Open Critic - 78
Metacritic - 78
Nintendolife - 6/10
GameSpot - 7/10
Gameinformer - 8.5/10
Polygon - Positive
Video Games Chronicle - 4/5
The Gamer:
Vooks - 4/5
Godisageek - 9/10
Press-Start - 8.5/10
Comicbook.com - 4/5
Shack News - 7
The Sixth Axis - 9
Metacritic - 78
Nintendolife - 6/10
While some of the slower elements of the original games have been fixed, and The Grand Underground makes up for the comparatively weak Pokédex, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl's new art style and a few other stumbles make this pair of games a somewhat disappointing retread of Generation 4. They're also very clearly in the shadow of Pokemon Legends: Arceus, the upcoming open-world-like Pokemon game that has fans hoping it can take the series in exciting new directions beyond 20-year-old mechanics. If the remit of these remakes was to remain faithful to the original Gen 4 pair, we wish they'd also stuck to the pixel-art aesthetic. Aside from The Grand Underground – and the connectivity with the current games in the series – there's very little reason to play Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl over your original DS copies.
GameSpot - 7/10
So far, Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl keep enough classic elements to feel like a comfy nostalgia trip, while smoothing over enough of the rough edges that they feel relatively contemporary with other recent Pokemon games. It can't be easy for a storied franchise to pay homage to its legacy while also modernizing in this way, but in my experience so far, Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl strike the right balance.
Gameinformer - 8.5/10
While Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl don't move the needle in terms of what Pokémon games will look and play like moving forward, they mostly hit the mark in being faithful to the originals. I've really enjoyed my time re-exploring Sinnoh, despite my qualms with the lack of critical path difficulty. They're a welcome throwback to a simpler time when I felt completing a Pokédex was a somewhat realistic task to undertake. Veteran trainers will find plenty here to scratch a nostalgic itch, and new trainers who missed out the first time around have a solid adventure to embark on.
Polygon - Positive
I've spent years — the better part of a decade, since the Ruby and Sapphire remakes on 3DS — going through the motions with new Pokémon games, trying desperately to fight through superfluous features and recapture the magic of my childhood. But the Diamond and Pearl remakes' simple, derivative, and basic formulas helped refocus my love for a franchise almost as old as I am.
Video Games Chronicle - 4/5
The quality of life improvements made to Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl make it a worthy remake of what was already a great instalment in the series.
Its new features may not be truly revolutionary, and it may still have its fair share of repetitive and time-consuming moments, but it's a faithful take on a well-loved game, and should certainly keep players busy until Pokémon Legends: Arceus arrives in January.
The Gamer:
The problem is that these are very good remakes of Diamond & Pearl and excellent games in and of themselves - they're just nowhere near the best Gen 4 remake. Given that Platinum is still superior to Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl in almost every conceivable way, it's difficult to comprehend why these games even exist aside from making them available on a modern console, in which case… just port Platinum. That's the main takeaway I have from my time with Shining Pearl: it's brilliant and it shines, but not quite as brilliantly bright as a game that came out 13 years ago.
Vooks - 4/5
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are bordering on a masterclass of how to do faithful remakes of a classic and beloved series. They're nostalgic, charming, lovely experiences, that perfectly mix the old with the new to present a journey that will appeal to fans of the originals while still keeping things fresh and up-to-date. As one half of a pair of Sinnoh games, they deliver on their half in spades, and show that The Pokémon Company is ready, willing, and able to mess with the formula for the sake of the series. I have my complaints here and there, too, but overall, these are the Diamond and Pearl remakes that I didn't know I wanted until I fell in love with them.
Godisageek - 9/10
When it comes to Pokemon, you're either a fan or you aren't. Pokemon Brilliant Diamond isn't going to change minds, nor is it intended to reinvent the wheel when it comes to the series. What it does, however, is remind us of one of the best adventures in the series while bringing it right up to date with gorgeous visuals, quality of life updates, and performance that I didn't spot a single frame drop during. This is a developer showing reverence for the source material while making it worthy of a replay 15 years on, somehow making an old game essential once again.
Press-Start - 8.5/10
The real standout for me, was actually the battle arenas. When outdoor and exploring routes, it really feels like you're battling it out in the wild as Mount Coronet hangs overhead. Team Galactic battles take place in a suitably space-like arena filled with hazy purples and blacks that lend their encounters an otherworldly feel. The best that Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl have to offer in this regard are undoubtedly the gym battles, but I won't spoil anything here, because they're best experienced blind. Couple this with the excellent soundtrack, and the end result is a remake that captures the essence and aesthetics of the originals, with the kind of polish and presentation you'd expect from a first party Nintendo game. Not everything is perfect, though. Some Pokémon fair better than others in the transition to this kind of art style, and some of the battle animations can look pretty underwhelming at points
Comicbook.com - 4/5
Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are good remakes of an inherently flawed Pokemon game. The games lean a little hard into recapturing the experience of the originals, which is a detriment and somewhat negates the fantastic visual and quality-of-life improvements. Honestly, it feels that Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are a preemptive olive branch to Pokemon fans ahead of Pokemon Legends: Arceus, in that it provides a decidedly retro experience as an alternative option to what is sure to be the most envelope-pushing Pokemon game made since the franchise launched 25 years ago. Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are made for those looking to celebrate the past of the Pokemon experience. For the rest of us, it's a nice distraction to hold us over until the launch of the next Pokemon game in a couple of months.
Shack News - 7
Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are faithful remakes, to a fault at times. While it's incredibly powerful to hear some of my favorite tunes and re-meet favorite characters, I can't help but feel like Diamond and Pearl got the short end of the stick in terms of Pokemon remakes. They weren't developed by Game Freak, so I wasn't expecting them to be as robust and revitalizing as Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, but still hoped for more on top of the foundation laid back in 2006.
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.
The Sixth Axis - 9
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are monstrous games. There's an immense amount to do at nearly every moment in the game, and while the opening takes a little while to warm up, the dungeons and distractions here are a joy to take part in.
As an aside, it's worth noting that there are some features that are missing at launch, per this article on the Nintendo website. If you're keen on the Global Wonder Station then it's worth noting that it's not currently there. I can't say I really missed any of this stuff due to how I play these games, but some people will likely want to wait until these planned features are actually in the game.
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