Pokémon Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl

Game review by Jeff Haynes, Common Sense Media
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 8+

Classic titles get a visual upgrade, simpler monster play.

Nintendo Switch 2021
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Parents say

age 6+

Based on 5 reviews

Kids say

age 7+

Based on 6 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this game.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Pokémon Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl is a role-playing game exclusively for the Nintendo Switch. These two 2021 games are part of the long-running Pokémon franchise, which has created games, movies, TV shows, toys, and more. They also happen to be a remake of two games originally released in 2006, with updated visuals, gameplay features, and additional creatures that are unlocked if players have save files from previously released Switch Pokémon games. Combat is the main focus of play, but while players use elemental attacks to defeat their opponents, no blood or gore is shown, and enemies disappear in a flash of light when beaten. Aside from that, there's no inappropriate content to be found. Players may find that this title is actually easier to play than the original games thanks to some of the newer Pokémon Switch features; this makes it a bit more accessible for newcomers as well.

Community Reviews

EgoLobster
EgoLobster Adult
July 8, 2022
age 5+

Buggier than the Original

How did they make it more glitchy and carry over bugs from the original games? This is what happens when you outsource your entire game to an outsourcing company. They make assets. Not entire games. Pray Nintendo doesn’t let these people on their IPs again. This was completely and utterly insane in terms of gameplay. Everything else is fine.
1 person found this helpful.
Holly R.
Holly R. Adult
January 19, 2022
age 6+

Best Games Since Heart Gold and Soul Silver

The games are very well made remakes despite what some critics and toxic Pokémon fans say. The games are mostly faithful remakes of the DS games Diamond and Pearl with some much needed improvements to the originals. They also fixed the EXP Share issue where you don’t get as much experience points if you are at a higher level so it’s not as easy to over level like the other Switch Pokémon games. They added a feature from the old DS games Heart Gold and Soul Silver where you can have your favorite Pokémon follow behind you. The Grand Underground fixed the issue of fire type Pokémon being scarce. Once you beat the game and have seen all of the Pokémon, there is a post game where you can battle the gym leaders at much higher levels. And once you capture Giratina and Heatran you can also battle the Pokémon League at very high levels. Champion Cynthia has a team of Pokémon that are all in their 80’s making her final team the strongest in the series and debunking the myth that the games are dumbed down and easy. There is also a way to get the original games music if you want to listen to the old DS music. And the games reward you for playing Let’s Go Pikachu or Eevee and also Sword or Shield by giving you a free Mew and Jirachi early in the game. These games are so amazing and developer ILCA did an excellent job on the games. There is so much content. There’s the Ramanas Park where you can use Mysterious Shards found in the Grand Underground to encounter legendary Pokémon from the first 3 games. The only bad thing about the games (and it doesn’t bother me) is the lack of Pokémon after 2006-07 which is when the original Diamond and Pearl came out. This means that newer favorites like Yamper and Scorbunny are not in the games at the moment. You can catch everything else for a total of 493 Pokémon counting event Pokémon. All and all these aren’t perfect games but they are still very enjoyable.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Easy to play/use
Too much consumerism
1 person found this helpful.
See all 5 parent reviews

What’s It About?

POKÉMON BRILLIANT DIAMOND/SHINING PEARL is a title featuring two 2021-release games in the long-running monster-catching franchise. Remakes of classic games originally released on the Nintendo DS in 2006, Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl brings players back to the Sinnoh region. As in other Pokémon games, the people of the Sinnoh region love to capture, train, and battle their creatures, and your character is no different. Players create their trainer and their trainer's childhood friend, who's a friendly rival that wants to be an incredible Pokémon master as well. One day, on your journey to a lake just outside of your town, you run into the famous Professor Rowan, who's only recently returned to the Sinnoh region after a four-year absence. When you attempt to give him a case of Poké Balls that he left behind on the shore, he lets you keep one of the monsters you've chosen and tasks you with filling your Pokédex with information about the creatures of the land. This is no simple task, as players will have to move from town to town, collecting creatures and defeating trainers in gyms along the way to make their party stronger. There's also a mysterious faction known as Team Galactic that seems to be taking creatures and forcing other people to do their dirty work, so you'll find yourself fighting against their grunts and leaders in an attempt to prevent their schemes. Between these plot moments, players will be able to explore a vast subterranean region known as the Grand Underground for unique Pokémon and relics. They'll also have the option to participate with other players in Super Contest Shows to boost the skills of their Pokémon, as well as decorate their Poké Balls with stickers that will have different visual effects when creatures are summoned. Will you be able to become the very best trainer in the Sinnoh region and stop Team Galactic?

Is It Any Good?

While these adventures bring players back to a classic adventure in the franchise, the modern enhancements take away some of the challenge that made them so noteworthy. Pokémon Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl are remasters of 15-year-old games, providing a new generation of gamers a chance to explore the Sinnoh region. But this isn't just a basic retread of the older stories. A number of enhancements have been made to freshen the gameplay for a new audience, not counting the cute new visuals. These include an auto-save feature as you enter buildings or routes, and directions whenever you access your menu screen in case you're ever lost about what to do next. These are supported by massive enhancements, such as the option to use hidden moves to bypass barriers such as rocks and trees, instead of taking a precious skill slot that isn't necessarily useful in battle. Similarly, the option to always access Pokémon from anywhere you are, instead of having to trek back to town to remake your party, is a huge time-saver, and all Pokémon in your party share experience at the end of a battle, even if they've never been deployed in the match itself. These features are paired with improved connection options to help you trade Pokémon or battle with friends nearby or with other players around the world, as well as an improved Grand Underground that feels like you're getting a second massive area you can explore for hours.

All that being said, the largest issue with these two games is that while the enhancements make the game feel more responsive and updated, it also makes the gameplay incredibly easy. This is clearly tied to the experience-sharing feature, which can make your Pokémon so incredibly powerful that you won't have an issue taking on random creatures or opponents that you run into along each route. When you realize that you can also instantly swap out your party for other captured creatures without ever having to retreat to town (aside from resting your creatures), you'll breeze through gyms and opponents alike unless you send out creatures that are clearly weak to specific attacks. If these games had harder difficulty levels, or if it took these new enhancements into effect to scale the challenge, it would be more engaging, especially since these games are basically the same as they were 15 years ago. But the simplicity of the game doesn't ruin the fun, especially if you're a Pokémon fan or want to explore the Sinnoh region for the first time.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about marketing to kids. With no shortage of Pokémon-themed products available, how do you choose the best to spend your money on?

  • Do you think that remakes of classic titles are a great way to introduce a new generation of players to a game, or should designers focus only on new tales? Is there something lost in focusing exclusively on stories that are well known instead of newer adventures?

Game Details

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