Was Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Good? A Critical Look Back
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The short answer? It’s complicated. Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl (BDSP) are not objectively bad games. They offer a generally faithful recreation of the original Pokemon Diamond and Pearl for the Nintendo DS. However, they fall short of being great, largely due to their unambitious nature and a reliance on strict faithfulness that hinders them from reaching their full potential. Whether they are “good” depends heavily on what you’re looking for in a Pokemon remake. If you crave pure nostalgia and a 1:1 recreation, you might be satisfied. If you expect significant enhancements, quality-of-life improvements, and the inclusion of features from Pokemon Platinum, you’ll likely be disappointed. The games are essentially a “greatest hits” package without the updated arrangements that make the songs truly shine.
Diving Deeper: A Tale of Two Remakes
To truly understand the reception of BDSP, it’s crucial to examine them through the lens of previous Pokemon remakes. Games like Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver and Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire significantly expanded upon their source material, incorporating features and gameplay mechanics from later generations. These remakes provided not only a nostalgic trip but also a refreshed and enhanced experience.
BDSP, on the other hand, opted for a more conservative approach. While the visuals were updated (albeit with a somewhat divisive chibi art style), the core gameplay, story, and even many of the original game’s quirks were preserved. This faithfulness has its merits, appealing to fans who wanted a pure recreation of their childhood memories. However, it also meant that many of the original Diamond and Pearl’s flaws, such as slow pacing, limited Pokemon availability, and a lack of post-game content, remained largely unaddressed.
The biggest point of contention was the exclusion of content from Pokemon Platinum, widely considered the definitive version of the fourth generation. Platinum offered significant improvements to the story, gameplay, and overall experience, including a revamped storyline featuring Giratina, a larger Sinnoh Pokedex with better Pokemon distribution, and faster gameplay speed. The absence of these features in BDSP left many players feeling that the remakes were incomplete and failed to live up to their potential.
The Good, The Bad, and The Chibi
Let’s break down the specific aspects of BDSP that contribute to their mixed reception:
- Faithful Recreation: The core story, characters, and region of Sinnoh are faithfully recreated. This is a major selling point for nostalgic fans.
- Updated Visuals: The game received a visual overhaul with updated models and environments, even if the chibi style wasn’t universally praised.
- Modern Conveniences: Some modern features were added, such as autosave (optional), easier trading, and the Grand Underground offering more Pokemon variety.
- Lack of Platinum Content: The absence of key story elements, Pokemon availability changes, and gameplay improvements from Platinum is a significant drawback.
- Uninspired Execution: Beyond the visual update, the remakes feel somewhat uninspired, lacking the creativity and innovation of previous Pokemon remakes.
- Performance Issues: The games suffered from some performance issues, including frame rate drops and glitches, particularly in the Grand Underground.
A Missed Opportunity or A Faithful Tribute?
Ultimately, Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are a case of unmet potential. They are not bad games, but they are not exceptional ones either. Their reliance on strict faithfulness hinders them from becoming truly great remakes. They offer a nostalgic trip for fans of the original Diamond and Pearl but fail to address many of the original game’s flaws and omit key features from the superior Platinum version.
Whether you consider BDSP to be “good” depends on your expectations. If you’re looking for a pure and faithful recreation of the original games, you might be satisfied. If you’re expecting a significant enhancement and the inclusion of Platinum content, you’ll likely be disappointed. It’s a solid offering, but falls short of the high bar set by other Pokemon remakes and even other Pokemon games in general. And if you are looking for more games in the future, perhaps you would like to learn about serious games and the Games Learning Society! More information about it can be found on the GamesLearningSociety.org website.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Pokemon BDSP
Is it worth getting Pokemon BDSP if you have Platinum?
In most opinions, BDSP is not worth getting if you have Platinum. BDSP offers improvements over the original DP but does not incorporate Platinum’s improvements.
Is BDSP the hardest Pokemon game?
Pokemon Diamond, Pearl, & Platinum are considered some of the hardest. Sinnoh is known for its challenges.
How different is BDSP from the originals?
The primary difference is exclusive Pokemon (Dialga/Palkia).
Is Pokemon BDSP challenging?
The difficulty can be adjusted by implementing Nuzlocke challenges.
How many hours of gameplay is BDSP?
Main objectives take about 26 hours. 100% completion can take up to 109 hours.
What is the hardest Pokemon to evolve in BDSP?
Mantyke is difficult to evolve due to requiring a Remoraid in the party.
Is Pearl or Diamond better?
Brilliant Diamond’s exclusive Pokemon are generally considered more desirable.
Is Shining Pearl better than Platinum?
Platinum is superior to Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl in almost every conceivable way.
Why is Brilliant Diamond more expensive?
Round brilliant-cut diamonds are the most expensive due to the raw material lost.
What is the easiest Pokemon game to beat?
Pokemon GO and Pokemon: Let’s Go Pikachu/Eevee are particularly accessible.
What is the hardest Pokemon game to 100 percent?
The Gen 4 games (Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum) are the hardest due to their challenging capturing methods.
Is BDSP better than Let’s Go?
Let’s Go tried something new; BDSP is barely an upgrade from the originals.
Which BDSP starter is the best?
Chimchar is generally considered the strongest starter in BDSP.
Is Dialga or Palkia better in BDSP?
Dialga narrowly beats out Palkia due to its fewer weaknesses.
What is the strongest dark type in Shining Pearl?
Darkrai is considered the strongest Dark-type Pokemon in Shining Pearl, although it is an event Pokemon. Tyranitar is a strong alternative and exclusive to Brilliant Diamond.