Remember Pokémon Snap? We remember it very well. A Pokémon series spin-off, released in 1999 for the glorious Nintendo 64, it has nowadays achieved true cult status. Just last week, we imagined how it would be to interact with the delicious creatures created by Satoshi Tajiri in a virtual reality environment. Today, we discover that this kind of experience is really possible thanks to Pokémon Snap. Starting from a  rather elementary concept, the title made ​​it possible to carry out real photographic services starring the famous creatures, sitting comfortably at the edge of an on-rail vehicle. The goal was to take pictures of many Pokémon as possible, with the only use of a zoomable camera and some food. A first, rudimentary but ingenious attempt to allow gamers to see first hand the natural habitat of the lovable little creatures.
Today, this little gem is considered a must-play for all lovers of Pikachu & Co. And now, thanks to Oculus Rift, Pokémon have never seemed so close.
All you need is a Nintendo 64 emulator for PC, and the Rift of course. Sure, the graphics will still look very 1999-ish, with polygons as big as a jar of Nutella, and an aliasing not really on par with the latest incarnation of the series. But the interest aroused by this gem on the developer section of the Rift official forum gives us hope on possible future projects. Since it doesn’t cost a dime to dream, nothing prevents us to imagine a sort of free roaming that allows the player to explore the world of Pokémon, watching these creatures not just in the usual role of trainers ready to battle themselves, but as naturalists who want nothing more than to observe their favorite creatures in complete freedom.
All this remains only a dream, for now, but we can enjoy a small taste of it thanks to Pokémon Snap and Oculus Rift.
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