Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Add Reply
Pokemon Diamond/Pearl Review
Topic Started: Sep 30 2007, 09:02 PM (556 Views)
Shaheer
Member Avatar
Blood Generation

Shit, it's about time I came out with a new review. I've been working on this for a while and then I forgot about it....

Well now I finished the review. It's 2600 words in total so it's a very thorough review.










It’s been eight years since the release of the first pokemon games to hit the market. Pokemon Blue and Pokemon Red swept the world with its addictive game play and sold millions across the world. However as each new installment of Pokemon came out, the games were progressively rehashed and proved to be a slow decline in originality to the once almighty series. With the GBA games only appealing to the hardcore median, it was up to the publishers of Pokemon to fully revive the franchise. What better place to start then to bring it to the successful Nintendo DS handheld. With the addition of 2 screens, Wifi capabilities, voice recognition and touch capabilities, the Nintendo DS easily can bring some new game play elements to the series. Also, with a brand new continent to explore in, new pokemon and much needed updated graphics, Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl are on the right track to bringing life back into the near decade old series.

Every Pokemon game starts out with a young trainer who wishes to fulfill his/hers dream of being a Pokemon master. Unfortunately the same storyline mechanics have been included in each Pokemon adventure game thus far and is beginning to become really dull. Like the previous games, you are given a choice to choose one of three Pokemon starters and then your adventure as a trainer begins. As well, your rival has a very similar ideology as you and will frequently challenge your character in various parts in the game. However the rival’s pokemon at times are very under leveled compared to yours which eliminates the difficulty of your rival, thus making him/her irrelevant. The pokemon storyline has vaguely changed from the previous games. Team Galaxy is the main antagonist of this game and their goal is to steal pokemon so they can take over the world. Didn’t that happen in the previous three games? Well suffice to say, they are in this game and they’ll do anything they can to get in your way. However, they also serve the same fate as your rival as each of them have low leveled pokemon which makes them nothing more then gaining easy experience points in fights. There are eight cities’s to explore from but unfortunately the game is far too linear and there is no real sense of exploration. Despite the game suffering from rehashes and unoriginality, the pace of the game is moderately fast so you’ll find yourself going through places and heading to the main cities at a decent time.

The game play in pokemon is known for being addicting. As a new trainer, it’s your responsibility to fill up your pokedex by capturing Pokemon and training them. Pokemon Diamond and Pearl boasts 106 new pokemon to be caught. In grand total, there is 493 pokemon that need to be caught however doing so will require transfers from the previous pokemon games. D/P allows gamers to transfer pokemon saved on a GBA game to be transferred to the DS using the pal park feature. On a side note however, in order to use the pal park to transfer over pokemon, you would have to fill up your pokedex and beat the Elite 4. So really it eliminates the purpose of transferring pokemon over to level them unless you plan on using them for competitive play against other trainers. The pal park also restricts you from only allowing six transfers of pokemon per 24 hours. On top of that, you have to re-catch the pokemon in the wild which game freak depicts to be a mini game.

For those not familiar with the game; there are several types of pokemon to choose from. In finalizing your starting six pokemon, it’d be best to cover as many types as possible. Each pokemon type has advantages over the other. For example, a fire type pokemon has an advantage over grass pokemon; therefore its attacks are twice more effective. On the other hand, a fire type pokemon is twice as weak to water type pokemon so it’ll receive twice as more damage from water based attack. D/P offers a lot more combination of pokemon types to make the game more competitive. Also attacks have been separated into “physical” and into “special” to make the game a bit more balanced. Each pokemon in the game is different to the other. Some excel in certain stats (HP, Attack, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense and Speed) then the other pokemon, so it’s keen to know what kind of pokemon you need in finalizing your team for certain fights. It wouldn’t make sense to have 6 pokemon on your team all specializing in special defense, since your opponent can find a different alternative of beating you. The game also offers a plethora of new moves to experiment with. Types with a small move pool such as grass and rock have increased quite a bit. Also, each pokemon has a nature when you catch it. The nature actually helps determine an increase in a certain stat to that pokemon so it’s keen to actually have a good nature for a certain pokemon. For example, a pokemon with a lonely nature will gain an increase in Attack points in leveling up. Finally, pokemon can carry items with them which can in turn help determine the outcome of a battle. Making your pokemon carry a certain item can help it evolve, change its happiness or help it in battle.

Pokemon D/P brings the introduction to honey trees. In the game you can collect samples of honey and using them on the trees can attract rare pokemon. That’s about it really… and that just seems like a vague attempt to bring something new to the game. The berry trees also make an appearance after being successful from the previous series. Berries can be used to heal a pokemon status in battle (by making them hold the berry during a battle) and to make poffins which help your pokemon win contests. Those are familiar with R/S/E on the GBA will probably remember berry blending. Berry blending is re-introduced into D/P and is used for entering your pokemon into contests or to increase their happiness. The contests featured in this game serve nothing more then a mini game. The contests are categorized into three different events. The first is a costume contest in which dressing up your pokemon will be scored from judges. The concept sounds terrible and it actually is. It’s possibly the worst idea game freak ever thought of. If you somehow manage to appeal to the judges then your pokemon participates in an easy rhythm game which gets boring after five seconds. Finally, the last event which is moderately amusing for five minutes allows your pokemon to showcase its moves and allow the judges to review and score them.

The Nintendo DS offers more expansive controls when compared to the traditional handheld games on the Gameboy Advance and the Gameboy Color. The top screen of the DS is to control your character. Outside of battle, the bottom screen is your “poke app” which is a great addition to the series. The more you progress in the game, the more poke applications that are unlocked which makes game exploration easier and a bit more convenient. For example, you can have a stat counter to help EV stat train pokemon or just a normal walk counter which counts the steps you take which is used for breeding. Also, a map is included which shows where berry trees are located and as well as honey trees. However, there are some applications that really have no relevance to the game at all. The calculator for example is a pokemon application which you will never use unless your calculator for homework ceased to work. In battle, the bottom screen is used to select attacks with the stylus pen. Also you can switch out pokemon, heal and arrange your team with the touch of your stylus. Even though this is a unique idea presented from Game Freak, in no way does it enhance the game play. It’s still more convenient to use the d pad and buttons. Besides the use of the dual screens, the controls are still rock solid. It’s still a pain though to constantly use worthless HM’s (for those who are not familiar with previous Pokemon Games; HM’s are moves used outside battles to progress through the game) that you will use only once such as “Defog.” But thankfully, Game Freak has allowed the trainer to actually drop the HM’s from their pokemon’s move set (and any other move for example,) by the use of a move tutor. This is really essential if you wish to duel people online since you’ll be constantly changing your move set for your pokemon so they can be at an advantage.

The sound itself is a complete disappointment from a game making its way onto the DS. The music midi and quality can be done on the Gameboy Advance. Even though the songs do fit Pokemon Diamond, the DS is capable of much more. The battle themes are pretty catchy but they fall very reminiscent of the Gameboy Advance versions of Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald. Game Freak really could’ve used the DS to full potential with its sound but unfortunately it falls short.

The greatest addition to the game is the introduction to online capabilities which gives Diamond/Pearl greater depth and more replay value. Trainers have the option of trading their pokemon for others by using the online trading center which is located in one of the first few cities you visit. This is a great way to fill up your pokedex and acquire pokemon (such as the starters) that could be unobtainable if you were to play the game without trading. Unfortunately, the game restricts the player from trading with pokemon from the other games unless the pokemon is registered in the player’s pokedex. Also, you may go to poke centers and battle/chat or trade with friends by registering their friend codes and connecting online. Thankfully, there is no use for cables anymore to transfer pokemon from DS to another as everything is done wirelessly. This is more convenient for people to fill their pokedex and to acquire pokemon that are exclusive to Diamond/Pearl and to obtain pokemon from the previous games. Also the option is available to fight against your friends in a series of different kind of fights. For example if there is a huge level gap between your and the other opponent’s pokemon then the option is available that all the pokemon will fight at the same level. This is a great way to really test if you deem yourself to be the best of the best if you can successfully beat everyone you challenge. Also, since the game is much more balanced in game play, each trainer you will encounter will most likely have a different team of pokemon from the previous trainer. The battle tower also makes a return to D/P. Like Pokemon Emerald, the battle tower is used to test your skills as a trainer against other trainers. Computer AI to actually players, the battle tower is a great way to hone your skills and to really pose as a challenge. The longer you progress in the battle tower, the more rewarding it becomes by fighting some of the hardest trainers in the game. You can also test your team of pokemon (single competitions or double battles) by posting your team online and having other people duel them. Ranking is judged by the amount of victories that you have over other players in the game in the battle tower. This is a great way to gain some reputation and really adds for some replay value after finishing the main game.


Another nifty cool addition to Pokemon Diamond/Pearl is the “underground feature.” Those who are familiar with Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald will most likely remember the “hidden bases” that could be made. Essentially, a hidden base is more like your own hide out. You can customize a room by adding furniture (which can be bought in the game stores, won through the slot games or given as a present from a friend or from an npc.) The underground feature is an entire maze mini game in which multiple people can be inside at once. The point of the mini game is to collect diamonds by digging through a wall. The mini game is surprisingly fun and recommended for those who need to take a break from the actual game adventure. The player can lay traps on the ground to protect his hideout from being invaded from other players. Unfortunately, this game can not be connected through Wifi so only people within a limited range can connect to play the game. The downside to this is that there possibly could be very few people who are willing to play the underground feature (since the game can be finished without doing it.) and that it might be challenging to find someone within limited range who has the game copy of diamond/pearl. Despite this, the underground feature is still a great way to find some hidden gems that can help your pokemon in evolution, stats and to even find fossils which can complete your pokedex.

The game itself has gone a long way since its original release of Pokemon Blue and Pokemon Red back on the original Gameboy in 1997. Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl have made some serious upgrades to enhance the game play and to make the adventure a whole new experience to the gamer. Even though the graphics fall short in maximizing the Nintendo DS’s full potential, the heart of this game remains intact with some solid additions such as Wifi and a more balanced battle system. Those who are new to the series will find Pokemon D/P a great addition to their DS collection and those who are familiar with the franchise will not be disappointed at this title. Even experienced pokemon trainers will find that the ‘old battle system’ will be more different with the addition of EV stat training and different types of pokemon. Even though the story is a bit cliché and falls redundant of the previous pokemon games, gamers will not be disappointed with some of the trainer battles and will find Wifi battling a tough challenge. The main game itself is around 50 hours, while completing the pokedex and challenging friends can surpass well over 100 hours. This is definitely a huge improvement over the last installment of the series and will not disappoint to any gamer who lost faith in the franchise.

Presentation: 9/10

With dual screens, online trading, battling, and great replay value, Pokemon Diamond/ Pearl is a clear indication that it’s a major step up from Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald. Gamers disappointed with the game play rehashed will find some fresh new features that greatly enhance the overall game experience.

Story: 5/10
The biggest disappointment to Pokemon Diamond/Pearl is that the story is clearly rehashed and recycled from the previous games. It’s perhaps time for something original and new in the next installment. We don’t want to relive the same old adventure again and again. However the story line does not detract that much from the game itself.

Sound: 7/10
It’s fairly decent but some of the music is rehashed from R/S/E. Yet, some of the tunes are pretty catchy but they are few and far between.

Graphics: 8/10
A huge improvement over the previous installments. Everything from the environments to the character models are more sharper and better. However, the pokemon animations and models are exactly the same as R/S/E which is somewhat disappointing.

Game Play: 10/10
Without a doubt, Pokemon Diamond/Pearl has made some great strides in achieving a much more balanced battle system and still makes it a brand new experience to the gamer.

Replay: You probably won’t start another adventure again but you’ll often find yourself battling or trading online. Expect to put more then 50 hours into this game.

Overall: (not based on average) 9.0/10









Posted Image

Posted Image

GO OILERS GO!! 24-22-4
Currently Playing: WoW
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Introduction
Member Avatar
Force Impulse Gundam

wow, very thorough
Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Axem Rangers
Member Avatar
Its Axem Time!!!

wow nice job :D
Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Eternal S0rr0w
Member Avatar


T____T
Posted Image
Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Top Kirby
Member Avatar


Yup very detailed and indepth! Great job on it!
Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Kurosaki Ichigo
Member Avatar


wow
Posted Image
Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Wave
The Original Silhouette

2600 words.......damn

But it is a great review. I read everything. Some grammatical errors but they were very few of them.
Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Jinzo
Member Avatar


wowza
Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Mike Modano
Member Avatar


terrible
Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Dark Sylph
Member Avatar
Your greatest nightmare
Moderators
How is that terrible? It's a freakin 2300 word essay and it's pretty eloquent in its style.
Posted Image
Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
ssjmat
Member Avatar
SBS GFX PRO
Graphics Team
u must've had a lot of time on your hands to finish that review.
Posted Image

Wins:126
Losses: 52
Last 5: WLLWW
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
« Previous Topic · Reviews · Next Topic »
Add Reply

Via Domus created by Steve of the ZetaBoards Theme Zone