The fourth generation of the Pokémon franchise began in 2006 with the release of Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl. These games were the first in the series released exclusively for the Nintendo DS. They were then followed by Pokémon Platinum, an upgraded version of Diamond and Pearl, and Pokémon SoulSilver and Pokémon HeartGold, which were remakes of older games in the series.
Each game was a commercial success, selling millions of copies each. The games and their success carried the Pokémon series' acclaim into a new console generation. This success was also paired with the benefit of introducing several new features, mechanics, and Pokémon species that have had a lasting impact on the franchise.
10 107 New Pokémon Were Added
As expected from any generation, the fourth generation of Pokémon featured a slew of new species to the series. This brought the total at the time to 493. A majority of these were completely original, though many of them were related to species introduced in previous games.
Within this list of new Pokémon came many species that have become fan-favorites. These include Lucario, Garchomp, new legendary Pokémon like Palkia and Dialga, and new mythical Pokémon like Arceus and Darkrai. Diamond and Pearl also included a new starter Pokémon trio consisting of Turtwig, Chimpcamp, and Piplup.
9 The Sinnoh Region Was Introduced
The Sinnoh region was the territory where most of the fourth generation games took place. In the lore of the franchise, Sinnoh is the oldest region in the world and is said to be where all Pokémon originated from. For this reason, Sinnoh has spawned some of the most important legendary Pokémon to date. The most important of these are Palkia, Dialga, and Giratina, who form the creation trio, and Arceus, the supposed "first Pokémon."
This region was the last one based on a real-world Japanese location. Sinnoh's inspiration comes from Hokkaido, Japan's northern major island.
8 It Included A Large Number Of Evolutions For Pokémon From Previous Generations
Each new generation regularly adds some new evolutions and "baby" Pokémon (Pokémon at the start of an evolution chain), but the fourth generation was the first to feature a large number of new Pokemon related to older ones. The game's developers made a clear effort to bring variety and upgrades to the Pokemon that fans loved from the previous games.
This well-developed mix of evolutions and baby Pokémon was met with a positive reception by fans. Popular examples of these new Pokémon include Leafeon and Glaceon, two new evolutions for Eevee; Munchlax, which evolves into Snorlax; and Honchkrow, Murkrow's evolution.
7 It Was The First Generation With A 3D Overworld
Taking advantage of the DS's superior hardware, the overworlds in each fourth generation game were rendered in 3D graphics. This was the series's first departure from the sprite-only approach it was iconic for, though the developers ensured that the aesthetic remained familiar.
The characters and Pokémon are still presented in 2D sprites, but the buildings, landscapes, and routes are all 3D designs. This allowed for more details and immersion in the game worlds. It was also the first step toward fully-3D core series Pokemon games, like the recent Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield.
6 It Was The First Generation To Feature Online Trading
Thanks to the Nintendo Wi-fi Connection, A Nintendo DS could connect to the internet, a first for a Nintendo handheld. This led to the opportunity for online activities in the Pokémon games. Being able to trade Pokémon across the internet was a major feature of the fourth generation.
This feature allowed for a much easier and appreciated means for players to complete the Pokédex. Trading was no longer confined to only in-person meetings. It also reduced the need to buy the partner versions of the games to complete the Pokédex without any help.
5 It Was The First Generation To Feature Online Battles
Similar to the benefit of online trading, the fourth generation of games let players finally test their Pokémon team's abilities against other players from all over the world. In these games, collecting all of the Pokémon is half of the fun, but the second half is undeniably the chance to strengthen a team of Pokémon and then compete in as many battles as possible.
Though limited in capability, the online battle system allowed players to find an almost endless stream of new opponents to face. Now they could continually improve their skills and learn from other real people all over the world.
4 It Introduced 113 New Moves
Coupled with the new Pokémon introduced in the fourth generation was a list of new moves that they could learn. It was expected, considering all of the new Pokémon added in the fourth generation, but aside from the first generation, this generation included the largest number of new moves added in a generation.
Many of these moves have become popular and often-used since their introduction. They have also received notice in other games. Examples are Aura Sphere and Flare Blitz, which are powerful special attacks used by Lucario and Charizard respectfully in the Super Smash Bros. games.
3 It Introduced Visible Differences Between Pokémon Genders
As another benefit of designing a game for Nintendo's powerful new handheld, the developers were able to build more detailed sprites for each Pokémon species. This meant they could create more animated poses, but it also allowed the developers to create sprite distinctions between male and female Pokémon.
Though the inclusion is mostly cosmetic, the difference between male and female Pokémon plays a role in both breeding and combat. Certain moves used by a Pokémon will only affect Pokémon of the opposite gender, for example. It also added an extra level of complexity to obtaining all of the Pokémon. Many players could now seek to add both male and female versions of Pokémon to their collections.
2 The Games Featured New Gameplay Depth Thanks To The Touchscreen
Many DS games often took advantage of the handheld's additional screen to offer more useful in-game controls and options, and the Pokémon games were no exceptions. Features such as the Pokétch, a digital smartwatch, appeared on the bottom screen in Diamond and Pearl. It allowed the player to use a calculator, take notes, tell time, and more.
The touchscreen provided a more immersive experience. Thanks to the screen, the games were also able to include several mini-games for the sake of gameplay variety. The new depth set a standard for all subsequent generations to offer similar features that complement the core experience of each game.
1 This Was The First Generation Officially Published By Nintendo In South Korea
Though Nintendo had sold games in South Korea through other publishers, the fourth generation of Pokémon was the first that was officially distributed by Nintendo's South Korean branch.
Until that time, South Korea had a strict embargo on products from Japan. This meant that the only way that Koreans could play Nintendo games was to either import them some way or find illegal copies. This also meant that the games had no official Korean translations. With the fourth generation of Pokémon as a start, fans in South Korea could finally enjoy everything Nintendo and Pokémon had to offer.