Review - Pokemon Platinum

Pokemon Platinum

Pokemon is back with a new addition to the Pokemon Diamond/Pearl games. Now like Pokemon Yellow, Crystal or Emerald, Platinum’s story has changed slightly, all the way from character behaviour to the gym setups. Although after starting the game, It will be the same options as before, where you pick your name, and your rivals name, and useful stuff like that.

I immediately started seeing changes at the beginning sequence where originally in Diamond/Pearl, the Television was talking about “The Discovery and Capture of Red Gyarados”, but in Platinum, it includes Prof. Rowan as a mentor ; “Lets Ask Prof. Rowan”. Even the lake by your home town, Twinleaf Town, has changed, because originally, you go to the lake to try and capture the legendary Red Gyarados, and you mistakenly are attacked by wild Starly…but luckily, there is a mysterious briefcase in the tall grass.

Fear The Mighty Starly

In Platinum however, you and your rival (most commonly known as Barry), head to the lake to try and capture Giratina…although there is a strange blue haired man glaring over the lake, talking to the silent water. Prof. Rowan ends up giving you the starter Pokemon instead of thieving them. Other changes in Platinum comparing to Diamond/Pearl is the Gym setups. Many Gym’s have new, some more complicated setups including Gardenia, Maylene, and Fantina. Other minor changes like buildings, trainer positions, and wild Pokemon locations are different.

As for the game play of Platinum, it is virtually untouched, except for minor changes. The Poke’Etch has changed from one button to two buttons, one being a positive, and one being a negative page navigator. As said before, it hasn’t changed a lot, it’s still the same concept of Pokemon games from generations, hopefully more to come.
You use the DS Touch Screen to navigate through the menus, items, and of course…the battle moves.

The visuals have changed a bit, from the setups of the Gym’s, to the layout and the design of the modern houses and buildings. Although, a useless but entertaining addition to Platinum is that you (being the main character) now has a little blue sweater and a scarf…entertaining to watch a little blue ribbon waving in the wind while riding down the cycling path. As for the Gym Leaders and the Elite Four, the beginning cut scene of the battle has changed a bit, especially the Elite Four. Also the game will include some new Pokemon Sprites, and the trainers and leaders seem to use more Pokemon Seals.

Sound for Pokemon Platinum is a little different due to the addition of Dimension World, a very spooky area where you are to go and rescue the three Miracle Pokemon : Azelf, Mesprit, and Uxie, and to capture or defeat Giratina Origin Forme. The sounds and music for the Elite Four has changed a bit, for the most part, Elite Four Champion Cynthia…her battle music has changed, and along with other little battle music here and there.

So as a final verdict or Pokemon Platinum for the Nintendo DS…I would highly recommend this game if you are a fan of any of the additional Pokemon Series games like Emerald or Crystal…

Other than that, it is a decent game, a great game for just mindless time wasting…and there are plenty of things to do after you complete the story, like minigames, battletowers, and more…although personally, I like to restart games and see how I can improve in my next play through.

A Verdict of 4.5/5 is awarded to Pokemon Platinum. - Travis Lauritzen

I very much enjoyed this game, and I hope you do also...

And we will see you - on the other side!