Another Pokemon review here just in time for Pokemon Legend Arceus release in a couple of days, and safe to say it’s not even close to being the last one. Aren’t you all so lucky? Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are remakes of the 2007 original DS titles. On the surface they are the same game, even bypassing the slight changes that came from Platinum which I’d argue is one of the best Pokemon games of all time and eras, up there with Crystal and Emerald.
We once again return to the Sinnoh region and this time artistically it’s a fresh full fleshed out chibi style, which at it’s core is an updated version of how it used to look, just not as flat in places. For me I actually like that they went with this style for the remaster instead of the slightly more realistic approach of the Sword and Shield. It makes the world feel bigger than originally it was and makes for how it should’ve looked back in 2007. All the while making the terrain edges of the map feel like there is a bigger world out of the linear path you tread on your journey. What has let it down is the unevenness of the graphics as they aren’t as crisp and whimsical as the Links Awakening Remake. Which looks incredible! Some bits like the water graphics look better than the world around it, and even has better physics on it when using surf than a lot of other minute details. Then when you enter a battle the chibi style is dropped and becomes fully rendered like Sword and Shield. This makes for the battles to seem larger and more engaging which is good but it’s an odd choice. Not to mention everyone’s floors are highly shiny and reflective, for no real reason, always making the inside of buildings seem peculiar.
The gameplay is as fun as it ever was, and brings back the more traditional style of gameplay which the series has slowly been shifting away from. It does bring back the full party EXP share, and this seems way more giving than normal as well. Fielding a high level team for the entire game is of no worry. You will always be way above, level wise which is and isn’t a problem depending on where you stand with it. Also one use TM’s make their return, rather then the unlimited uses of later games. This also brings back HM’s but you no longer need them to be taught they are added to your Poketch and can be triggered as long as you have the relevant gym badge and a wild pokemon will do the move for you. Which I think is a welcome addition as before you would always have to catch a shitty low levelled Pokemon to become a HM sap and have to waste a valuable slot on your team to use flash once, creating a deep inconvenience.
To make the game feel more personal as well, once you reach Veilstone you can go clothes shopping and change your style up and dress your character how you want, instead of the same clothes all the time. You can have a Pokemon of your choice follow you around as well. The size and quality of the walking animation is to be deservedly questioned. I mean having a only 5 foot Deity of time trundling behind you is a strange at the best of time, instead of the towering behemoth it’s supposed to be, but even more strange that no one seems to give a shit a legendary Pokemon just ate some poffins in front of your house. This probably comes from what I can only assume is the booming economy in the world of Pokemon, from everyone giving you fairly expensive TM’s, items and even team galactic paying you once you’ve beaten them. Cause nothing says world domination then a battle wagered moral compassion. Everyone is just too happy most of the time it would seem.
One returning feature that did make me very happy as I spent a questionable amount of time on this back in my youth is the explorer kit. This along with Dive are two things that have needed to be brought back since before the 3DS titles started to drop. This time the underground system has been expanded. As you run around doing the usual digging for gems, and occasional fossil you now have little caves that act like an overworld with wild pokemon walking about. This can allow you to catch slightly rarer Pokemon without being in the habitat of them and makes for easier shiny hunting if you are into that.
A certified 8/10 a Highly Tasty Game.
It’s a very fun game still, using all the same old Pokemon formula which has had a nice glow up and quality of life enhancements. Even having two features that are touch screen as seemingly every other switch game has forgotten that is possible. This all adds up for a stellar remake that falls a tad flat as it does absolutely nothing new, I mean this isn’t a bad thing as it is a remake but for a full priced remake you expect a little bit more, adding the fan favourite mega evolutions would’ve been a nice touch. Or even if it just looked a little bit better graphically. None of this takes away from the fun of saving the Sinnoh region and once the National Dex is unlocked you have a island which does allow for many past Legendaries to be caught. So all in all it’s well worth revisiting these classics remade anew.
Nintendo Switch November 19th 2021.
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