Let's get something out of the way first. Yes, I know this article's pretty late, since both games have been out for quite a while already. But as I'm one of the handful of Pokemaniacs here at QJ, I jumped at the chance to make my first Poke-centric article as soon as it appeared, much like pressing Down + B at the same time to ensure that legendary catch.

The author would also like to apologize for any rampant geekouts beforehand, and will pick up the few remaining shreds of his dignity after the article.

In any case: on with the review!

Pokemon Diamond / Pokemon Pearl
for the Nintendo DS

Backstory:

When the world was still young, and Gameboys were still made out of an unknown material that could withstand anything from a fall off a second floor balcony to a curious little brother's sticky candy fingers, there was Pokemon Blue and Red. The premise of the game was simple, and certainly not unique: as a young man, you leave home in a journey to collect monsters known as Pokemon. You trained them, you bonded with them, you pitted them in battle against other trainers' Pokemon, all to become the greatest Pokemon trainer in the world (as well as to "catch 'em all").

It was simple, and yet it caught on. And how it caught on. Many players were amazed with the game's playability and depth, hiding underneath its friendly, upbeat surface - others were mesmerized at how cute these Pokemon were, a fascination that holds true to both genders (Pikachu alone, the signature Pokemon of the Yellow version can make a squealing, doting Pokefan out of the hardiest of players). And the remaining percentage was simply blown over at how many monsters there were - 151, all in all - and each one, with proper training and battling, could grow into a veritable juggernaut of its element or type, able to crush any Pokemon that stood in its warpath.

Did I mention that they're cute?

Fast forward to the other succeeding versions of the game - from the Pikachu-centric Pokemon Yellow to Pokemon Emerald - and we stop, right here, at the fourth generation. Diamond and Pearl. It's an entirely new continent, an entirely new journey, and certainly more than a PC's worth of completely new Pokemon to see, battle, catch and train.

The game starts with the all-too-familiar Gamefreaks logo - and depending on which version you choose - the mysterious silhouette of the legendary Pokemon you'll be given a chance to battle AND catch somewhere along your journey. Start a new game, and you'll be able to name your trainer, choose your character's gender, and then take your very first step into Sinnoh, the fourth continent in the ever-expanding world of Pokemon.

Graphics:

What's noticeable right away is the major graphics overhaul, an odd combination of 3D and 2D that works surprisingly well. Character and Pokemon sprites are still in glorious 2D (with some Pokemon sprites recycled from the GBA games, but I'm not one to nitpick) while buildings and environments get the 3D treatment. It's nothing groundbreaking, that's for sure, but it's certainly fun to see how PokeCenters and PokeMarts would look like in all three dimensions. It also helps that although everything's in color, the scheme is mellow and quite easy on the eyes, perfect for those long sessions.

Story:

The game, story-wise, follows closely with the previous games. The only noticeable deviation? Instead of an annoying rival who seems to be one step ahead of you no matter what, you get an annoying best friend who seems to be one step ahead of you no matter what. In retrospect, I like the annoying rival better. At least you had a reason to hate his guts, and it felt good watching your own lineup destroy his. With the best friend, you're only left with guilt...which is rarely a good thing.

Picking your starter is still as nail-biting and hair-pulling a process as ever, with all three able to evolve into unstoppable beasts of their own type (Fire, Water, and Plant), so it's not just you that had trouble choosing. I myself picked Piplup as a starter, for not only was the first Gym the Ground/Rock type Gym (vulnerable to Water type, giving me an easier time to nab the Gym badge), Piplup's also as cute as hell.

After finally choosing who you'll be saddled with for a majority of the game, you're given your very own Pokedex, or Pokemon Index to 'fill'. This serves as the game's main objective, to fill the empty Pokemon Index with as many entries as you can by either catching or battling - you guessed it - Pokemon. You're sent on your merry way soon after, and then your adventure finally begins.

Gameplay:

So how's the game, gameplay-wise? Pokemaniacs would be pleased to know that despite the obvious improvements, it's still what we know and love. You control your own character with the D-Pad, run while holding down the B button; talk to NPCs, perform actions and confirm decisions with the A button. You can also bind a specific Key Item to the Y button. So if you want to whip out the old fishing Rod or get on your four-speed bike without having to scroll through menus, just bind that key item with the 'REGISTER' option, and it's push-button convenience at its finest.

Battles are still turn-based and engaging as ever, albeit at a slower pace than what we're used to (easily remedied by tweaking the text display settings to FAST, which speeds up battle considerably). Pokemon brought into battle via Pokeball now display a pre-battle animation unique to that Pokemon, as well as the type of Pokeball it's been caught with. For example, a Pokemon caught with a Dusk Ball would emerge from a burst of darkness, while a Pokemon caught with a Master Ball would materialize in a blinding explosion of purple energy. It's these little details that distinguish a good game from a great game.

Double battles, a feature from the GBA games, is carried over faithfully, giving you the ability to battle with two Pokemon out at the same time or with another Pokemon trainer, usually an NPC. This adds yet another level to the already deep battle system, as some attacks can inflict damage or status ailments on two Pokemon at the same time.

Sound:

How's the sound? I'm glad you asked. The game features not only a different track for every city, but every ROUTE. Catchy and upbeat, the audio's clear as crystal, even with my own launch DS speakers. One particular track that I like is the remixed PokeCenter theme when it's already night out - slow and almost lullaby like, which probably could be the game's subtle way of telling you to go to bed.

One odd quirk with the sound, however, is Gamefreak's decision to go with the same alien-sounding Pokemon-specific chirps, growls and screeches from the previous versions. Consider this a pro or a con at your own discretion - I myself like the fact that they kept the old Pokemon cries in, giving it a more retro feel rather than a detraction from the 'next-gen' game experience itself.

Touchscreen:

Onto the touchscreen. I'm pleased to say that the second screen is put to use, and good use at that. In battle, it serves as the 'menu' screen, with the buttons large and thumb-friendly for those of us who can't be bothered to pull out the stylus in the heat of combat. But outside of battle is a different story - with the touchscreen serving as your Pokemon Multi-Purpose Watch, or Poketch for short. And it's not just an in-game clock, either, as its name suggests, with its multiple 'applications' you can collect and install as you go farther and farther into the game.

A few of these 'apps' include a Pedometer (displays a counter of how many steps you've taken in the game), the Itemfinder (which acts similarly to a sonar), and even an app that lets you find out if you've been raising your Pokemon well or not (touch their on-screen portraits: if they chirp with a heart above their heads, you're doing fine, if not, train more). There's even a cooking minigame - remember the Pokeblocks you fed your Pokemon? They're back in the form of Poffins, which raise your Pokemon's appearance and intimacy. And the only way to get poffins is to make them yourself, reminiscient of a Cooking Mama recipe (but without a Mama to disappoint, if you're like me).

Multiplayer:

And here is where the latest entry in the legendary Pokemon series excel: multiplayer. Aside from being able to play against nearby Pokemon trainers via Wireless Play, you can now take the challenge to a global level with Wi-Fi. Trade, battle, even chat with other Pokemon trainers all over the world - and with an international scoreboard that keeps track of who has the largest number of wins, it's not just bragging rights on the block you're training your Pokemon for, but worldwide recognition.

Replayability:

So you've got all the Gym Badges, you've trounced the Elite Four - what's next? Well, besides the Wireless and Wi-Fi play I've already mentioned, there's quite a handful of other distractions to keep you busy and rack up those hours. First, there's obviously the quest to get all 482 Pokemon, some of which you'll have to transfer from your old GBA games to be able to 'catch' in the Diamond/Pearl versions. Then there's the Super Contests - a Pokemon Pageant of sorts, where you pit a chosen Pokemon against others in a battle that's decided by looks. It's more interesting than it sounds, and definitely worth a playthrough.

Final Verdict:

It doesn't reinvent the series, it's not a completely new game. But it sticks to what the players like and improves upon that solid foundation to deliver a followup that has this jaded veteran feeling like it's 1995 again, and the hardcore gamers of tomorrow a clean, almost-perfect RPG experience to begin with. If you're a Pokefan then, this is a must buy - if you're not, and have some spare cash lying around, why not see what all the fuss is about? Even if you can't tell what's the difference between an IV and an EV, a Dusk Ball from a Pokeball, the game is accessible to anyone. And with the Wi-Fi capabilities that take the competition to a global scale, it's safe to say that Pokemon Diamond/Pearl will keep you occupied for a long period of time.

This is Ryan C, and I've just reviewed Pokemon Diamond/Pearl.*geeks out*