Pokemon Snap makes spiritual comeback in Pokemon Sun and Moon for Nintendo 3DS

The Pokémon Company has introduced several new features for upcoming Nintendo 3DS games Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon. The new trailer also confirmed the oft-requested addition of in-game photography, with a mode that is instantly reminiscent of the N64's cult classic Pokémon Snap.

The feature – officially dubbed Poké Finder – lets players take pictures of the Pokémon they discover while journeying around Sun and Moon's Alola region. Judging from the trailer, the Poké Finder is activated by visiting specific icons – similar to the photo spots in 2013's Pokémon X and Pokémon Y.

Rather than focus on the player avatar and the surrounding environment, this time the camera functionality prompts trainers to take snaps of Pocket Monsters before submitting them for an overall rating. According to a press release, "the pictures you take will be evaluated, and as you take better pictures, more features — like the ability to zoom — become available".

In addition, developer Game Freak appears to be altering the status quo by making each version of the game different from one another, with not only wild Pokémon exclusives, but also by time zone. This feature has been confirmed to impact which Pokémon appear in Totem trial battles and in the wild.

Raticate joins its pre-evolution in receiving a chubby-cheeked Alolan redesign, while two additions to the generation seven Pokédex – Jangmo-o and Type: Null – are shown as well. The trailer also marked the debut of Ultra Beasts, which are described as "creatures that possess mighty powers and pose a threat to humans and Pokémon".

The first Ultra Beast revealed for Pokémon Sun and Moon is UB-01, a "glass-like" jellyfish-thing. Ultra Beasts are said to be the subject of study for a new range of characters from the shady-sounding Aether Foundation. Aether researchers Lusamine, Faba and Wicke all debut in the trailer (embedded below).

Pokémon X and Y characters Dexio and Sina also make a return in the trailer, introducing the player to Zygarde Cubes, Cores and Cells – all of which relate to the mysterious snake-like legendary Pokémon of the same name.

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