Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl (BDSP) is exactly the same as the Pokémon game I have played before, but better. Unfortunately, I cannot be 100% sure that this is a good thing. Some people will like to revisit the Shen'ao area, but others, especially those seeking new experiences, will be disappointed.

For those who don't know, BDSP is a remake of Pokémon Diamonds and Pearls released on DS in 2006. These two new games have faithfully copied their predecessors in almost every aspect.

In other words, there are some optional new features, graphics overhauls, and quality of life changes. However, if you are looking forward to a new Pokémon experience, then you may be disappointed with Pokémon's brilliant diamonds and sparkling pearls.

Note: Due to embargo restrictions, this review only provides detailed information about Canalave City Gym.

Compared with recent Pokémon games (such as Sword and Shield), BDSP is completely new. For example, all characters in the world have cute/chibi giants, who look cute and a little silly. At first, the beauty was a bit strange, but as I played the game, I became very fond of it. It reminds me of how Nintendo remade the Legend of Zelda: Link awakened for the Switch in a sense.

In addition to how cute the game looks, there are other visual enhancements. For example, the water is flowing, the waterfall looks special, and the fog is dense and dazzling. When walking around during the day, you can even see cloud shadows under your feet.

Although the attack animation can still use some work, there are other obvious battle graphics updates. For example, depending on the time of the day, you will notice cloud shadows in the background of the battle, and at night, the enemy’s face is sometimes shrouded in similar cloud shadows. The weather effect has also been improved, making rain look more terrifying and humid, and sandstorms look more catastrophic.

I also noticed that there are more static backgrounds in the battle compared to the previous game. This variety is very good, far better than the fewest background choices in other Pokémon games.

While some of the quality of life changes in BDSP brought a better overall experience, other changes made the title a bit too simple.

If you understand how Pokémon usually works, you will know what happens here. Once again, your goal is to complete your illustration and become a Pokémon master. You can achieve this by capturing and training Pokemon, defeating gym leaders, and exploring the world. One of the changes in BDSP's quality of life is the inclusion of team-wide "experience sharing". This has been implemented in the game since Pokémon X and Y, but it is not included in the original diamonds and pearls. In older games, your only option is to place an "Exp Share" item on one monster at a time.

Although the team-wide experience share in Pokémon games is sometimes balanced, this is not always the case. In BDSP, as the 6th Gym leader, I already feel like a champion of a team with Pokémon above level 41. Unsurprisingly, the poor sixth stadium leader Byron had no chance. It is also important to note that I have not done any training, and I have hardly battled with wild Pokémon.

I think this level of hand grip is suitable for young players, because I remember I struggled a lot in the game when I was a kid, but I hope this is an optional feature that makes it harder for veterans.

"Although Pokémon BDSP is mostly faithful remakes, there are some key differences, including'Grand Underground'."

Another major quality of life change is the addition of Pokéch. Although Pokémon Diamond and Pearl allow you to teach Pokémon to HM, enabling you to fly, surf, break or move rocks, etc., they are now in your Pokétch. Pokémon seems to be summoning a Pokémon in the wild to help you fly somewhere or move a stone for you. This is a good way to deal with this mechanism. I’m glad that I don’t need to use Bibarel-a Pokémon in the Shennou area, which can learn almost every HM-but I also hope that there are more kinds of pocket monsters, they seem to be able to give You have one hand.

For example, every time I use "Rock Smash" to break a boulder, it would be great if Bidoof doesn't always appear. Or, if I try to break the rock in a cave, Pokétch should use Geodude, or when I use "surf", the project should call Mantine every once in a while.

Other updates include the ability to change your skin tone, which is now the main content of the Pokémon game, but was not included until the 6th generation of the series, and the ability to buy and wear new clothes.

Although Pokémon BDSP is mostly faithful remakes, there are some key differences, including the "underground world."

First of all, the underground area of ​​Pokémon BDSP is inexplicably huge. I know it is lower than the entire Shenao region, but it is still much larger than I expected. To be fair, I don’t remember the Shenou dungeon in the original game. I naturally need to open Serebii.net and check it, because when I was young, I hated going underground. I found Sinnoh Underground to be boring, and it didn't catch my attention for a long time, but BDSP's Grand Underground provided a significant improvement.

Although it still has the function of digging up treasures, the main thing that caught my attention was Pokémon Hideaways. In BDSP, there are now small hiding places for different biomes in every area underground. You can find wild Pokémon in this area, this is the only place where you can see Pokémon walking around in the world, just like Pokémon let us go to Ibrahimovic and let us go to Pikachu.

These biomes also provide access to Pokémon not normally found in early games. Pokémon Diamonds and Pearls are known for their lack of fire, and now because of the large underground, I quickly found a Houndoom before reaching the fourth gym.

"...Due to the'experience sharing' of the whole team, my Pokémon upgraded too quickly."

Grand Underground still provides a secret base, but this time it is different. Plush toys, tables, and other objects cannot be placed, you can only place statues in the secret base. These statues will affect the type of Pokémon you see in the upcoming Pokémon Hideout.

Another return feature is the Pokémon contest. In the game, you choose a Pokémon to join you, a ball capsule, clothes, and you are on the way. This time, the competition is mostly just a "dance" judgment in the form of a rhythm game, rather than a memory/rhythm title like the original version. If the "performance" part of the challenge is separate from the "dancing" part of the competition, I would prefer it.

Pokémon can also follow you in this part of the game, which is a feature I like. My Kriketune is very charming because it buzzes behind my character.

Although there are several changes, most of the content in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl remains unchanged.

For example, the storyline is the same, and the player and their friend Barry find that Professor Rowan’s suitcase is full of three Pokémon. Then the player and his friend must use one of the three monsters to defend against the wild Pokémon, and after that moment, the two of you become opponents.

You also help the professor find out the reason behind the evolution and defeat the evil Galaxy team.

Even the gym, the leader and their Pokémon are the same. Since Pokémon Diamonds and Pearls, they have added 405 new Pokemon. Although they don’t have to appear in the main game, I think it’s a missed opportunity not to add any new Pokémon to the big dungeon.

As mentioned earlier, due to the "Exp Share" within the team, my Pokémon upgraded too quickly. For balance, the stadium leader should have higher-level Pokémon, but on the contrary, they are almost the same, making the game much easier than the original game.

Don't even let me start using Mega Pokémon.

It is a pleasure to return to the world of Shenao. It has been 15 years since the original "Diamond and Pearl" came out, "Pokémon Platinum" (basically a remake of "Pokémon" and "Diamond and Pearl" with a new storyline) has been 13 years, so I haven't been to Shenao since high school.

Developer ILCA has done a great job reshaping diamonds and pearls and bringing lovely aesthetics to their world.

"BDSP is the perfect remake, adding a subtle touch of modern flavor in all the best ways."

However, I would like to see more updates, including super games like Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, or at least newer Pokémon like Heart Gold and Soul Silver.

Don’t get me wrong, I still like Pokémon Brilliant Diamonds and Sparkling Pearls, but I’m also a big fan of Pokémon and I can understand why many people may decide to skip this adventure and wait for the Pokémon Legend: Arceus will be 1 Released on the 28th. On the other hand, some people may just be looking for a nostalgic journey of memories. If this is what you are looking for, BDSP is the perfect remake, adding a subtle touch of modern flavor in all the best ways.

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are now available for Nintendo Switch. Physical copies of the game can be purchased at Best Buy, Amazon, etc.

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Image Credit: Pokémon Company/Nintendo

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