Pokemon Legends: Arceus is a new style of Pokemon game developed by Game Freak for the Nintendo Switch. It's the first in the franchise to be a fully open-world game, building off of the Wild Area idea that debuted in Pokemon Sword and Shield. Pokemon Legends: Arceus takes place in the Sinnoh region much like Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, though in a distant past where cities and roads are mostly nonexistent. Players will be able to explore the wide-open world in this new more action-focused RPG with the goal of catching, surveying, and researching Pokemon to create Sinnoh's first-ever Pokedex.
Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are remakes of Pokemon Diamond and Pearl which originally came out in 2006. Much like Pokemon Legends: Arceus, the remakes take place in the Sinnoh region, though in more modern times. The release date of both the remakes and Pokemon Legends: Arceus are also quite close to each other, being just over two months from each other. It is expected that Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl will be much closer remakes to the original than any other Pokemon remake in the past, as nothing shown has lead fans to believe otherwise. Still, which such rich lore encompassing the region of Sinnoh, it's very possible the remakes will help set up this new adventure.
Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl's Mythology
Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl encompass the Sinnoh region that is rich with myths and lore. This topic is touched upon when the player enters Eterna City where an infamous statue is ambiguously a combination of the box art legendaries. This can be seen in both the trailer for Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl and also the Pokemon Adventures Manga. Throughout the games, the player encounters many characters such as Champion Cynthia who talk about the Legendary Pokemon that had a hand in creating the Sinnoh region. This is reflected with Team Galactic who wants to harness this power to create a whole new universe.
Fans of Pokemon Diamond and Pearl may remember a city in the game known as Canalave City. Within this city is the Canalave Library which the player must visit with their rivals and Professor Rowan after acquiring the Canalave City badge. It's here that the player learns more about the Lake Guardians and how important their role is before an explosion interrupts their meeting. If the player chooses to, they can read various books inside the Canalave Library and learn various myths and bits of lore ranging from a young swordsman who regrets his encounter with Pokemon to why Pokemon appear to humans in tall grass.
Many of the Legendary Pokemon introduced in Pokemon Diamond and Pearl are described as being responsible for the creation of Sinnoh, and the universe. In the beginning, was an egg and this egg eventually became "the original one" also known as Arceus. From Arceus came two beings, one that could control time referring to Dialga, and the other that could control space referring to Palkia. From there, Arceus created three more beings referring to Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf which are the only Pokemon that can control Dialga and Palkia. Arceus itself then awaits atop Spear Pillar in the Hall of Origin for the Azure Flute to be played. Some or all of these origins may be explored in the prequel Pokemon Legends: Arceus.
What's Known About Pokemon Legends: Arceus?
In the mainline Pokemon games, the goal of the player is to overcome the bad guy, while gathering all the credentials needed to take on the Pokemon League and become regional Champion. This is the formula that the mainline Pokemon games have followed since the beginning. Pokemon Legends: Arceus does away with this trope stating clearly on Pokemon's website that this new game will take place before the idea of becoming a Pokemon Trainer and taking part in a Pokemon League existed. So it may be safe to say the game will focus almost entirely on the concept of surveying, researching, and capturing wild Pokemon throughout the entire Sinnoh region.
There are added gameplay elements that reinforce the idea that the core gameplay will consist of catching Pokemon for a new Pokedex. The player must observe Pokemon in the wild to learn their behaviors which should help the player sneak up on them better. It is then up to the player to either battle the wild Pokemon or attempt to capture them with the new steam variation of the Poke Ball. The trailer doesn't showcase other trainers or even trainer battling, though that doesn't mean it won't be a feature of the game. If trainer battles aren't a thing, then Pokemon Legends: Arceus could be the first Man vs. Nature Pokemon game.
Setting Up Pokemon Legends: Arceus
Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl have a unique opportunity here leading up to the release of Pokemon Legends: Arceus. As both games take place in the Sinnoh region and are just over two months between releases, Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl can use its source material to help inform players new and old about the myths and history behind Sinnoh. One common thread between both games is of course the region they take place in, but another that is seen in both game trailers is the centerpiece that is Mt. Coronet that looms in the background. This is an important area that divides Sinnoh's east and west areas, going so far as to impact some Pokemon's evolution.
Usually, when a remake of a Pokemon game comes out it does so to serve a purpose. Pokemon Fire Red and Leaf Green came out because players had no access to many of the Generation 1 and 2 Pokemon. Pokemon Heart Gold and Soul Silver came out to help Pokemon Diamond and Pearl's players fill their Pokedex with missing Johto and Kanto Pokemon while also extending Cynthia and Giratina's story with the Sinjoh ruins. Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire helped bridge the older generation of Pokemon with the newer games while introducing new stories and new gameplay mechanics.
It isn't confirmed yet but Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl look to be on track as being closer to 1:1 remakes than Pokemon remakes of the past. No hints at any additional features, storylines, or even the ability to trade with Pokemon Sword and Shield are currently present, though this could change when more information release. One has to wonder what purpose, aside from fan request, these remakes serve other than reminding players about the Sinnoh region and its Pokemon. It is possible that Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl exist to simply hype fans for the inevitable Sinnoh prequel.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus will release on January 28, 2022, for the Nintendo Switch.