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
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  1. SammyHauguth
    Nov 23, 2021
    0
    Because the third gym leader that uses hyper potions and drain... This game sucks, don't buy!
  2. Ughduty
    Nov 23, 2021
    3
    This game is not worth the money they are asking for. It’s heavily outdated! The whole game mechanics feel ancient. The graphics are not everybody’s cup of tea. No GTS. No connection to Pokemon Home. 50 or 60 bucks for this? Sorry at best 25, more it’s not worth and this only for people who want a trip back memory lane! It’s a rip off! Shame on you Nintendo.
  3. Purrpupurine
    Nov 23, 2021
    0
    This game is just a remaster. If you are a user who played the original game deeply, it may be a game that stimulates memories. But for me, the diamond and pearl versions were not very good games.
  4. helohe
    Nov 23, 2021
    0
    The laziest pokemon game one can imagine. Did they just reuse all assets from animal crossing? The overworld looks so boring and generic. The pokemon encountered are very repetitive, there is not much new here. The puzzles are too easy. (I know this is a remake, so I did factor in that there should be some familiarity). The next totally new pokemon that is schedulled for 2022 is hopefullyThe laziest pokemon game one can imagine. Did they just reuse all assets from animal crossing? The overworld looks so boring and generic. The pokemon encountered are very repetitive, there is not much new here. The puzzles are too easy. (I know this is a remake, so I did factor in that there should be some familiarity). The next totally new pokemon that is schedulled for 2022 is hopefully better, although I am not very optimistic after they stated that it is not going to be open world after all.… Expand
  5. Ohnebein
    Nov 22, 2021
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Its a failed chance. The missing of Platimum content, the EXP share system and the friendshipsystem are more than garbage. Its sad to play the game and constantly skip routes because the next gym is everytime under youre level. If you go to the gym and youre the same level youre pokemon constantly avoid attacks ad crit everythin into the ground. Pokemon hasnt to be hard but a bit more challenge than onehit everything is more than needed for a good game .… Expand
  6. Minato-Arisato
    Nov 22, 2021
    10
    El estado actual de Pokémon es mas que envidiable y estas entregas, tanto Diamond y Pearl, son un demostración mas, junto a anteriores juegos que también me encantaron como Sol y Luna, Espada y Escudo y ORAZ.
    Al principio el apartado técnico puede desagradar, pero cuando uno se acostumbra, interiorizas el aspecto chibi al instante y comprendes que es para dar la mayor sensación de    El estado actual de Pokémon es mas que envidiable y estas entregas, tanto Diamond y Pearl, son un demostración mas, junto a anteriores juegos que también me encantaron como Sol y Luna, Espada y Escudo y ORAZ.
    Al principio el apartado técnico puede desagradar, pero cuando uno se acostumbra, interiorizas el aspecto chibi al instante y comprendes que es para dar la mayor sensación de nostalgia posible.
    Los combates pokémon siempre son un deleite, y la historia de Sinnoh es de las mejores que haya creado el buen estudio que es Game Freak.
    ILCA ha sabido tomar la batuta mientras el nuevo titulo Leyendas Arceus esta por venir.
    Por el momento, casi todos los Pokémon de Switch me han sorprendido gratamente.    … Expand
  7. tiloba
    Nov 22, 2021
    10
    Shin Megami Tensei V renovates the series with high quality models, an addictive combat with add ons such the Magatsuhi skills and one of the most customizable Jrpgs that i ever played. The maps, with its heavy focus on exploration, give the player good hours of fun. All that with an amazing soundntrack created by Ryota Kozuka Sensei. Despite the limited Switch Hardware, which seems toShin Megami Tensei V renovates the series with high quality models, an addictive combat with add ons such the Magatsuhi skills and one of the most customizable Jrpgs that i ever played. The maps, with its heavy focus on exploration, give the player good hours of fun. All that with an amazing soundntrack created by Ryota Kozuka Sensei. Despite the limited Switch Hardware, which seems to push back the potential of the game, SMT V sure is one of the best Jrpgs available on the Switch rn.

    A must play for anyone interested in a challenging gameplay    … Expand
  8. LordVRAI
    Nov 22, 2021
    0
    A cheap cashgrab with so little effort that I’m shocked they even considered charging money for it.
  9. OriginalOne
    Nov 22, 2021
    0
    Due to my lack of better judgment, I ended up buying the game because I enjoyed Platnium. Comparing it to its contemporary though, the graphics are just hideous. Especially the close ups, a 3D-modelling university student would do better. Diamond and Pearl fans deserved better...
  10. ponafiel
    Nov 22, 2021
    10
    Go play a real monster collecting game like Shin Megami Tensei instead of this crashgrab
  11. flashmcg10
    Nov 22, 2021
    0
    At this stage pokemon remasters are a joke and just a cash grab. Doing the bare minimum on a console that could accommodate so much more.
  12. LCBane
    Nov 22, 2021
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A safe recreation of the base games without addressing the real issues of the originals and the implementations Platinum put in order to combat them and create something special. BD struggles to find a foothold in the shadow of the incoming release of Legends: Arceus and is a disappointment compared to previous remakes.

    Gameplay:
    The game replicates all the nostalgia of the originals without including many of the quality of life changes that have been implemented in recent generations. Whether that be unlimited-use TM's
    mega evolutions, limited pokedex etc. The game also takes much the difficulty away as less and less trainers have the reinvigorated rosters they included in Platinum. Spare Cynthia and the EF who actually have properly spec'd teams EVs maxed and all. With a mandatory exp share your levels soon far exceed those you face as the Pokémon in your party passively gain more exp than ever before and this cannot be turned off. Without going into too much detail there are still many many glaring issues in the games code letting you surf across trainers and dry land, soft lock in unprecedented areas such as gym puzzles and even completing the game and becoming champion with 6 or 7 gym badges only. Many more issues come from not being able to pick up items, losing items or even the strange clerical issues like frame rate changes when you turn off all sounds the game just runs better.

    The return of older mechanics that were not properly updated sees many disappointed in this title as well. Honey trees having a small chance of any pokemon at all when activated and the rates on those pokemon are low already. The changes to the great marsh are also present with atrocious rates as well. All of the date and time mechanics are blocked behind a 24 hour cd if the system changes time when the game is started. Meaning if you got the game on friday and were looking to get your drifloon you would have to wait an entire week after you defeated team galactic. You could change the date and time to carry over to next week but still have a 24 hour cooldown in order to get your pokemon encounter.

    Story:
    The pacing of the story is still at a standstill removing even more of the difficulty from the originals with bugged/broken friendship and affection systems that multiplicatively stack granting your pokemon higher crit rates, first move regardless of being outsped, living on 1 hp over and over, even getting rid of status effects on a whim. Pair this with the omission of the changes platinum took to keep you moving and involved in the story it slugs on with its main story at a snails pace with zero post game offered.

    Graphics:
    Returning to something reminiscent of the original games was a good approach however the chibi art style does not mesh with the blocky tile system of old well. However the graphics in battles are some of the best we have seen of any switch title. Despite the lack of improvements in battle animations and move animations the overall feel and look of the pokemon, characters, and backgrounds is great in battle. A sharp contrast to the plastic, dead world outside of combat. Sadly however the rest of the game looks like a reskinned DS and the technologies age shows in the tile systems movement and feel around the world.

    Music:
    The music is a fresh take on the originals and brings life to where the graphics aren't to scratch. The new renditions are great reimagining's of their inspirations and provide a great feel when playing. The overall level of quality to the sound design and music is great but lacks some of the spark a full orchestra had with the music of sword and shield and other recent titles.

    Overall:
    Much more can be said about what I enjoyed or disliked about this game however the main points are clear. These games are simply a time sink for fans and the pokemon company and nintendo wanted a free money grab with zero effort and left it to a subsidiary licensed company. little to no imagination was brought to reinvigorate and improve these games from the original. including the bare minimum to keep the masses buying, Sitting in the shadow of what's to come with half baked Legends: Arceus, BDSP fails to create a rendition of the originals that stands up to previous remakes such as HGSS and ORAS let alone what Platinum accomplished to improve the generation.    … Expand
  13. Osel
    Nov 22, 2021
    10
    It is a very good mainline Pokemon game that goes back to the old classic formula and turns out to be good.
  14. KaysarLein
    Nov 22, 2021
    10
    Very enjoyable, whether or not you have played its versions of DS, graphics, music and very good added changes and a postgame in which you will not get bored of doing things.
  15. Balearikus
    Nov 22, 2021
    7
    After being in the middle of the game, I dare to make a review of this game.
    The beginning of the game well, like any other adventure, except that you level up too fast, my choice was to chimchar and not once weakened to the 3 medal, I did not need to go to a pokemon center, I did not have the need to change pokemon is It can only handle everything without any problem, also the graphic    After being in the middle of the game, I dare to make a review of this game.
    The beginning of the game well, like any other adventure, except that you level up too fast, my choice was to chimchar and not once weakened to the 3 medal, I did not need to go to a pokemon center, I did not have the need to change pokemon is It can only handle everything without any problem, also the graphic section has shocked me, being pleasant in some details and horrible in others, the worst thing is that on the way to my 2 medal with just over two hours, some npcs give me MEW AND JIRACHI as a gift as if they were pidgeys or caterpies or something simple, breaking all the initial immersion ... The next thing are Legendary initials? ... Many visual and programming errors, it looks like a 3DS game, very poor and pixelated textures, in tv many pixels are appreciated and it does not look like HD, chibi models look pixelated, eyes, eyebrows, mouth, as well as furniture inside the game that seems to be taken from a ds library, such as zooms that go back and forth wrongly programmed When should the zoom be removed? e the battle at the end of the combat, lights that blink at some point, npcs going through things and so on, the adventure is the same as in DS only they have added some platinum things to their will, the story is simple but full of Lore, making a remake we hope they take advantage of the game, the story, everything including the console, and they have not taken advantage in any way to innovate or give a quality product, after getting mew and jirachi as if they were nothing they took away my desire to play and here the question should I have spoiled in leaks to see that and not have so important pokemon at the beginning of the game ...?

    In summary, completely wasted remakes, with new mechanics that break the immersion and the difficulty of the game, like mythical pokemon at the beginning of the game.

    PS: A Pokemon adventure ride where it gets interesting after half the game, but at the same time it is too easy and without any challenge.

    Just as you complain about those who do BOMBING, they complained about those who give a high score to a poor quality product for $ 60.
    Be realistic.

    Graphics 4/10
    Music 9/10
    Gameplay 7/10
    Duration 7/10    … Expand
  16. sethdean0
    Nov 22, 2021
    10
    This game has been remastered very well. You have to look at through remaster eyes...
    It's not a next gen Pokemon game. It's amazing.
  17. Tsuchida
    Nov 22, 2021
    3
    Las innovaciones que tiene son a nivel gameplay y solo porque pertenece a la octava generación, en lo demás es una copia exacta de los originales y sin los agregados de su tercer versión. No existe la necesidad de gastar dinero en este juego existiendo Pokemon Platino.
  18. Thankedbloom
    Nov 22, 2021
    2
    Why do they keep making these games more and more for toddlers and babies? This company spits on their fans and churns out garbage remakes. Very disappointed with this remake that I can't return , I pre ordered the digital version having high hopes for this game. They made it stupid easy to play to the point where the game play is just mind numbing and super repetitive. Shame on youWhy do they keep making these games more and more for toddlers and babies? This company spits on their fans and churns out garbage remakes. Very disappointed with this remake that I can't return , I pre ordered the digital version having high hopes for this game. They made it stupid easy to play to the point where the game play is just mind numbing and super repetitive. Shame on you pokemon developers.… Expand
  19. hosekisho
    Nov 22, 2021
    0
    Yet another cash grab remake worse than the original. Seems to be the industry trend. If you like bad localization, lazy graphics, imbalanced arbitrary gameplay changes, and bugs, by all means get this game. If not, consider playing the original again or for the first time; you'll have a better experience.
  20. NTG07
    Nov 22, 2021
    0
    What the **** happend Pokémon this game has no distortion world no battle frontier no platinum gym rooms and a really easy difficulty like why this game should’ve been called Pokémon Shiite diamond and **** pearl because of the chibi forms Oh My ****ing God I hate those chibi forms they’re disgusting to look at in Pokémon history I’d give this game a 0/10 Pokémon sword and shield wereWhat the **** happend Pokémon this game has no distortion world no battle frontier no platinum gym rooms and a really easy difficulty like why this game should’ve been called Pokémon Shiite diamond and **** pearl because of the chibi forms Oh My ****ing God I hate those chibi forms they’re disgusting to look at in Pokémon history I’d give this game a 0/10 Pokémon sword and shield were better then this absolute joke of a threat to Pokémon no ****… Expand
  21. CMGPUR
    Nov 22, 2021
    10
    A 6.1? Seriously? I'm starting to think that there is a growing trend in this site to review-bomb anything that comes out without any valid reasoning. I get the new Battlefield and COD because both DICE and Activision clearly have proven again that they don't care about the consumers so long as people keep buying their lackluster games. You can see the irony on B2042 being one of Steam'sA 6.1? Seriously? I'm starting to think that there is a growing trend in this site to review-bomb anything that comes out without any valid reasoning. I get the new Battlefield and COD because both DICE and Activision clearly have proven again that they don't care about the consumers so long as people keep buying their lackluster games. You can see the irony on B2042 being one of Steam's worst reviewed games ever and still being in the top 10 games being played. I can also see mixed or bad reviews of mediocre remasters like the GTA trilogy but this remake is in my opinion, one textbook example of how to make a fantastic and faithful adaptation of a beloved classic. The game's characters are Chibi, something that really doesn't detract at all because it feels like a throwback to the classic top-down games that preceded it. The graphics look great and the performance is spot on. The game retains absolutely everything in terms of the story, the places, the characters, the music and expands on the post game content heavily. It features a massive underground map so that you can catch many older generation Pokémon and while it can be grindy at times in terms of catching specific legendaries, its still very addicting. The game wasn't hard at all though but it more than made for it on the Pokémon League. Sinnoh still has the hardest league and final champion of every mainline game so my Pokémon really had to sweat to win it. The game is honestly perfect and that's because they gave this remake project to ILCA, a company that actually cares and respect the originals. Game Freak has lost its touch heavily and cannot make good Pokémon games anymore. They should just stick to printing money like Rockstar, Activision, and EA.… Expand
  22. loneliiii
    Nov 22, 2021
    3
    As a fan of the old original games, I was just dissapointed with the remakes. The graphics are stunning, but that doesn't matter, when the game just doesn't feel good.
    The Controls are a mess, most notably the bike controls. You just can't ride or walk in cycles, like in Sword and Shield, its a mixture or Grid based and free roam.
    so the player just stop at certain points or running    As a fan of the old original games, I was just dissapointed with the remakes. The graphics are stunning, but that doesn't matter, when the game just doesn't feel good.
    The Controls are a mess, most notably the bike controls. You just can't ride or walk in cycles, like in Sword and Shield, its a mixture or Grid based and free roam.
    so the player just stop at certain points or running against a wall because its so imprecise. more negative points:
    -walking with a partner-npc and you try to walk trough it, he glitches trough you.
    -Even building up a team don't make much fun, because of the auto-XP-share. why battling with every teammate, when you can just play with one pokemon and everyone else get XP.
    -The Computer are accesable from everywhere.
    -the NPC still cant walk straight to the point, they need to turn on the point.
    -the poketch (itemradar) super annoying to use    … Expand
  23. NepTunes
    Nov 22, 2021
    4
    I’m not having fun. I’ve been playing for about 5 hours, just arrived to the third gym. I don’t know what it is, but I am genuinely not having fun with the game. It’s so bland and basic, nothing new that’s worth talking about. Pokémon Sword and Shield definitely have their problems but they introduced new mechanics and concepts to the Pokémon franchise, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond andI’m not having fun. I’ve been playing for about 5 hours, just arrived to the third gym. I don’t know what it is, but I am genuinely not having fun with the game. It’s so bland and basic, nothing new that’s worth talking about. Pokémon Sword and Shield definitely have their problems but they introduced new mechanics and concepts to the Pokémon franchise, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pear feel so out dated with just a graphical update. It doesn’t hold up to the modern Pokémon games, like a remake should.… Expand
  24. JamesKpa
    Nov 22, 2021
    1
    The game is fine, it maintains the essence of the original diamond, with pleasant graphics to see.
    The big problem is in the difficulty, it is null.
    I don't see any point in the exp being active for all the pokemons on the team, it should at least give the option to deactivate it, that added to other small things that make it too simple an adventure
  25. Amon2906
    Nov 22, 2021
    1
    This game is literally the minimum of a pokemon game. It only has the base content a pokemon game should have, thats it. After 1 hour, the gameplay just repeats itself. Go there-beat gym leader-go there. On the way of your adventure, you literally chase the same 3-4 wild pokemon every single time. Its always either geodude, ponyta, kricketune or bidoof.

    The graphic style can of course    This game is literally the minimum of a pokemon game. It only has the base content a pokemon game should have, thats it. After 1 hour, the gameplay just repeats itself. Go there-beat gym leader-go there. On the way of your adventure, you literally chase the same 3-4 wild pokemon every single time. Its always either geodude, ponyta, kricketune or bidoof.

    The graphic style can of course not please anybody, but that is not the bad thing. The bad thing is, how they implemented it. I like chibi art style, bot those character models in combination with those bad animation, is just ugly. There are many frame issues also.

    Next: The game is just too easy. I know, pokemon games are not popular for their difficulty, but this is a nightmare. their decision to force the player to use the exp. share, does make it even worse. Battles arent fun anyomore, because you already know you win, easily. Even though I tried to avoid as many battles as possible, I still was overleveled with at least 4 levels.

    Now it gets to the worst of all: The connex club. Wtf is this. It doesnt even work right. In comparison to the online systems of the last decade, this is a joke. You can only battle and trade, and thats it. If you join a room, there is literally one person, that isnt even moving. No one can accept your requestions and thats just pretty dumb. Connex club was not a bad idea back then: But it isnt anymore. I cant understand why the implemented this it didnt age well.

    In conclusion, this is not a good remake. Its more like a remaster. Which has definetily lower requierments than a real remake.    … Expand
  26. denisferro
    Nov 22, 2021
    7
    O jogo é divertido, a história é até legal (para o padrão de jogos da franquia), o underground ficou bom, as lutas estão ótimas... Porém, mais uma vez, perderam a oportunidade de fazer um jogo épico! Não existem monstros no mapa (tem apenas no undergroud), as animações continuam estranhas e pobres, a visão 2D vista de cima, apesar de nostálgica, poderia ser adaptada ao menos para o estiloO jogo é divertido, a história é até legal (para o padrão de jogos da franquia), o underground ficou bom, as lutas estão ótimas... Porém, mais uma vez, perderam a oportunidade de fazer um jogo épico! Não existem monstros no mapa (tem apenas no undergroud), as animações continuam estranhas e pobres, a visão 2D vista de cima, apesar de nostálgica, poderia ser adaptada ao menos para o estilo de swsh, os pokemons seguindo estão estranhos, principalmente os maiores... Não é um jogo ruim, mas não é excelente...… Expand
  27. ElModafocka69
    Nov 22, 2021
    2
    Not worth the money. It's the remake of a beautiful game but it was butchered in a lot of ways, they could have done better
  28. Kelv89
    Nov 22, 2021
    10
    Fantastic game. Faithful remake of the classics. What more could you ask for? Very good visuals very reminiscent of the ds era.
  29. liathwulf
    Nov 22, 2021
    8
    yo, I really liked this. I know it's not shiny like nu pokemon, but I don't like nu pokemon. I'm docking points for sure for not including platinum content, because they have no excuse. But even not being a huge fan of diamond and pearl I consider this game way better than sun/moon/sword/shield/x/y, because it a lot less linear and feels way more like a pokemon adventure used to back inyo, I really liked this. I know it's not shiny like nu pokemon, but I don't like nu pokemon. I'm docking points for sure for not including platinum content, because they have no excuse. But even not being a huge fan of diamond and pearl I consider this game way better than sun/moon/sword/shield/x/y, because it a lot less linear and feels way more like a pokemon adventure used to back in the day. And honestly for people who don't feel that way about pokemon too, like the new stuff is just too far off, you might not like this.… Expand
  30. Correct-ahloosh
    Nov 22, 2021
    0
    It's 2021 and they're getting away with selling a remake worse than a rerelease from 2009 for $60. Don't support garbage like this if you want them to actually try for the next one
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Awards & Rankings

2
#2 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2021

Critic Reviews

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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.
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