The Pokémon franchise has come a long way ever since the days of taking over the world in the late ‘90s. With the 30th anniversary coming up next year, the world and the Pokémon that live in that world have had a long time to develop and grow into what they are today. It wasn’t always this way however; when the series made its debut there was little to be had in the way of immersion from the games themselves. It wouldn’t stay that way for long though, as 26 years ago today a brand-new spinoff game took the world by storm in the form of Pokémon Snap.
Prior to Pokémon Snap, the relationship the Pokémon had with each other and nature was largely left up to the imagination of the player. About all there was to supplement were Pokédex entries and the anime, which often didn’t delve too deep into how these fantastical creatures fit into a natural ecosystem. Then came the Nintendo 64, released not long after the very first Pokémon games. With this new system capable of running games in 3D, it was the perfect time to try and experiment and breathe some more life into the Pokémon universe.
Pokémon Snap made its debut on March 21st, 1999, exactly 26 years ago today. The premise of the game is fairly simple; the player rides around through natural areas of the world and photographs Pokémon out in the wild. No battling, minimal dialogue, just a focus on how the Pokémon interact with each other and the natural world. To many, this changed what it meant to be a Pokémon fan. All of the sudden there was this window into a world never before seen, and it took the world by storm. By the end of the year, it became the sixth best-selling video game of all time in the US, selling over 1.5 million copies in that time.
In a sense, one could say that Pokémon Snap was a window into the future of the Pokémon franchise. For a while the game became a cult classic of sorts, being re-released on Virtual Console for both the Wii and Wii U and even receiving a sequel for the Nintendo Switch in 2021. It seems that now the main series entries have taken on the mantle of immersion to nature that Pokémon Snap once held. With games such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus and Pokémon Scarlet & Violet making the jump to open-world, the focus on Pokémon interacting with nature has finally made it to the forefront.
It’s hard to imagine the modern Pokémon universe without thinking about its connection to nature. It was by no means a given that it would end up that way though, and it seems very likely that Pokémon Snap served a major role in leading it that way. Even if it was a major deviation from the usual formula, it shaped the imagination of countless fans and has left a lasting legacy even to this day.
For fun
Here’s a look at Jason Ganos‘ Pokémon Snap Station!
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Written by Abbie Maxwell
Lifelong Nintendo fangirl, Abbie holds a special place in her heart for video games. She has always strived to provide tips and tricks to make the experiences of those who share her passions that much better.
