This year 2021, the Pokémon license celebrated its 25th anniversary with the announcement of more or less new video games. The celebrations conclude with the release of a remake of the Diamond and Pearl versions both launched in 2006 (in Japan). But has the work been done well enough to justify the (re)discovery of these episodes? This is what we will see in this test.
15 years ago, the Nintendo DS welcomed Pokémon Diamond and Pearl to its catalog. The press then received these versions with open arms and gamers answered the call with around 17 million copies sold worldwide. We were therefore not really surprised to learn of the arrival of a remake of these opuses extremely appreciated by lovers of the saga.
To meet the requirements of the time, the Japanese studio ILCA (to which we owe the Pokémon HOME utility) made various adjustments… But not in all areas, as we will see.
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See PriceRead ConclusionPokemon Sparkling Diamond
- A cute and colorful artistic choice
- Capturing Pokémon is fun
- Appreciable little novelties
- The Poké Watch, a pretty cool gadget
- Graphically quite disappointing (this blur ...)
- Really Shameful Animations
- Necessarily repetitive and risk-free
- Uninteresting scenario
Test carried out using the Sparkling Diamond version on Nintendo Switch OLED, using a code provided by the publisher. Pokémon Sparkling Diamond & Sparkling Pearl officially release on November 19, 2021 exclusively for Nintendo Switch.
What's wrong with me?
Pokémon Sparkling Diamond & Sparkling Pearl take us back to the heart of the Sinnoh region. The player once again embodies a young trainer or trainer, going on an adventure to complete his Pokédex: a request made by Professor Sorbier himself. But the main objective is of course, and as always, to become the best Pokémon master by earning the eight badges held by the champions of the local arenas.
A kind of subplot accompanies this epic, punctuated by the machinations of the (not so) terrible Team Galaxy. In short, a fairly classic scenario for the series, and which encourages us above all to capture as many creatures as possible to compose the most formidable team possible. It's not really a surprise: these versions clearly do not reinvent the wheel in terms of stakes and progression.
It is true that the Pokémon license has never attempted to tell us a deep story, but a little change would have been nice here. After this first very slight disappointment comes the case of the characters, also relatively smooth, still in the spirit of the saga. From the teacher, to our childhood friend and ultra-motivated rival, to the organization with bad intentions or even the simple acquaintance who becomes a friend over the hours, nothing new under the sun, we are on familiar ground. Nothing has been done to surprise the person holding the controller even a little.
We can however say that all the interest of a remake is on the side of the plastic…
A very cute and blurry universe
If the Nintendo DS imposed fairly obvious graphic restrictions, the Switch is more likely to flatter our retina. The Sparkling Diamond & Sparkling Pearl Pokémon also sport an assumed chibi touch with characters with round and cute outlines and very pronounced colors. Certainly, this artistic choice will not please everyone, but it is clear that the nuances stand out rather well on the screen of the Nintendo Switch … And this is all the more the case on the OLED version. Some decorations are distinguished by their beauty.
And if it's just a detail, we appreciate the fact that the time of the game passes as in reality: it reinforces our immersion in this universe. Animal Crossing fans will appreciate.
Alas, the graphic and technical shortcomings are quickly felt. The textures too often lack finesse, the animations come straight out of the Game Boy era and a blurring effect on the upper part of the screen sometimes spoils everything. This undesirable element is all the more obvious when playing in TV mode. Added to this is the appearance of the NPCs, which is sorely lacking in inspiration and variety.
Same observation in combat with attacks that struggle to impress and backgrounds that are too little animated. We are not going to beat around the bush, the Switch is capable of doing better and we could have hoped for a more convincing rendering for what Nintendo calls “a remake”. While it's true that Pokémon games have never shone with their beauty, in 2021 it might be time to start putting in some effort.
JVFR
Really striking novelties?
Since the beginning of the franchise in 1996, the Pokémon formula has undergone few changes and the trend is confirmed with Pokémon Sparkling Diamond & Sparkling Pearl. We therefore advance on foot or by bicycle, we venture into the tall grass to capture wild creatures and, above all, we explode hundreds of trainers who are wisely waiting to be ridiculed on our way. In fact, we encounter very little resistance during our journey, so much so that we can consider keeping the same team (composed of six Pokémon) from the beginning to the end of the game without suffering the slightest defeat. The difficulty has been calibrated for young gamers and it is quite obvious.
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Fortunately, some novelties are invited within these versions to spice up the epic of our trainer. Among them, we note the return of the Souterrains, renamed “Grands Souterrains” for the occasion. Accessible via the Explorakit, they can be explored solo or cooperatively via local or online wireless communication. Pokémon not available on the surface can be unearthed there.
Legendary monsters to capture (which change depending on the version purchased) are also in the game. Finally, the customization of Poké Balls is also on the program with the "Deco Capsule" feature and the Super Show Contest invites Pokémon to take the stage to impress the gallery (with a mini-rhythm game as a bonus).
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Still, if the implementation of these elements has been rather well done, they do not in any way upset the progression and are for the most part optional. These are distractions at best that don't weigh on the flow of the story and its conclusion. Ergonomics may have been optimized through more or less notable revisions (such as using CS from the Poké Watch), we are far from the changes worthy of a real remake.
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Pokéstop or even?
You will have understood: nothing really new on the horizon for a formula that is starting to noticeably run out of steam. Fortunately, on these Switch versions, capturing Pokémon has lost none of its exhilarating side and we take great pleasure in seeing our monsters evolve. The remake is certainly not free from faults (notably graphics) but the DNA of the series is fully respected... Honor is safe.
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The soundtrack is also not spared by a few hiccups with dated sound effects borrowed from previous opuses. The dialogues are striking for their banality and struggle to motivate us in the face of the issues timidly shelled over the course of the story.
Pokémon Sparkling Diamond & Sparkling Pearls aren't bad releases, though, and are otherwise buoyed by generous content. Unfortunately, the imperfections accumulate and can in the long run prove to be quite frustrating for the players... Unless you are an unconditional fan of the series.
JVFR
Pokémon Sparkling Diamond & Sparkling Pearl: the opinion of JVFR
We come out a little bitter from our gaming session on these sluggish remakes. Pokémon Sparkling Diamond & Sparkling Pearl can still be fun versions to watch and browse for newcomers. The collection and discovery aspect of small (and large) monsters remains charming, and everything is bathed in a childish atmosphere that promotes relaxation. We advance without taking the lead or ever being really worried by our adversaries. And the novelties, although not very significant, will undoubtedly succeed in rekindling the flame among players and players nostalgic for the DS era.
Still, we are on Nintendo Switch, a console capable of doing much better than what Pokémon games have gotten us used to in recent years. The remakes of Diamond and Pearl are no exception with their animations from another time, disappointing graphics, a cruel lack of challenge or even a story serving as a simple pretext for catching Pokémon. A recipe worn to the marrow that we still hope to see evolve one day. Pokémon Sparkling Diamond & Sparkling Pearl are thus content to please the fans... And that was probably their only interest.
Pokémon Sparkling Diamond6
Pokémon Sparkling Diamond & Sparkling Pearl are pretty minimalistic remakes. If the recipe will always hit the mark with aficionados, others will quickly see the many graphic and storyline shortcomings and the rather painful repetitiveness over time. In short, all spitting Pokémon.Most
- A cute and colorful artistic choice
- Capturing Pokémon is fun
- Appreciable little novelties
- The Poké Watch, a pretty cool gadget
The lessers
- Graphically quite disappointing (this blur ...)
- Really Shameful Animations
- Necessarily repetitive and risk-free
- Uninteresting scenario
