In New Pokémon Snap, the player is a Pokémon photographer[1]who visits various islands in the Lental region to help the research studies of Professor Mirror and his assistants Rita and Phil.[2][3][4]Todd from the original Pokémon Snap makes an appearance in this game. The research lab located in the Lental region is called the Laboratory of Ecological and Natural Sciences (L.E.N.S.).[5][6]Taking photographs helps the player build a compendium called a Photodex;[7] the game features over 200 different Pokémon for the player to photograph.[8] In addition to adding photos to the Photodex, the player also helps investigate the Illumina phenomenon, where Pokémon and plants appear to have a special glow.[9]
For each research expedition, the player travels in an on-rails hovercraft, the NEO-ONE (an updated version of the ZERO-ONE from Pokémon Snap), to safely photograph Pokémon in their natural environments. With the new content update, aside from being able to travel underwater and faster, the NEO-ONE is capable of shrinking, along with its occupants These habitats include jungles, deserts and beaches,[1][2]which can be visited during daytime or at night in order to photograph different types of Pokémon.[10] Each photo the player takes is graded by Professor Mirror on a scale of one to four stars based on how rare the current activity of the Pokémon is.[11][12] Each photo is also given a score taking into account things like shot composition, how close the Pokémon is, and whether they are facing the camera or not.[1] Players can decide to save those photos to the Photodex, which can hold up to four photos of each Pokémon (one at each rating).[13] As players take higher-quality photos, they earn Expedition Points that go toward improving the Research Level of each area in the Lental region. Achieving higher research levels will open up more levels to explore in that area.[13][14]
To get better pictures, the player is encouraged to use various tools to coax out rarely-seen Pokémon reactions on camera.[15] To lure Pokémon out, players can use a fruit called a fluffruit,[16] or play a melody that can get some Pokémon to dance.[17] They can also throw an item called an Illumina orb to cause Pokémon to glow.[18] The orbs serve to not only help the player take pictures at night,[14] but also potentially change a Pokémon's behavior. Depending on the Pokémon, the Illumina orb can help wake up sleeping creatures, or even sometimes cheer them up.[17] Players can find hidden Pokémon in the area by using their camera to scan for them.[19]
After Professor Mirror grades the player's photographs, players can retouch their photos using the Re-Snap feature.[10] This allows the player to change parameters like zoom, blur, and brightness, as well as add photographic filters, photo frames, and stickers.[19] These edited photos can be saved to a personal photo album separate from the Photodex.[10][14] Players can upload their photos online to share with other players, who in turn can help get their favourite photos be featured in-game by liking them.[18][20]
