
It’s important to finding items, tracking Pokemon’s friendship status and counting steps to hatch eggs. It sits on the top right of the screen and can be blown out so that players can interact with it. The device, which acts almost like an iPhone, features numerous apps that helps players through the journey. In addition, ILCA elegantly adapts the Poketch device to the Switch despite the console lacking the second screen of the Nintendo DS. This change balances out the overwhelming powers of the Dragon- and Dark-type Pokemon in the campaign and brings in new wrinkles that veterans of the original must account for. ILCA also includes Fairy types, which were introduced later in the series, to this version. This opens up space on a team and cuts down on the need to backtrack to grab a specific Pokemon. Players can use them on the fly to overcome obstacles on the map.

First off, HM moves are no longer tied to a specific Pokemon. The stories of the legendary and mythical Pokemon that players encounter are woven together to create a more fully realized world compared to other chapters.Īlthough “Brilliant Diamond” and “Shining Pearl” stick close to the path of the originals, the remakes take advantage of several gameplay refinements made over the past few years to make the experience more fun and less of a hassle. On the other hand, the Sinnoh region itself has more fascinating lore than other chapters because of its primacy in the “Pokemon” hierarchy, which has Arceus as the creator of the universe.
#NINTENDO DS POKEMON GAMES SERIES#
The story lines aren’t the best in the series and follow the same narrative beats as other entries. “Pokemon Brilliant Diamond” and “Pokemon Shining Pearl” lets players choose from three starting creatures early in the game. At the same time, players will have to fill out a Pokedex and battle gym leaders in order to enter the Pokemon League and challenge the champion, Cynthia. They battle troublemakers in Team Galactic, who are trying to use the powers of Pokemon for their own nefarious ends. Players adventure through the Sinnoh region, catching and taming creatures so that they can use them in battles. While it looks new, “Brilliant Diamond” and “Shining Pearl” retain the core gameplay and their quirks. Elsewhere, the combat sequences are lovingly animated with fresh flourishes and effects that make the battles feel more visceral. The switch to polygons also improves the level of visual detail, as the improved hardware lets the developers accurately reflect Pokemon off water and create more detail in the world. ILCA gives the remakes a facelift by transforming the sprite-based graphics into polygons.ĭespite the graphical changes, the games retain their charm thanks to the cutesy, Chibi-style art. “Brilliant Diamond” and “Shining Pearl” aren’t reimaginations of their predecessors instead, they hew close to the originals. Thankfully, the team came up with clever solutions that take advantage of the modern console’s power and capabilities. “Pokemon Brilliant Diamond” and “Pokemon Shining Pearl” remakes still captures the visual charm of the originals. At first glance, modernizing the games presented peculiar challenges to the developers at ILCA, the studio that brought the game to the Nintendo Switch. I didn’t spend enough time with originals to appreciate them, so I come to these games with fresh eyes. That brings me and fans to the latest remakes - “Pokemon Brilliant Diamond” and “Pokemon Shining Pearl.” The two games are based on projects that were released in 2007 on the Nintendo DS. It was only recently that I played through most of the main series, and over time, I’ve learned to appreciate the franchise’s improvements.

If there was effort I adored most, it would be “Pokemon Go,” which isn’t part of the main series. I’ve never been in that situation because I jumped on the “Pokemon” train later in life. A distinct nostalgia colors the memory of the games, so that the first experience in the world of pocket monsters is the one that’s held in the highest regard. Review: Pokemon remakes 'Brilliant Diamond,' 'Shining Pearl' Close MenuĮvery “Pokemon” fan has a favorite generation, and that’s often based on the iteration they played as a kid.
