Pokémon Brilliant Diamond (Japanese: ポケットモンスター ブリリアントダイヤモンド Pocket Monsters Brilliant Diamond) and Pokémon Shining Pearl (Japanese: ポケットモンスター シャイニングパール Pocket Monsters Shining Pearl) are the second paired Generation VIII games that are enhanced remakes of the fourth-generation titles Pokémon Diamond and Pearl.
The games were announced worldwide on the 25th Anniversary of the release of Pokémon Red and Green on February 27, 2021 at 12 am JST through Pokémon Presents. The paired versions were released worldwide for Nintendo Switch on November 19, 2021. All copies of the game are playable in nine languages: Japanese, English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Korean, and Simplified and Traditional Chinese. These are the first core series games not to be developed directly by Game Freak.
Summary
The games chronicle the adventures of a new Pokémon trainer who strives to become the Pokémon League Champion by collecting and training Pokémon. Like most games in the series, Diamond and Pearl feature eight Pokémon Gyms led by Gym Leaders, professional trainers whose expertise lies in a particular Pokémon type. Gym Leaders serve as bosses and reward skilled trainers with Gym Badges, key to the advancement of the plot. As with all core games, the protagonist must also thwart the schemes of a crime syndicate, in this case, Team Galactic, who plan to use Pokémon to create a new universe just for themselves, while destroying the current one.
As with all other Pokémon role-playing games, Diamond and Pearl begin in the protagonist's hometown. After viewing a television report about a media-conducted search for a red Gyarados, which was spotted at a faraway lake, the protagonist and their best friend, Barry by default, travel together to check the local lake for a Pokémon like it. They spot Professor Rowan, a Pokémon evolution researcher, and his assistant, the playable character not selected in the game: Lucas (boy) or Dawn (girl). After a short discussion, the professor and his assistant leave the lake, leaving a briefcase behind. When they are attacked by a wild Starly each, the protagonist and their rival decide to examine the briefcase. They are then given a choice of one of three Pokémon found within—the Grass-type Turtwig, the Fire-type Chimchar, or the Water-type Piplup—and proceed to battle the attacking Pokémon. After defeating the Starly, Lucas or Dawn retrieves and returns the briefcase to the professor. Noticing that a bond has been forged between the young protagonist and his or her chosen Pokémon, Rowan offers it to them, asking that they embark on a journey and fill their Pokédex.
The protagonist encounters the antagonistic group, Team Galactic, early in the game, when he or she must save Professor Rowan from some of their thugs; however, their motives are unclear until later. The player encounters Team Galactic again when they take over a wind farm and when they set up a base in Eterna City, before eventually taking over Sinnoh's three lakes in an attempt to capture the Mirage Pokémon Uxie, Azelf, and Mesprit. Shortly after the player earns their seventh Gym Badge, Team Galactic captures the Mirage Pokémon and imprisons them inside the science laboratory of the Team Galactic Headquarters Building, where its members extract crystals from the Pokémon to create the Red Chain, an object that can control the legendary Pokémon Palkia in Pearl, or Dialga in Diamond. After releasing the trio, the protagonist is able to access Spear Pillar, an ancient ruin atop Mt. Coronet, where the leader of Team Galactic summons Dialga or Palkia. The legendary Pokémon's powers begin to overwhelm Sinnoh, causing the newly free Uxie, Azelf, and Mesprit to attempt to stop it. The player then battles Palkia or Dialga, and after defeating or capturing the Pokémon, Sinnoh returns to normal. Afterwards, the player continues their journey, eventually making it to the Sinnoh region Pokémon League's Elite Four. After defeating all four members, they then battle the Sinnoh League Champion, a woman named Cynthia, who had appeared before in the game. After the protagonist defeats Cynthia, they become the new Sinnoh League Champion, finishing the main story. In the post-game, there is a new island to explore that contains Pokémon not seen in the main game, and has some new stores and a tournament center. The protagonist's old friend, who challenged them to battles multiple times before, will also be waiting for them here and will challenge them to one more battle.
Release Date
- November 19, 2021
Sound Effects Used
- Anime Sparkle Sound 6 (Heard whenever catching a Pokémon with a Fishing Rod.)
- Discovery Sound, BIRD - Crow (Used in a high pitch as Honchkrow's cry.)
- Discovery Sound, WORKS - Lava (Used as Heatran's cry.)
- Hollywoodedge, Gorilla Growl Snort AT052701 (Used in a low pitch as Slaking's cry.)
- Hollywoodedge, Gusts Heavy Cold Wind PE031601/Hollywoodedge, Whistling Wind Stead PE033301
- Hollywoodedge, Punch Face Hit 4 Sharp PE100401
- Hollywoodedge, Screams 3 Man Gutwren PE134401 (Used in Grotle and Palkia's cries.)
- Hollywoodedge, Synthy Low Pit Boing CRT016101
- Hollywoodedge, Synthy Low Pit Boing CRT016105
- Hollywoodedge, Synthy Low Pit Boing CRT016106
- Poké Ball Poof
- Poké Ball Throw
- Pokémon A B Button Sound
- Pokémon Damage
- Pokémon Fainting
- Pokémon Fly Sound
- Pokémon Healing Sound
- Pokémon Level Up
- Pokémon Not Very Effective Damage
- Pokémon PC Bootup
- Pokémon Recovery Sound
- Pokémon Save Sound
- Pokémon Super Effective Damage
- Sound Ideas, ANVIL - SINGLE HIT ON ANVIL WITH HAMMER, METAL 01
- Sound Ideas, BUBBLES, MUD - HEAVY, THICK MUD POT BUBBLES, BOIL
- Sound Ideas, ELECTRICITY, SPARK - HIGH VOLTAGE SPARK, ELECTRICAL 01
- Sound Ideas, RICOCHET - CARTOON RICCO 07
- Sound Ideas, SQUISH, MUD - SINGLE MUD BUBBLE SQUISH 02