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Hello there! It’s so very nice to meet you!
Welcome to the world of Pokémon!
Your very own tale of grand adventure is about to unfold.
So begins the coming-of-age journey that every installment in the Pokémon gameverse is known for. 15 years have passed since Diamond and Pearl’s original release. The Brilliant and Shining versions are slated for a Fall release, and today’s Pokémon Presents stream revealed a bevy of new and classic mechanics. I’ve gone through every frame of the trailer – at 0.25 playback speed, no less! – to relay all of that juicy pocket monster info back to you. If you’re looking to catch them all for the umpteenth time, you won’t want to miss out on the biggest revelations from the event:
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Eye Candy
Gen IV’s Sinnoh is based on Japan’s Hokkaido island. Much like its real-world inspiration, Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl’s continent is teeming with wildlife and breathtaking environments. Sure, we’ve always known that ILCA and Game Freak were prioritizing graphical quality, but just look at some of the traversable areas on display – Floraville’s multicolored blossom fields, god rays falling warmly over your hometown of Twinleaf, squeaky-clean, reflective surfaces like the tiled flooring in Professor Rowan’s lab, and wrinkling bodies of water as far as the eye can see. It’s safe to say that this is going to be a very good-looking revamp.
Dress The Part
You might not be a fan of the cutesy chibi character art, but don’t worry, you’re going to like the way you look while roaming the biomes of Sinnoh. I guarantee it. Get fitted for some athleisure wear (the obvious choice for would-be trainers) or purchase clothes for specific weather conditions. The “Cyber Style’s” lime green trim from the trailer is a bit tacky, but I think it might grow on me. Pokéball customization or “Capsule Decoration” is also back with more accessible, responsive options/controls on Switch. With the updated visuals, the effects that trigger when you throw a ball look way fancier than the DS versions of the game. This begs the question: which sticker(s) will you choose?