As with any new Pokemon game, Diamond & Pearl were welcomed with both excitement and skepticism. The games set a precedent for future Pokemon games, both on Nintendo DS and beyond, and did not disappoint. For players born in the late 90s or early 2000s, Diamond & Pearl may have been their first experience in the series.
On April 22nd, 2021, it will be exactly 14 years since the games’ North American release. This year, however, fans can be excited once again for their return to Sinnoh in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. The original games were some of the best RPGs Nintendo’s quirky dual-screened handheld had to offer, with some excellent features fans grew to love.
10 The Sinnoh Region
The vast region of Sinnoh was the perfect setting for new and experienced players alike, as it contrasted beautiful valley scenery with harsh, mountainous paths. The detail put into these routes allowed for the discovery of hidden items and areas, even after completing the main story.
Many of Sinnoh’s natural locations such as Mt. Coronet and the Lakes served a crucial role in the game’s plot, while smaller details like the Cafe Cabin and the Old Chateau added to its charm and authenticity. There weren’t many water routes, too, which was a plus for many as they could be a particular slog.
9 The Myths
Due to the larger dialogue boxes Diamond & Pearl introduced, the game was enriched with more lore than any Pokemon title that came before it. Throughout the main campaign, characters such as Cyrus and Cynthia imparted myths to the player that showed a glimpse of what the Sinnoh region was like long ago.
Some of these myths were strictly informative, while others had some rather dark or bizarre implications. Books in the Canalave Library described topics ranging from the creation of the Pokemon world to marriage between humans and Pokemon (albeit only in the Japanese version).
8 The Pokétch
As the first Pokemon games on the Nintendo DS, Diamond & Pearl wasted no time showing players what possibilities the touchscreen would bring to the series. The Pokemon Watch (Pokétch for short) provided players with a variety of often rather impractical apps that were still fun to mess around with.
While apps such as the Digital Watch and Calculator were available from the start, more useful apps such as the Berry Searcher and the Day-Care Tracker had to be obtained later on. Most Pokétch apps featured cute illustrations of Pokemon and catchy sound effects.
7 The Poffins
Building upon the Contests introduced in Generation III, Diamond and Pearl utilized the touchscreen to create brand-new challenges. To succeed at Pokemon Contests, players had to first master the art of making Poffins: a treat that could enhance a Pokemon’s performance.
Creating Poffins was no simple task. Berries first had to be carefully selected, then players engaged in a frantic stirring minigame, where failure resulted in miserable Foul Poffins. In 2007, many Nintendo DS styluses presumably met their fate as they rapidly stirred Poffin mixture, trying desperately not to spill, burn, or undercook the delicacy.
6 The Underground
Perhaps the most fondly remembered touchscreen feature of the Sinnoh games, the Underground was an entire network of tunnels players could escape to at any time (after receiving the Underground Kit).
When connected via Nintendo DS Wireless Communications, players could plant interactive traps for each other while trying to steal Flags from their friends’ Secret Bases. The Underground also offered a minigame for players to collect Spheres, which they could then trade for Secret Base decorations. It would also be remiss not to mention the incredibly catchy music played there.
5 The Online Events
Distributed from late 2008 to 2009, the Secret Key, Member Card, and Oak’s Letter were the means necessary to unlock entire new areas that were otherwise off-limits. The Secret Key unlocked a room for Rotom to change forms, the Member Card granted access to Newmoon Island to catch Darkrai, and Oak’s Letter opened up the Flower Paradise to catch Shaymin.
Each event was a unique experience with exclusive dialogue, making the Event items quite prestigious (as opposed to the throwaway distributions of later Generations of Pokemon). The items are currently not available through legitimate means.
4 The Champion
The first female Champion, Cynthia, is arguably one of the strongest characters (and perhaps the most powerful Champion of all) in the Pokemon franchise. Though her role was expanded in Pokemon Platinum, Cynthia occasionally dropped in on the player in Diamond & Pearl to give them important items to proceed. Remembered for her competitive team, Cynthia’s Garchomp was the bane of every unsuspecting challenger without an Ice-type move.
Preceded by an intimidating piano piece, the final battle against Cynthia may be the most memorable moment in the entire game. Her popularity later led to her inclusion in Pokemon Black & White, which spawned countless memes from players who were completely caught off guard by her appearance.
3 The Sprite Work
Ringing in a new era of Pokemon games for the Nintendo DS, it was critical for Pokemon Diamond & Pearl to be visually appealing. In fact, the sprite work from these games was so iconic that the upcoming 3D remakes seem to be paying homage to the original style.
The DS hardware allowed the artists a slightly bigger space to get creative with Trainers, locations, and, of course, the Pokemon. Calm areas such as Lake Verity were illustrated with a soft palette, creating a cozy atmosphere that was pleasing for players and contrasted with the bright colours associated with Team Galactic.
2 The Music
The era of the Generation III trumpets was officially over! Diamond & Pearl brought its routes to life with whimsical, triumphant tracks, inspiring players with a sense of adventure. Unlike in previous games where the battle music was best remembered, Sinnoh featured many environmental tracks that truly immersed players in the game’s world.
The piano synth melodies in areas like Canalave City and Eterna Forest inspired many fan covers online. The jazz motif used for Team Galactic also had gamers cranking up the volume before and during their battles. The games’ soundtrack may not be the best in the series, but it was a great evolution of everything that came before.
1 The New Pokemon
From Piplup to Spiritomb, Abomasnow to Toxicroak, the Sinnoh games established 107 memorable new Pokemon. Although somewhat lacking in Fire-types, Sinnoh made up for it by presenting many new Mythical and Legendary Pokemon, including Arceus, the creator of the Pokemon world.
Fans also embraced new evolutions of previous Pokemon, such as Glaceon and Leafeon. The incredible popularity of the fascinating Fighting- and Steel-type Lucario led to a playable fighter position in the Super Smash Bros. series, while Kricketune and Bidoof essentially became inside jokes in the Pokemon fandom. Many Sinnoh Pokemon would become top picks for competitive players. One of the most surprising examples is Se Jun Park’s Pachirisu, which was instrumental in his victory at the 2014 Pokemon World Championships.
NEXT: The 15 Hardest Sinnoh Pokemon To Catch, Ranked
