In Pokémon Snap, looking isn’t enough to see. Many of the 63 species only show themselves after an action: a thrown item, a photo taken, a tune played. Some even hide behind another appearance. This page lists the Pokémon that conceal themselves, whether disguised, camouflaged, buried or protected, and how to bring them out. It’s the page to check when a species in the Report refuses to show itself.
The disguises
Ditto and the fake Bulbasaur (Cave)
On a ledge to the right, at the start of the Cave, a few Bulbasaur stand perfectly still. They are actually Ditto that have transformed. A Pester Ball is enough to unmask them: they return to their normal form. Bulbapedia notes that a photo taken before the reveal counts as a Bulbasaur in the Report. They also react to the Apple: you can lure them close together for a group shot. For the real Bulbasaur, head to the River.
Camouflaged Porygon (River)
On the River’s right bank, triangular shapes poke out of the bushes: they look like pieces of scenery, but they are the beaks of Porygon camouflaged in the colors of the surroundings. Hit them with an item and a Porygon jumps out of its hiding place. You then need to throw a Pester Ball at it to strip its camouflage before you can photograph it. A third Porygon sits near the secret exit’s button; if you hit it with a Pester Ball, it lands on the button and opens the way to the Cave.
Haunter, hidden in a purple sphere (Tunnel)
In the Tunnel, a strange purple sphere spins around just after Zapdos hatches, and another one near Pikachu and Diglett. Photograph it: once the photo is developed, the orb turns out to be a Haunter.
Eevee’s pink ball (Beach)
At the Beach, Eevee plays among large rocks with a pink ball. Throw an Apple or a Pester Ball at it: it’s a Chansey curled into a ball, which stops and stands up. Eevee jumps for joy.
Pokémon hidden in the scenery
- Scyther (Beach). It lurks in the tall grass, which you can see rustling. A Pester Ball thrown where the grass is being cut makes it flee, and it uses Slash.
- Bulbasaur (River). On the left bank, two bulbs stick out of tree stumps: use a Pester Ball to make them come out. A third is in the opening of a fallen log, and you can lure it out with an Apple.
- Poliwag (River). Hidden on the right bank, they dive in one after another when you hit them.
- Growlithe and Arcanine (Volcano). They hide in small craters near the end. Pester Balls make them come out.
- Sandshrew and Sandslash (Valley). They are buried. You glimpse them for a moment before they dig back in. You have to knock down the Geodude clinging to the cliff so that the impact makes them pop up.
- Grimer (Cave). They appear in openings in the wall, facing away; the Apple makes them turn around.
Facing away, or too far
Kangaskhan turns its back to the camera near the end of the Beach: a Pester Ball makes it turn around and roar toward the ZERO-ONE. Lapras is visible far out at sea, tiny in the frame; if you photograph each of the first three groups, they come back much closer toward the end of the course. These two cases are a reminder that a species that is “seen” has not yet been “well photographed.”
What you can’t see: interference and protection
- Magnemite (Tunnel). Each one emits Supersonic, which scrambles the photo. The Apple distracts them and makes them photographable.
- Vileplume (River). Asleep, only its flower and a cloud of spores are visible. The Poké Flute wakes it up and reveals the tree standing behind it.
- Mew (Rainbow Cloud). A bubble distorts every photo, to the point of showing only a flash of light. You have to burst it before pressing the shutter.
Underwater and in the air
Water Pokémon only show up if you invite them. Throw an item into any body of water: a Magikarp may leap out, and depending on the course, a Psyduck, a Goldeen or a Dratini. In the Valley, the sprays of sparks that accompany certain jumps earn extra points according to Bulbapedia. Conversely, the Zubat pass the Tunnel’s doorway so quickly that you have to time your shot just right: keep your finger ready on the A button.
What does the question mark mean?
The French manual explains two on-screen messages. The word “NEW” appears when the camera picks up a Pokémon that isn’t in your guide yet. A question mark, on the other hand, indicates that the sensor can’t identify the subject. The manual doesn’t detail which Pokémon trigger this question mark, and we found no source to claim it in its place.
For the full list of species and their courses, see the game’s Pokémon list. For item reactions, the items page sums it all up.
