Publisher: Nintendo Developer: GAME FREAK, Creatures Inc. # of Players: 1-8 Category: Role-Playing Release Dates N Amer - 04/23/2007 Official Game Website
Love it or hate it, Pokemon has become a forefront franchise in Nintendo’s canon along the ranks of Mario and Zelda. The game is a consistent phenomenon in both Japan and North America, selling in huge numbers every time another entry to the series is released, proving that it’s more than just a fad as many believed initially, but rather a worthy franchise with huge staying power. Now the series has officially touched down on the Nintendo DS (Pokemon Dash, Ranger, Trozei notwithstanding) for this first time with the simultaneous releases of Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl. While there are some key differences, namely different Pokemon unique to each version, they are each essentially the same game.
This review will deal with the Diamond version of the pair. While most of the elements have been in place from the series’ inception, this version is the most complete entry to date with great graphics, hundreds of brand new Pokemon, and online play for trading and facing off against other trainers. While the success of this game is all but guaranteed considering the huge, rabid fan base that this series is known for, this is still a version that even non-believers might want to check out. Pokemon Diamond begins much like other Pokemon games. You create your character, choosing between a boy and girl avatar and naming them. You begin without any Pokemon whatsoever, but a chance encounter with a professor and his assistant give you control of one of three Pokemon different starting ones, beginning your quest to become the best trainer in the world. You can capture your Pokemon by lurking around in tall grass or dungeon-type areas. You must fight them with one of your existing Pokemon and then capture them with a Pokeball when there health is properly depleted. However, if you knock them completely out, you’ll simply win the battle but you won’t get the Pokemon.
As you battle your Pokemon, they’ll gain levels and new abilities. Stronger moves can be gained through battle experience, but you can also get some by finding them throughout the world. When your Pokemon grow stronger, you can fight them against the world’s top trainers and earn badges from various gyms in order to establish yourself. Pokemon Diamond is by no means a huge departure from the other titles in the series. It’s still a game of exploration and capturing with a nice amount of battle strategy thrown into the mix. However, the DS version does benefit from a few key differences to make it a step above its predecessors. For starters, and perhaps the most important addition is the inclusion of online play over Nintendo’s WiFi service. Through the online service, you can trade Pokemon with friends or spar your line-up against theirs. So, what was once confined to link cables can now be done over the internet. Additionally, the game utilizes voice chat, allowing you to talk with your friends as you interact with each other online. The game also uses the touch screen pretty well. The action unfolds on the top screen, and the bottom touch screen will display your Poketch, a watch that displays the time of day as well as other information (the time in the game is consistent with whatever time you’re playing the game in real life, and some Pokemon can only be captured at certain times). During battles, the touch screen turns into the action menu, allowing you to easily select between your attacks and not have to navigate a cursor on the screen. You can also even download your Pokemon from the GBA version using the GBA slot on the DS once you reach a certain point in the game.
Graphically, the game is not very different looking when compared to the GBA versions of Pokemon. While the sprites are animated a little better and there are some 3D polygon effects, it’s not much of a difference visually. However, that’s really not a bad thing, as the characters and environments are bright and colorful and retain the spirit of the series. Sound-wise the game is the same as the GBA versions. The music is a little better and the sound is slightly cleaner, but it’s nothing incredible. Pokemon Diamond is a great entry to the series. While not vastly different from the GBA versions, it does utilize the DS’s abilities well and the inclusion of online play is a necessary step for the series. Hardcore fans of the series undoubtedly will have this game as of this writing, but even the uninitiated should give this one a look.
Gameplay: 8.5Tried-and-true Pokemon gameplay, this game retains all of the best elements of the series and adds some great new ones unique to the DS. Graphics: 7.5It won’t blow you away technologically, but the bright and colorful characters and environments are done within the style of the series and look quite nice. Sound: 7.0Aside from slight improvements, the sound is fairly indistinguishable from the GBA versions. Difficulty: Medium Concept: 8.5The classic Pokemon formula with some great new features that take advantage of the DS, Pokemon Diamond is a nice logical progression for the series. Multiplayer: 9.0Trading and Sparring against your friends can now be done anywhere thanks to WiFi support. The voice chat option is also a fantastic touch. Overall: 8.5Pokemon Diamond is a nice step up for the series. It keeps the classic gameplay formula that the series has offered for a decade, and adds some elements that only the DS could pull off, from touch screen functionality to online play.
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