The gameplay and progression additions in New Pokémon Snap breathe new life into the blueprint set forth from the original title. The original Pokémon Snap on the Nintendo 64 let players venture through Pokémon Island's diverse biomes to photograph the various Pokémon located in each area. The game encouraged players to use the tools they were given in order to take photos of the Pokémon under different conditions. With a variety of options, players were left to figure out the best ways to engage their subjects for the best snapshots.
The release of New Pokémon Snap on the Nintendo Switch signaled a return of the original's unique approach to its world as players once again scour various locations to chronicle the local Pokémon wildlife through the photographic lens. While the gameplay remains familiar, new additions and items make their way into the game to help players uncover new secrets within the Lental Region. One new way the game encourages the player to explore the use of their various items is through the game's Request missions.
Requests in New Pokémon Snap serve as missions given by various of the game's Research Team. These missions often ask the player to photograph a particular Pokémon in a particular state or striking a unique pose. This typically requires the player to influence the scenario in a certain manner to trigger the Pokémon's reaction in order to get them in the required position. The addition of requests in New Pokémon Snap introduces a new layer of replayability that was missing in the first title while also subtly teaching players about the uses of their items.
What Requests Add To The Pokémon Snap Formula
As items are given to the player in New Pokémon Snap, the game triggers a brief tutorial on the use of the item before sending the player out to use it in the field. The in-game Requests given throughout the game expand on this concept by having one of the game's Research Team request a particular pose from a Pokémon that can only be gotten through some form of interaction with one of the player's various tools. By hinting at what the photo requires, the game uses Requests to guide a player toward using a specific item at a specific time, which is in stark contrast to the original's experimental nature and also emphasizes replayability.
Once players encounter Mew in the original Pokémon Snap, the game's replay value could be found in getting higher scores on their previous photography or by printing out photos at a local Blockbuster. New Pokémon Snap's Requests, however, brings with it a set of goals for players to continually reach, discovering new ways to set up photo ops with each Pokémon in the Lental Region. The completion of Requests is also tied to in-game unlockables in the form of picture frames, stickers, and filters, adding a sense of depth for players looking to edit their favorite photographs.
Pokémon Snap's original charm lay in the ability for players to take photos of the titular creatures in an environment previously unexplored in the franchise. With the sheer number of new Pokémon introduced since the original title's release, the newest game compliments these additions with Requests to further add to the game's longevity. By using Requests as a way to add objectives and tutorials to the game, New Pokémon Snap expands the scope of its predecessor to create a new vision for the franchise's photographic journey.
