Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Pokemon Shining Pearl are just around the corner from being released. Fans have been waiting for these Generation 4 remakes for a long time, the generation being beloved by many. While it looks like Pokemon Platinum content may not have made the cut, the base games are still strong entries in the series. A number of new features have also been added to ensure that these remakes are more convenient and have more to do. Being able to experience the Sinnoh region once more in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl will be a great time and a good warm-up for diving into the radically different Hisui region when Pokemon Legends: Arceus comes out.
As these games are just about to release, the marketing cycle has sped up, with trailers releasing more frequently. Just the other day, a trailer was released revealing Ramanas Park, a postgame area where players can catch various Mythical Pokemon from past games. This is another nice addition that pairs well with the expanded Pokemon roster in the revamped Underground. However, it seems that there are a couple of Mythical Pokemon that can't just be obtained by progressing through the Park. Aside from version-exclusive legendaries, Mew and Jirachi will be locked behind save data for other Pokemon games on a player's Switch.
Pokemon: Let's Go! Eevee and Pokemon: Let's Go! Pikachu Data Unlocks Mew
If players have save data from certain Pokemon games on their Switch when they start a Brilliant Diamond or Shining Pearl save file, NPCs will appear on the southwest end of Floaroma Town holding the appropriate Mythical Pokemon. In the case of Pokemon: Let's Go! Eevee and Pokemon: Let's Go! Pikachu, players can speak to a madame to receive a free Mew. This is a fitting save bonus, considering that Mew was the original event-only Pokemon in the first generation. This is probably the easiest way to obtain a Mew in a Pokemon game, so hopefully, the ability to transfer Pokemon out of Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl and bring them to Pokemon Home will be patched in quickly.
Mew is a very special Pokemon that ties into the series lore. It is not the strongest Mythical Pokemon, but it might be the most versatile as it can learn transform and be taught any TM and HM in the series. Supposedly, it is a genetic ancestor of modern Pokemon and has flexible DNA. This led to the creation of Mewtwo before the events of the first Pokemon game, as scientists wanted to harness the power of this legendary creature. Mew's simple and cute design has made it a hit with players over the years, and it's all the more special because of how hard it is to obtain. Now that players just need to own two games to get it, hopefully, more people will be able to experience a playthrough with this special Pokemon.
Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield Data Unlocks Jirachi
The other Mythical Pokemon obtained through connectivity is Jirachi, Mew and Celebi's equivalent event Pokemon in Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald. By starting the game with Pokemon Sword or Pokemon Shield save data and talking to a gentleman in Floaroma Town, players will be able to add this Steel/Psychic-type to their team. Jirachi is another rare Pokemon that can usually only be obtained through real-life events or trading, which makes its addition here another valuable bonus for collectors. Most players who buy the Generation 4 remakes may also already own Sword or Shield or can easily purchase them, so Jirachi, like Mew, is now a lot more accessible.
Jirachi's lore is different depending on the game, anime, or manga that one consults, but the general consensus is that it hibernates for long periods of time and can grant wishes to the best of its ability. Sometimes that ability just involves teleporting things while other times it can grant any wish. At any rate, in the player's hands, Jirachi has unique access to a move called Doom Desire. Doom Desire is an extremely powerful attack that goes through most defenses and hits after a couple of turns of delay. Jirachi is not quite as versatile as Mew, but it's still fun to play around with. It's nice to see that these Pokemon are being made available through easy and permanent methods in modern Pokemon titles.
Combine that with Shaymin's appearance in Pokemon Legends through connecting it to Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield, and it feels like Game Freak is making a concentrated effort to get formerly event-exclusive Pokemon into players' hands. It may be somewhat costly to get them, but a consistent method of doing so is still better than relying on the limited events of the past. It's a good way to market multiple Pokemon games at once, too. Hopefully, more old event Pokemon will be made available in this manner in the future.
Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Pokemon Shining Pearl will release exclusively for Nintendo Switch on November 19, 2021.