Publisher: Nintendo Developer: Game Freak
Published: April 22, 2007
Category: RPG
Players: 1-8Pokemon franchise probably popularized themselves with series of animated cartoons but in reality it became popular through its addictive RPGs. Pokemon now enters the world of touching through stylus - The Nintendo DS. Pokemon and Game Freak present this game in 3D and 2D combination using the DS’s compatibility to the maximum. Ability to trade and battle through the internet is probably the biggest feature to the game and introduces 100 more Pokemons as most of its previous games. Even if you dislike Pokemon, playing this will change your mindset.Pokemon Diamond and Pearl starts with a typical Pokemon start stating all the basics and introducing the new professor, of course. You can choose to play as a boy or a girl and start your journey from Twinleaf Town in the Sinnoh region, the new region introduced in this game. As all other Pokemon games you’ll have a serious competitor and soon you can choose your first pokemon of 3 different choices, then you’re going to be introduced to Professor Rowan who will present you with a Pokedex for storing information of various pokemons. As always you are going to be obstructed by evil teams that are introduced in all Pokemon games. In Diamond and Pearl you’re going to face the nefarious Team Galactic. As always Game Freak presents the plot in a light manner with nothing too complex and everything laid out smooth.
Oh no! another battle, you'll encounter many fights from trainers as you go on. The poketch display is amazing.The game truly stands because of its gameplay, which anyone can learn in any curve. You start off with a single pokemon, fight pokemon trainers and do a lot of social work around. You can be attacked by random pokemons if you like them you may even catch them through your pokeballs. You can train them to become strong contenders as growing their level as far as possible (max.100). You can even teach them abilities which either come naturally or are taught by HMs (Hidden Machines) or TMs (Technical machines). You can have up to six pokemons at a time while traveling or if you want catch more them you can catch them but they will be stored in computers which are available in Pokemon Centers. If your pokemons keep growing they will evolve into powerful pokemons with unique abilities.As always the combat system is turn-based. Diamond and Pearl presents 107 new pokemons taking the overall total to almost 500. Each pokemon is categorized by types, by elements, while other by their originality and some others a little bit more specific. Each pokemon has some weaknesses which keeps the balance of the game intact. Around this time, you’ll find various pokemons to catch from and then teaching them skills. Besides catching fighting with a number of trainers, theirs lots of recreational things to do also like- fishing planting berries, cooking, Pokemon contests- which are made more exciting including a beauty pageant, dance contest and then their skills. You can also dress your pokemon while entering beauty pageant. Like Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire you can also make a secret hideout but this time you can make hide outs underground where you can find treasure and fossils which you can convert into actual pokemons that existed years ago. Probably you’ve guessed that RPGs tend to be long, this game has long 40 hours gameplay time.
Which one ? You can add many moves to your pokemon.Diamond and Pearl is quite different from its GBA predecessors, how? Diamond and Pearl introduces a 2-D and 3-D combination using the DS’s capabilities. Though not much is presented in 3-D besides the buildings it still adds detail to the 2-D style. The pokemons are still presented in 2-D sprites recycling much from GBA games. The battling style is laid out in a proper manner. Diamond and Pearl presents some catchy music that differ from location to location, the game’s music is classy and upbeat. The most usable feature in this game was the cycle of day and night. During night you would find dark pokemon and only the ones that are not visible during daytime.However, there isn’t much use of the stylus screen just letting choose menus and while battling, as most of time there’s the amazing application poketch on stylus screen. This not only shows the time but also many things that install in it as you go on. You can add a calculator, a pedometer, a pokemon charm and what not.The best feature introduced to the game was the online play. This feature lets you battle, trade or even chat with other players on the internet. The trading system is real zest fest allowing you to trade ant pokemon. The pokemon is put up on the server while trading.The battle system is really challenging but you can’t challenge anyone but you’ll need to have their friend code, you can actually fight anyone until you reach a certain stage. The multiplayer also supports voice chat using the DS headset. If you have Pokemon Battle Revolution on Wii you can connect your DS and use it as a controller or use it for trading the pokemons that you already have on your DS.
The professor as in any other pokemon game, Professor Rowan.This game is must play for any DS handler. Presenting over 100 pokemons and in very good 2-D or 3-D style. These features including the online play make this game the best pokemon game ever made.Now for the scores –Presentation – 10/10 – The game is presented 2-D and 3-D combination, 107 new pokemons, the new online play and many new features including the day and night cycle.Gameplay – 9/10 – The gameplay is addictive and controls the balance of the whole game but still you’ll find some recycled gameplay features from its previous games.Graphics – 9/10 – The graphics are presented in 2-D and also in 3-D style that add depth to its graphical look, though the many more things could have been implemented in 3-D style besides the recyclable graphics taken from its previous games.Sound – 10/10 – The sound is adorable and very attractive to listen.Replayability – 9/10 – The game is always fun, you can find any rare pokemon and add them into your team of six or challenge your friends on the internet.Total Score – 47/50 – The best pokemon game ever made.