New Pokémon Snap is easy to pick up right away, but its mechanics reveal themselves little by little. Here are the essentials, based on Poképédia and Serebii.
The basics
- The NEO-ONE follows a fixed route; you aim and take photos, up to 75 per course.
- When you get back, you show Professor Mirror one photo per Pokémon, and he rates it.
- Each course has a research level, from 1 to 3, which goes up as you earn points: new Pokémon and paths appear.
- Many courses exist in both day and night versions, with different Pokémon.
The tools
| Tool | Effect |
|---|---|
| Fluffruit | Attracts Pokémon, feeds them, makes them react or dislodges them |
| Illumina Orb | Makes Pokémon glow, which changes their behavior and makes their neighbors react; activates Crystablooms |
| Melody | Wakes up, makes dance or attracts certain Pokémon |
| Scan | Gives information and makes Pokémon react, either greeting you or running away |
Photo scoring
Each Pokémon has behaviors ranked from one to four stars: one star for an ordinary pose, two for a reaction (eating, being on guard), three and four for special interactions. You need one photo of each star rating to complete the Photodex. The score itself depends on six criteria:
| Criterion | What counts |
|---|---|
| Pose | The Pokémon’s pose at the moment of the photo |
| Size | How much room it takes up in the picture |
| Direction | Facing the camera is better than facing away |
| Placement | In the center is better |
| Other Pokémon | Bonus points if there are others in the shot |
| Background | A special backdrop, such as ruins or a Crystabloom |
The score gives a color rank: bronze (up to 3,000 points), silver (up to 3,500), gold (up to 4,000) and diamond (above that).
