Board 8 > Pick a shot from New Pokemon Snap and I will talk about it

(+) Yeah! (+)

I did this a few months ago and it was kinda fun. (Old topic: 79905244) Choose any Pokemon in the game and a star level (1-4). I will post the known world record and a little blurb about the shot/strat from the perspective of a competitive high score player. A fun learning experience for everyone.

One request per person at a time please, but after I do yours you can post another one. Topic will go until I don't feel like updating.

Lycanroc 4 Star

Qwilfish 3

Zigzagoon posted...

Lycanroc 4 Star

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/9/1/6/AASP7CAADXzM.jpg

A double background shot (bloom + tornado) that's surprisingly not difficult for what it is. The angle for fitting the tornado in the shot is lenient, and Lycanroc is a very cooperative Pokemon to lure thanks to good eyesight and quick running speed. Lycanroc is a Pokemon that can get side direction (meaning that you can get up to 1000 Direction score from a profile side view) and I have a vague memory from last year that it was one of the earliest non-obvious Pokemon to be discovered as such. At the time we thought that it might have been a carryover from sharing a Photodex spot with Lycanroc Midday Form (since a lot of quadupedal or long Pokemon were blatantly intended to be shot from the side), but over time as we found more, it turns out that they just gave it to some other Pokemon for whatever reasons.

Underleveled posted...

Qwilfish 3

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/9/2/1/AASP7CAADXzR.jpg

For a long time this picture was capped at 4800 due to a lack of other Pokemon anywhere in the area, although for whatever reason no one actually went for the perfect 4800 until around 2 months ago. So where did the second Qwilfish come from? That's an even newer development from the end of last month. You have to inflate one of the earlier Qwilfish in the level, and then while you're in front of this one, you bonk the first one, which makes it fly all over the screen like a popped balloon. With good timing you can get it zipping past the background here, which finally broke a maxed score.

On a personal note Qwilfish 3 is my oldest remaining shot in my Photodex, with 4768 from 4/30/2021 02:44:18 (that is, 2 hours and 44 minutes after I first started playing the game at midnight release). Of course it took a little while before I realized how lucky my first ever Qwilfish shot was. It's at the point where I've avoided trying to improve it because I don't want to overwrite my nostalgic oldest picture.

I loved this thread before! I don't suppose you have a list of ones we've already done because I don't remember, lol

Hooray this is back!

Hmm, I too can't remember all the ones that were done before, so I'll just pick Heracross 4* and if it was already done we can switch it to a different star rank.

Lycanroc 3 Star

-hotdogturtle-- posted...

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/9/2/1/AASP7CAADXzR.jpg

For a long time this picture was capped at 4800 due to a lack of other Pokemon anywhere in the area, although for whatever reason no one actually went for the perfect 4800 until around 2 months ago. So where did the second Qwilfish come from? That's an even newer development from the end of last month. You have to inflate one of the earlier Qwilfish in the level, and then while you're in front of this one, you bonk the first one, which makes it fly all over the screen like a popped balloon. With good timing you can get it zipping past the background here, which finally broke a maxed score.

On a personal note Qwilfish 3 is my oldest remaining shot in my Photodex, with 4768 from 4/30/2021 02:44:18 (that is, 2 hours and 44 minutes after I first started playing the game at midnight release). Of course it took a little while before I realized how lucky my first ever Qwilfish shot was. It's at the point where I've avoided trying to improve it because I don't want to overwrite my nostalgic oldest picture.

Oh wow, I picked a really intriguing one!

Ledian 4

As someone who has never played this game, what is the significance of the star rating? Clearly it isn't just points.

oneofcircles posted...

As someone who has never played this game, what is the significance of the star rating? Clearly it isn't just points.

They're basically different types of categorization that exist to increase the variety. In Snap 64 your report saved 1 scored photo of each Pokemon. In this game the Photodex tracks 4 photos of each Pokemon, and they are all scored and saved independently of each other. This allows you to experience more of the action and not let so much of the game's content go to waste.

CassandraCain posted...

Hmm, I too can't remember all the ones that were done before, so I'll just pick Heracross 4* and if it was already done we can switch it to a different star rank.

I consulted the logs and it turns out that someone actually did request Heracross 4 in my last topic. So instead I'll give you Heracross 3.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/9/5/1/AASP7CAADYDX.jpg

Surprise, it's the same picture. This is one of those weird cases where two record shots have the same composition. This is the scene where Sylveon comes out and breaks up Heracross/Pinsir fighting. The trigger for making this a 4 star photo is getting Sylveon in the shot with Heracross. So what this shot does is zoom in slightly more so Sylveon is missing, and it turns into 3 star. It's still high scoring because it's getting points from Pinsir and the whole background.

Nice. Next I would like to go with Beartic 3* since I just got a pic of it that scored a little over 6k. Which is now easily my highest scoring photo.

Wishiwashi 4*?

Specifically the one I'm thinking of is where it's chasing Wailord at the end of the stage (if that one's even used for a high scoring shot). I think in the last topic I mistakenly asked for Wailord 4* instead <__<

Zigzagoon posted...

Lycanroc 3 Star

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/1/5/3/AASP7CAADYGh.jpg

This shot used to be taken in front of the bloom in the oasis area until people got more adventurous with their luring. This is the Lycanroc that normally hangs around the split path section. It's the only one in the course that does the eye beams when you orb it. It's lured down the hill in order to take it at the same spot as the 4 star. On a more casual level, there are alternatives to either take this one in front of the single bloom (less background), or take one eating (less pose) in front of the double background, both of which can get a relatively painless 5100.

Underleveled posted...

Ledian 4

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/1/5/7/AASP7CAADYGl.jpg

This shot looks really basic, but it's actually a good demonstration of synergy mechanics at work. It's been empirically proven that the formula for synergy points is (Pose+Size+Direction)/5, or in English, 20% of what the side Pokemon's score would be other than Placement. Assuming that the side Ledian has the exact same stats as the main Ledian here, you can see the math work out (this is how, in some cases, we can work out a theoretical max score for a shot that isn't anywhere close yet). They also have synergy placement, which is the ability to aim at the point directly between two bodies' main hitboxes and it counts as its own placement spot, hence 1000 here.

The photo itself looks quite boring and I can't imagine why they made this interaction count as 4 stars in the first place.

Lycanroc 2 Star

Deerling 1

In honour of its victory

Bulbasaur 1

-hotdogturtle-- posted...

They're basically different types of categorization that exist to increase the variety. In Snap 64 your report saved 1 scored photo of each Pokemon. In this game the Photodex tracks 4 photos of each Pokemon, and they are all scored and saved independently of each other. This allows you to experience more of the action and not let so much of the game's content go to waste.

Honestly, I still don't quite understand. So each star is a unique photo-op? Are 4 stars rarer or harder to get?

oneofcircles posted...

So each star is a unique photo-op?

Correct. Every possible animation and interaction that a Pokemon has while they're on the course is designated a star level. So as you're taking pictures, they'll always be sorted into four groups. 1 star is normal behavior like a common pose, or just standing there doing nothing. 4 stars are generally the most special interactions, often an interaction with another Pokemon or the environment that you have to set up with your tools. Of course looking back through this topic, I can see how it wouldn't be clear from the pictures because these are some crappy 4 stars.

Lycanroc's 4 star is doing a happy reaction after eating an apple, which is more commonly commonly 2 stars for most Pokemon.
Heracross is confusing if you haven't seen it because it's an interaction that can be 3 or 4 stars depending on how you take the shot.
Ledian is a an easy interaction (just light the flower and they come out) so I personally think it doesn't make sense for it to be 4 stars.

Usually the 4 star shots are more interesting!

I guess you can think of it as, like, not necessarily rarer from a gameplay perspective, but in-universe, Pokemon behaviors that would be more unusual to see out in the wild.

1*: Just standing there
2*: Eating/sleeping/etc
3*: Special pose
4*: Special pose that you have to solve an extremely obtuse puzzle to trigger

Basically, and with a lot of exceptions.

Thanks, I only played the first game

CassandraCain posted...

Nice. Next I would like to go with Beartic 3* since I just got a pic of it that scored a little over 6k. Which is now easily my highest scoring photo.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/4/8/6/AASP7CAADYbW.jpg

This is the highest non-Illumina/legendary photo in the game (and iirc the first one of such to reach 6000). It has a little no, a lot of everything. There's a bit of an issue though, that this pose is one of the few poses known to have been altered in the 2.0 patch. The part of the animation where he looks straight at you doesn't give 1000 points anymore; the timing was changed so the 1000 pose occurs at a point with bad direction (nerfed because they didn't want a single picture to score this high?). That means that scores over 6.3k are now impossible to get. Using the next best thing that compromises between pose and direction, you can get 6.2k, but it's a little harder.

Kenri posted...

Wishiwashi 4*?

Specifically the one I'm thinking of is where it's chasing Wailord at the end of the stage (if that one's even used for a high scoring shot). I think in the last topic I mistakenly asked for Wailord 4* instead <__<

I know the one you're talking about, but that shot isn't used for any Wishiwashi high scores. Wishiwashi's 4 star record is creating the whirlpool:

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/5/2/2/AASP7CAADYb6.jpg

However, it is Wailord's own 3 star strat:

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/5/2/3/AASP7CAADYb7.jpg

It works itself out that this is better for Wailord than anything else in Reef or Undersea. Even though you can barely see Wishiwashi behind it, it still gives a big enough bonus to be worth it.

Ah okay, that's about the same pic of Beartic that I got, the exact total was 6,032 I think. It surprised me when I saw the number though.

I'd say it deserves the high score, it's a beautiful photo.

Are there any other regular pokes that can reach 6k? If so I'd like that one to be my next pick plz!

Zigzagoon posted...

Lycanroc 2 Star

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/5/6/9/AASP7CAADYcp.jpg

...Nah, I'm just kidding, that's not it.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/5/7/0/AASP7CAADYcq.jpg

You hit Rockruff with an apple and Lycanroc gets angry at you. They're both roaming before you do anything with them, so there's some freedom to optimize their positions ahead of time. It looks like they angled Rockruff in a way to get good side direction to squeeze out the most bonus points. Mandibuzz's nest gives background in this shot.

Lycanroc 1 Star

:)

Damn it, I was gonna update some more writeups but Cyberscore is down so I can't get any of the pictures >_>

Underleveled posted...

Deerling 1

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/0/9/1/AASP7CAADZjT.jpg

This is what's been dubbed an "idle pose", a random action that a Pokemon may do while it's not interacting with anything. Idle poses are both a blessing and curse in this game. They breathe a huge amount of life and variety into this game for making the wild Pokemon seem more realistic. But it can also be a pain when an idle pose is required for a record shot because you have to get it into position and then just hope that it happens. Idles can be any star level or pose value, but they are most commonly 1 star and 900-1000 points, accounting for the fact that 1 stars are most likely to have fewer good interactions. This shot is also taken in front of the "seasons room", a common background area because it has both a crystabloom and a crap-ton of extra Pokemon.

When I attempted my version of this shot, I chose to use Summer Deerling because it is clearly the superior looking Deerling. But doing so requires you to give up Gardevoir from the background because it only shows up if you take the winter path. I'm happy with the way that my PB looks, but there's always the potential that it could have been slightly higher if I had taken the same shot from winter instead...

andylt posted...

Bulbasaur 1

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/1/7/2/AASP7CAADZkk.jpg

There are 2 Bulbasaurs that you can orb and they run up onto this cliff section. The one closer to you will always get there first, and it starts looking around back and forth while it's waiting for the second one to arrive. That's what this is, catching it mid-head turn. It's timed in such a way that the second one gets there as quick as possible so it's fully visible while the first one is still mid-animation (this is the trickiest part; most people's shots have the second one hidden behind the first while it's still coming in). By using face placement instead of body placement, the shot can be taken further to the right to include the Unfezant's nest for additional background.

Oh cool, I didn't know about the idle pose stuff.

Is this still going? If so, Avalugg 3*.

Pinsir 2

I was just gonna let it die since it wasn't getting a lot of activity when I was posting but I can do more if you guys want.

Ursaring 4

Sorry, I was on vacation and forgot about this for a bit! I'm still interested in it, if you are.

Uh.......... Glaceon 1?

I thought your name looked familiar when I saw it on the Snap Discord. And I was right about remembering it from Board 8.

Okay, let's talk Mightyena 4.

CassandraCain posted...

Are there any other regular pokes that can reach 6k? If so I'd like that one to be my next pick plz!

I counted a few days ago and I think there were 14 6k shots by Pokemon that weren't Illumina or legendary (by 12 different Pokemon...). This is the next highest scoring one behind Beartic 3, Frillish 3.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/1/2/2/AASP7CAADcfS.jpg

This is a really intricate event whose beauty and depth often gets overlooked by casual players, I'd guess. It's a big jellyfish prom where each male Frillish that you orb in the tunnel pairs with a female at the end (females with no partner end up alone and lonely). And there's this subplot about a Tentacruel who wants to date a Frillish but gets stopped by his parents so you have to help him sneak out for his date. Really wild if you do the whole thing and see how filled the place gets with Frillish. For this shot you have to orb at least the main one on your way there, and the second one behind is free points so no reason not to do it as well. When you play music, every couple that you've reunited starts dancing. The background is both the ancient ruins and the crystabloom. The shot is focused on the female facing you, with the dancing male one providing synergy points. If you get the proper angle you can take this shot unzoomed, which is how you get the wide, almost cinematic looking background view.

The record shot here chose to light the crystabloom purely for visual effect, it's not required for the shot. This is how it looks in the dark, quite different even though it's the exact same shot:

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/1/2/3/AASP7CAADcfT.jpg

Wow I have not yet seen all this Frillish stuff lol, this game has so much stuff in it that's hard to find but rewarding

Wow! Yeah this game is packed with stuff I still have yet to know anything about. Those Frillish couples are cute.

And since I can't recall which pokes have already been done, just let me know if you've already done it and I'll pick another.

Gengar 4 star plz

Zigzagoon posted...

Lycanroc 1 Star

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/1/4/1/AASP7CAADcfl.jpg

This was part of a whole series of shots that got rerouted some time late last year. There's a minor event at the end of Sands where 2 male Hippowdon come up in front of a female and fight each other with sand tornados to impress her. One of them gets knocked over and runs away, while the winner and the female run off happily together. Well it turns out that the 2 tornados that they create each count as background for the few seconds that they're on screen. So the goal is to lure a Pokemon down the hill so you get a glimpse of the double tornado fight. The difficulty depends on how easy the Pokemon is to lure, but it's tough no matter what because you have a limited time since the event happens on its own. Plus, this shot is an idle pose, meaning that it's even harder to time the animation with the background. Only a few people have managed to get this composition. There is a static, nearly automatic 1 star pose in Badlands Night that can get an easy 5300-5400 that most people have as their score.

And there's this subplot about a Tentacruel who wants to date a Frillish but gets stopped by his parents so you have to help him sneak out for his date

what

Yeah I need to seek that out for myself. It'd be funnier (and make more sense) if it was a Tentacool, but I understand why they wouldn't wanna do that.

Maybe they're not actually his parents (or maybe they are). In the tunnel with all the male Frillish there's also a male Tentacruel and 2 female Tentacruel. If you orb the male, like the Frillish, he will go ahead to the end section. But if you orb either of the females ones, then at the exit of the tunnel, they will be blocking him from leaving with an angry look on their face, and he will turn around and float back to his spot with a sad look. So you have to orb him but not the other two. He will show up on the "main stage" on the ancient ruins along with a female Frillish, facing each other, in front of the crystabloom. When you play music they will both start dancing.

-hotdogturtle-- posted...

This is a really intricate event whose beauty and depth often gets overlooked by casual players, I'd guess. It's a big jellyfish prom where each male Frillish that you orb in the tunnel pairs with a female at the end (females with no partner end up alone and lonely). And there's this subplot about a Tentacruel who wants to date a Frillish but gets stopped by his parents so you have to help him sneak out for his date. Really wild if you do the whole thing and see how filled the place gets with Frillish.

this game is so fucking weird

Scorbunny 4*?

-hotdogturtle-- posted...

Maybe they're not actually his parents (or maybe they are). In the tunnel with all the male Frillish there's also a male Tentacruel and 2 female Tentacruel. If you orb the male, like the Frillish, he will go ahead to the end section. But if you orb either of the females ones, then at the exit of the tunnel, they will be blocking him from leaving with an angry look on their face, and he will turn around and float back to his spot with a sad look. So you have to orb him but not the other two. He will show up on the "main stage" on the ancient ruins along with a female Frillish, facing each other, in front of the crystabloom. When you play music they will both start dancing.

My god this is amazing, I thought you were kidding in the earlier post. How is there so much stuff like this that I never saw.

andylt posted...

Is this still going? If so, Avalugg 3*.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/9/8/2/AASP7CAADcsu.jpg

Avalugg meets Delibird and does a little roar. It's probably hard to tell from the small pic but this is perfect side direction (good example of how direction is based on their head position rather than their body, since Avalugg's head is turned to the right in comparison to where he's standing). Scores always look incredibly impressive when they manage to hit the 1000 pose.

Underleveled posted...

Pinsir 2

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/9/8/6/AASP7CAADcsy.jpg

This very recently turned into a double tornado shot, but I think that only 1 person (this record) has actually done it here. Everyone else did the more traditional spot in front of the Bidoof dam:

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/9/8/7/AASP7CAADcsz.jpg

Either way it's the same thing, Pinsir in the middle of eating an apple. It's hard to say how much higher the Sands version can go since we don't have a big enough sample size. The Park one is definitely easier and recommended for most people unless you're legitimately aiming for a world record.

I don't know why but it's EXTREMELY funny to me that both shots are of Pinsir in the EXACT same pose, at the EXACT same moment, at the EXACT same angle, with completely different scenery and lighting

Delibird 4 Star