GAME CLEAR No. 71 -- Pokémon Brilliant Diamond

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond (2021, Switch)

Remake of: Pokémon Diamond Version (2007, DS)
Original Developer: Game Freak
Original Publisher: Nintendo, The Pokémon Company
Remake Developer: ICLA
Remake Publisher: Nintendo, The Pokémon Company
Clear Date: 12/30/21

With this game, I’ve finally beaten all of the Pokémon Leagues in some version or another.

The original Gen IV games were the first ones where I kind of started to understand how to play Pokémon, but only just. I don’t think I had a real team of 6 (not that that would’ve been feasible with Gen IV’s nightmare HM situation anyway), but I at least had a handful of genuine monz. I managed to make it to the Elite 4, but they demolished me so thoroughly that I gave up. I resolved not to do that this time, but I gotta say, they Elite 4 still kicked my ass first try! And I still had to lean on some revival cheese to finally win on my second try.

And honestly, I respect it! I think the Elite 4 should whoop your ass as their name implies. I sort of understand that it is a kid’s game, so I understand why Game Freak has made them easier over the years, but I do enjoy the challenge personally.

Sinnoh has a pretty standard Pokémon story, not that there’s anything wrong with that. You beat Team [Name] then you go become Champion of the Pokémon League, and the credits roll. My understanding is that this is an extremely faithful remake, down to the chibi art style that imitates the dimensions of the DS games. I don’t mind that at all, especially with the ostensibly more ambitious Pokémon Legends Arceus coming fairly soon as well. It was a nice way for me to revisit a game and knock out some unfinished business with the Sinnoh Pokémon League.

My championship team was: Gengar, Magikarp, Torterra, Toxicroak, Vespiquen, and Luxray.