Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl Reviews
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The remake of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl gives us the perfect mix of old and new. A light-hearted story with dark tendencies spiced with all the improving elements from later games in the series. The variety is huge and at its best even addictive. However, we can't shake off that the character design itself feels a little out of place.
Review in Swedish | Read full review
These titles will definitely please old fans who will adore the updated visuals, the Hideaway and tweaks to gameplay, that all make for an improved experience.
Pokemon Shining Pearl and Brilliant Diamond, despite ignoring some of the original's issues, is a great remake that runs remarkably well and sports excellent visuals.
Like the themes of its story, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are solid and enduring – leaning on the past, with all of its triumphs and tripwires.
Well-polished remakes of games from a different time in the Pokemon franchise. + Faithful recreation of the originals that draws out their best aspects + Incredibly satisfying difficulty throughout, especially for the Elite 4 - Some bizarre decisions to bring back previously removed features
I'm certainly not in a hurry to leave it any time soon; that's for sure. However, with Pokémon Legends on the horizon, this one-two punch of Pokémon titles could be a winning way to close out one year and welcome in another, with a blast from the past followed by something we haven't really seen before. That's a Jigglepuff double-slap I can get behind.
Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are faithful recreations of the 2008 DS title. While leaving most content untouched the Quality of Life upgrades and enhanced features make this the best way to experience Sinnoh.
While it feels like Game Freak have been trying to find their footing with Pokémon over the last few years, Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are a confident showing by ILCA that proves the series is far from dead. The classic formula is unchanged here, and still holds up, which will no doubt please long-time fans and newcomers alike. Smart new additions that feel like natural additions to the base game, coupled with a visual overhaul that captures the feel of the originals make for an experience that's as nostalgic and comforting, as it is fresh and reinvigorating for the franchise.
Catching, training, and trading Pokémon remains a blast, and Sinnoh is a great region to explore
Pokemon fun for younger and older fans. A remake that gives the old game a fresh feel for veterans and a great way to jump into the world for younger fans.
Loving remake of an RPG classic with a timelessly motivating gameplay, but which lacks significant innovations.
Review in German | Read full review
From a certain point of view, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond is a remake that doesn't like to take too many risks, improving on the original experience without making any major changes. Yet this is also its greatest strength, especially for those who never played the original chapters on DS. The result is an authentic recreation of a historical title, polished and cleaned up from outdated game design elements.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Pokémon is back with two fantastic remakes that are sure to act as comfort food for newer and older fans alike.
With the original Pokémon Diamond and Pearl releasing in Japan in 2006, the 10th anniversary of the series, the journey to the Sinnoh region is back! Well over a decade later, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl have been released as remakes on the trusty Nintendo Switch. This news was much to the excitement and nostalgia of longtime fans, the Sinnoh region a fond favourite of many.