Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl were the first mainline Pokemon titles to come to the Nintendo DS with Pokemon Platinum being the last "third game" for the mainline series. These games were all part of Pokemon's fourth generation and took place in the Sinnoh region.
With the remakes of Pokemon Diamond and Pearl being officially announced, many are looking back on these original games with nostalgia and intrigue. Some of the more important things that these games did for the series as a whole included the physical/special split. This made it so that whether or not a move was considered a physical or special attack was based entirely on the individual move itself and not the move's type.
Since all of these games are their own titles, each of them have differences that will cause players to have unique experiences. This includes things such as game-exclusive Pokemon and changes to the plot. In fact, many would consider Pokemon Platinum to be the superior title due to it combining aspects of both Diamond and Pearl as well as fixing known issues from these initial games. With this in mind, the following are the main differences between the games.
Version-Exclusive Pokemon
Ever since the first games, different Pokemon games often have exclusive Pokemon in order to encourage trading between players. Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum are not different in this regard, especially after players unlock the National Pokedex in each game.
In Pokemon Diamond, players have exclusive access to Scyther, Scizor, Seel, Dewgong, Murkrow, Honchkrow, Larvitar, Pupitar, Tyranitar, Poochyena, Mightyena, Aron, Lairon, Aggron, Cranidos, Rampardos, Stunky, Skuntank, Kecleon, and Dialga. These of course can be traded to other titles as well as transferred to later games.
For Pokemon Pearl, players had their own exclusive access to Slowpoke, Slowbro, Slowking, Misdreavus, Mismagius, Houndour, Houndoom, Bagon, Shelgon, Salamence, Shieldon, Bastiodon, Glameow, Purugly, Spheal, Sealeo, Walrein, Pinsir, Stantler, and Palkia.
With Pokemon Platinum meant to combine these games together into one story and experience for what could be considered a definitive one, it does have some of the encounters that would normally be exclusive to either Diamond or Pearl. It also has other Pokemon that were originally only available after the National Pokedex was obtained. These were added to the main game for the Sinnoh Regional Pokedex. These Pokemon are Rotom, Gligar, Gliscor, Nosepass, Probopass, Ralts, Kirlia, Gardevoir, Gallade, Lickitung, Lickilicky, Eevee, Vaporeon, Jolteon, Flareon, Espeon, Umbreon, Leafeon, Glaceon, Swablu, Altaria, Togepi, Togetic, Togekiss, Houndour, Houndoom, Magnemite, Magneton, Magnezone, Tangela, Tangrowth, Yanma, Yanmega, Tropius, Rhyhorn, Rhydon, Rhyperior, Duskull, Dusclops, Dusknoir, Porygon, Porygon2, Porygon-Z, Scyther, Scizor, Elekid, Electabuzz, Electivire, Magby, Magmar, Magmortar, Swinub, Piloswine, Mamoswine, Snorunt, Glalie, Froslass, Absol, and Giratina.
Pokemon Platinum additionally added new forms for Pokemon that couldn't be found in or transferred to Pokemon Diamond or Pokemon Pearl. These forms are Shaymin's sky form, Rotom's various appliance forms, and Giratina's origin form.
Story Differences
The main themes of the generation four Sinnoh Pokemon titles revolve around creation and the world itself. This is why Dialga, the box art legendary for Pokemon Diamond, represents time, while Palkia, the box art legendary for Pokemon Pearl represents space. Both are present in the story of Pokemon Platinum, but the real focus in that game is on Giratina, often viewed as representing anti-matter.
As players go through each of the games, they will find themselves going up against the members of Team Galactic and its leader, Cyrus. His plans revolve around creating a new world without spirit. In Diamond and Pearl, he goes after whatever the box art legendary is to go through with his plans. These are foiled by the player in all of the games, but things go dangerously awry in Pokemon Platinum.
While trying to take control over both Dialga and Palkia at Spear Pillar, Giratina slowly forms from the ground before interrupting Cyrus's dialogue box and jump scaring unsuspecting players. Players must then travel to the Distortion World, the home where Giratina was banished to as punishment by Arceus. There the real final battle with Cyrus takes place with players also being able to battle and capture Giratina. Cyrus however never leaves this world and is presumed to have either made a life in this world or have perished there.
Locations
While not present in Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl, Pokemon Platinum brings back the Battle Frontier, a post-game location with new challenges for players to face. This specific one has the Battle Tower, Battle Factory, Battle Arcade, Battle Castle, and Battle Hall. Each of these areas offer ways to earn Battle Points that can be exchanged for many different valuable prizes.
The locations themselves are pretty consistent between Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum with Platinum having the exclusive aforementioned Battle Frontier and Distortion World. Pokemon Platinum players additionally had access to the Global Terminal that could be used with Nintendo Wi-Fi back when it was active to enter the Wi-Fi plaza and play exclusive mini-games with friends. This is however no long accessible due to it no longer being able to connect to the internet.
Minor changes were also made to existing locations for Pokemon Platinum's release. Various tilesets were remade to add more detail to certain locations with many of the Pokemon gyms also having their gym puzzles completely redone. One area with a noticeable rework is Amity Square in Hearthome City, with warp points being added, more Pokemon being compatible, and it overall looking nicer. The Veilstone City Department Store additionally got a basement with more goods to buy.
Other Changes
Even though many enjoyed the changes made to the series with Pokemon Diamond and Pearl, many still had problems. One of the biggest ones cited by players was that the game moved too slowly. This was due to slow default text speeds, slow movement speeds, and especially how long it took to save the game. To rectify this for Platinum, the surfing speed was changed to match player run speed instead of being slower than the walk speed and other things were made to move faster.
Pokemon Platinum additionally introduced Looker, a recurring character throughout the mainline Pokemon games since his initial appearance. Here he is pursuing Team Galactic and uses the players' help to stop them.
Overall, the best experience comes from Pokemon Platinum thanks to it ironing out the problems with the original duo of games. It additionally adds new content in a way that really hasn't been seen in any other Pokemon title since, making many fear for these parts being left behind for the Diamond and Pearl remakes.
Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are set for release in late 2021 on Nintendo Switch.
Source: CandyEvie | YouTube