Pokémon Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl : Old Faithful

Nintendo embraces a cautious approach with “Pokémon Brilliant Diamond” and “Shining Pearl,” presenting duos of revivals that adhere to their origins with almost excessive fidelity. This direct adventure renders them ideal for younger enthusiasts, yet veterans might discover ennui in the wake of a recognizable framework and an absence of rigor. Fortuitously, an engaging post-game sequence and the ingeniously reimagined Grand Underground affirm the journey back to Sinnoh as meritorious.

For the kids

Engaging with the original “Diamond and Pearl” upon their debut in 2006 left indelible marks, yet, as I ventured into their remastered versions, the specifics seemed lost to the annals of memory. The revelation struck swiftly: They epitomized the quintessential Pokémon blueprint.

Merely hours into the experience, I found myself navigating through eerily familiar scenarios, a déjà vu of sorts. Confronting my inaugural gym, I wielded water-type maneuvers against Geodudes and Onixes with a sense of routine. A confrontation with a fisherman boasting a squad of six Magikarps—Pokémon’s recurring jest—was inevitable. Subsequently, my journey led me to the clandestine confines of a corporate entity, navigating through its premises via teleportation pads. Unlike its counterparts, each possessing a unique trait or novelty, “Diamond and Pearl” chose to refine the core essence beloved in the saga’s genesis, augmented by the technological prowess of the Nintendo DS.

This adherence to tradition might kindle the flames of nostalgia, yet in the year 2021, it borders on the precipice of redundancy. “Pokémon Brilliant Diamond” and “Shining Pearl” are meticulously designed to retain the soul of their predecessors, a boon for purists seeking to encapsulate their youth in a crystalline preserve. However, devoid of personal nostalgia, I often found my engagement reduced to mechanical reflexes. Encounters with caverns teeming with Zubats and Geodudes, or a Safari Zone-inspired domain for capturing creatures, felt like a meticulous execution of a well-trodden playbook by developer ICLA.

The challenge—or the lack thereof—further accentuated this sentiment. A significant defeat eluded me until the confrontation with the Elite Four, my Pokémon towering over adversaries by 10 to 15 levels, enabling me to dispatch foes with ease and devoid of grind. The game’s friendship dynamics often intervened in critical moments, rendering potential defeats into miraculous turnarounds, stripping the journey of any semblance of difficulty.

These remakes emerge as the quintessential pathway for the younger demographic to transition from Pokémon enthusiasts to avid players.

The target audience becomes unmistakably clear: the younger generation. Every adjustment and refinement is tailored to eliminate obstacles for novice players, a strategy that, while devoid of critique, delineates the remakes as an optimal gateway from adoring Pokémon as an animated series to immersing in its gaming universe. The narrative simplicity and diluted challenge sculpt an accessible initiation into the franchise, meticulously preserving its complexity without oversimplification, unlike “Let’s Go Pikachu” and “Eevee.” For those pining for a more mature and competitive odyssey, a stark realization awaits: the evolution of the mainline series might not mirror their own.

Grand changes

The essence of the remakes remains faithful to their predecessors, yet it’s the modifications to the peripheral quests that stand out, with the Grand Underground’s overhaul shining the brightest. Originally, this subterranean realm offered players a chance to engage in a tactile minigame of treasure hunting and the creation of secret dens. These elements persist, albeit with minor omissions that might displease the purists, yet retain their charm even in the absence of a stylus.

The transformation of the Grand Underground into a sprawling dungeon replete with biomes and Pokémon roaming freely is perhaps the most notable enhancement by ICLA. Gaining entry to this domain, I swiftly augmented my cadre with creatures beyond the Sinnoh region’s borders, like Absol, enriching my roster significantly given Sinnoh’s notably sparse selection of native Pokémon. This was particularly beneficial for those who bypassed Chimchar, as options for fire types were limited to Ponyta outside the Grand Underground’s bounty.

Such innovations significantly enrich the post-narrative experience of “Brilliant Diamond” and “Shining Pearl,” offering a varied endgame. My post-quest endeavors included fossil and statue collection for base adornment, diverging from the traditional endgame pursuits. The introduction of Ramanas Park post-Elite Four expands the legendary Pokémon roster, while the addition of stickers provides a quaint means of personalizing Pokémon releases.

However, not all enhancements have hit their mark. The Super Pokémon Contests have been diluted to a lackluster rhythm game, and other DS-specific features struggle to find their footing in this new iteration. The Pokétch’s array of applications, charming on the DS, feels somewhat misplaced without the dual-screen interface. Moreover, the feature allowing Pokémon to trail the player seems underdeveloped, especially when juxtaposed with the dynamic interactions and scaling found in the “Let’s Go” series.

Despite these discrepancies, the upgrades, particularly within the Grand Underground, infuse the game with a fresh vitality, inviting players to delve beyond the conclusion of the main storyline—a feat not universally achieved by recent entries in the franchise.

Faithful to a fault

The redesign of “Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl” has sparked mixed reactions, chiefly due to its aesthetic direction. ICLA opted for a “Chibi” art style, diverging from the more mature visuals of “Sword and Shield.” This choice, while not universally appealing, aligns with an intention to modernize yet respect the original DS games’ visuals, mimicking the nostalgic top-down sprite work. The effect is a visual representation that resonates with the imagery fans held in 2006, embodying the essence of a faithful remake.

Yet, this fidelity to nostalgia is a double-edged sword. While it circumvents the criticism faced by “Sword and Shield” for visual simplifications, it also constrains the world’s visual dynamism, rendering it somewhat static and impersonal. Environments appear as though constructed from a generic template, reminiscent of using a “Super Mario Maker”-style tool for placing natural and architectural elements, which imparts a certain flatness to the overall aesthetic.

Conversely, the auditory elements of the game shine brightly, paying homage to the exceptional original soundtracks with remixes that add fresh, unexpected rhythms, enhancing the experience far beyond the gameplay itself.

This adherence to the original raises the question of the remake’s necessity, pondering if a straightforward port of the DS titles to the Switch could suffice. However, the unique dual-screen experience of the DS places its games in a challenging position for direct adaptation, underlining the need for these remakes despite potential reservations.

In essence, “Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl” strive for safety, aiming to replace rather than revolutionize the original experience. This approach serves not only as homage but as preservation, maintaining the integrity of the Sinnoh region’s initial exploration for a new generation.

In summary, “Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl” deliver an endearing recreation of the Sinnoh saga, though they may not stand out as the franchise’s most memorable journeys. The enhancements to the Grand Underground enrich the gameplay, compensating for areas where the remakes may have simplified too much. Tailored more towards a younger audience, these titles might not satisfy all veterans longing for a more challenging experience. Nonetheless, for introducing the enchantment of Pokémon to newcomers, these remakes offer a welcoming gateway.

For those seeking innovation within the Pokémon series, “Sword and Shield” propose a more experimental take, even if not all risks pay off.

Duration-wise, the main storyline is accessible within 20 to 30 hours, thanks to streamlined gameplay, with the Grand Underground promising additional hours of engagement.

Recommendation? Yes, for those setting realistic expectations and primarily targeting younger or novice players, rather than veterans in search of a demanding Pokémon venture.