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Pokemon Diamond/Pearl Released in U.S.
The wait for 'catch-em-all' folks in the US is over; Pokémon Diamond and Pearl are out today. Joystiq and Kotaku have coverage of yesterday's launch party at the Nintendo Store. "There was a station set up to play the card game, manned by adults who were there to teach the game to kids. Finally there was a station where Junichi Masuda, the game director, and Shigeru Ohmori, the game design lead, signed autographs for those old enough to know who they are. It may have been meant to push Pokémon merchandise (the guys at the card station handed out thin packs of cards to every kid who came by) but it also meant there was something for everyone." 1up and Gamespot, meanwhile, are offering up reviews of the game. Both hand it the respectable score of 8.5, saying that it's still a great game experience but dinging the developers for not moving the series forward in any innovative directions.
You need to separate Pokemon the game from Pokemon the media phenomenon. The media phenomenon is certainly aimed at children...the games are not. The games are pretty much standard console RPG's reminiscent of the 8/16 bit era (and early 32-bit era when 2D graphics were still common)...they just give you a lot more characters to choose from in battle than most. Anyone that likes console JRPG's will enjoy these, especially if they want a little 8/16 bit nostalgia.
I see the first few comments are all very negative about this game.
Yet I am 18 and greatly enjoy the game. It's got a fun storyline, a wider variety of Pokemon (the magic number is now 493), and at long last decent graphics.
And I know I'm not the only one. I moderate the Diamond/Pearl forum over at Bulbagarden, which is home primarily to a number of older fans, many of whom are older than I am. Say what you will, this game is not just for children. Just because there's no graphic violence and language in it, that doesn't mean it's not fun by a long shot.
That said, I don't own a copy of the English version yet (still playing with my Japanese import of Diamond), but I'll be getting it soon enough.
- Trip