Pokemon Diamond Version

 DS
User Score
8.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 625 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 479 out of 625
  2. Mixed: 94 out of 625
  3. Negative: 52 out of 625
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  1. Jamison12
    Jun 18, 2013
    7
    This the weakest installment. It's very slow moving. It;s still a very good game however. I mean, it's Pokemon. Of course it's good. The designs are creative, and there are a few things to do after the main story is over. Not as much as Black & White and Black 2 & White 2, but still a lot.
  2. OliverC.
    Jun 9, 2007
    6
    Easily the worst title the pokemon gameboy franchise. The pokemon are poorly thought out and assembling a well balanced team can be a pain. It's also the easiest and longest. That being said, it's still fun for the most part and shouldn't necessarily be avoided.
  3. JordanW.
    Feb 15, 2008
    7
    It ok. The lack of new pokemon really made it 7. maby 6. Im a big pokemon fan but this is by far the worst, i played and that was it. Easy, i got through in 23hours with complete dex. boring and trepetative. At least day.night was back, rather play e/r/s at least they had lots of new pokes. Oh like for graphics.
  4. FranciscoM
    Nov 23, 2018
    7
    A bit slower than it should be and despite having probably the best lore when it comes to the region and the legendary pokemon until that point, I feel the story could've been much better. Platinum is a better option if you want to visit Sinnoh.
  5. ShaneS.
    Apr 24, 2007
    7
    The majority of the new creatures in the game are unoriginal, uninspired, and just plain stupid. All the good Poke'mon designs have already been done. The Wi Fi seems great, but the game have huge balancing issues. People tweak the game to get uber stats for their poke'mon. And then they use HMs and TMs to teach their Poke'Mon moves that they have no bussiness learning. The majority of the new creatures in the game are unoriginal, uninspired, and just plain stupid. All the good Poke'mon designs have already been done. The Wi Fi seems great, but the game have huge balancing issues. People tweak the game to get uber stats for their poke'mon. And then they use HMs and TMs to teach their Poke'Mon moves that they have no bussiness learning. Fire Poke'mon should not be able to use electric moves, and vice versa. People mess around and make downright broken teams that are mostly full of Legendaries. If you can learn to play the game fairly with friends it's a good game, but Fire Red/Leaf Green are much better because they have all the cool creatures in them. If you want to be able to play over Wi-FI with friends get it. Otherwise don't bother because it's the same old thing.… Expand
  6. Zakaria
    Aug 25, 2010
    7
    As a huge pokemon fan I've always loved the pokemon the battle system but one that really bug me on this game is that the gym leaders were to easy also with that said the graphics weren't as good as i thought they would be the online play is practically the same as facing the computer But the biggest let down of all is that to evolve certain pokemon such: Haunter, Kadabra Etc you have toAs a huge pokemon fan I've always loved the pokemon the battle system but one that really bug me on this game is that the gym leaders were to easy also with that said the graphics weren't as good as i thought they would be the online play is practically the same as facing the computer But the biggest let down of all is that to evolve certain pokemon such: Haunter, Kadabra Etc you have to trade them online to make them evolve say if you didn't have online Then what would happen you never get kadabra, haunter to evolve… Expand
  7. Kandraa
    Oct 7, 2010
    7
    This game was really entertaining. I liked the adventure part of the game the most. It was a lot like Pokemon Platinum though so I could only play on or the other. I hated leveling up and grinding my pokemon but that can be said for every pokemon game out there. It went by really fast but it was good while it lasted.
  8. Glitter
    Aug 30, 2013
    6
    A great addition to the Pokémon series, it was not so great as a successor to the acclaimed third generation of Pokémon gaming. Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl boast a more back-to-basics plot of a villainous team seeking world domination for pure power and worship. The game recedes beyond its predecessors by allowing the formula to become tired and less engaging than ever before. RoutesA great addition to the Pokémon series, it was not so great as a successor to the acclaimed third generation of Pokémon gaming. Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl boast a more back-to-basics plot of a villainous team seeking world domination for pure power and worship. The game recedes beyond its predecessors by allowing the formula to become tired and less engaging than ever before. Routes that feel as if they're a never-ending natural hallway, in a region that couldn't be more primitive. The pinnacle of the region is the labyrinth of Mt. Coronet. Main setting for the climatic plot, it perhaps boasts the most fascinating aspect of the fourth generation snow! Besides the point that the new Pokémon creatures were largely unnecessary additions to older characters, the side-gaming through Super Contests have gone from fun to a tedious chore. Altogether with a less stellar soundtrack, the fourth generation was a generally plain addition to the franchise.… Expand
  9. Kataya
    Sep 22, 2013
    7
    I'll keep it short and sweet.
    Anyone who loves pokemon games will enjoy playing through this, however there are a few things that annoyed me about this game:
    -It's very slow The plot, dialogue, battling, moving your character etc are all sluggish and unresponsive. If the speed of battling was 4x faster I'd give this game a 9/10 -Graphics and music Some of the music isn't its    I'll keep it short and sweet.
    Anyone who loves pokemon games will enjoy playing through this, however there are a few things that annoyed me about this game:

    -It's very slow
    The plot, dialogue, battling, moving your character etc are all sluggish and unresponsive.
    If the speed of battling was 4x faster I'd give this game a 9/10

    -Graphics and music
    Some of the music isn't its usual catchy and cheeful self like in the previous games.
    Some of the graphics, buildings, sprites and towns look rushed, oreburgh city comes to mind, there is nothing endearing about that place.    … Expand
  10. Bigbangrex
    Apr 5, 2015
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Diamond and Pearl are my 2nd least favourite games in the series, this doesn't mean I hate the games with a burning passion, there are things I love about this game but, a lot of the negatives do stick out for me.

    Pros:

    The game looks great!

    I like how Sinnoh is the opposite to Hoenn, rather then being tropical all around and having a small wintry area, Sinnoh is more Tundra with a small tropical area.

    Physical/Special split was finally added.

    Lots of helpful attacks were added.

    Rock types were buffed.

    Cons:

    Starters are not really that memorable for me, also all 3 families never changed shape at all, like how Charmander grows larger and grows wings, Cyndaquill becomes more upright, Totodile becomes larger and bulker and Torchic becoming more human. These new starters just get bigger and bigger and that's it, I do like Toterra and Empoleon's typing though.

    Music was the weakest in the series for me, yes there are some good tracks, however compared to the other main series games, it's very lacking.

    I CANNOT STAND THE RIVALS! Barry is annoying for all the wrong reasons, we hated Blue because he was a jerk all the time, we hated Sliver because he was misguided and treated us like cr*p, May/Brendan were the first friendly rivals we had and I loved talking to them. Barry just crashes into you all the time (And I do mean crash) and just battles you out of no where, plus Dawn is very annoying.

    Battles are way too slow, a battle could last around 1 minute with the older and newer games, in Diamond/Pearl/Platinum, the battles take around 3 minutes, and half of it is just waiting for the text to finish and battle animations.

    I don't enjoy Team Galactic and Cyrus, the goons look stupid with their haircuts and Cyrus's plan sounds too silly for my taste, his plan is to destroy the universe and recreate in his own image, ok I'm fine with a giant ginger finding some laser a homeless man built 1000 years ago, but destroying the universe? That's too far for me.

    Stealth rocks are overpowered, I don't mind entry hazards, they are a good idea, but taking half of my pokemon's health just because I switched is bullsh*t, Stealth rocks should just do some chip damage, NOT HALF OF MY POKEMON'S HEALTH, plus if you don't have a Rapid Spinner, your screwed.

    The whole region is forgettable, besides MT Coronet and Oreburgh city, there's no other place that I can remember without looking it up.

    Overall it's a good DS game and I reccomend it if your new to the Pokemon Series, however compared to it's squeals and the games before it, skip it.    … Expand
  11. gdiego135
    Dec 3, 2015
    7
    This isn't a bad game it's just my least favorite pokemon game. I just think all the new pokemon are lame except the legendaries and the starters, otherwise it's a bunch of old pokemon, and their's a new fog mechanic that gets really annoying, you need to delete a move to learn useless fog so you can see, man i hate HM's and all the locations feel the same to me or just really small, iThis isn't a bad game it's just my least favorite pokemon game. I just think all the new pokemon are lame except the legendaries and the starters, otherwise it's a bunch of old pokemon, and their's a new fog mechanic that gets really annoying, you need to delete a move to learn useless fog so you can see, man i hate HM's and all the locations feel the same to me or just really small, i prefer pokemon Sapphire anytime.… Expand
  12. Dalura
    Oct 18, 2020
    7
    Pokemon diamond is an cool pokemon game and as usual it comes with fun game play. But the story is really decent and many characters just got introduced and do nothing the entire game, but there are still some cool characters like Cynthia or Rowan! But still many other characters like Dawn/Lucinda were left behind and that left me a bit disappointed. But overall i still enjoyed the gamePokemon diamond is an cool pokemon game and as usual it comes with fun game play. But the story is really decent and many characters just got introduced and do nothing the entire game, but there are still some cool characters like Cynthia or Rowan! But still many other characters like Dawn/Lucinda were left behind and that left me a bit disappointed. But overall i still enjoyed the game and it has some of my favorite pokemons in it!… Expand
  13. W-Lights
    Dec 2, 2018
    7
    A good game: developed things from the gba games, underground was interesting if underdeveloped, went with a cold climate. If not for the horrid pacing, pokedex and being "replaced" by plainum in every way I would have way brighter memories of this game, but as every pokemon game, its still a good experience
  14. Zankyouo
    Sep 4, 2019
    7
    Un gran juego, no sólo a nivel mecánico sino también a narrativo, con un desarrollo de personajes bastante fluido y buen ritmo que hace de la experiencia más fructífera y menos pesada.

    A nivel jugable es como cualquier pokémon, pulido, bueno y con más pokémon nuevos para que te puedas fascinar paso por paso viendo diseños muy bonitos, nada que no se haya dicho antes.
  15. Aquvamaen
    Nov 1, 2019
    7
    A very good pokemon game, interesting storyline, some new great pokemon designs. For me the game is just a bit slow, everything in the game is slow moving. With the 3rd generation of games everything seems to move a bit more fluently than in DP. As I stated before I do like the story, and the origin of the legendaries and the mythicals. Some awsome designs like Lucario, Garchomp,A very good pokemon game, interesting storyline, some new great pokemon designs. For me the game is just a bit slow, everything in the game is slow moving. With the 3rd generation of games everything seems to move a bit more fluently than in DP. As I stated before I do like the story, and the origin of the legendaries and the mythicals. Some awsome designs like Lucario, Garchomp, Infernape, Torterra and so on. I would definatly recommend it to every pokemon fan out there, but it is a bit tideous.… Expand
  16. Junior95
    Nov 20, 2022
    6
    A HUGE Downgrade from Gen 3! the game is incredibly slow everything from battling, mashing the B button and even running feels so clunky and with a delay. How did they mess this up when Emerald was incredibly fast on GBA hardware in comparison to DP on DS hardware?

    The new Pokemon are mostly boring and uninspired. I like the starters, Staraptor, Luxray, Lucario, Giratina and maybe    A HUGE Downgrade from Gen 3! the game is incredibly slow everything from battling, mashing the B button and even running feels so clunky and with a delay. How did they mess this up when Emerald was incredibly fast on GBA hardware in comparison to DP on DS hardware?

    The new Pokemon are mostly boring and uninspired. I like the starters, Staraptor, Luxray, Lucario, Giratina and maybe Dialga? This is the first generation where i really didn't care for the legendaries except Giratina and Arceus the latter you can't get by normal means. Another problem with the Pokemon in Sinnoh is that it's mostly the same old Gen 1 pokemon like i get it's for those who couldn't transfer their old Pokemon to the newer games but it's so tiresome to keep running into Zubats all the time.

    Finally, this game doesn't have a good story nor rival it's boring AF and there is no reason to follow the story because in the end nothing happens.    … Expand
  17. ND-Bringer
    Apr 20, 2023
    7
    Platinum may be an overall better version of this game. But it is still worth playing for the version exclusives Pokemon and cutscenes. If you wanted to have a fresh Sinnoh adventure, but are sick of replaying Platinum and Legends Arceus, this game is still fairly enjoyable.
  18. LordJazbin
    Apr 19, 2021
    5
    The slowest game in the franchise, with one of the worst stories and dull ambient. This games really needed a third version as Platinum is... And Platinum did not fix all its flaws. There are better Pokémon games out there, this is just another Pokémon game.
  19. SuyaSS
    Jan 27, 2022
    5
    Platinum version is better. Like why would you play this when platinum also exists. Diamond and pearl were released in an unfinished state. Platinum comes in and fixes several bugs, glitches etc. Seriously go play Platinum.
  20. AShinyG1ratina
    Jun 21, 2022
    7
    Good, but very much overshadowed by the definitive game of the generation..

Awards & Rankings

4
#4 Best DS Game of 2007
2
#2 Most Discussed DS Game of 2007
4
#4 Most Shared DS Game of 2007

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
85

Generally favorable reviews - based on 42 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 41 out of 42
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 42
  3. Negative: 0 out of 42
  1. Games Master UK
    89
    Familiar collecting and battling, but immaculately designdd and with online play. [June 2007, p.62]
  2. Nintendo Gamer
    81
    With Wi-Fi battles and Global Trade, D/P is essential. [Sept 2007, p.81]
  3. Gaming Target
    90
    There’s a lot to do in Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl, which looks as good as a top-down Pokemon game is going to get for some time. It also benefits more than any other sequel in the series from a predecessor due to online capabilities. [JPN Import]
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