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.
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Gameplay: 8.5
Tried-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: 7.5
It 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: 7.0
Aside from slight
improvements, the sound is fairly indistinguishable from the GBA versions.
Difficulty: Medium
Concept: 8.5
The 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: 9.0
Trading and
Sparring against your friends can now be done anywhere thanks to WiFi support.
The voice chat option is also a fantastic touch.
Overall: 8.5
Pokemon 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.
