Pokemon Platinum

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Classic format with new Pokemon and online features.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this Pokemon game has more robust online features than previous games in the series. Through the DS's built-in WiFi, players who have exchanged Nintendo DS friend codes can trade, play mini-games, and battle
with friends. But kids can also trade and exchange records with other players from around the
world, but there's no communication involved. In the Union Room, those who have exchanged friend codes can chat with each other by clicking on words
from the game's dictionary (there's no free-form chat), and can share pictures
they've drawn (including, unfortunately, "naughty" ones) using a basic MS
Paint-style program.
Common Sense Media does not recommend letting kids play online
without supervision until they are age 12. This game is about capturing and sending Pokemon into battles. But these battles are generally considered tests
of skill rather than conflicts motivated by anger. When a Pokemon is defeated,
it faints. Kids can transfer the Pokemon they collected from Pokemon
Diamond
or Pearl, as well as older Game Boy Advance games, into
Platinum.

  • Not applicable.
  • Pokemon battle each other with physical attacks (bite, scratch) and special attacks such as fire, electricity, and water attacks. Battles between Pokemon aren't graphic, and Pokemon only faint when defeated.
  • Not applicable.
  • Ties into the Pokemon franchise and its "Gotta catch 'em all" slogan, which includes a collectible card game, toys, clothing, and other merchandise.

What's it about?

POKEMON PLATINUM is an extension of the successful Pokemon Diamond/Pearl games for the Nintendo DS that offers some new locations, puzzles and characters, expanded options for online play, and of course exclusive new Pokemon to collect such as the impressive Giratina that graces the box's cover. The game begins when you and a friend come of age and are given your first Pokemon by Professor Rowan, a Pokemon researcher who also asks for your help to index the wild Pokemon in the region. While exploring, capturing wild Pokemon, earning Gym badges, and battling Trainers to add information to your Pokedex, you'll also encounter Team Galactic, a gang who seems to be up to no good.


Is it any good?

 

The game's basic format will be familiar if you're played previous Pokemon games, but Platinum adds some new twists of its own, such as the Distortion World (a new place to find ultra-rare Pokemon), the WiFi Plaza where you can play multiplayer mini-games wirelessly, and the ability to record videos of your battles and share them. All of the cool features from Diamond/Pearl, such as touch-sensitive menu buttons, the Poketech device, and the fact that different Pokemon can be caught depending on what time of day it is, have been carried over as well.

Sure, the core concept hasn't changed much from previous iterations, but the gameplay is deep and challenging enough that it really doesn't need to. With 210 Pokemon to collect, a huge world to explore, plenty of side quests and secrets to discover, and a rich multiplayer component for trading and battling with friends, Pokemon Platinum is simply jam-packed with things to do, making it a good bet for role-playing game fans of all ages.


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What families can talk about

Families can talk about some of the strategies that they've developed to battle other Pokemon. Why are some Pokemon weak or strong against others? Why is battling considered an important part of training? Why is it important to capture and classify all types of Pokemon?


This review was written by Erin Bell
Adult
July 19, 2010
 
Educational for yonger children and intriguing for older ones
Educational value of pokemon I began playing Pokemon when I was six. My parents have attested to the fact that it helped me develop some serious memorization, reading, science, problem-solving, and mathematics skills. The games are text-based, meaning that all information is conveyed through the written word. This will force kids to read, and in the process, learn new words. The language is in no way dumbed-down to suit young children; this challenging grammar and vocabulary will facilitate reading. The game is chock-full of positive role models, as the constant theme of the game is that the Pokemon grow stronger and happier when they are loved and cared for, not used as tools. The game teaches simple math skills such as addition and multiplication by forcing players to manage their Pokemon's health and power points, their stat values, and their own money very quickly, as their calculations can mean the difference between victory and defeat. The game also introduces incredibly high-level, complex mathematics if slightly older kids decide to research the game's core formulas; all events in the game are determined by complicated probability equations that will intrigue a student old enough to say "will we ever do this in real life?" to his math teacher. Problem solving and adaptive strategey are central elements of gameplay. Outside of battle, the player will be forced to solve puzzles and navigate mazes. In battle, players are perpetually challenged to essentially outwit their AI opponents using their knowledge of their opponents Pokemon, their own Pokemon, and their understanding of the fact that even the best plan can be bested by bad luck. This situation teaches basic logical reasoning and strategics. The only danger? The game can be addicting. Moderate younger children's play time. But please, coming from a kid who lost all too many hours of hard work from a hasty parent, give them a few seconds to save their game before they put it away.

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 17 years old
June 28, 2010
 
Eveything in this world is a lie, including this website!!!!!! AGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pokemon is a GAME. Eveyting ELSE is the merchandice.

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Parent of 9, 9, and 12 year old
January 31, 2010
 
Pokemon
This is a great game, and it's even better if you have the book to help you get the most out of it. LOVE IT! You will love the Pokemon you meet along the way. Some can be helpful.

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Teen, 15 years old
January 8, 2010
 
Awesome game
Great game- basicly a remake of the stellar Diamond and Pearl games, but better. If you don't already have one of those, get this one. The violence isn't a problem. I don't suggest allowing your young kids to play online on any games.

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Teen, 16 years old
August 26, 2009
 
Caveat Emptor- This game will suck up your free time!
I have played (admittedly) every pokemon game, and many of the spin-offs, and it never gets old. The role models are clearly good, and the interface is so easy a caveman could do it. What this game does better than all the other games was make me want to "catch 'em all" with the unlimited replayability to the pleasent pokemon contests. Best of the bunch, and regardless of whether you've played pearl/diamond or not, this game is a must-have.

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Teen, 14 years old
August 29, 2010
 
fun, but baybish for anyone 10+
i guess some people would consider it violent, since you make pokemon fight until they "faint", and the moves are things like "slash" "take down" and "flamethrower" and the effects are stuff like "poison", "burn" and "one hit KO", but the vocabulary is far worse than whats on screen

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Kid, 12 years old
April 6, 2010
 
An Adventure in a Video Game!
This was my first Pokemon game, and at first, I thought it was like the best game ever! I have a different Pokemon game now, but I still think of Platinum as a good game. Pokemon has a bit of difficulty, but it is still very easy in my opinoun. I wouldn't worry about anything except for the animations. Some of the moves like Cut and Hyper Fang show mild violence. Anyway, I just really LOVE the game. Very, very good!

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Teen, 15 years old
January 13, 2010
 
Good
Not the pest pokemon game ever, but still really good.

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Kid, 12 years old
December 6, 2009
 
perfect pokemon game but ended a little faster than the others
i think it is a great game! there is a small bit of violence when pokemon fight eachother. team galactic is meaner than team rocket and team aqua, and they dont care about pokemon and experiment on them. it is easy to play but some parts are very challenging. the charachters are good and it dosent let you be evil. the charachters always help eachother.

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Teen, 18 years old
September 5, 2009
 
This is the best Pokemon game ever
There are more Pokemon, new characters, new locations, new features, the plot was made for all ages, good graphics. But why is marketing an issue here? This is the stuff they're marketing, the toys and stuff came later.

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This review was written by Erin Bell
Platforms:Nintendo DS
Available online?Available online
Genre:Role Playing
Developer:Nintendo
Release date:March 22, 2009
Price:$39.99
ESRB rating:E for (No Descriptors)

This review was written by Erin Bell

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

 

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