Pokemon Brilliant Diamond

 Switch
User Score
5.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 917 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 322 out of 917
  2. Mixed: 214 out of 917
  3. Negative: 381 out of 917
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. USAGI7
    Nov 20, 2021
    0
    Graphics: sword/shield better
    Pokemon: there are only 4 generation pokemons, no added latest pokemons.
    Level: very easy at first, but hard to see an ending because of an insane Cynthia
    Total:sword/shield better. ILCA should not make a pokemon game.
  2. Anonbby
    Nov 20, 2021
    7
    While these remakes don't do anything spectacular, they are better than Sword and Shield. Unfortunately the fanbase surrounding this IP has begun to change for the worst since the release of generation 8. The Nintendo Switch has one of if not the largest playerbase in the company's history. There are several people who have never played these games before. There are also people who playedWhile these remakes don't do anything spectacular, they are better than Sword and Shield. Unfortunately the fanbase surrounding this IP has begun to change for the worst since the release of generation 8. The Nintendo Switch has one of if not the largest playerbase in the company's history. There are several people who have never played these games before. There are also people who played the originals and sold or lost them when they were younger. Certain players also wish to play on home consoles versus emulating elsewhere. This release will have it fans, but it will unfortunately also have its detractors due to its lack of Platinum content as well as how criticisms of IP have increase over the years. I rate this release a 7/10 not as bad as Sword and Shield with or without its dlc.… Expand
  3. cleangame37
    Nov 20, 2021
    0
    This is very fun game. However, there are so many BUGS. Some of those are so critical that you should restart a game because of the BUG. As you know, this is not free game. You spend money on this,very expensive of course, and you get lower qualities, and many bugs. This is really meaningless remake.
  4. MasterMimiii
    Nov 20, 2021
    0
    The worst Pokémon remake ever made, the game já full of serious bugs never seen um any other games of the franchise, the following Pokémon don't even follow right, and are in a pathetic scale. There are no new things in the game, as a remake should have, and the art style is horrible. This is much like a remaster than a remake.
  5. greninjaX
    Nov 20, 2021
    0
    easily the worst of the pokemon remakes (aside from let's go). they won't even use the platinum dex. the purposely keep problems from the original in order to be "faithful remakes". pokemon remakes shouldn't be faithful. they should try to improve and make it feel fresh. BDSP refuses to do that. it continues the pokemon companies trend of making all the switch pokemon games awful.
  6. anhiyprjqqjedvj
    Nov 20, 2021
    0
    This game barely counts as a remake... it's more like a port with (bad) new graphics and a few new features. It was obviously not intended to be equal to previous remakes in the Pokemon series, which added new Pokemon, had new artwork, and added TONS of things. There is nothing on par with the Sevii Islands, Battle Frontier, Pokeathlon, Delta Episode or Soaring. There are no current genThis game barely counts as a remake... it's more like a port with (bad) new graphics and a few new features. It was obviously not intended to be equal to previous remakes in the Pokemon series, which added new Pokemon, had new artwork, and added TONS of things. There is nothing on par with the Sevii Islands, Battle Frontier, Pokeathlon, Delta Episode or Soaring. There are no current gen Pokemon either.

    This is just worthless.    … Expand
  7. domskoy88
    Nov 20, 2021
    6
    We deserve better.
    First of all, the game is fine, just fine. It's ok if it was yet another indie title, but it is not what the pokemon community and especially gen 4 kids deserve. It's rather baffling how the pokemon company, gamefreak and associates think it's alright to just give us mediocrity. What's even more mysterious is how the fandom is willing to pay a whole 60 bucks for    We deserve better.
    First of all, the game is fine, just fine. It's ok if it was yet another indie title, but it is not what the pokemon community and especially gen 4 kids deserve. It's rather baffling how the pokemon company, gamefreak and associates think it's alright to just give us mediocrity. What's even more mysterious is how the fandom is willing to pay a whole 60 bucks for mediocrity. Pokemon D&P was basically my first conscious entry to the pokemon universe, It was the last game I have played with my elementary school friends, before we parted ways. So after hearing news of a remake, I was thrilled. Just to be let down by some android mobile game looking reskin. I wanted to get the ORAS treatment, which by far wasn't the best remake either, but it elevated the game onto a new level. They went the easy route. Gamefreak is too ambitious for their own good. They need to outsource projects, because they cannot handle them with their own resources. I honestly even doubt their resources are enough to handle the upcoming Legends Arceus title.
    It saddens me to know, that this one chance for a remake has been wasted so effortlessly. Now to add a few words towards the end: Please stop the review bombing, Your 10s and 0s don't help anyone. Give criticism, give your opinion, but please do not get irrational. The game is just ok, but "just ok" just isn't enough    … Expand
  8. cpeacock87
    Nov 20, 2021
    7
    I can't agree with all the zero's I'm seeing here. That's just ridiculous review bombing. The game isn't perfect. It's not what everyone dreamed of. But it functions perfectly fine so no major bugs. So a 5 is pretty much automatic. After that the new art style can be subjective (I like it but I understand) and the lack of new content can be disappointing. But a perfectly serviceableI can't agree with all the zero's I'm seeing here. That's just ridiculous review bombing. The game isn't perfect. It's not what everyone dreamed of. But it functions perfectly fine so no major bugs. So a 5 is pretty much automatic. After that the new art style can be subjective (I like it but I understand) and the lack of new content can be disappointing. But a perfectly serviceable functioning game is not a zero. Let's be real.… Expand
  9. Gamerdingo
    Nov 20, 2021
    4
    Its a really disappointing remake. When people said they wanted gen 4 remakes, we meant platinum...

    Even despite the lack of obvious improvements, its a really clunky remake. It feels BAD to play.
  10. Chaosblazer321
    Nov 20, 2021
    10
    I feel that these are welcome additions to the remake category, though they are not without flaws, I definitely feel that compared to the original Diamond and Pearl entries these are superior.

    They are much faster than the originals especially when it comes to surfing and trudging through the northern snow routes, which even in platinum was still a slow process to deal with. Gym Leaders    I feel that these are welcome additions to the remake category, though they are not without flaws, I definitely feel that compared to the original Diamond and Pearl entries these are superior.

    They are much faster than the originals especially when it comes to surfing and trudging through the northern snow routes, which even in platinum was still a slow process to deal with. Gym Leaders are just as challenging, in the cases of some of them even more so, and the E4 and Cynthia are even more extreme, and the grand underground exploration is so great, being able to find pokemon that are not in the original sinnoh dex and being able to use them, between that and the upgraded digging style, you could stay down there for hours and even better you can save down there so you are not forced to leave.

    there are some aspects I do wish they had kept from platinum, such as platinum's story, and the distortion world, but removing them are not deal breakers, also despite the EXP share being on constantly, it has not made the game any easier for me, I can understand the fustration of those who wish that they could turn it off, but I feel the game is challenging even with it on.

    Overall I find these games solid for games that were outsourced and I feel like the only true way to judge them is to try them yourself, perhaps by renting or borrowing them from a friend before you make the decision yourself as in the end you are the only one who can decide if a game is bad or not, and I personally feel these are good installments even if they aren't perfect.    … Expand
  11. PokeFanXD
    Nov 20, 2021
    1
    This is not a good remake.
    Why doesn't this remake have platinum content or any original content? When Heartgold Soulsilver had crystal content and Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire had some Emerald content. No story changes, graphics looks like something came out the PS2 GameCube era. ILCA and Junichi Masuda should be a shamed of themselves! This not worth $60!!!
  12. digiblader
    Nov 20, 2021
    0
    Severely outdated and a sign Game Freak isn't giving a damn about Pokemon anymore.
    And considering this is the Switch - you'd think they'd do a better job graphically and updated the game mechanics.
    And forced EXP. Share basically ruins it - the series has already been dumbed down heavily since Sun & Moon, and this isn't going to help. Not to mention you have to download a patch to    Severely outdated and a sign Game Freak isn't giving a damn about Pokemon anymore.
    And considering this is the Switch - you'd think they'd do a better job graphically and updated the game mechanics.

    And forced EXP. Share basically ruins it - the series has already been dumbed down heavily since Sun & Moon, and this isn't going to help.

    Not to mention you have to download a patch to get the full game because it was rushed to market!

    You're better off playing the DS originals and skipping this overpriced remaster.    … Expand
  13. alexoboe
    Nov 20, 2021
    8
    Coming from sword and shield, even if it’s not the remake that we dreamt of, it’s by far, as it is conservative, the best Pokémon game on Switch
  14. ShiroAlter
    Nov 20, 2021
    8
    Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and it’s sister version Shiny Pearl are a return to form for Pokémon and with a fairly new team (ILCA inc.) at the helm of these remakes it’s a nice revisit to Sinnoh! While lacking in the drastic changes as other remakes in the series these games are faithful recreations to the letter, sometimes going abit too far. With the large and anticipated Pokémon Legends:Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and it’s sister version Shiny Pearl are a return to form for Pokémon and with a fairly new team (ILCA inc.) at the helm of these remakes it’s a nice revisit to Sinnoh! While lacking in the drastic changes as other remakes in the series these games are faithful recreations to the letter, sometimes going abit too far. With the large and anticipated Pokémon Legends: Arceus looming in the not so distant future these games are a great way for new players to the series to experience the great adventures that were the original Diamond and Pearl, but also a great starting place as well!… Expand
  15. Red_Meridian
    Nov 20, 2021
    0
    Shin Megami Tensei 5 blows these games out of the water. Pokemon is the most profitable franchise of all time. They should be embarrassed by the lack of quality and content. As a lifelong Pokemon fan I myself am embarrassed by these lazy cash grabs,
  16. Testudinate
    Nov 20, 2021
    6
    This game is not bad, but it is pretty lackluster. It does not have a distortion world, it has a forced exp. Share (making the game really easy), it only has pokemon up to generation 4 (not even any of the 'mons from SW/SH). But putting all of that aside, I wouldn't reality call this a remake, more of a remaster in my opinion. If you are returning to the pokemon franchise, you should justThis game is not bad, but it is pretty lackluster. It does not have a distortion world, it has a forced exp. Share (making the game really easy), it only has pokemon up to generation 4 (not even any of the 'mons from SW/SH). But putting all of that aside, I wouldn't reality call this a remake, more of a remaster in my opinion. If you are returning to the pokemon franchise, you should just get pokemon sword and shield or the let's go games.… Expand
  17. Solaurusu
    Nov 20, 2021
    3
    Completely trivialized and lazy performance here. Only reason I’m rating it a 3 is because the original Generation 4 games were iconic for their time but it seems as if this remake is deadset on sending the franchise back to the time for the worse.
  18. Turndown4hwut
    Nov 20, 2021
    0
    This game, and it's sister game Shining Pearl, are some of the most superfluous games I have ever played. I mean, yeah, if you play a remake of a game you already own, it will feel pointless, but while Diamond and Pearl were obviously made in 2006, they were great for the DS, while the remakes still feel like they're stuck in 2006. Even just considering Pokémon remakes, those still had aThis game, and it's sister game Shining Pearl, are some of the most superfluous games I have ever played. I mean, yeah, if you play a remake of a game you already own, it will feel pointless, but while Diamond and Pearl were obviously made in 2006, they were great for the DS, while the remakes still feel like they're stuck in 2006. Even just considering Pokémon remakes, those still had a reason for you to pick them up.
    FireRed and LeafGreen had the Sevii Islands, so you could get Johto Pokémon in Generation 3, without having to get a Gamecube, Colosseum, or eventually XD.
    HeartGold and SoulSilver added so much content they could basically be considered new games. The Safari Zone, new routes in Johto, and Kanto dungeons that were cut from the original Gold & Silver came back, better than ever before.
    Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, as much as they ignored the good stuff added in Emerald, *cough* Battle Frontier *cough*, Mega Evolutions were still there, in fact, they actually introduced more of them, plus two Primal Reversions for Groudon and Kyogre. And also, incredibly minor, mind you but it's still worth mentioning, Mauville City was changed, for the worse, but there was still more stuff to do than in the original GBA games.
    Even Let's Go! Pikachu and Let's Go! Eevee allowed you to get Meltan and Melmetal in Pokémon GO, at least until you could get them just by transferring stuff into Pokémon HOME.
    Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl on the other hand, offer nothing to convince you to play them over the original Diamond and Pearl if you own them, and if you own Platinum, then apart from the Platinum Outfit available to early adopters, Rotom Forms and Origin Forme Giratina, there is no Platinum Content. No Battle Frontier (again), no Charon, No villa, and no Distortion World.
    On top of that, there's the forced Gen 6 EXP Share, which basically means if you want some sort of challenge, you need to catch 5 random EXP sponges so your starter doesn't get too overleveled, forced Amie bonuses, which basically add up to Pokemon curing themselves of statuses, boosted Critical Hit chances, and for the Pokemon to survive an attack that would otherwise faint it. At least with the Amie bonuses, you can reduce friendship with herbs, but I want my Pokemon to be friendly with me, without basically getting cheats. Also there are no regional forms and cross generational evolutions, meaning you can't use Sylveon or Sirfetch'd. Even Let's Go at least had the regional forms.
    TL;DR: If you own Diamond, Pearl, or Platinum, do yourself a favor and not only avoid these games, but to hold onto them for dear life. Especially if it's Platinum. If you don't own them, or you decide to buy them anyway, then you'll be in for a horribly easy time, unless you intentionally do some things to make the game a bit more bearable.    … Expand
  19. Maplemiles
    Nov 20, 2021
    8
    I'm having fun with this game and this doesn't deserved to be reviewed bomb
  20. TheHonestMan
    Nov 20, 2021
    6
    Not so Brilliant or Shining. There's things to like here such as the faster pacing and streamlined HM system, but otherwise this is a real mixed bag. The new additions like revamped contests feel hollow compared to how they were, and following pokemon are bothced compared to how they were done in past entries like HGSS and even LGPE. So what you're left with is an indentical game to theNot so Brilliant or Shining. There's things to like here such as the faster pacing and streamlined HM system, but otherwise this is a real mixed bag. The new additions like revamped contests feel hollow compared to how they were, and following pokemon are bothced compared to how they were done in past entries like HGSS and even LGPE. So what you're left with is an indentical game to the originals, with a divisive super-chibi art stytle, and none of the improvements Platinum brought to the table.
    Oh, and the amie battle bonuses, which used to be optional and out of the way, are now forced on you through regular gameplay. This is a big design flaw imo as it further trivialiizes an already easier game. Overall, I see little reason to buy these games if you've experienced the originals since it removes or waters down features and introduces flaws of it's own. What little new there is does not make up for what was lost.    … Expand
  21. CasualG1
    Nov 20, 2021
    9
    An enjoyable return to form for Pokemon and a great way to revisit Sinnoh .
  22. Justshy
    Nov 20, 2021
    3
    Not a remake, just a remaster.
    The pokemon company didn't even tried to do something new like HGSS and ORAS those were great remakes adding new pokemon and mechanics to old games.
    This game made me appreciate the Let's go games style more.
  23. MadMiddy
    Nov 20, 2021
    7
    Brilliant Diamond is a solid remake of a very slow, outdated game. The experience of playing Brilliant versus the original game is simply faster, snappier, with a much better UI than even Sword/Shield. However, the choice not to implement any platinum content at launch is fairly disappointing, as well as things like the persistence of mandatory affection mechanics and experience shareBrilliant Diamond is a solid remake of a very slow, outdated game. The experience of playing Brilliant versus the original game is simply faster, snappier, with a much better UI than even Sword/Shield. However, the choice not to implement any platinum content at launch is fairly disappointing, as well as things like the persistence of mandatory affection mechanics and experience share boosting. The overworld is much more beautiful, even with the questionable choice for the style of the overworld human models. The battles where you spend most of your time look fantastic. I just wish TPC and ILCA had cared enough to put in the little extra work that might have elevated this from just a slightly above average game to something really worth getting excited about.… Expand
  24. christopher857
    Nov 20, 2021
    0
    Once again, the Pokémon Company shows that it doesn't know how to create games. The worst remake ever!
  25. prayformojo33
    Nov 20, 2021
    0
    Vergüenza que una empresa tan popular apruebe 3 juegos super mediocres seguidos, me refiero al sword, lets go y este, adiós Pokémon
  26. ThomasinGC
    Nov 20, 2021
    10
    ILCA le hizo justicia a mi Generación favorita. Adoro los modelos Chibis ya que originalmente el Overworld de Pokémon fue así y los gráficos luminosos son bastantes bonitos.
  27. HerrWinstein
    Nov 20, 2021
    4
    These remakes do the bare minimum and charge $60 for it. Before you buy this game, know what you're getting into:

    - Poor presentation. It has a poor chibi art style, horribly converted music, and ill-fitting font. - TMs are single-use again. The game adds in multiple QoL features, yet takes away the most QoL-friendly feature over the past decade. Some trainers give multiple TMs, but    These remakes do the bare minimum and charge $60 for it. Before you buy this game, know what you're getting into:

    - Poor presentation. It has a poor chibi art style, horribly converted music, and ill-fitting font.

    - TMs are single-use again. The game adds in multiple QoL features, yet takes away the most QoL-friendly feature over the past decade. Some trainers give multiple TMs, but prepare for a slog if you want to get more in the post-game.

    - Like Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire, it omits additions from Platinum, such as the superior trainer rosters, a fleshed-out Distortion World, and Battle Frontier. It doesn't even include the back button for the Poketch.

    - No extra regions (like FireRed/LeafGreen's Sevii Islands) or new post-game story (like Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire).

    - Removes or simplifies certain features, like Super Contests or the Underground Secret Bases

    - The games have a barely functional online multiplayer system at launch and don't have the ability to transfer older Pokemon at launch.

    - Like Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon, catching older legendaries in the post-game is a tedious, luck-based process involving the Grand Underground.

    - The games barely improve on the maligned Honey Tree mechanic, and the post-game grind for competitive items and TMs is still a slog.

    - Like Let's Go Pikachu/Eevee, it lacks a proper random online battling system, so be prepared to face random teams full of Dialga and Palkia.

    - Only includes the first 493 Pokemon (similar to how Let's Go Pikachu/Eevee only included 153 Pokemon).

    - Inconsistent addition of newer features; it adds in moves and consumable items from later generations, yet removes most of the recent held items (like Assault Vest).

    - First Pokemon games since Crystal (2000/2001) not to include new Pokemon species, forms, or moves.

    - The Platinum outfits are locked to early-order bonuses instead of being available normally.

    (I won't mention the mandatory Exp. Share, since all of the Pokemon games are easy. I will say that the series is long overdue for multiple difficulty levels, though.)

    if you can look past that long list of negatives, there is some fun to be had. Walking Pokemon and trainer customizations are welcome additions from other games, and the post-game rematches have well-designed teams. Being able to catch a variety of Pokemon in the Grand Underground and participate in Super Contests online are also solid additions. Finally, the base games still hold up, even with all of the questionable changes.

    Overall, there's a reason these are the lowest rated paired Pokemon games to date. Decades of laziness has finally taken its toll on the franchise.    … Expand
  28. Fabiosimba
    Nov 20, 2021
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Questo gioco e di una bellezza inimmaginabile e ti permetterà di rivivere le vecchie emozioni… Expand
  29. Zaregoto
    Nov 20, 2021
    0
    I loved the original games when they first came out on the DS, and this doesn't do them justice at all.
    Pitiful overworld art style, screwed up balance because of gen7 movesets and forced exp share, while at the same time providing almost no new content or any platinum content for that matter. They consciously decided against it too. Not just that, Gamefreak looked at gen 4 and was like    I loved the original games when they first came out on the DS, and this doesn't do them justice at all.
    Pitiful overworld art style, screwed up balance because of gen7 movesets and forced exp share, while at the same time providing almost no new content or any platinum content for that matter. They consciously decided against it too. Not just that, Gamefreak looked at gen 4 and was like "this isn't worth our time" and made some random mobile game company create the game for them. It looks like a joke in comparison to Alpha Saphire which released 7 years ago. Please do not support this. Show Gamefreak that you don't just gobble up anything they shove down your throat.    … Expand
  30. whatsthemeow
    Nov 20, 2021
    9
    Good game, I haven't played the original diamond and pearl but I'm finding this one fun.
  31. katieelizabeth
    Nov 20, 2021
    5
    Pokemon BDSP are not bad games, but overall I'd say this is a pretty unambitious and mediocre remake of an average game for its time that is frankly too faithful for its own good.

    In terms of graphics, the game looks completely outdated. The chibi art style is not endearing, nor does it look very good. Fortunately, the character models and pokemon look much better in battle, but all    Pokemon BDSP are not bad games, but overall I'd say this is a pretty unambitious and mediocre remake of an average game for its time that is frankly too faithful for its own good.

    In terms of graphics, the game looks completely outdated. The chibi art style is not endearing, nor does it look very good. Fortunately, the character models and pokemon look much better in battle, but all this does is make me wish they were used throughout the entire game. The in-battle models frankly look so much better than the chibi stuff.

    The environments look bland and look worse than the original pixel graphics from 2006. I wish they didn't maintain the 2D tile aesthetic - it just looks fake/outdated to me. How do several indie games manage to look better than a game produced by a 105 billion dollar company?

    While the soundtrack is an improvement over the original version on the DS, it still falls way short of the live orchestrated soundtrack from Sword and Shield. Unfortunately, it sounds like this soundtrack is entirely midi-based, lacking any real recorded instruments of any kind.

    The story isn't all that interesting either. The original script came out around the same time as Mass Effect. The script wasn't good for its time, let alone holding up in 2021. It is a missed opportunity that the developers didn't modernize/reimagine the script to become more engaging and in line with modern RPGs or the very best of its anime. I wish the gym leaders were more fleshed out and part of the story. I wish team Galactic was given a lot more depth.

    The pacing of BDSP is incredibly slow, and the game finds ways to waste your time repeatedly. Random battles are extremely outdated and are annoying, especially in caves. I am so disappointed the game did not choose to have pokemon in the overworld like the modern games.

    Eggs take forever to hatch in BDSP and do not benefit from the increased hatching time found in Sword and Shield. I spent over 9000 steps to hatch the egg given to me in Hearthome City and it just wouldn't hatch for me. I got better things to do than rotate my L-stick riding a bike until it hatches. This is such an outdated game mechanic that did not need to be implemented "faithfully" in BDSP.

    Battles are also super slow to the point of them becoming grating. Essentially, Pokemon battles aren't "show don't tell" - BDSP verbosely tells yous everything in nauseating detail. When I faint a pokemon, it should fall immediately when I hit it - it should be obvious to anyone what has happened to that Pokemon by just looking at the animation and the health bar going to 0. Instead, the game's faint animation happens many seconds after the hit, and BDSP still insists on telling you the pokemon fainted with an additional textbox too. Even FF7 did this properly on the Playstation 1! Why is everything so verbose with text dialog boxes for?

    Before each combat round, BDSP also shows a textbox saying, "Your pokemon is awaiting directions." No kidding! Does anyone seriously need this textbox??? Stuff like "It's Raining" is also equally redundant - we can see it raining on the screen! And when using a move, there's no reason its name can't be displayed at the same time as the animation too. The amount of verbose and completely unnecessary text in this game is beyond ridiculous.

    And when a battle starts, can we finally have an option to remove the Pokeball fanfare and just have all pokemon come out immediately to save time? Why does starting every random battle have to be padded with 10 seconds of animations? Can the Switch not load these battles faster?

    Then there are weird control issues in BDSP, such as the L and R buttons not working in the menus like every other modern game, which tripped me up quite a bit. The d-pad is also unfortunately assigned to walking when it should have been assigned to your 4 registered items. Why did none of the QA staff say anything?

    Ultimately, BDSP needed to completely reimagine modern Sinnoh in full 3D (similar to Sword and Shield), modernize and polish the script, and increase the quality of life and production values across the board to justify its AAA price tag. Barring that, BDSP needed to be sold for $29.99 given what we got. Essentially, BDSP is a low-budget cash grab and it should not be praised or endorsed in any way. Pokemon fans need to be vocal and reject these cash grabs. Pokemon fans need to demand better for their hard-earned money because BDSP is an embarrassment for a full AAA-priced game, and is simply not competitive with other AAA games on the market.

    If you want to go back to the past - for all its problems - then you might enjoy BDSP. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this game. BDSP's archaic and overly-verbose design just doesn't interest me anymore. I would have much rather had a modern reimagining of modern Sinnoh with immersive 3D environments, a modern engaging story, and high production values. Modern Sinnoh deserved better.    … Expand
  32. shoutouttoVP
    Nov 20, 2021
    0
    -The game that ships on the card is UNFINISHED. The Battle Area needs to be downloaded as an update, meaning the base game has less content than Diamond/Pearl, let alone Platinum.
    =The real contests from the original were replaced by a terrible rhythm minigame.
    -The graphics look like a low budget PS2 game. The presentation is also terrible without the patch, to the point where the title    -The game that ships on the card is UNFINISHED. The Battle Area needs to be downloaded as an update, meaning the base game has less content than Diamond/Pearl, let alone Platinum.
    =The real contests from the original were replaced by a terrible rhythm minigame.
    -The graphics look like a low budget PS2 game. The presentation is also terrible without the patch, to the point where the title screen and credits are placeholders.

    This is by far the LAZIEST Pokemon game ever made. It makes LGPE and SWSH look good by comparison. I can't believe we once complained about ORAS, that game actually had effort put into it, unlike this mess.    … Expand
next
Page:

Awards & Rankings

2
#2 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2021

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
73

Mixed or average reviews - based on 89 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 38 out of 89
  2. Mixed: 51 out of 89
  3. Negative: 0 out of 89
  1. Nintendo Insider
    Sep 9, 2022
    70
    Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are faithful remakes of the 2006 Nintendo DS games. They probably lean too much on the safe side, not achieving an awful lot to improve on the originals other than a few quality-of-life improvements. The improved Underground sections are a welcome addition, but the missing features from Pokémon Platinum are a big let-down. All in all, though, the Sinnoh region offers just as brilliant of an adventure as it was 15 years ago and the formula that worked back then (and then some) is still as addictive to this day. If you are a fan of classic Pokémon titles, this is a no-brainer.
    Read full review
  2. Nintendo Force Magazine
    Mar 7, 2022
    65
    I honestly think ILCA's decision to play it safe was the biggest thing that hurt Brilliant Diamond. Maybe if it had included a few more of the story beats and improvements that were introduced in Platinum, I'd be giving it a higher grade. [Issue #57 – January/February 2022, p. 66]
  3. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Feb 18, 2022
    60
    Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl is a decent remaster transferring the fourth generation from Nintendo DS to Switch. The authors handled well the absence of the second screen, but in the case of game mechanics they could go a bit further.
See all critic reviews »