Quickie Video Game Reviews: Pokèmon Diamond/Pearl

The Pokèmon games for Nintendo's Game Boy (and its reincarnations) are among the most popular video games ever created. In the latest installments, Pokèmon Diamond and Pokèmon Pearl (which, like their predecessors, are basically the same but each has some Pokèmon that you can only catch on one version and not the other), the Pokèmon franchise has jumped onto Nintendo's latest handheld, the DS. The premise is exactly the same as the previous installments: you catch little monsters (Pokèmon) and battle others with them. You travel from town to town, defeating the leaders of Pokèmon gyms and collect badges. Your goals are twofold: to become the greatest Pokèmon master of all time as well as to collect every single Pokèmon in the game.

So, what's new about this one? What sets it apart from all the other Pokèmon games we've played?

The Differences

As I haven't played any other Pokèmon games since the Gold version on the Game Boy Color (which I never finished), I'm not sure exactly what the previous games looked like, but if you're like me and felt that the Gold and Silver versions were too similar to the original Blue and Red games to be worth it, you'll be pleasantly surprised by Diamond and Pearl.

The most notable difference is in the graphics. Though it is essentially the same, with all of the people being tiny sprites and the Pokemon battles looking almost exactly like they did, the 3D effect used on the buildings and trees make it look shiny and new. You feel like you're actually getting a top-down view of your character. The rest of the graphics are much more crisp and clean than the previous versions, of course, thanks to the DS's greater graphical capabilities.

The beginning is pretty much the same as every other Pokèmon game: you choose your name and sex, you get into a situation where you have to pick your first Pokèmon, and off you go on your adventure. As the game progresses, you'll find plenty of pleasant surprises that make this game unique from the others. This is where the DS's stylus comes in.

Though the stylus isn't used excessively much, it can be used to control the battle menus. I prefer using the D-pad myself, but if you're looking for a change of pace you might try using the stylus. There are a number of mini-games that also make use of the stylus, like the Pokèmon contests. Though it's not essential for most of the game, using the stylus in these mini-games adds variety to this game.

The Similarities

In essence, this game is fairly similar to the versions before it. There are over 100 new Pokèmon introduced, as well as numerous appearances of Pokèmon from the original Blue and Red versions. I found this to be a great thing since I was never a big fan of the "new" Pokèmon. 151 was enough to keep track of! Though I must say, the new Pokèmon introduced in this game are pretty neat. I absolutely LOVE Bidoof, a guinea pig/beaver-like creature who beats Pikachu hands-down in the cuteness department.

Okay, so... Do you recommend it?

Sure! If you're a Pokèmon fan, you'll really enjoy this. If you grew up playing Pokèmon as a kid like I did, you'll find this to be a pleasant nostalgia trip that uses the same formula that made these games so addictive without being exactly the same as the originals.

Overall Recommendation: Unless you absolutely abhor Pokèmon, you really should give this one a try!