Pokemon Platinum

Pokémon Platinum

Rating: E

Score: 9.5/10

The Pokémon series is famous for its gameplay.  Pokémon Platinum is not very different.  Little has been modified since the prior Pokémon games, but the series is still going strong.  “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. This game is a Nintendo DS exclusive.

                Why get Platinum if you already have Diamond/Pearl? Why are Diamond and Pearl so similar? Is Platinum different? These are a few of the questions people unfamiliar with how the Pokémon string of games works might ask.

                First, the designers released two games side by side, the same day. This is a tactic used for every generation of the series.  The stories and characters were the same, the core was the same, but the pokémon you could capture differed between them. Then, they release a third game that is the same core-wise, but the story is slightly different. You can capture all the pokémon you could in the prior games. This third game also adds to the experience with more battle arenas or something similar.

                Platinum is a quite different for third game standards. Not only is there a bunch more battle arenas, they also completely change around gym designs for certain gyms. The story is also quite different (in pokémon standards), but still stays quite close to Diamond/Pearl. This time, there’s a mysterious alteration to the world. Now everything is colder, and your character is dressed accordingly. Why is it colder? You’ll have to play through the game to find out.

                 The core, the turn-based RPG, is still as fun as ever. One of the few differences between the core battling is the pokémon themselves. This time, your pokémon have gotten nice face lifts. Most of them now have new, better looking sprites, and they move differently. You may call it a “kiddie” series, but I say it still one of the best RPG games out there, with huge strategy involved.

                You’re never going to be done playing Platinum. Long after you beat the champion, and see the credits, you still have to capture all the Pokémon. There is also the dozen or so minigames and arenas to enter, and even online trading and battling. The underground returns, which is almost like a large minigame with some strategy gem buying/selling.  Don’t be surprised if you never take Platinum out of your DS for ages.

                The aforementioned online battling and trading was a huge thing for Diamond and Pearl, since they were the first pokémon games to use this feature. Battling online still uses the annoying Friend Code system, where you must enter a 12-digit code that represents your friend, and your friend must do the same with your Friend Code. Trading online via the Global Trading Station is usually a rip-off for traders, but it doesn’t require Friend Codes.  Local battling doesn’t require codes either, nor does local trading. They’re also local “capture the flag” underground matches, which is quite fun.

                I could list all the features you’re getting with Platinum, but it wouldn’t all fit in the newspaper! You’re getting a lot of play time for such an addictive game. If you’re prepared to “Catch them all!” again, Platinum is your game.