Pokemon Brilliant DiamondandShining Pearlare the upcoming remakes of the 4th GenerationPokemongames. Formally announced in February 2021, fans of the series have been predicting these games were being remade for some time. The Sinnoh-set games are beloved by a large portion of thePokemonfanbase, and there’s a lot of anticipation surrounding the remakes when they release in late 2021. The remakes have a chance to improve uponcertain criticized aspects of the originalDiamondandPearlgameswhile also reintegrating a feature that was dropped byPokemon SwordandShield.
Pokemon SwordandShieldwere the first mainlinePokemongames to be released on a Nintendo home console, albeit the Switch being a hybrid console.SwordandShieldintroduced some new elements to the series, such as the Wild Area, an open world area, and a host of new Pokemon for players to collect. Game Freak did, however, make some changes that weren’t looked upon too fondly by certain aspects of the fandom. The developer decided to remove the National Pokedex, the encyclopedia which encompasses pocket monsters from different regions.Pokemon Brilliant DiamondandShining Pearlare in a position to bring this feature back.
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Why Scrapping the National Pokedex was Controversial
The National Pokedex is a lauded feature in pastPokemongames. It generally can’t be unlocked until the post-game period after the player has defeated the Elite Four and become champion of the region. However, once it’s unlocked, gamers get access to multitudes more Pokemon to catch, battle, and raise.
It’s commonly considered to be a worthwhile shake-up of available monsters in a given region, providing players with more of a reason to play on after the main story has been completed. WithSwordandShield,fans became limited to Pokemon who were featured as a part of the Pokedex a player gains access to at the start of the game.The controversy aroundremoving the National Pokedex wasn’t lost on Game Freak, who has publicly acknowledged fan frustrations with its removal.
This change didn’t just mean that a wider variety of Pokemon couldn’t be accessed, it also meant that gamers couldn’t bring forward creatures they’ve had for years in previous games. Players have had access toPokemon Bankfor transferring monsters between the 3DS games, andPokemon Homefor the Switch titles andPokemon Go.
Through careful use ofPokemon BankandPokemon Home, gamers can transfer creatures toSwordandShield,but it can only be a select few available in the Pokedex for the game. This decision removed the ability to use a full Pokemon collection for some players and affected the enjoyment ofSwordandShieldfor a lot of gamers. FuturePokemongames are unlikely to feature the return of the National Pokedex, but some fans are hoping this only applies to mainline entries in the series.
Why the National Pokedex Should Return for Diamond and Pearl Remakes
Pokemon Brilliant DiamondandShining Pearllook like faithful remakesbased on the reveal trailer. The visuals aren’t wildly different and retain a familiar perspective while traversing the overworld. Fans are hoping that the games will be similarly traditional with their features, including the National Pokedex.
A return of the National Dex would allow players to experience Sinnoh in a way that hasn’t been done before, by having a wider variety of Pokemon to access for familiar challenges. Monsters that came after Generation 4 could be integrated into the games, and players would have a chance to experience fresh takes on favorite gym battles, the Elite Four, and the various other challenges that Sinnoh presents gamers with. One of the main reasons gamers want to see the National Pokedex return is the vast collections of Pokemon that some have.
It’s not unusual for active, longtime fans of the franchise to have built impressive monster collections which span generations of games.SwordandShieldhindered the ability for players to completely use their Pokemon reserves, and many gamers would love to see this changed inBrilliant DiamondandShining Pearl.Interestingly, the developer of the remakes isILCA, the same group that developed thePokemon Homeapp. While it’s purely speculative, this could bode well for theDiamondandPearlremakes integrating with thePokemon Homeapplication.
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The Likelihood of the National Pokedex Returning
While it has been stated by aSwordandShieldproducer, Junichi Masuda, that future games won’t contain a National Pokedex, it might not be as cut and dry as that. The removal of the feature is known within the gaming industry as a divisive move.Game Freak has also been actively looking for feedbackfrom fans, which could help shape future games in the franchise. While there are few details known aboutBrilliant DiamondandShining Pearlat the moment, it’s not impossible that fan response could have led to a course correction for the franchise. A re-added National Pokedex could help gain even more interest fromPokemonfans in the upcoming remakes.
The future of thePokemonfranchise is anyone’s guess, but the series has continued to have a strong foothold in its traditions dating back to the originalRed, Blue,andGreengames. While Junichi Masuda has stated that future games won’t feature the National Pokedex, this might have been about mainline games and not remakes or spinoffs.Brilliant DiamondandShining Pearlare set to be the next entries in the series and it’s currently unknown if these titles will be considered a part of the 9th Generation. Many fans are hoping that the National Pokedex will return, and there could be some value in ILCA reintroducing it.
Nothing is set in stone yet, butPokemonfans remain hopeful for the inclusion of a National Pokedex.
Pokemon Brilliant DiamondandShining Pearlare set for release in late 2021 on Nintendo Switch.
