Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl Reviews

Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl is ranked in the 60th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
8 / 10.0
Nov 26, 2021

In short, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are faithful remakes of one the franchise's best generations, despite some shortcomings. Your enjoyment of the game will heavily depend on your nostalgia or overall love of the franchise, so don't go in expecting a perfect remake. However, my time with these remakes was a fun one, and I'm excited to continue to explore the Grand Underground in search of a shiny Pokémon.

Read full review

Dec 6, 2021

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are exactly what you think of what a remake to a Pokémon game. Story unchanged, newer assets and more quality of life upgrades that make it fit in the modern era of gaming. It is still very much Pokémon.

Read full review

8 / 10
Nov 18, 2021

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl are faithful recreations of the classic DS titles, updated with plenty of small, ease-of-life changes. While some fans might feel alienated by the features that have been added to make the game easier, the changes are a net positive that make the game a smoother experience all-round. The upgraded Underground is more involved and offers more things to do, and the remade music tracks sound beautiful. Although a lot more could have been done to make these remakes truly special, what’s here will make Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl a worthwhile experience for returning fans and new ones alike.

Read full review

8 / 10.0
Nov 18, 2021

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl take me back to a simpler time in Pokémon where Mega Evolutions, Z-Moves, and Dynamaxing didn’t exist. It’s a wonderful reminder of how far Pokémon has come and it feels like a love letter to arguably the most formative generation of Pokémon.

Read full review

GamingBolt
Pramath
Top Critic
8 / 10.0
Nov 24, 2021

By eschewing the increasingly controversial design sensibilities that modern Pokemon games have imbibed, and sticking close to the design and spirit of a beloved, 15 year old game, Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl deliver the most fulfilling and satisfying outing this series has had in a very long time.

Read full review

Nov 18, 2021

These gripes aside – and I realise that I’ve griped a lot in this review – Pokémon Pearl remains an excellent game, and the remake is of a very high quality. I’ve been able to reunite with Piplup, relive a very fondly-remembered adventure, and while there have been some tweaks that I’ve been less than amused by, on balance the developers have retained the qualities that made that game such a fondly remembered one.

Read full review

8 / 10.0
Nov 26, 2021

Whether you’re a Pokémon fan who fondly remembers the original or a newcomer looking for a way in to the series, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond is easy to recommend. It may seem a little bit costly for a remake that stays fairly close to the source material aside from a snazzy new look, but there’s still a lot of game here. Even better, it’s enjoyable no matter your age, gender or skill level. Once you’ve started playing Pokémon Brilliant Diamond you really will feel the urge to catch ’em all. And the improvements here mean it’s never been as easy or enjoyable.

Read full review

8 / 10 stars
Nov 30, 2021

Despite some rough edges, Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are the best of modern and classic Pokemon.

Read full review

DVS Gaming
Shinobi
Top Critic
8 / 10
Dec 12, 2021

While the game does feel like almost a copy and paste, it was a good remake to revisit for the nostalgia. Though the roster could have done with a few changes the game still allows players to revisit the same challenges as before. It would have been nice to see a few new bells and whistles to spice up the game but overall it’s a great classic to relax and relive. ILCA did a fantastic job remodeling one of the most popular entries in the franchise and brought back Sinnoh in a touching reunion.

Read full review

VGC
Top Critic
Nov 17, 2021

The original DS Diamond and Pearl were great back in the day, and 15 years later this new coat of paint makes them just as entertaining. The improvements may not be as drastic as some may have hoped, but what's here is a solid Pokémon adventure regardless.

Read full review

8 / 10.0
Nov 18, 2021

Now modernising the pair, its realised that any further development to these classics are not necessary, rather keeping its foundation intact and relying on updating its performance and visuals. This is a prime example of how to remaster and old school title, without going overboard. Essentials for old school fans, and a great starter for entry level fans.

Read full review

8 / 10.0
Nov 22, 2021

Overall, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are incredibly faithful remakes of Diamond and Pearl, warts and all. There are some nice new additions that enhance the experience, and the visual style is unique and quite good-looking. It’s hard not to recommend these to any Pokémon fan or newcomer to the franchise. There might be a few negatives, but none of them take much away from the overall excellent experience.

Read full review

8 / 10.0
Nov 28, 2021

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl honor the roots of the source material and elevate it in many ways. Marking a very welcome return to top-down aesthetics, the remakes rescue some of what made Pokémon special a few years ago. Problems that can already be considered structural in the series continue to exist, but hinder them in a less glaring way than in other more recent titles. It's worth remembering Sinnoh on Nintendo Switch and trying to catch all the little monsters again.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

8 / 10.0
Nov 30, 2021

Pokémon Shiny Diamond and Shimmering Pearl has its flaws, but also its improvements. It doesn't contain much innovation, but that wasn't its intention either. It's a nostalgia trip, for better and for worse.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

80 / 100
Dec 9, 2021

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl have been visually enhanced and managed to be a faithful remake in terms of gameplay. Ideal to introduce new players to old style Pokémon games.

Review in Turkish | Read full review

4 / 5.0
Nov 30, 2021

Pokémon Shining Pearl may not be the perfect remake, but it does a pretty good job of bringing the Sinnoh region to a new generation. The variety of content and postgame experience go a long way in making this feel like a fully-fleshed out game, even with the missing content. Whether you’re new to Sinnoh or a returning Trainer, I’d say you shouldn’t hesitate to check out Shining Pearl.

Read full review

4 / 5.0
Dec 13, 2021

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl don’t reinvent the wheel, but it’s still an enjoyable adventure to revisit regardless of the weird quirks. Those who’ve played the classic Pokémon games will enjoy a trip down memory lane. Go out, trainer, and be the best!

Read full review

8 / 10.0
Nov 29, 2021

Really, that’s the question at the core of Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl’s identity. I wouldn’t go so far as to call it a necessary game, as it doesn’t change things up in a meaningful way. With Legends on the horizon, it might be tempting to skip it all together. What it is is a very familiar and self contained game. With all the interconnectedness of Pokémon GO, Sword and Shield, and Pokémon Home; it’s nice to have something that feels removed and “complete” on its own. That might take a little cognitive adjustment on what “complete” means when it comes to Pokémon, but for me personally I never felt like BDSP was missing anything essential.

Read full review

8 / 10
Dec 7, 2021

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl brings back the simpler times of the series and reminds us of how significant this installment was. It has been executed well with minor bugs, but lacks any challenge as it adapts many choices newer installments made.

Review in Czech | Read full review

Dec 7, 2021

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl straddle the line between old and new by giving two beloved heirlooms a polish that avoids tarnishing treasured memories. These are buoyant, accessible RPGs for fans and newcomers alike.

Read full review