2021 marks the 25th anniversary since the first Pokemon games were released in Japan. And after a long, long wait, Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are arriving on Nintendo Switch this coming Friday, bringing the nostalgic original Diamond and Pearl games. As with the original games, Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are set in the fictional region of Sinnoh, an island based on the Japanese island of Hokkaidō.
Right now, there have been a few things that are confirmed to be different from the original Pokemon games. Firstly, the quality is upgraded, the removal of HMs, auto-save, the Shiny Charm, unlimited-use TMs, new items like Nature Mints, and more. And it’s expected that the graphics have also received a major upgrade, new graphics show a 3D, yet still top-down style for the overworld.
Many Diamond & Pearl veterans, here comes the exciting part with the return of Sinnoh Underground. Slightly reworking of the original, it’s now called the Grand Underground and works a bit differently. You’ll be able to create a Secret Base, play with your friends, and dig for fossils and other treasures like the original version of the Underground. But now in Sinnoh Underground, Hideaways are included where Pokemon can be found and captured.
Additionally there are a handful of differences that set the two versions apart. The primary difference between Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl is exclusive Pokemon. Each game features a handful of monsters that can’t be found in the other version, including the legendary Pokemon at the heart of the story: Dialga and Palkia. In Brilliant Diamond, the villainous Team Galactic is on a quest to summon Dialga, while Palkia is their target in Shining Pearl. Dialga is a defensive Steel- and Dragon-type legendary Pokémon; Palkia is an offensive Water- and Dragon-type legendary Pokémon.
In both versions, one of the brand-new features in the remakes is a facility where you can catch older legendary Pokemon, the Ramanas Park. Once you’ve defeated the league and completed the main storyline, you’ll gain access to it. There are various caves dotted around the park that allow you to get Legendary Pokémon. Moreover, an updated trainer system could be found with a much larger emphasis on the player’s avatar throughout these games. You can now see your trainers get involved in the battles, with the 3D modeling inserting you into the arena.
Wanna check out more exciting features? Get one now by pre-ordering your preferred version, either Brilliant Diamond or Shining Pearl so you will revisit the Sinnoh region and experience the nostalgic story! Launching this coming Friday, 19 November 2021.