New Pokémon Snap: Complete Controls Guide for Nintendo Switch

In 1999, the Nintendo 64 staged another new way to experience the Pokémon world with the debut of Pokémon Snap. Nearly 22 years later, the sequel has arrived.

Inventively titled ‘New Pokémon Snap,’ the reins for this new photo safari game were passed over to Bandai Namco Studios, who have crafted a multi-island, biome-hopping tour of the Lental region.

Here, we’re going through all of the New Pokémon Snap controls that you need to know, as well as how to change some of the core controller settings.

In this New Pokémon Snap controls guide, the left and right analogue are shown as (L) and (R), with the buttons on the d-pad listed as Up, Left, Down, and Right.

New Pokémon Snap controls (Default, Set 1)

There are four sets of preloaded New Pokémon Snap controls for you to choose from, so it’s worth exploring your options before you get going – particularly if you’re used to first-person shooters.

Below, you’ll find the default, or Set 1, New Pokémon Snap controls.

New Pokémon Snap controls (Set 2)

This alternative set of New Pokémon Snap controls will lend itself more to fans of FPS games, with the bumpers now hosting the Zoom and Take Photo buttons.

New Pokémon Snap controls (Set 3)

Set 3 of the New Pokémon Snap controls flips the analogues over, suiting those who would prefer to direct the camera as though moving around the map in a regular Pokémon game.

New Pokémon Snap controls (Set 4)

This final set of New Pokémon Snap controls flips the analogues from the defaults of Set 1 and puts the Take Photo button on the bumper.

How to switch off motion controls on New Pokémon Snap

To turn off the motion controls when playing New Pokémon Snap in handheld mode, you need to:

1. Press + to bring up the pause menu, or select ‘Settings’ from the main menu;
2. Use L or R to move to the ‘Game’ tab;
3. Scroll down to ‘Motion Controls;’
4. Press A on the ‘Off’ option;
5. Press B to save your selection and leave the menu.

How to speed up camera movement on New Pokémon Snap

If you want your movement and camera speed to increase, find the speed settings by:

1. Going into ‘Settings’ from the main menu or press + to access the pause menu;
2. Go to the ‘Camera’ tab by pressing L or R;
3. Scroll down to ‘Camera Speed’ or ‘Pointer Speed’ and press A;
4. Use the cursor to hover over the speed that you want and press A;
5. Press B to back out of the menu and save your new speed settings.

The default Camera Speed and Pointer Speed settings are very slow. As you’ll need to be quick to react to any glimpses of rare Pokémon on the trail, you’ll want both of these speeds turned all of the way up.

How do you invert the analogues on New Pokémon Snap?

To invert the controls of the left analogue or right analogue in New Pokémon Snap, do the following:

1. Access the menu via ‘Settings’ from the main menu or by pressing + while on an expedition;
2. Navigate to the ‘Camera’ section with L or R;
3. Scroll down to either ‘Left Stick Controls’ or ‘Right Stick Controls’ and press A;
4. Use the cursor to highlight how you wish to invert the controls and press A;
5. Back out of the menu by pressing B to secure your inverted controls.

How do you unlock the ZR Turbo controls on New Pokémon Snap?

To unlock the ZR button to get Turbo on New Pokémon Snap, you need to do the following:

1. Get to Research Level 2 in Florio Nature Park (Day);
2. Get to Research Level 2 in Florio Nature Park (Night) and snap a glowing Crystabloom when requested;
3. Get to Research Level 2 in Florio Nature Park Illumina Spot;
4. Get to Research Level 2 in Founja Jungle (Day);
5. Get to Research Level 2 in Founja Jungle (Night) and snap a glowing Crystabloom when requested;
6. Get to Research Level 2 in Blushing Beach (Day);
7. Get to Research Level 2 in Maricopa Reef (Day);
8. Get to Research Level 2 in Lental Seafloor;
9. Return to Lental Seafloor and snap the Crystabloom when requested (found behind the sleeping Lumineon);
10. Return to Lental Seafloor and follow the alternate Clawitzer-made path west;
11. Get to Research Level 2 in Lental Seafloor Illumina Spot;
12. Complete one round of the Research Lab Photo Course;
13. Get to Research Level 2 in the Sweltering Sands (Day);
14. Get to Research Level 2 in the Sweltering Sands (Night) and snap a Crystabloom when requested;
15. Get to Research Level 2 in Fireflow Volcano;
16. Return to Fireflow Volcano and complete the new route;
17. Get to Research Level 2 in Fireflow Volcano Illumina Spot;
18. Get to Research Level 2 in Elsewhere Forest;
19. Get to Research Level 2 in Elsewhere Forest Illumina Spot.

Essentially, to unlock Turbo, you need to find all four of the fabled Illumina Pokémon around the initial four destinations of the Lental region.

Now you know all of the New Pokémon Snap controls, how to adjust them to your liking, and how to unlock the final ZR button of the game.