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. TreasureOrTrash
    Sep 8, 2023
    10
    Treasure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  2. Cer2xrafa
    Aug 7, 2023
    8
    Una aventura de pokémon increíble, pero solo para gente con mucha paciencia, ya que es un juego lento, que además requiere mucho farmeo, pero por lo general, es un grandísimo título
  3. 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.
  4. HydrophobikFish
    Jun 9, 2023
    8
    A solid and fun pokemon experience with an okay central plot and a good balance of pokemon. It's a pretty classic pokemon adventure with some more interesting gyms and more overpowered legendaries, there isn't much to say.
  5. 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
  6. frightopia
    Mar 6, 2023
    9
    An amazing game that has great replay value. Definitely extremely nostalgic as well!
  7. AlexMakesToast
    Dec 16, 2022
    5
    Pearl = 5/10
    ..............................................................
  8. ColeEngo
    Nov 30, 2022
    9
    Another banger pokemon game. I had diamond, pearl, and platinum so I played through this bad boy 3 times straight as a kid.
  9. 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.
  10. hector_bcn98
    Nov 7, 2022
    9
    El paso adelante que necesitaba la saga en todos los sentidos. La conexión con la 3a generación si insertabas ambos cartuchos era un sueño hecho realidad.
  11. Shuratico
    Aug 23, 2022
    8
    To be honest I love Sinnoh. Dungeons, adventures, the league, creatures, lore. It was a revolution in Pokemon's world.
  12. 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.
  13. TSNintendogamer
    May 13, 2022
    8
    This game is an 8.5. I used to not like the game that much but that was because I mistook it for being a rehash due to the legendary pokemon being awakened. However that was also because I was watching my brother playing diamond. Eventlually I sat down, played it and really enjoyed it. Yes the game was slow *saving alot of data cough cough* but it was great. It had newThis game is an 8.5. I used to not like the game that much but that was because I mistook it for being a rehash due to the legendary pokemon being awakened. However that was also because I was watching my brother playing diamond. Eventlually I sat down, played it and really enjoyed it. Yes the game was slow *saving alot of data cough cough* but it was great. It had new mechanics like the underground, the story was decent for pokemon, the map app really helped out sniff those roaming legendary pokemon, and it was cool transferring pokemon over from ruby and sapphire. However another thing I don't like about the game is that you have to see all the pokemon to get to the post game but it was a new thing they tried so that's kind of ok. Lastly the music is great and I feel nostalgic about the game even though I first played it at 14 years old. Then again I feel nostalgic for mario and luigi paper jam and I was 23 years old.… Expand
  14. Toasttt
    Mar 26, 2022
    7
    meh .
  15. Patedus
    Mar 15, 2022
    8
    This game is unquestionably an absolute classic, memorable soundtrack and just a solid pokemon experience
  16. greninjaX
    Nov 21, 2021
    10
    this was a great pokemon game for it's time. if you're reading this in 2021, don't buy the remake, it's just this game but with better graphics. the didn't improve anything.
  17. manuel812
    May 29, 2021
    8
    un MUY buen juego vamos al grano lo mejor del juego es la dificultad y las propia region ya que la dificultad es super balanceada y desafiante teniendo la mejor dificultad de todo pokemon y en cuanto a las rutas son las mejores diseñadas de pokemon teniendo una gran cantidad de backtracking y una asombrosa exploración aunque la historia es... buena pero podría ser mejor ya que el equipoun MUY buen juego vamos al grano lo mejor del juego es la dificultad y las propia region ya que la dificultad es super balanceada y desafiante teniendo la mejor dificultad de todo pokemon y en cuanto a las rutas son las mejores diseñadas de pokemon teniendo una gran cantidad de backtracking y una asombrosa exploración aunque la historia es... buena pero podría ser mejor ya que el equipo villano es bastante malo los lideres de gimnasio son meh el rival es meh el profesor es meh lo unico BUENO es la campeona cynthia aunque lo malo es la extrema lentitud del gameplay lo que lo hace medio aburrido… Expand
  18. halalgamer
    May 26, 2021
    8
    Good old pixelated Pokemon games. First Pokemon game I have ever finished. Looking forward to the remakes.
    8/10 Great.
  19. 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.
  20. Oreun
    Apr 15, 2021
    9
    Very good game with very good music. It has some things missing that were later fixed in Pokemon Platinum. You should still go ahead and play it, its enjoyable and I swear you'll have a good time.

    Muy buen juego con una excelente banda sonora. Tiene un par de cositas faltantes que luego se arreglan en Pokémon Platino. Aun así deberías jugarlo, es muy divertido y te prometo que pasaras    Very good game with very good music. It has some things missing that were later fixed in Pokemon Platinum. You should still go ahead and play it, its enjoyable and I swear you'll have a good time.

    Muy buen juego con una excelente banda sonora. Tiene un par de cositas faltantes que luego se arreglan en Pokémon Platino. Aun así deberías jugarlo, es muy divertido y te prometo que pasaras un buen rato    … Expand
  21. omniface
    Mar 8, 2021
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. same as pokemon diamond but in a good way

    pros
    good underground
    good gym leaders
    best legendary duo
    good expansion on the plot

    cons
    battle frontier    … Expand
  22. Cezico
    Dec 6, 2020
    8
    Pokémon Pearl was the first Pokémon game I played. I've played it on and off since getting it in 2017/18 and have thoroughly enjoyed it. The game features a roster of around 400 Pokémon to capture and battle with and a stellar story. However, there are a few flaws.
    There's very little outside content of the main gameplay and story features, and non-main content is often uninteresting and    Pokémon Pearl was the first Pokémon game I played. I've played it on and off since getting it in 2017/18 and have thoroughly enjoyed it. The game features a roster of around 400 Pokémon to capture and battle with and a stellar story. However, there are a few flaws.
    There's very little outside content of the main gameplay and story features, and non-main content is often uninteresting and doesn't offer enough incentive to return to it. The only fun extra mode is a short local online mode that's a great time if you have nearby friends who own a Gen IV Pokémon game, but useless otherwise, and even then it offers no collectables for the main game. Other than that, it's your typical Pokémon game. Collect, train and battle hundreds of Pokémon and try to collect gym badges. It does very little to distinguish itself from other Pokémon games and is easily overshadowed by future releases. Not much to go back to if you own a modern game.
    But, it features plenty of amazing features as well. The gameplay is snappy, the story is great, and it nails the basics like art and music.
    If you're playing on a console from the original DS line the gameplay is smooth, but I've run into problems on my 3DS with inserting the cartridge. It may just be me, but it can take five or so tries to insert the cartridge before my 3DS can actually read the card correctly. The emulation itself is what to be expected from a DS game on the 3DS, but be warned if you're buying this game and don't have an original DS

    (Played on a Nintendo DSi and a Nintendo 3DS XL)    … Expand
  23. Luccio
    Sep 12, 2020
    8
    While deeply flawed in its unorthodox pacing, its introduction of many classic Pokémon, its incredible soundtrack, serviceable characters and maintained satisfying gameplay loop makes for a solid entry into the Pokémon franchise.
  24. 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
  25. Maxttvd
    Jun 22, 2020
    8
    Junto aos Pokémon de Unova, o melhor disponível ja feitos, muito satisfatórios
  26. 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
  27. twinklyten
    Jan 25, 2020
    7
    My first ever video game. Superseded by pokemon platinum and has aged quite poorly.
  28. Andreusnaiz
    Nov 19, 2019
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. No tengo mucho para decir, es un muy buen juego, aunq algunos enfrentamientos son algo injustos, como el de la campeona cynthia, pero de resto, 10/10… Expand
  29. 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.
  30. 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
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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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