Nintendo 64 Game Review: Pokemon Snap

 The 1990's were full of fads, crazes, and shows with almost cult-like followings.  From track suits, to the dot com bubble (and bust) to shows like Power Rangers developing huge followings, seemingly everything happened in this decade that either touched gold or touched disaster (or in the case of Power Rangers, seemingly both.) One such show that became a phenomenon with a major following became Pokemon, which to this date continues onward with shows, games, and mobile games as well.  One such Pokemon game that came at the probable height of its fandom was Pokemon Snap.  A game that features.. literally.. taking pictures of Pokemon in their 'natural' habitat.  It was popular as a game for Pokemon Gamers, but also Nintendo gamers, and it came back in 2021 with a new game, New Pokemon Snap (yes they could have used Pokemon Snap II but.. I digress.)  How does the original do for the N64? What needed to be improved?

Positives:

1. It's a quick paced game with quick paced levels.  Since the scope of the game is so limited, you can't really attract an audience well with a game that takes forever to complete.  Pokemon Snap can be done in a couple of hours and keep you wanting to complete the game fully as best as possible.  The fact the levels typically only take about 4-5 minutes each is a good thing for the game.

2. The replayability factor of the levels is big here, as you have to replay levels with different items that you get.  It's not a totally great replayable game, but the levels that you have to do are major and needed overall to extend the game's time span.  I feel they did a good job developing the game to have the levels be replayed over and over again.

3. Graphically, the game is fantastic.  Nintendo and the group that made this game did a terrific job with graphics and making this game and its levels look exquisite.

4. Same for the soundtrack, as the soundtrack is beautifully done and is exquisite as well.

5. The controls aren't too jerky, odd or anything while taking pictures.  You won't have too much issue with focusing the camera as it is already auto-focused in so you won't have blurriness like you might have IRL taking photos.

Negatives:

1. The game is very limited in scope with not much more to offer. It's taking pictures of Pokemon, there isn't much else to it.  And you had better take them well because..

2. Professor Oak's grading system has to be about the worst grading system I have ever come across in a game or real life.  if a pokemon is top-middle or bottom-middle by a bunch, you still get credit.  If it is even THE SLIGHTEST bit off center though, you are downgraded horrifically.  His grading system for including other Pokemon is also just terrible.  How did this dude allow Ash, Gary and others to determine Pokemon fate instead of a good professor?

3. With the game limited in scope, it's also limited in Pokemon.  There are only 60 Pokemon to take photos of here, well short of the 151 it would typically manage overall.  It just falls flat to have just some Pokemon and not even a majority of the beginning amount. 

Rating:

Overall, Pokemon Snap is a good-to-very good Pokemon game and a good N64 game.  The negatives definitely prevent it from being great.  However, it's popularity kept it going to the point they got a new game in 2021.  There is no escaping the road this game helped build for the future of Pokemon in America in the peak of its time.  Overall, a 7.5 out of 10 works for Pokemon Snap

N64 Game Review: F-1 World Grand Prix

 Formula 1 racing has been around since 1950 and has produced some of the greatest drivers ever.  From Mario Andretti, Niki Lauda, Juan Manuel Fangio, Michael Schumacher, Ayrton Senna, Sebastian Vettel to Lewis Hamilton it has produced amazing champions of the sport.  It has also produced a lot of games from different companies.  Currently Codemasters has the F1 games and has for quite some time, but before that different companies made F1 games.  Notably, EA Sports made F1 games for a number of years before bowing out to other endeavors.  When the Nintendo 64 came around, Paradigm Entertainment came around with this game, F-1 World Grand Prix.  This game is also available on Dreamcast and PS1 and Windows but they were a full year later on than the N64 version.  What does this game do well? What didn't do well? Here we go friends!

Positives:

1. Challenge Mode- I love this mode and it is cool to challenge yourself in this rather than just race.  It provides unique experiences with different drivers of different cars and is overall a good representation of the nuances of F1 at the time.

2. Graphics- I thought the graphics were done well, if a bit boxy on the cars.  It's overall a good representation of 1998 with the track layouts and configurations and crowds.  There isn't much in the way of pixelating or polygonal delay, and it flows through the track.

3. Racing- It's actually quite good to be honest, and the presentation of this is noted to be done quite well.  I thought it was good to race on the 1997 calendar or the 1998 calendar as well.  Both were really welcome editions and it was a good thing to do overall.

4. Realism- The drivers, minus Jacques Villeneuve, had accurate representation over their likeness and the game overall does well as I said above with the layouts of the tracks and how well they were done in terms of their layouts and designs from the 1997/1998 seasons.

Negatives:

1. Camera angle- Especially in braking zones, the camera is super wonky and seems to want to stay straight ahead rather than follow you.  Not that it is severely detrimental but it just is really wonky overall.

2. Boxy cars- Yeah when I said the cars are boxy, it just doesn't promote themselves well.  Like I said with the graphics the cars are boxy in ways and they drive oddly in the braking zones.  Every time it feels the car will snap on you and you have to do your best to control it.  Other than that, the cars are fine.

Overall Rating:

I would give F-1 World Grand Prix probably a 8 out of 10.  It's a fine racing game for its time and one of the better games on the seemingly next gen consoles of PS1/N64/Dreamcast. I have only played this game for the N64 however but it was a fine game and one I would recommend still today for those racing game completionists out there.