As all Pokémon fans know, the adventures of Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl are set in the Sinnoh region and were released for Nintendo DS in 2006, the fourth generation of the series. It is a region of lush nature, with the mighty Mount Corona at its heart, and its myths have been passed down from generation to generation. In this title we will have to visit different areas while trying to become the Pokémon League Champion.
Well, on 26 February, the remakes of these titles were announced as part of Pokémon’s 25th anniversary: Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. According to what was shared, both the story and the scale of the original towns and routes have been respected in these revisions. Those who enjoyed Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl will be able to return to familiar locations to relive some very special moments, and if you’re playing for the first time, you’ll discover a great adventure with plenty of battles and surprises.
For players who didn’t play it back in the day, today we’re going to talk about the most important things you need to know before playing Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. We’ve got them all below:
- Hokkaido is its inspiration: As you know, each Pokémon region is inspired by a real-world territory. This time, Sinnoh was based on the island of Hokkaido and its surrounding regions in Japan.
- Introduction of Arceus: The Sinnoh region is home to Arceus, the creator of the Pokémon universe. Arceus is said to have created the world and had a direct hand in the creation of the unique and legendary Pokémon that reside in Sinnoh. There are many mysteries surrounding Arceus, but fans may soon learn more, as a prequel set in ancient Sinnoh is on the way. Pokémon Legends: Arceus is set during the time when the area was just beginning to be colonized by humans, and it will be interesting to see what new facts are revealed about the creator.
- Mysterious and disturbing lore: A particularly interesting Pokémon lore makes the region one of the most mysterious, and many secrets related to the creation of the universe can be found here. In the Canal City Library in Sinnoh, there is a book that talks about how humans and Pokémon were once considered equal. This information is the result of localization, as the original Japanese text stated that humans and Pokémon used to intermarry in Sinnoh. This is one of the creepiest bits of Pokémon history of all time, and is likely to be censored again in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.
- More new Legendary and Unique Pokémon are added than any previous game: Nine Legendary Pokémon and five Unique Pokémon are added to the series. The three Legendary Pokémon of Generation IV were Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina. Dialga is the Pokémon that rules time, Palkia is the master of space, and Giratina commands antimatter. Together, they are known in Pokémon lore as the dragon trio. The player will encounter the lake trio in Sinnoh, as they are part of Team Galaxy’s plan. They are Azelf, Mesprit, and Uxie. Players will also be able to encounter the duo, Cressalia and Darkrai, who are responsible for dreams and nightmares respectively. The first unique Pokémon that can be bred was introduced in Generation IV, with Manaphy, which can give birth to Phione when bred with a Ditto. Pokémon Diamond and Pearl also introduced Regigigas, and it is the Pokémon that commands the three Regis or Legendary Titans of Hoenn (Regirock, Regice, and Registeel). There were also some Legendary/Singular Pokémon that functioned on their own. Heatran was a volcanic Pokémon that was said to have been born at the same time as the Creation Trio, while Shaymin is said to have caused plant life to flourish throughout the Sinnoh region.
- Team Galaxy: Led by a Pokémon trainer named Helio, who wants to use the power of Sinnoh’s legendary Pokémon to create a new world. In Pokémon Platinum, he is on the verge of achieving this goal by creating a gateway to the Distortion World, where the rules of traditional Pokémon reality do not apply. The Distortion World is home to Pokémon’s Giratina, which the player must catch/defeat. Of all the changes introduced in Pokémon Platinum, the Distortion World is the one that is likely to remain in the game, as it is one of the best dungeons in the series.
- Most Difficult High Command: Sinnoh is famously one of the most difficult in Pokémon history. It was so difficult that, in fact, Pokémon Platinum significantly reduced the levels of its Pokémon. Many players were forced to level up like crazy to defeat Alecran, the bug-type specialist member of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, and it was easy to get discouraged when facing him and his allies. If the player knows what they’re up against, the Elite Four can be prepared, but the same can’t be said for Cintia.
- Cintia is the Pokémon League champion of the Sinnoh region: She is considered one of the toughest opponents in the series. Red’s team in Pokémon Gold and Silver may be higher level, but the types and attacks used by Cintia’s team are better. Cintia’s Garchomp is also famous for its infernal strength in battle. There are many Pokémon fans who complain that the series has become too easy, but that complaint doesn’t hold up against the Elite Four and the Sinnoh Champion.
At the moment, it’s unclear whether Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl will be strictly remakes of the original games, or if they will include content from Pokémon Platinum, which basically increased the game’s speed and balanced the levels of enemy trainers. The biggest change in Pokémon Platinum was the expanded role of Team Galaxy in the story. We’ll just have to be patient and wait to see what they surprise us with.