The Pokemon Company has managed to keepNew Pokemon Snap’s biggest cameo under wraps until the game released today. Fans who are already playingNew Pokemon Snapquickly discovered that a major character from the originalPokemon Snapreappears to help guide the player through the game.
Fans were already introduced toNew Pokemon Snap’s main characters, as well as many of its Pokemon, before today. The game’s plot is similar to the original’s, as players take the role of a budding photographer who partners with a professor to photograph Pokemon for research purposes. This time around, the player joins Professor Mirror, who is investigating a strange phenomenon that makes Pokemon in the Lental region glow. There are also a number of side characters, including Professor Mirror’s research assistant Rita and a competitive rival named Phil.
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In the first few hours of the game, players also meet another character who should be immediately recognizable to anyPokemonfan. That is Todd Snap, the protagonist of the originalPokemon Snap. Todd appears early on to give the player character photography tips. His inclusion in the game was never officially announced by the game’s creators, though fans got a brief glimpse of him at the end ofNew Pokemon Snap’s official gameplay trailer. Todd’s role inNew Pokemon Snapis relegated to him accompanying professor Mirror or giving direction to the player character.
In the originalPokemon Snap, Todd was an earnest teenager with a clunky camera who was hired by Professor Oak to take pictures of Pokemon. Todd takes several photography expeditions throughout the game and eventually uncovers “Pokemon Signs” that are connected to constellations in the night sky. At the end of the game,Oak sends Todd to outer space to photograph Mewin what is perhaps one of the most memorable moments in the early history ofPokemon. Todd also makes appearances in thePokemonanime and manga.
InNew Pokemon Snap, it is revealed that Todd’s photos of Mew launched his career as a world-famous photographer. Players also find out that Todd helped Professor Mirror develop theNeo-One,New Pokemon Snap’s main vehiclethat takes the place of the original’s Zero-One. While Todd has matured into a seasoned photographer, he still exhibits a passion and enthusiasm for Pokemon photography that made him memorable in the first game and anime.
It is fitting that Todd has returned toNewPokemon Snapas a mature adult, similar to how many fans who played the originalPokemon Snapin their childhood are playing the sequel as older, yet forever passionate fans ofPokemon. There is no doubt that fans will be pleasantly surprised to reunite with an old friend.
