Pokemon Shining Pearl

 Switch
Pokemon Shining Pearl Image
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Mixed or average reviews - based on 88 Critic Reviews What's this?

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5.5

Mixed or average reviews- based on 430 Ratings

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  • Summary: The adventure through the Sinnoh region has been reborn. Experience the nostalgic story from the Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl games in an adventure reborn on the Nintendo Switch system. Adventures in the Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl games will take place in theThe adventure through the Sinnoh region has been reborn. Experience the nostalgic story from the Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl games in an adventure reborn on the Nintendo Switch system. Adventures in the Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl games will take place in the Sinnoh region. Rich in nature and with Mount Coronet towering at its heart, Sinnoh is a land of many myths passed down through the ages. You'll visit many different locations in the Sinnoh region, while striving to become the Champion of the Pokémon League. The original story has been faithfully reproduced, and the sense of scale in the originals' towns and routes has been carefully preserved. People who played Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl can revisit familiar places and relive familiar scenes once more. For those setting out through Sinnoh for the first time, plenty of new encounters and surprises await.

    These remakes include easy-to-understand, player-friendly conveniences of the modern Pokémon series, plus up-close-and-personal Pokémon battle scenes.

    Whether you played Pokémon Diamond or Pokémon Pearl back in the day or you're encountering these games for the first time, there's something for everyone to enjoy.

    You'll choose Turtwig, Chimchar, or Piplup to be your first partner Pokémon and then set off on your journey.

    Turtwig
    Category: Tiny Leaf Pokémon
    Type: Grass
    Height: 1'4"
    Weight: 22.5 lbs.
    Ability: Overgrow

    Made from soil, the shell on its back hardens when it drinks water. It lives along lakes. It undertakes photosynthesis within its body, making oxygen. The leaf on its head wilts if the Pokémon is thirsty.
    Chimchar
    Category: Chimp Pokémon
    Type: Fire
    Height: 1'8"
    Weight: 13.7 lbs.
    Ability: Blaze

    It agilely scales sheer cliffs to live atop craggy mountains. Its fire is put out when it sleeps. Its fiery rear end is fueled by gas made in its belly. Even rain can't extinguish the fire.
    Piplup
    Category: Penguin Pokémon
    Type: Water
    Height: 1'4"
    Weight: 11.5 lbs.
    Ability: Torrent

    Because it is very proud, it hates accepting food from people. Its thick down guards it from cold. It lives along the shore in northern countries. A skilled swimmer, it dives for over 10 minutes while hunting.
    Along the way, you'll be able to encounter the Legendary Pokémon Dialga in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond or Palkia in Pokémon Shining Pearl.
    Dialga
    Category: Temporal Pokémon
    Type: Steel/Dragon
    Height: 17'9"
    Weight: 1505.8 lbs.
    Ability: Pressure

    It has the power to control time. It appears in Sinnoh-region myths as an ancient deity. This Pokémon is spoken of in legend. It is said that time began moving when Dialga was born.
    Palkia
    Category: Spatial Pokémon
    Type: Water/Dragon
    Height: 13'9"
    Weight: 740.8 lbs.
    Ability: Pressure

    It has the ability to distort space. It is described as a deity in Sinnoh-region mythology. It is said to live in a gap in the spatial dimension parallel to ours. Palkia appears in mythology.    … Expand
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Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Pokémon Shining Pearl – Legendary Encounters

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 37 out of 88
  2. Mixed: 51 out of 88
  3. Negative: 0 out of 88
  1. Screen Rant
    Nov 18, 2021
    100
    For anyone new or returning to the Pokémon series, Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl is a perfect starting point that bridges the gap between classic and modern Pokémon games. The quality-of-life additions make the game more accessible without making it feel bloated, the art style is simplistic and cute, and the gameplay mechanics will keep players moving through the adventure with ease. For veterans of the series, these versions are an easy recommendation and an excellent recreation of a fan favorite. With only a few exclusive Pokémon between Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, either one is an excellent choice for any player.
  2. Nintenderos
    Nov 17, 2021
    85
    Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are the best way to enjoy the fourth generation. Coming back to Sinnoh after so many years feels amazing because of the new art style and the charismatic characters that inhabit the region. Also, the new features are very welcome for a better experience. These remakes are a must for any Pokémon fan who wants to feel nostalgic while also being great for new players.
  3. WellPlayed
    Nov 17, 2021
    80
    Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl take me back to a simpler time in Pokémon where Mega Evolutions, Z-Moves, and Dynamaxing didn’t exist. It’s a wonderful reminder of how far Pokémon has come and it feels like a love letter to arguably the most formative generation of Pokémon.
  4. Shacknews
    Nov 17, 2021
    70
    There are some much-needed quality of life improvements, and the games are well polished and run really smoothly on the Switch. It’s hard to see newer fans finding much to appreciate here, but those that have fond memories of the original Diamond and Pearl will have a lot to love about Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.
  5. Cubed3
    Jan 6, 2022
    70
    These remakes are totally serviceable and a very good time for any Pokémon fan out there. There is however a nagging sense that more perhaps could have been done, especially for fully priced releases. The Pokémon franchise is big, the company behind these games makes millions off of these and yet there is a feeling time and time again that we're not getting the full AAA experience that such selling numbers should warrant, and this is seen very plainly in how technically dated these games look, even if artistically speaking they are still super cute. We are pleased with these remakes for sure, they're jolly good fun... but we're not impressed and this has to change in the future for the franchise!
  6. VideoGamer
    Nov 29, 2021
    70
    There remains about Pokémon Brilliant Diamond the glint of something far gone, and there is something warmly reassuring about the place.
  7. IGN Japan
    Nov 29, 2021
    50
    By attempting to remain as faithful as possible to the original games, this remake has ended up with a great deal of problems. While other Pokémon games (including the remakes) have continued to evolve the franchise, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl will likely only be enjoyable for players who have a nostalgia for the originals.

See all 91 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 55 out of 164
  2. Mixed: 34 out of 164
  3. Negative: 75 out of 164
  1. Chopyhop
    Nov 20, 2021
    10
    Just glad they managed to find an art style that finally suits the pokemon series.
  2. kito78
    Jan 30, 2022
    10
    It’s best nostalgic Pokémon experience since omega ruby. Many people is complaining that game is too easy, but remember that game is designedIt’s best nostalgic Pokémon experience since omega ruby. Many people is complaining that game is too easy, but remember that game is designed for 6+ yo kids. The game will not be challenging for old Pokémon fans, but it will deliver nostalgic and chill feeling. It’s relaxing.
    The graphics style this one have is perfect for me and I do love it     … Expand
  4. PrincessSaf
    Nov 21, 2021
    8
    While I would have preferred a remake in the style of Sword and Shield, I am not entirely against the style they chose to be closer to theWhile I would have preferred a remake in the style of Sword and Shield, I am not entirely against the style they chose to be closer to the originals as they were on DS. However it just feel like they did the minimum to remake the originals and to me it does not compare with the third gen remakes.

    In a way I don't think they are best for those who did not play the originals because those remakes feel worse than Sword and Shield and I don't think they are much better than playing the originals either, so I am mixed for the recommendation overall. Maybe if they were a third less expensive than main releases it would have been better.

    I still can't give it a bad score, I can't 100% recommend it, but I like it, it looks good enough, and it's based on good games, so I would recommend people to look a little into it before buying but it should be fine.    … Expand
  5. larsdebest21
    Nov 22, 2021
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This game has become way to ez. Like all of my pokemons are 10 levels higher then all my opponents pokemon. I can spam 1 in entire gym to win..... Thats really boring tbh. Also this game could have some extra content like post game stuff. Its disappointing for me they didnt do anything new at all .… Expand
  6. llamaboy
    Feb 3, 2022
    2
    This game is hilariously bad. They do not include the additions from platinum( which already greatly diminishes the quality of the game) thereThis game is hilariously bad. They do not include the additions from platinum( which already greatly diminishes the quality of the game) there are slight new additions that add basically nothing to the game itself, and the graphics are sub-par at best (aside from the water which looks pretty good) if you want to play these games, just play Pokémon platinum.… Expand
  7. HenGamer
    Dec 19, 2021
    0
    most disappointing remake
    no megas dexs sucks lazy remake gamefreak no care about series anymore
  8. AngryShark92
    Feb 8, 2022
    0
    ***Apparently there has just been a massive invasion of bots on Metacritic that are out trying to protect the review scores of certain titles,***Apparently there has just been a massive invasion of bots on Metacritic that are out trying to protect the review scores of certain titles, and thus these ratings and this site in general are now completely compromised. The only reviews that get removed are the negative ones, but the 10/10 bots stay up. Sort it out Metacritic. Look at the profiles of the 10/10s if you don't believe me.

    No other way to say it, this was a lazy attempt at a remake, not as good as Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire, and nowhere near as good as Heart Gold/Soul Silver. There really isn't much here for those that played or own the originals.

    I have 3 huge issues with these games. First, this mandatory EXP share is making the game way too easy, it was a big flaw in Let's Go, as well as Sword & Shield, and to include it in a game that did not have it in its original version is a terrible decision. Second, God. Where is Arceus? As of right now, there is no way to get him in these versions, only a transfer from Poke Home if you had him in a previous game. Third, this weird blur effect that exists, which I have seen mostly in Tunnels and Forests, looks awful and seems really unnecessary because it only exists in certain spots and the rest of the area looks crisp and focused so I am not quite sure what purpose this effect has, unless its a bug.

    On top of those 3, I have found the game to be slower and more unresponsive in some areas, particularly in battles and conversations, and there are some backgrounds within battles that look "questionable", to say the least. Also, where is all of the content from Platinum? Just remake the 3rd iteration of each game if you are going to be this lazy, I miss the distortion world.

    Other than those issues, I think most of the aesthetics are great, the music is still great, the animations and models within battles (not a fan of the chibis outside of battle) are well done, and the nostalgia factor still exists, barely. Its a definite lazy effort, and I would only recommend it to newer players who never played the original Gen IV games.

    + Player models & animations are solid
    + Pokemon models are good
    + Aesthetics of cities/towns & surrounding environment
    + Soundtrack has not been ruined
    + Underground content has been expanded for the better

    - EXP share is a fatal flaw that makes these newer games way too easy, GET RID OF IT
    - Unnecessary blur effect
    - Arceus is nowhere to be found
    - Some texture issues
    - Responsiveness and hangup issues
    - Platinum content missing
    - A lot of unobtainable Pokemon
    - Forgot to add positive modern changes (TM use), but managed to include negatives (EXP share)
    - Endgame content is lacklustre to say the least
    - Subtle changes from the originals like blocking Wayward cave with strength, and making Eterna's gym different
    - Incorrect Poké showing up when using HM move
    - Dowsing machine is terribly implemented for a non touch screen console

    Overall, it just feels like they got "just enough" done and thus I feel like a 5/10 is a justified rating. Gamefreak is obviously turning its attention to games that provide more revenue, and like many other franchises recently, it feels like its all becoming stale because of the lack of quality and effort being put into them. Unfortunate.    … Expand

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11
#11 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2021