Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl Reviews
If you're a Pokemon fan and haven't played the original Diamond, Pearl, or Platinum then you're missing out. The Sinnoh region is an absolute joy to explore and it's super-fun trying to catch as many Pokémon as you can.
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are not the best games of the series nor the bravest, but they strongly respect the original games and the ones who played them, and they do everything they can to show that.
Review in Italian | Read full review
The only real downside to these remakes is that anything that used the touch screen in the originals feels like an afterthought here. They're still the same amazing, if a little formulaic, Pokémon games they were back in the day. And we may not be the same people we were back then, but we can at least remember how it felt when we first visited Sinnoh as we make our return today.
Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shiny Pearl are both great remakes of the Nintendo DS classics. With fun little additions like decorating your ball capsules with stickers given to you from just about everyone, the ability to buy new clothes so our avatar does not look the same from start to finish, and other solid cosmetic additions, this is definitely the superior version and ILCA did a fantastic job hovering over that line of respect to the originals while also giving it their own spin.
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl is the return to a journey marked by happy memories, vivid colors and challenging battles. Combining the right mechanics with very well-designed graphics, it surprises and exceeds expectations. For the richness of content and the comfort it brings, it is more than recommended for old and new players alike.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are good remakes of an inherently flawed Pokemon game. The games lean a little hard into recapturing the experience of the originals, which is a detriment and somewhat negates the fantastic visual and quality-of-life improvements.
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.
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
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.
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!
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.
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
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Despite some rough edges, Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are the best of modern and classic Pokemon.
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.