For what seemed like forever,Pokemonfans were dying for an announcement ofPokemon DiamondandPearlremakes. It was this hype that made the announcement so big when it came a long, but it did end up further dividing fans. This debate overPokemon Brilliant DiamondandShining Pearl’s graphicsis oddly similar to the animation controversy overSwordandShield, and many may be looking to past games as they form opinions here.
Notably, it should be mentioned thatPokemon Brilliant DiamondandShining Pearlare not in development by Game Freak, but ILCA. No one is privy to the details of that arrangement outside the parties involved (Nintendo and The Pokemon Company too, maybe), and so it is natural that there are differences in presentation. Now, a new image showcasing graphics from the first three gen remakes to the most recent highlights those differences even more.
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Posted by Redditor PristineSoldier, the below image shows a comparison of the graphics/graphics upgrades of each main generation release and generation remake.Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire/Emeraldstand in comparison toPokemon FireRedandLeafGreen,for example, while the originalDiamondandPearlis compared toPokemon HeartGoldandSoulSilver. Barring style choices, it seems the image (as seen below) is making the point that the remake graphics typically coincide with the main generation release.
That is, until fans get to generation 8. There is a stark contrast betweenPokemon SwordandShieldwhen compared toPokemon Brilliant DiamondandShining Pearl, as the latter really amplifies the “Chibi-ness” of that generation. It always had bigger heads than most generations, but it seems that has been taken even further. Of course, it should be noted that fans have only gotten a glimpse into the game, with what was showcased on thenew Nintendo Switch OLED Model indicating improvedPokemon Brilliant DiamondandShining Pearlgraphicsalready.
Naturally, the comments are filled with debate on thePokemonfranchise, related or not to this image. Everything from snide remarks about now likingPokemon SwordandShield, which again had its own controversy, to debatingPokemon Legends: Arceus, Game Freak and ILCA’s involvement here, and details aboutPokemon FireRed/LeafGreenandHeartGold/SoulSilverfills the page.
As the graphic demonstrations have increasingly improved, it remains to be seen if fans are still upset by whatPokemon Brilliant DiamondandShining Pearloffer upon release. The chibi artstyle isn’t going anywhere, but if it looks better and offers new features from something likePokemon Platinum, it could still be a big hit—if a continued source of debate.
Pokemon Brilliant DiamondandShining Pearlwill release on Aug 01, 2025 for Nintendo Switch.
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