I was the very best, like no one ever was. I caught them all, as my real test, I trained them as my cause. I had travelled across the land, I searched far and wide. Each Pokémon I did understand, the power that’s inside. The question is, since I already did this with Pokémon Red, Pokémon Gold, and Pokémon Diamond, is it really worth it to go another round with Pokémon Platinum? As it turns out, maybe not as much as I think. If you were to compare this newest addition to the over 5 series of Pokémon titles out there, Pokémon Diamond to Pokémon Platinum would be the same comparison to Pokémon Red to Pokémon Yellow. What I mean by this is that it is the same game, same characters, and same story line but with a few new additions and changes. For this reason I won’t go too deep into the game but rather discuss all there is to do (and believe me, there is A LOT to do) and the new additions to this title.
Developed by Game Freaks and published by Nintendo, you play the role of a young boy or girl (with different clothing than in Pokémon Diamond) in the world of Sinnoh, you and your friend decide to go get some Pokémon (which by the way are a variety of almost 500 little monsters you capture, befriend and train to battle for you), when you are stopped by a Pokémon researcher, he gives both of you a choice of three starting Pokémon and your off on your very own adventure of growth and life lessons.
As I mentioned before, this game is big, aside from the actual story, there is so much to do from collecting all the Pokémon (some which only come out at night, some only on certain days, some only when you cover a tree in honey, trade with another player, trade with another player while your Pokémon holds a specific item, while fishing, while running through a forest, underground, by hatching eggs, and so on…) to cooking to breeding. Utilizing your Pokémon’s specific attack set, and type, players compete in this strategy / RPG video games.
Graphically the game looks like a cleaned up super Nintendo title, with small pixilated images that move and higher quality statics graphics during battles and ‘cut-scenes’. Essentially the graphics haven’t changed all that drastically since the first Pokémon title on the original game boy. Audio-wise we’re looking at the same deal. With the catchy (but sometimes annoying) Pokémon jingle, different sounds for each Pokémon (to simulate their communication skills) and sounds for each action, it can again be considered only a slight improvement over the original.
So if this is a redux of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, then what’s new? Essentially a new dimension has appeared, the mysterious new Distortion World (no saving for creativity in the name). Within this Distortion World new forms of Pokémon ‘beyond time and space’ exist, most notably Giratina Origin Forme (that weird spider looking monster on the cover). As well, three new online Wi-Fi minigames and an up to 20-person Wi-Fi plaza to take part in parades and see fireworks shows. New additions such as a vs. recorder also allow players to show off their victories, or rub it in their friends faces again and again, as well as connectivity with older Pokémon titles all the way down to Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen. The most notable and useful addition however are the new characters and story tweaks to keep collectors that have played Diamond and Pearl interested.
All in all, if you’re a Pokefreak that has to collect them all, or just a fan and wanting to relive the Pokémon feeling again, I suggest picking up Platinum to hold and enjoy as your very own. Otherwise the similarities between this and the last set don’t necessarily warrant a new purchase. If you haven’t picked up the title since Red Blue or Yellow, you might want to see how widely the galaxy of Pokémon has expanded. But be warned, it may seem a little overwhelming comparative to what you first knew of Pokémon.
Gameplay: 4/5
Graphics: 3/5
Sound: 3/5
Replay Value: 3/5
