Pokémon Diamond Version, along with it's sister game, Pokémon Pearl Version, are part of the fourth generation of games in the Pokémon series. It was released in Japan on September 28, 2006. Pokémon Diamond & Pearl broke yet another sales record on their release date, with all two million copies of the game being sold out along with 500,000 special Palkia/Dialga Nintendo DS Lite systems. Unlike previous Pokémon games, Pokémon Diamond Version and Pokémon Pearl Version added 109 new Pokémon, for a total of 493 Pokémon in the series to date.
On January 20, 2007 the US box arts for Pokémon Diamond Version and Pokémon Pearl Version were revealed. The US versions include VoIP chat functionality using the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.
On April 18, 2007 Nintendo confirmed that North American pre-orders for both games topped 533,000. Nintendo also announced plans for a themed event to take place at the Nintendo World store in New York City from 1 to 5 pm on the release date.
Features[ | ]
- After beating the Elite Four, players will be able to transfer Pokémon from Pokémon Ruby Version, Pokémon Sapphire Version, Pokémon Emerald Version, Pokémon FireRed Version and Pokémon LeafGreen Version via the NDS Game Boy Advance slot via Pal Park.
- Diamond and Pearl have NDS Wi-Fi support, allowing players to trade and battle their Pokémon, while communicating vocally using the DS microphone via Pokémon Center basements.
- There is also a huge extensive "classified ads"-type trading post where trainers all over the world can put a Pokémon up for trade with an attached description of the Pokémon s/he wants in return for it. Trainers can also search the entire list of trades for Pokémon they are looking for. If they find one they like, they can offer the wanted Pokémon in return and the trade automatically is accepted and goes through.
- Diamond and Pearl also feature Wi-Fi connectivity to Pokémon title Pokémon Battle Revolution.
- Diamond and Pearl is set in the new region of Sinnoh, which includes and underground area and cold, snow-capped areas.
- Diamond and Pearl introduces a new criminal group called Team Galactic.
- A completely new device known as the Pokétch (Pokétchi in Japanese) can be obtained and will offer features such as time management, a calculator, and a way to monitor Pokémon in the daycare center.
- Utilizing the internal DS clock, daytime and night-time is making a comeback from Pokémon Gold Version and Pokémon Silver Version. It's more complex, featuring morning, day, afternoon, evening and night.
- Some male and female Pokémon have differing physical characteristics, distinguishing them from each other. For example, male Wooper have more branched antennae than females, and female Scizor have larger abdomens than males.
- Diamond and Pearl feature weather in and out of battle, similar to weather in Pokémon Ruby Version, Pokémon Sapphire Version and Pokémon Emerald Version.
Battle Changes[ | ]
New Pokémon of Generation 4
An important difference between Diamond Version and Pearl Version and the previous Pokémon games is the re-classification of moves. Previously, the damage done and received by moves was split between "Attack/Defense" and "Special Attack/Special Defense", depending on the type of move. For example, Tackle, a Normal-type move, would be calculated using Attack and Defense. Inversely, Thunder, an Electric-type move, would be calculated using Special Attack and Special Defense.
However, moves are now split into 3 different groups instead of just being categorized by type: Physical, Special, and Other. For example, Thunder is still a Special type of attack (presumably). However, Thunderpunch is now a Physical attack (due to the "punch" part of the attack). Thunder would use Sp. Attack/Sp. Defense, while Thunderpunch uses Attack/Defense -- even though both are Electric-type, in contrast to previous games.