A character originally slated for New Pokémon Snap, Shroomish, is completely absent from the final Switch game, according to reports. Reasons why Nintendo cut the character are unknown, but there does appear to be a possibility for the gaming giant to fix the gap, whether in May or in some later DLC.
In New Pokémon Snap, players are tasked with discovering why Pokémon in the Lental islands have a bioluminescent glow. Instead of capture or fighting, though, the main activity is taking photos, which the game rates based on how Pokémon fill the frame, face the camera, and demonstrate any unusual behaviors. Images from the Photodex can be given filters, frames, stickers, and basic editing for aspects like brightness. To encourage friendly competition, players can give each other "Sweet!" awards.
Shroomish was visible in New Pokémon Snap's June 2020 reveal trailer, notes ComicBook.com, citing evidence shared by PokéXperto on Twitter. The character is not only absent, however, but missing from game data entirely. Datamining is said to point to a variety of "empty" slots with reserved IDs, which could mean that Shroomish will be added as later DLC. That's a common thing for Nintendo, which has for example been adding Super Smash Bros. Ultimate fighters for years, and seasonal updates for Animal Crossing: New Horizons - even if players aren't always happy with the results.
It's also possible that Shroomish was cut permanently to speed up New Pokémon Snap's development and/or because the Pokémon was considered unimportant. The character isn't nearly as popular as the likes of Pikachu, Squirtle, or even Magikarp, so resources and balancing efforts may have been better spent elsewhere. Showing the character in marketing does imply Nintendo had plans to include Shroomish, at some stage - yet studios are sometimes forced to make hard decisions as a project nears the finish line. Cuts in the past have been based on factors like player feedback and the technical limitations of platforms. It could be that Shroomish was slashed because it was filling a part of Lental already stacked with other photo subjects.
Shroomish is a Grass-type Pokémon that later evolves into Breloom. Its abilities include Effect Spore and Poison Heal, plus a hidden one, Quick Feet. It arrived with the third generation of Pokémon in 2003, which on its own gained some 135 characters. There are now eight generations and 649 Pokémon in total, which makes the 214 in New Pokémon Snap a slim selection when compared with the greater possibilities of the franchise as a whole.
Sources: ComicBook.com, PokéXperto/Twitter
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May 04, 2021 at 05:20AM
