Pokemon Pearl Version

 DS
User Score
8.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 464 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 338 out of 464
  2. Mixed: 89 out of 464
  3. Negative: 37 out of 464
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  1. TeraVex
    Nov 6, 2013
    5
    Meh.
    That's all that comes to mind when I play this game.
    Honestly, it feels like generation 3.5 then generation 4. The battles are sluggish, uninteresting. The same can go for the entire game really, the game's pace is way too slow for me. The only thing I can complement this game for, It's the online play, the new pokes, and the music. Dat music. But other than that, nothing else.    Meh.
    That's all that comes to mind when I play this game.
    Honestly, it feels like generation 3.5 then generation 4.
    The battles are sluggish, uninteresting. The same can go for the entire game really, the game's pace is way too slow for me. The only thing I can complement this game for, It's the online play, the new pokes, and the music.
    Dat music.
    But other than that, nothing else. The game's painstaking slow pace is the reason I can't play this without getting extremely bored.    … Expand
  2. julianozuca
    Feb 27, 2012
    7
    Pokemon--the series--evolves. But old little problems remain unsolved.

    The Good: Wi-Fi! Night and day! Poke Radar! X-Scissor, U-Turn, Bug Buzz! Poffins! Underground! Slathering honey! Shellos! Munchlax! The Bad: Lazy touch screen... 2D-GBA-like monsters... Poketch... Dressing, dancing... "Saving a lot of data..." The much awaited 4th generation of Pokemon games has arrived. And    Pokemon--the series--evolves. But old little problems remain unsolved.

    The Good: Wi-Fi! Night and day! Poke Radar! X-Scissor, U-Turn, Bug Buzz! Poffins! Underground! Slathering honey! Shellos! Munchlax!

    The Bad: Lazy touch screen... 2D-GBA-like monsters... Poketch... Dressing, dancing... "Saving a lot of data..."

    The much awaited 4th generation of Pokemon games has arrived. And everything fans expected is here, like trading Pokemon and battling through Wi-Fi connection with real people all around the world, seeing day turn into night and so on with a real-time clock working just like in the GBC, around 100 brand new monsters (including new babies), new ways for the Pokemon to evolve (some of them unpredictable), and all that stuff we already know (you may like it or not). But little problems still make the game experience a little tiring.

    As always you start the game in a small town receiving your first pokemon from a professor and your adventure goes on as you become a trainer. You must search for new Pokemon species intending to fulfill the Pokedex and also capturing and raising them through battling other trainers to challenge the Gym Leaders and the Elite Four. This storyline is still the same since the 1st generation of the series ten years ago (and it really has no need for a change); but things evolve, and some little problems were left aside because the developers fear major changes--or just because they are lazy.

    What is better in this new generation? Wi-Fi is awesome, but it was almost an obligation; day turning into night is great (and beautiful), but Game Freak is just apologizing for not including this in the 3rd generation games; splitting all kind of moves in special type or physical type is an important change, and it's a good improvement in battling strategies; good new moves--especially the bug-type ones since bugs always needed stronger moves; Poke Radar (for Pokemon searching) is cool; digging and seeking other trainers in the Underground is funny; slathering honey in the barks to attract wild Pokemon is great; making Poffins using the touch-screen is a fair step ahead PKBlocks; new interesting berries effects; and East Sea/West Sea Shellos rocks. Almost there?

    There are little things that were supposed to make the game better, but... They just don't work that fine. The graphics in the towns are great, beautiful 3D buildings, etc. but what about the monsters? Why they look just a little better than in the GBA? The Poketch is a good idea, but most of the apps are useless or buggy. When you're battling other trainer you can just touch the move you want your Pokemon to use; but when you need to know the power or accuracy of a move during the battle you need to enter the Pokemon screen, and then select the "moves" page. Come on, they have an entire screen to display that info! (At least they should put a little "info" button beside the "move" button just like Nintendo did in Brain Age's training menu.) And why managing items is still annoying when you have a touch screen? I would like to exchange items between my Pokemon by just dragging the item here and there, but I need to select "Pokemon", "item", "take", then select other "Pokemon", "item", "give", and search for the item I want to give (it will be in the last position in the list since it was the last item that entered the bag... and I must roll all the scrollbar over until I can get there). Shouldn't it be more simple?

    And some other... tiring things. Crossing Mt. Coronet through cave and blizzard is unnecessarily unforgiving... Contests are much less technical than it used to be... Dressing? Dancing? I bet girls like it. Not me. :P "Saving a lot of data..."? Are they kidding me??? And why they need to ask "There is already a save file. It is OK to overwrite it?" all the time? There is just one save slot! And (last one) it should bring more options to accelerate the battles, just like in the Advance Wars series, for instance. I don't like to play a game for about 150 hours and see that 50 hours were spent slowly reading "The sandstorm rages.", "Roselia is bufetted by the sandstorm!", mumble, mumble. (My suggestion: a system with arrows poping up and down quickly for poison, hail, leech seed, swift swim, etc. At least as an animation option.)

    Kinda sad for me to say I think it was my last new Pokemon game. The series needs a serious update regarding pace before it starts to feel hopelessly dated.    … Expand
  3. jim109109
    Jul 27, 2012
    7
    It's the same game over and over again, since Pokemon Red. Yes, it's one of the most fantastic games ever, especially as a child. But repeating the same game over and over should be deemed immoral in a sense, especially because children are actually gullible enough to keep buying it. It's a great game and you can't go wrong with it, but please buy Pokemon Red and get the same, original andIt's the same game over and over again, since Pokemon Red. Yes, it's one of the most fantastic games ever, especially as a child. But repeating the same game over and over should be deemed immoral in a sense, especially because children are actually gullible enough to keep buying it. It's a great game and you can't go wrong with it, but please buy Pokemon Red and get the same, original and better experience.… Expand
  4. MadnessisRising
    Mar 5, 2019
    7
    Compared to the other editions this game was a bit blunt. Walking around and fighting felt a bit slow. The map and also the soundtrack was kinda "uninspired". The Pokemon and trainer-designs weren't great either. It's still a solid game.
  5. 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.
  6. grandpajoe6191
    Nov 16, 2011
    5
    Whoa, whoa!! What's the difference of selling the same game with different titles? You disappointed me, nintendo...
  7. 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
  8. 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
  9. 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
  10. twinklyten
    Jan 25, 2020
    7
    My first ever video game. Superseded by pokemon platinum and has aged quite poorly.
  11. MrAruru1999
    Feb 25, 2020
    6
    (This review is in Brazilian Portuguese)
    Esta geração não envelheceu bem. É extremamente lenta (tanto na trama, quanto na jogabilidade), tem uma história fraca e muito enrolada (têm partes que são completamente inúteis para o avanço da trama que poderiam muito bem serem cortadas) e a maioria dos personagens são esquecíveis.
    Não espero que o remake dos jogos desta geração vão prestar, já    (This review is in Brazilian Portuguese)
    Esta geração não envelheceu bem. É extremamente lenta (tanto na trama, quanto na jogabilidade), tem uma história fraca e muito enrolada (têm partes que são completamente inúteis para o avanço da trama que poderiam muito bem serem cortadas) e a maioria dos personagens são esquecíveis.
    Não espero que o remake dos jogos desta geração vão prestar, já que Sword & Shield foram feitos nas coxas e só pensando no dinheiro!    … Expand
  12. FelipeGarou
    Jul 21, 2020
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Um bom jogo,nada fantástico,mas o jogo é bom! Uma Pokédex bacana,pena que ainda não tem as evoluções de alguns Poke que são exclusivos do Platinum,e os líderes de ginásio tem alguns pokémon muito nada a ver com o tipo que eles usam.… Expand
  13. ND-Bringer
    Apr 21, 2023
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I think it's safe to say that even though updates have fixed the majority of the glitches, Diamond and Pearl are still superior to the remakes in every way. I won't act like they're the greatest games in the series, but they did so much more to the franchise than any other Pokemon game. Global trading, wireless multiplayer, watch tools from the touch screen, dialogue during the battle, the physical/special move split...generation four started out with a bang.

    While Platinum is still the definitive way to experience Sinnoh, at least regarding the core series games, this is still a very well put together game...for the most part. Diamond and Pearl are still notorious for having some bizarre mechanics. The Sinnoh Pokedex is cute, but without the Platinum upgrades, team building can feel very limited.

    It's very easy to pick members like Staraptor and Luxray for the team, because not only can their base forms be obtained very early in the game, they both possess the Intimidate ability. But that's also because most of the returning Pokemon Gamefreak brought back from previous generations are pretty lame. Ponyta I kid you not, is the only Fire-Type Pokemon that can be found in the wild during the main game. If you didn't pick Chimchar as your starter and aren't impressed with Rapidash's move pool, you're better off just teaching Flamethrower to any other Pokemon with a high special attack stat.

    It's odd additions like this that drive most players to replay Platinum instead, because there is simply more to work with. Some of the worst gyms in the series were born here. Including Gardenia's lame forest game of hide-and-go-seek as well as Fantina's boring math challenge. Most of the gym trainers and gym leaders don't even use Pokemon relevant to the theme of their gyms. When's the last time you've fought an Azumarill in a steel gym?

    If you're a fan of Pokemon Legends Arceus and want to learn more about Sinnoh's culture and want to experience the best of the classic games. Then I suggest you go and play Platinum. The content and quality is drastically better than the original games. But you still had a desire to see the very beginning of this game, I suggest you play a round of spot-the-difference.

    There are a ton of version exclusive cutscenes and different scenarios for finding legendary Pokemon in comparison to Platinum. My favorite being the creepy forest path that "suddenly" appears and leads to Giratina's domain. It's also a much more difficult game in terms trainer team design. With most trainers having much more powerful Pokemon compared to Platinum. Though that's only if you're a fan of classic RPG difficulty that involves a lot of grinding. You can make things extra fun by finding all the invisible rare candies before taking on the league.

    This was my first Pokemon game, so I still carry so many fond memories for it. In the end, I will be replaying Platinum more, since the level design is much better and the content is more interesting.    … Expand
  14. 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.
  15. Toasttt
    Mar 26, 2022
    7
    meh .
  16. GDsReviews
    Jun 2, 2022
    6
    A major improvement over Gen 3 with Day and Night back, and being the first Pokemon games you can trade online with. However, Platinum and especially Heart Gold and Soul Silver make Diamond and Pearl feel really barren.
  17. AlexMakesToast
    Dec 16, 2022
    5
    Pearl = 5/10
    ..............................................................
  18. r0haan
    Nov 20, 2022
    7
    Overall - 7.5/10
    Difficulty - Hard
    Platform - PC
    Replay Value - 7/10
    Gameplay - 6.5/10
    Hours Played - 70 hrs

    Extra Notes: I played a soul-link vers. of this which was much more challenging compared to the newer games and overall personally one of my favourite Pokemon games.
  19. Eyean
    Aug 5, 2023
    5
    The game itself is actually solid, but the extremely slow engine detracts from the experience heavily. Nearly everything takes forever to do, from exploring the overworld to just battling in general.

Awards & Rankings

3
#3 Best DS Game of 2007
3
#3 Most Discussed DS Game of 2007
29
#29 Most Shared DS Game of 2007

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
85

Generally favorable reviews - based on 39 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 39 out of 39
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 39
  3. Negative: 0 out of 39
  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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