Pro Controller. A sequel with a modern spin is long overdue.
3 Different Developers (Against It)
Mew is a rare Generation I Pokémon that was uncatchable in Pokémon Red and Blue without a cheat game cartridge (e.g., a GameShark). To see Mew in Pokémon Snap was eye-opening and mesmerizing. The cat-like Pokémon is found in the course Rainbow Cloud, which takes place in outer space.
The ingenuity behind futuristic Pokémon Snap technology makes the game appear futuristic despite being dated. New developers might not be able to replicate the creativity of the original game.
2 It’s Pokémon Snap! (Need It)
Players chose Pokémon Snap as one of their favorite Nintendo games of all time; it has over a million sales. Everything about this game is enjoyable. It is mystifying, relaxing, and filled with our favorite Pokémon.
To the credit of Pokémon Snap, its rating system was reasonably accurate. If you took a photo that was centered with a nice pose, Professor Oak appreciated your work. This intuitive game has stood the test of time, which is why it deserves a long-overdue sequel.
1 Been There, Done That (Against It)
Without meaning to beat the reasons for and against a sequel to death, let’s conclude with one last reason against it. We’ve been there and done that, so why would we need another Pokémon Snap? They haven’t remade or remastered this game yet. It should be ported to the Nintendo Switch, but a sequel might not be necessary.
NEXT: Pokémon: 5 Mysteries That Took Years To Solve (& 5 That Were Never Explained)
