Release Details
Review Date: July 2, 2008
Game Title: Pokemond Diamond / Pokemon Pearl
Genre: RPG
System(s): Nintendo DS
Release Date: April 22, 2007
Made By: Nintendo and Gamefreak
Game Details
Single Player: A complete Single Player Story
Multi-Player: Local Multi-Player 4 (Battling), 16 (Underground)
Online: Online play only possible with the trading of Friend Codes
Min/Max # of Players: 2
Downloadable Content: None
[Gameplay]: 10/15
[Story]: 3/5
[Controls]: 10/10
[Music]: 4/5
[Visuals]: 7/10
[Entertainment]: 3/5
Final Score
37/50 - C
How old you are plays a heavy part in Pokemon, as this game has two sides. The casual side, where you play the game to continue the story. You'll fight wild Pokemon to strengthen your Pokemon on, and maybe even battle a friend or two. Then there is the competitive side, something I would not have even dreamed of (or understood/bothered with) if I was 7 or 8.
With the competitive side, you take complete control of your Pokemon. Where the casual person would take more value in the story than training, the competitive person's true enjoyment begins when the game ends. Because this allows a Trainer more freedom to catch whatever Pokemon they want and go after the ones that are hard to get.
Where the casual gamer may take 3 or 4 days to train a Pokemon, satisfied with the moves it learns as it Levels-Up. A competitive player would first map out that Pokemon, deciding which moves it should learn, deciding which is the best of the many Personality Traits it should have, and deciding how it would best flow with the other 5 members of a full 6 Pokemon team.
Pokemon battling is so popular because anyone can do it. They can dive in with any level of knowledge. However this is a full Pokemon game on a Next-Gen system, and it has more to offer than just battling.
Team Galactic is this games 'Team Rocket'. They're determined to create a new world by releasing an ancient Pokemon (Dialga for Diamond and Palkia for Pearl) that was said to have a hand in creating the universe. The player spends the majority of the game attempting to put an end to their plans.
With the powerful capabilities of the DS, the cities and towns in Diamond and Pearl have been rendered in a 3D isometric landscape. The Pokemon themselves remain in 2D, but now have vivid detail and have carried over, from Pokemon Emerald, the animations they use when being sent out to battle. Every Pokemon has their own Battle Cry as well.
In previous games, items like Moon Stones and Fire Stones (used to help specific Pokmeon evolve to a more powerful creature) had been limited. And once used, gone forever. Diamond and Pearl do away with this by having a mine like mini-game called The Underground. Players go underground and run through a vast network of tunnels. The spot you choose above ground determines where you will show up below. Once down, players can dig with up to 4 people, while up to 16 people can be underground. Many items can only be found underground, but will never run out. (As long as you find them while digging of course). Players can also lay traps for their unsuspecting friends that interrupt there traveling for a short time. To spring the trap, the Mic, Directional Pad, or the Touch Screen is used.
To put it simply, if you played any of the old Pokemon games and only put it down because you couldn't possibly do any more, then you won't regret getting this game.
If you're going to be trying out Pokemon for the first time, this is a great game to start with! It was made so people of any age can play it with ease.
Reviewed By: Matthew Carter, A.k.a. Max
Review Date: July 2, 2008
Game Title: Pokemond Diamond / Pokemon Pearl
Genre: RPG
System(s): Nintendo DS
Release Date: April 22, 2007
Made By: Nintendo and Gamefreak
Game Details
Single Player: A complete Single Player Story
Multi-Player: Local Multi-Player 4 (Battling), 16 (Underground)
Online: Online play only possible with the trading of Friend Codes
Min/Max # of Players: 2
Downloadable Content: None
[Gameplay]: 10/15
[Story]: 3/5
[Controls]: 10/10
[Music]: 4/5
[Visuals]: 7/10
[Entertainment]: 3/5
Final Score
37/50 - C
How old you are plays a heavy part in Pokemon, as this game has two sides. The casual side, where you play the game to continue the story. You'll fight wild Pokemon to strengthen your Pokemon on, and maybe even battle a friend or two. Then there is the competitive side, something I would not have even dreamed of (or understood/bothered with) if I was 7 or 8.
With the competitive side, you take complete control of your Pokemon. Where the casual person would take more value in the story than training, the competitive person's true enjoyment begins when the game ends. Because this allows a Trainer more freedom to catch whatever Pokemon they want and go after the ones that are hard to get.
Where the casual gamer may take 3 or 4 days to train a Pokemon, satisfied with the moves it learns as it Levels-Up. A competitive player would first map out that Pokemon, deciding which moves it should learn, deciding which is the best of the many Personality Traits it should have, and deciding how it would best flow with the other 5 members of a full 6 Pokemon team.
Pokemon battling is so popular because anyone can do it. They can dive in with any level of knowledge. However this is a full Pokemon game on a Next-Gen system, and it has more to offer than just battling.
Team Galactic is this games 'Team Rocket'. They're determined to create a new world by releasing an ancient Pokemon (Dialga for Diamond and Palkia for Pearl) that was said to have a hand in creating the universe. The player spends the majority of the game attempting to put an end to their plans.
With the powerful capabilities of the DS, the cities and towns in Diamond and Pearl have been rendered in a 3D isometric landscape. The Pokemon themselves remain in 2D, but now have vivid detail and have carried over, from Pokemon Emerald, the animations they use when being sent out to battle. Every Pokemon has their own Battle Cry as well.
In previous games, items like Moon Stones and Fire Stones (used to help specific Pokmeon evolve to a more powerful creature) had been limited. And once used, gone forever. Diamond and Pearl do away with this by having a mine like mini-game called The Underground. Players go underground and run through a vast network of tunnels. The spot you choose above ground determines where you will show up below. Once down, players can dig with up to 4 people, while up to 16 people can be underground. Many items can only be found underground, but will never run out. (As long as you find them while digging of course). Players can also lay traps for their unsuspecting friends that interrupt there traveling for a short time. To spring the trap, the Mic, Directional Pad, or the Touch Screen is used.
To put it simply, if you played any of the old Pokemon games and only put it down because you couldn't possibly do any more, then you won't regret getting this game.
If you're going to be trying out Pokemon for the first time, this is a great game to start with! It was made so people of any age can play it with ease.
Reviewed By: Matthew Carter, A.k.a. Max
