Pokemon Snap

About Pokemon Snap (N64)

Pokemon Snap is a first-person photography game developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64 in 1999. You play as Todd Snap, a young photographer summoned by Professor Oak to Pokemon Island, a nature reserve where wild Pokemon live undisturbed. Riding the automated ZERO-ONE vehicle along fixed tracks, your job is to photograph Pokemon in their natural behavior for Oak’s research report.

At the height of Pokemania, Snap offered something completely different - no battles, no badges, just the joy of spotting Pokemon living their lives. Its playful interactions and hidden moments made it a cult classic, and it finally received a sequel, New Pokemon Snap, more than two decades later.

Detailed Gameplay

Each course carries you along a set route while Pokemon appear around you. You have limited film per trip, so framing, timing, and provoking the perfect pose matter more than snapping everything you see.

The Seven Courses

• Ride through seven areas: Beach, Tunnel, Volcano, River, Cave, Valley, and the secret Rainbow Cloud
• Courses unlock as your report grows, and completing objectives opens branching new routes
• Each course hides a Pokemon Sign - a natural formation shaped like a Pokemon - to photograph
• The final Rainbow Cloud course holds the rarest subject of all: Mew

Tools of the Trade

• Earn tools from Professor Oak as your report score improves
• Throw Pokemon Food (apples) to lure Pokemon closer or wake sleeping ones
• Toss Pester Balls to flush Pokemon out of hiding, startle them, or trigger evolutions
• Play the Poke Flute to wake sleepers, hatch eggs, and make Pokemon dance for the camera

Getting the Perfect Shot

• Professor Oak scores photos on size, pose, and technique - centered, full-body shots score best
• Catch special moments: Pikachu riding a surfboard, a Charmander pack answering your calls, or Magikarp evolving
• Lure, stun, and stage Pokemon with your tools to set up poses they never show on a plain ride
• Fill the report with 63 species - a curated slice of the original 151 Pokemon

Scoring and the Report

• Submit your best shot of each species after every course; only one photo per species counts
• Bigger, centered subjects facing the camera earn the highest points
• Special poses and multiple Pokemon of one species in frame add bonus points

Game Highlights

• Photography, Not Battles: A peaceful Pokemon adventure built entirely around your camera.
• Living Pokemon World: Pokemon surf, dance, fight, and evolve when you provoke them right.
• Hidden Moments: Secret poses and interactions reward replaying every course.
• The Mew Finale: A magical last course photographing the mythical Mew in its bubble.

Controls

Shoot photos with the Nintendo 64 controller. - Analog Stick: Aim the camera view around the ZERO-ONE vehicle - A Button: Throw Pokemon Food to lure Pokemon - B Button: Throw a Pester Ball to startle or flush out Pokemon - Z Trigger: Take a photograph - your shutter button - R Button: Play the Poke Flute once unlocked - C Buttons: Look quickly in different directions and use the dash panel later in the game

Tips and Strategies to Win

Professor Oak rewards patience and staging, not volume. - Wait for the pose before shooting - a mid-sized Pokemon facing you beats a huge back view. - Feed Pokemon first, then photograph them eating close to the camera for strong size scores. - In the Valley, hit the Mankey on the ledge and follow the chain of events for rare shots. - Knock Charmeleon into the lava in the Volcano to witness a famous evolution scene. - Save film on each course for the final stretch, where the rarest Pokemon often appear.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: How many Pokemon are in Pokemon Snap? A: There are 63 species to photograph across the seven courses, chosen from the original 151 Pokemon.

Q: How do you photograph Mew in Pokemon Snap? A: In Rainbow Cloud, hit Mew’s bubble with Pester Balls and food to break its shield, then snap it as it spins and poses.

Q: Can I play Pokemon Snap online for free? A: Yes, you can play it online for free in your browser on RiveGame with no downloads or installation required.