Without being the biggest fan of Pokémon, I must admit that I am still a big fan of this franchise. Although it has had its ups and downs, each new installment from Nintendo and Game Freak manages to hook me for dozens of hours. So, while waiting for Pokémon Legends: Arceus scheduled for 2022, I was eager to see what the ILCA studio had concocted for us with the remakes of the fourth generation of this series that has gone down in history!

A less memorable generation

If you played Pokémon Pearl or Pokémon Diamond in 2006, you may have forgotten the story behind them. This is completely normal since the scenario of these games is undoubtedly one of their Achilles heels. Pokémon Shining Pearl and Pokémon Brilliant Diamond remind us of this as we once again take control of a young Pokémon trainer in the Sinnoh region. In classic fashion, you will have to fight your way through eight gyms and the Elite Four in order to become the best trainer in the region, all while solving various mysteries unique to Sinnoh.

Unfortunately, the storyline fails to hook us like that of other games in the franchise. Not only are this generation's Pokemon some of the most mundane in the series, but the storylines themselves are uninteresting. Gathered into the Team Galactic organization, the game's big baddies are just a vapid band of square-toed forelocks that don't rival the charisma of other organizations in the series like Team Rocket. As for the mysteries of the origin of Sinnoh and its legendary Pokémon, you will see that you will have much more fun traveling through the region to catch all the Pokémon than revealing the secrets of this part of the world.

The technical level of the games also doesn't help you get hooked. Even though they are very colorful and cute, the puffy and childish look on the outside of the fights will not appeal to everyone. It feels like you're immersed in a world full of Funko Pop characters that I personally liked, but which will disappoint those who like the slightly more mature look of the franchise's latest games. The soundtrack is also one of the worst in the series. The ILCA studio has done its best by remixing the strident original musical samples from the 2006 editions with a result that will not always please your poor ears.

True to the 2006 games

If you were hoping to get your hands on remakes reshaping Pokémon Pearl and Pokémon Diamond, you might be disappointed with the treatment given to Pokémon Shining Pearl and Pokemon Brilliant Diamond. In fact, from the get-go, ILCA had promised faithful iterations of the 2006 games, and that's exactly what we're getting.

As a result, unlike more recent games in the franchise, Pokémon Shining Pearl and Pokémon Brilliant Diamond are more linear and restrained. The more open worlds of the latest games bring us this time to a more defined region as well as a much lower number of Pokémon than, for example, those present in Pokémon Shield and Pokémon Sword. As for online options, expect to only be able to trade Pokemon with friends and battle other trainers, nothing more.

In addition, all the mechanics of the time have been preserved. In doing so, those accustomed to the changes made in the most recent Pokémon games may be somewhat unsettled. For example, we do not see the small creatures wandering in the tall grass of Sinnoh, and the experience points divided by the Exp system. Share are very generous between the Pokémon that you keep on your person. Even though Shining Pearl and Brilliant Diamond are more difficult than other games in the series, the fact remains that the challenge put forward will seem like a little health jaunt most of the time.

Remnants of another time

Shining Pearl and Brilliant Diamond inadvertently bring back some of the frustrations of 2000s games. competitive multiplayer. In addition, some Pokémon are infuriating to catch, including those only found in honey trees. To give you an idea, a honey tree will only have a Pokémon after six real hours after honey has been affixed to it. You will then only have 24 hours to go see what Pokémon is there, otherwise you will lose your honey and have to try your luck again. When a Pokémon like Munchlax only has a 5% chance of appearing, it's a long, tedious process, and a part of a slice of the franchise's past that we wish we'd forgotten.

The different kinds of contests are also not the most entertaining elements. Although optional, these contests can still represent opportunities to perfect your bonds with your Pokémon. Nevertheless, they are rather annoying, so you might just ignore them. The beauty contest is particularly grueling since it requires you to craft dishes from berries to improve different characteristics of a Pokémon. However, the preparation of these dishes is simply long and unnecessary. Another vestige of the past that we would have liked to keep in oblivion.

Shining Pearl and Brilliant Diamond also remind us of how games of the time lacked Fire Pokemon. Unless you choose the starting Fire Pokémon, you will only have an extremely limited number of Pokémon of this nature during your adventure in Sinnoh. This is a problem with some trainers focused on steel Pokémon and an ignorance of a Pokémon nature that is difficult to explain.

More intuitive and refocused for more fun!

Despite all these elements, I must admit that I really enjoyed Pokémon Shining Pearl and Pokémon Brilliant Diamond. Granted, they're more restrained and linear, but they're still very good games and overall solid remakes of titles released 15 years ago.

Thus, even if the number of Pokémon is lower than in other games, their harvest is much more satisfying. To give you an idea, I caught all 400 Pokémon from Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield. At a certain point, the task became cumbersome and tedious since certain ways of catching or evolving Pokémons were illogical. By bringing this number down to a more reasonable level as well as emphasizing more traditional training, ILCA has ensured that we are not frustrated or discouraged from hunting Pokémon, even if some of them are hard to get. Note that you can access your Pokémon boxes and change your team whenever you want rather than going through a PC, which is much more intuitive.

In addition, I really appreciated the fact that you don't have to have to catch all the Pokémon in the game to complete your Pokédex. Indeed, it is enough only to see them to register them in our little Pokémon encyclopedia. This is one less thorn in the side of those who want to complete their Pokédex and be entitled to the related bonuses, in particular the tools to increase their chance of having Shinny Pokémon. It's all the more pleasant that certain Pokémon will only appear once the 150 Pokémon of Sinnoh have been seen. Travel the roads, face all possible trainers and you will see that you will be able to fill your Pokédex without suffering the frustration of having to catch extremely rare Pokémon or only available in one of the two versions of the game.

On the other hand, the game will remember which techniques are more or less effective against a Pokémon as soon as you have seen it. What's more, the Pokémon watch applications will be accessible by pressing the R button. By doing so, you will have access to a variety of options, including those allowing you to use interactive techniques with the world. Thus, there is no longer any need to equip techniques with an HM to a Pokémon and to have the latter to cross a body of water or cut down a tree, the game will do it automatically!

Dozens and dozens of hours in sight for trainers

When I told you that Pokémon Shining Pearl and Pokémon Brilliant Diamond were not small games, you will be able to see it both in the adventure and after it. While it's a shame that the excellent Pokémon Platinum content hasn't been added, these remakes are likely to keep you entertained for dozens of hours.

Travelling all of Sinnoh should already take you 20-30 hours, depending on how invested you are in battling trainers and catching mobs. Once you complete the game, you'll have access to a new island made up of its own challenges and a Legendary Pokemon, as well as a variety of new possibilities. Also, trainers will challenge you with stronger Pokémons and new monsters will appear in Sinnoh.

However, it is especially in the Great Underground that you are likely to spend a lot, but a lot of time. A greatly improved and expanded version of the underground present in the 2006 games, the Grand Underground represents an opportunity to mine resources and, above all, to catch rare Pokémon. These will be divided into environments in which you will see them. You won't have to face them and capture them randomly like on the surface of Sinnoh, which is very pleasant considering the rarity of some of them. What's more, as you progress through the game, you'll find that the fauna of the Great Underground will be much more diverse than on the surface, allowing you to see and battle Pokémon other than platonic Geodude and Starly. .

Should you play it?

Are Pokémon Shining Pearl and Pokémon Brilliant Diamond the best Pokémon game reissues? In fact, they are mostly homages to the titles from which they are taken. Although the result is very conservative and disappointing due to the absence of certain elements, they are still good games that I recommend if you are even a fan of Pokemon. After all, ILCA has always promised faithful reissues of the 2006 games. In this sense, its mandate was well executed, however limited it may be!