Pokémon Platinum
Encyclopedia
is a title in the Pokémon
series of video games. It was developed by Game Freak
and published by Nintendo
for the Nintendo DS
handheld game console
. It is an enhanced remake of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl
in the same vein as Pokémon Yellow
, Crystal, and Emerald were for their respective games. It was released on September 13, 2008 in Japan, March 22, 2009 in North America, May 14, 2009 in Australia, and May 22, 2009 in Europe. The developers made Platinum with the intent of making it a stronger version of Diamond and Pearl, which they described as the "ultimate" Pokémon titles.
In Platinum, players control either a male or female child character, and start off with one of three Pokémon - Chimchar, Turtwig, or Piplup from Professor Rowan. The mascot Pokémon is Giratina
, and is one of the central plots of the game. While it only had one form in Diamond and Pearl, it is given a new alternate form alongside a new area called the Distortion World, which features altered physics from the normal land of Sinnoh. The gameplay stays true to traditional Pokémon mechanics. Players explore a large area, which ranges from mountains, bodies of water, grasslands, populated areas, and snowy areas. Similarly to previous titles, players enter battles with other Pokémon, taking turns attacking each other.
Pokémon Platinum has been met with generally positive reception, holding aggregate scores of 84 and 83.14% at Metacritic
and Game Rankings
respectively. It was praised for the additions and changes made to Diamond and Pearl by publications such as IGN
, Nintendo Power
, and GamePro
, though it has been criticized for being too similar to them. IGN included it as the ninth best Nintendo DS game ever made, as well as nominating it as one of the best DS role-playing games of 2009. It was the fastest-selling game in Japan at the time, selling 7.06 million copies by May 7, 2010.
with adventure
elements. The basic mechanics of it are the same as those found in Diamond and Pearl. As with all Pokémon games for hand-held consoles, gameplay is in third-person
overhead perspective, and consists of three basic screens: a field map
, in which the player navigates the main character; a battle screen; and the menu, in which the player configures his party, items, or gameplay settings. The player begins the game with one Pokémon, and can capture more using Poké Balls. The player can also use his or her Pokémon to battle other Pokémon. When the player encounters a wild Pokémon
or is challenged by a trainer to a battle, the screen switches to a turn-based battle screen where the Pokémon fight. During battle, the player may fight, use an item, switch the active Pokémon, or flee (the last not an option in battles against trainers). All Pokémon have hit points (HP); when a Pokémon's HP is reduced to zero, it faints and cannot battle unless revived with a Pokémon skill or item.
If the player's Pokémon defeats the opposing Pokémon (causes it to faint), it receives experience points. After accumulating enough experience points, it may level up
; most Pokémon evolve into a new species of Pokémon when they reach a certain level. Apart from battling, capturing Pokémon is the most important element of Pokémon gameplay. Although other trainers' Pokémon cannot be captured, the player may use a Poké Ball on a wild Pokémon during battle. A successful capture adds the Pokémon to the player's active party or stores it if the player already has the maximum of six Pokémon. Factors in the success rate of capture include the HP of the target Pokémon and the strength of the Poké Ball used; the lower the target's HP and the stronger the Poké Ball, the higher the success rate of capture is. Platinum features largely the same Pokémon as in Diamond and Pearl, with some added and some missing. Platinum features the Pokétch, a wristwatch-like device, introduced in Diamond and Pearl. It feature simple applications such as a calculator, map, counter, and drawing pad. Platinum also features the Underground mode, a mode where players dig for gems and other treasures.
. A variety of changes have been made to the appearance and availability of Pokémon; Giratina
, Shaymin, and Rotom all have new forms, the latter having five. The trios of Articuno
, Zapdos
, and Moltres
along with the trio of Regice, Regirock, and Registeel have been added to the game as well. The game also adds the Battle Frontier, a feature first introduced in Pokémon Emerald. Platinums Pokémon Contests play similarly to Diamond and Pearls; they feature three stages, awarding ribbons to Pokémon for having the best end result. Baked goods called Poffins can be made from berries and fed to Pokémon in order to improve certain traits, depending on the kind of Poffin made. In addition to compatibility with Diamond and Pearl, Platinum offers compatibility with the Game Boy Advance Pokémon RPGs. Players can upload Pokémon from Platinum to the Wii
games Pokémon Battle Revolution
and My Pokémon Ranch
, though the latter is only compatible with Platinum in Japan. A significant addition is the Distortion World, which features distorted physics versus those in the standard game.
. Sinnoh is unconnected to any other region in the Pokémon universe and is characterized by large, snow-covered mountains (Mt. Coronet, part of a mountain range, divides Sinnoh in half). In this game, the starters are fire-type Chimchar, water-type Piplup, and grass-type Turtwig. Unlike other regions, Sinnoh has a "northern" feel to it: it is the only region with permanent snow on the ground, and with routes with snow on the ground and active snowfall. In Platinum, there is snow on the ground in other locations where it was not found in Diamond and Pearl, and the player characters and the player's rival are dressed for colder weather when compared with the designs from the original games. Sinnoh is also characterized by its waterways; it has three main lakes (Verity, Acuity, and Valor) that form a triangle. Unlike the Hoenn region, however, which is mostly water routes, only 30 percent of Sinnoh's landscape comprises waterways. Underneath Sinnoh's surface is the Sinnoh Underground, a large maze of caves and tunnels where players can dig for rare items. Pokémon Platinum, while keeping to the same plot as Diamond and Pearl for the most part, introduces several new elements to it. Two characters are introduced—the first being Charon, a scientist in Team Galactic, and the other being a detective investigating Galactic under the codename "Looker". Giratina
is also the focus of the plot whereas Dialga and Palkia were the focuses of Diamond and Pearl respectively. However you can still obtain both Dialga and Palkia, where as in Diamond and Pearl, you could only catch Giratina and the game's mascot.
. It is in the same vein as Pokémon Yellow, Crystal, and Emerald, which are revisions of Diamond and Pearls predecessors Red and Blue
, Gold and Silver
, and Ruby and Sapphire
. When trying to determine what content to change from Diamond and Pearl, game designer Takeshi Kawachimaru felt that the designers should focus on changing only the most important things so as to make sure that it's not too different from the original games. Game director Junichi Masuda commented that since they designed the original two games as the "ultimate Pokémon titles", they had to make Platinum even stronger than them.
Giratina's design change was one of the first things revealed in Platinum. They designed Giratina's new form they paid attention to its details; his designer redrew Giratina several times, attempting to make it look different from its form in Diamond and Pearl. They finalized its design as an "antimatter Pokémon". Masuda explained antimatter as well as E=MC2 to the developers. He also explained the "Reversed Mt. Fuji", which is what they call the reflection of Mt. Fuji. While Kawachimaru didn't understand it at first, he later incorporated them into the game. The Distortion World was based on these ideas, described as the "core concept" of the game. They also added the Wi-Fi Plaza and Battle Frontier modes to improve players' ability to share information with other players. An idea that the developers wanted to include was to allow players to communicate with family and friends more easily; the developers felt that the Battle Frontier realized this idea.
The developers chose to call the game platinum due to their observations that "diamond" has a "meaning of love", while pearl has a "meaning of happiness". They explained that they wanted to choose something that seems "beautiful", describing platinum as "different from a diamond, different from a gem, different from a pearl, different from something that nature creates, something [that] shines, something beautiful." They also created the story to be different from Diamond and Pearl, commenting that they wanted to make Giratina
seem "more fun, more interesting, cooler." They added Giratina's new area to make the story "more appealing". While Diamond and Pearl had gym leaders who sometimes had Pokémon not in keeping with the type they focus on, Platinum changes this so all Pokémon belonging to gym leaders were the appropriate type.
in New York
. As a bonus for those who pre-ordered Pokémon Platinum, Nintendo gave away Giratina figurines in the United States
. Expanded space was given to Pokémon merchandise in Toys 'R' Us for Pokémon Platinum, which included a Pokémon Trading Card Game
card set based on the Platinum name. They also arranged for several events to obtain rare Pokémon.
's McKinley Noble commented that he anticipated the English release of Platinum 1UP.com
editor Kat Bailey commented that fans will not be left "wanting", stating "once you venture back down the Pokémon rabbit hole, you won't be coming up again for a while." IGN
's Craig Harris commented that those looking for something particularly new in Platinum such as a new method of control would be disappointed, adding that the controls felt "clumsy". However, he noted that those who played Diamond and Pearl will enjoy it for its new features and available Pokémon. In another preview, Harris commented that those who have played Diamond or Pearl will have to decide whether the new features are worth buying the game for, while those who have not should buy it if interested in playing a Pokémon game.
and Game Rankings
respectively. It is the 56th highest rated Nintendo DS game and the 1,542nd highest rated video game on Game Rankings. The Anglo-Celt called it a solid, fun game for those who have yet to play Diamond and Pearl. GamePro
s McKinley Noble called it a great game, calling other third versions of mainline Pokémon titles "lightweight" in comparison. Famitsu
gave praise to Pokémon Platinum. One of the reviewers commented that players are "getting a lot for their money"; another reviewer commented that those who played Diamond and Pearl would not find it to be "more of the same." Another reviewer praised both the features, but also the improved gameplay. The fourth reviewer found fault in it being "Diamond/Pearl at the core", and as a result, "filling up your Pokédex from zero is rough." Official Nintendo Magazines Chris Scullion called it the "ultimate Pokémon game", though noted that this was because it was an updated version of Diamond and Pearl. Nintendo Power
called it "everything a Pokemon experience should be, and more."
Nintendo World Report
's Zachary Miller commented that players who were burnt out on Diamond and Pearl wouldn't find much incentive to play Platinum, but otherwise, Platinum is the "best Pokémon game ever made". Zippy of Hardcore Gamer cited its main quest, battle system, and multiplayer options for why it's the "best hand held RPG available right now". Games(TM) commented that the depth of Platinums gameplay was deeper than "most hardcore MMO can boast". Toastfarmer of PALGN
called it a "crown jewel" of the Nintendo DS, calling it a "deep, engrossing and virtually endless game". GameDaily
's Robert Workman commented that while the graphics and gameplay could have been changed more than they were, it "will score with hardcore fanatic and newbies alike." RPGamer
's Adriaan den Ouden commented that while it was similar to Diamond and Pearl, the expanded Pokédex makes it "far more enjoyable." GameZone's jkdmedia commented that while Diamond and Pearl were great, Platinum was merely good. He added that it was a "must-own" to those who haven't played Diamond or Pearl, but not for anyone else.
Eurogamer
's Dan Pearson commented that those looking for a traditional role-playing game for the Nintendo DS should buy something like Chrono Trigger
, Dragon Quest IV or V, or the Final Fantasy
remakes. Though he noted that those looking for a Pokémon title should get Platinum. Eurogamer Portugal
's Ricardo Madeira called it the "more complete and distinct Pokémon "third version" has seen to date." IGN
's Craig Harris commented that while the advancements over Diamond and Pearl were not huge, its adventure mode and online mode were more fleshed out and expanded. They also included in their list of Nintendo DS games of the Spring season, commenting that it improves on Diamond and Pearls gameplay formula, and goes "above and beyond with new areas, characters, and, of course, Pokemon". In their "Cheers & Tears: DS RPGs" article, which details role-playing games of both high and low quality, IGN included Platinum as a game of high quality. They called it "packed to overflowing with content", commenting that even those who have played Diamond and Pearl several times could enjoy it. IGN ultimately named Platinum, along with Diamond and Pearl, as the ninth best Nintendo DS game. IGN
nominated it for best role-playing game for the Nintendo DS, while its readers chose it as the best multi-player game for the Nintendo DS.
Games Master UK called it "one of the most rewarding and substantial RPGs around", while NGamer UK's Rich Stanton called it "one of the finest strategy games ever made." RPG Fan's John Tucker commented that players of Diamond and Pearl would only be interested in its expanded online mode. Game Informer
commented that if one was looking for a role-playing game and hadn't played Diamond or Pearl, it is "absolutely the way to go". Cheat Code Central
's Jonathan Marx commented that players will be "playing for conceivably years to come". 1UP.com
's Justin Haywald called it the best Pokémon game, though noted that it wasn't very different from Diamond and Pearl. GameTrailers
commented that fans of the series and those who appreciate role-playing games would enjoy it, but blames games like Platinum for why some have lost interest in the series. GameSpot
's Shiva Stella commented that while not fresh, it's the best "special edition yet". Game Revolution
's Joe Dodson commented that while it wasn't "breathtaking", it's one of the "biggest and deepest phenomenons in gaming". CESA gave Platinum one of nine awards for excellence.
. It sold more than one million copies in Japan in only three days, making it the fastest selling game in the region at that time. It sold 315,000 copies in its second week, totaling 1.3 million copies in nine days. Pokémon Platinum ranked second in another week, selling 195,000 copies; it ranked first, and sold 122,000 the week after. As of October 23, Pokémon Platinum was the second best-selling game for the respective week with sales exceeding 72,000 copies. Its current sales at that time were 1.75 million. It reentered the top 10 list in early December due to a lack of new releases. As of December 31, 2008, Pokémon Platinum has sold 2.12 million copies in Japan. It was the fifth best-selling Nintendo DS game for the week of February 12, 2009. For the week ending July 9, 2009, it was the second best-selling Nintendo DS game. For the week ending July 23, 2009, it was the fifth best-selling Nintendo DS game. It fell from the top 10 list in July of 2009.
In North America for the month of March 2009, Pokémon Platinum ranked second on the top 10 best-selling video games chart, selling in excess of 805,000 copies from March 22 to April 4. For the week ending March 26, it was the second best-selling Nintendo DS game. For the week ending April 9, it was the best-selling Nintendo DS game. It ranked second place in both April and May 2009. It was the fourth best-selling Nintendo DS game for the week ending June 11, 2009. For the week ending July 9, 2009, it was the fifth best-selling Nintendo DS game. For the week ending July 23, 2009, it was the third best-selling Nintendo DS game. MarketWatch
noted it as a strong seller for July 2009, a month considered to have been in a slump sales-wise. Pokémon Platinum was the 10th best-selling video game of 2009, selling in excess of 2 million copies. In the United Kingdom, Pokémon Platinum was the second best-selling Nintendo DS game for the week ended June 11, 2009. For the week ended June 20, 2009, Pokémon Platinum fell off of the United Kingdom
's top 10 best-selling video games chart. For the week ending July 9, 2009, it was the second best-selling Nintendo DS game. For the week ending July 23, 2009, it was the fourth best-selling Nintendo DS game.
Pokémon Platinum was the fourth best-selling game worldwide in the third quarter of 2008, selling approximately 1,482,000 copies. In the third quarter of 2009, Pokémon Platinum sold more than 2 million copies. In North America and PAL regions, Pokémon Platinum has sold a combined 3.75 million copies as of May 7, 2009. As of August 14, 2009, Pokémon Platinum has sold over 5.66 million copies worldwide. By October 30, 2009, Pokémon Platinum had sold 6.39 million copies worldwide. Its sales increased to 7.06 million by May 7, 2010.
Pokémon
is a media franchise published and owned by the video game company Nintendo and created by Satoshi Tajiri in 1996. Originally released as a pair of interlinkable Game Boy role-playing video games developed by Game Freak, Pokémon has since become the second most successful and lucrative video...
series of video games. It was developed by Game Freak
Game Freak
is a Japanese video game developer that currently creates games exclusively for Nintendo. It has developed the Pokémon series of role-playing games and several other games.-History:...
and published by Nintendo
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
for the Nintendo DS
Nintendo DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
handheld game console
Handheld game console
A handheld game console is a lightweight, portable electronic device with a built-in screen, game controls and speakers. Handheld game consoles are run on machines of small size allowing people to carry them and play them at any time or place...
. It is an enhanced remake of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl
are role-playing games developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS. With the enhanced remake Pokémon Platinum, the games comprise the fifth installment and fourth generation of the Pokémon series of RPGs...
in the same vein as Pokémon Yellow
Pokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition
, is a 1998 role-playing video game developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy handheld video game console. Along with the release of Pokémon Yellow, a special edition yellow Pokémon-themed Game Boy Color was also released.-Gameplay:...
, Crystal, and Emerald were for their respective games. It was released on September 13, 2008 in Japan, March 22, 2009 in North America, May 14, 2009 in Australia, and May 22, 2009 in Europe. The developers made Platinum with the intent of making it a stronger version of Diamond and Pearl, which they described as the "ultimate" Pokémon titles.
In Platinum, players control either a male or female child character, and start off with one of three Pokémon - Chimchar, Turtwig, or Piplup from Professor Rowan. The mascot Pokémon is Giratina
Giratina
, is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Created by Ken Sugimori, Giratina first appeared in the video games Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, but gained prominence in the remake, Pokémon Platinum, which it was made the mascot of. It later appeared in various merchandise,...
, and is one of the central plots of the game. While it only had one form in Diamond and Pearl, it is given a new alternate form alongside a new area called the Distortion World, which features altered physics from the normal land of Sinnoh. The gameplay stays true to traditional Pokémon mechanics. Players explore a large area, which ranges from mountains, bodies of water, grasslands, populated areas, and snowy areas. Similarly to previous titles, players enter battles with other Pokémon, taking turns attacking each other.
Pokémon Platinum has been met with generally positive reception, holding aggregate scores of 84 and 83.14% at Metacritic
Metacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
and Game Rankings
Game Rankings
GameRankings is a website that collects review scores from both offline and online sources to give an average rating. It indexes over 315,000 articles relating to more than 14,500 games.GameRankings is owned by CBS Interactive...
respectively. It was praised for the additions and changes made to Diamond and Pearl by publications such as IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
, Nintendo Power
Nintendo Power
Nintendo Power magazine is a monthly news and strategy magazine formerly published in-house by Nintendo of America, but now run independently. As of issue #222 , Nintendo contracted publishing duties to Future US, the U.S. subsidiary of British publisher Future.The first issue published was...
, and GamePro
GamePro
GamePro Media was a United States gaming media company publishing online and print content on the video game industry, video game hardware, and video game software developed for a video game console , a computer, and/or a mobile device . GamePro Media properties include GamePro magazine and...
, though it has been criticized for being too similar to them. IGN included it as the ninth best Nintendo DS game ever made, as well as nominating it as one of the best DS role-playing games of 2009. It was the fastest-selling game in Japan at the time, selling 7.06 million copies by May 7, 2010.
Gameplay
Pokémon Platinum is a role-playing gameRole-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
with adventure
Adventure game
An adventure game is a video game in which the player assumes the role of protagonist in an interactive story driven by exploration and puzzle-solving instead of physical challenge. The genre's focus on story allows it to draw heavily from other narrative-based media such as literature and film,...
elements. The basic mechanics of it are the same as those found in Diamond and Pearl. As with all Pokémon games for hand-held consoles, gameplay is in third-person
Grammatical person
Grammatical person, in linguistics, is deictic reference to a participant in an event; such as the speaker, the addressee, or others. Grammatical person typically defines a language's set of personal pronouns...
overhead perspective, and consists of three basic screens: a field map
Overworld
An overworld is, in a broad sense, an area within a video game that interconnects all its levels or locations. They are mostly common in role-playing games, though this does not exclude other video game genres....
, in which the player navigates the main character; a battle screen; and the menu, in which the player configures his party, items, or gameplay settings. The player begins the game with one Pokémon, and can capture more using Poké Balls. The player can also use his or her Pokémon to battle other Pokémon. When the player encounters a wild Pokémon
Random encounter
A random encounter is a feature commonly used in various role-playing games whereby encounters with non-player character enemies or other dangers occur sporadically and at random...
or is challenged by a trainer to a battle, the screen switches to a turn-based battle screen where the Pokémon fight. During battle, the player may fight, use an item, switch the active Pokémon, or flee (the last not an option in battles against trainers). All Pokémon have hit points (HP); when a Pokémon's HP is reduced to zero, it faints and cannot battle unless revived with a Pokémon skill or item.
If the player's Pokémon defeats the opposing Pokémon (causes it to faint), it receives experience points. After accumulating enough experience points, it may level up
Level Up
Level Up was a UK children's TV programme that was broadcast on CBBC. It was launched on the 3rd April 2006, replacing Xchange. The show was an hour long and during the school year broadcasting from 7:30am until 8:30am...
; most Pokémon evolve into a new species of Pokémon when they reach a certain level. Apart from battling, capturing Pokémon is the most important element of Pokémon gameplay. Although other trainers' Pokémon cannot be captured, the player may use a Poké Ball on a wild Pokémon during battle. A successful capture adds the Pokémon to the player's active party or stores it if the player already has the maximum of six Pokémon. Factors in the success rate of capture include the HP of the target Pokémon and the strength of the Poké Ball used; the lower the target's HP and the stronger the Poké Ball, the higher the success rate of capture is. Platinum features largely the same Pokémon as in Diamond and Pearl, with some added and some missing. Platinum features the Pokétch, a wristwatch-like device, introduced in Diamond and Pearl. It feature simple applications such as a calculator, map, counter, and drawing pad. Platinum also features the Underground mode, a mode where players dig for gems and other treasures.
New features
Platinum adds an area called the "Wi-Fi Plaza", an area that features several Pokémon species-themed mini-games and allows up to 20 players to be present in it. Platinum also introduces the Vs. Recorder, which allows players to record battles held in the Battle Frontier or on Wi-Fi. The GTS system, a system that allows players to trade anonymously on the Wi-Fi connection, returns in Platinum; one change to the GTS system allows players to be notified via email when a trade has commenced, though outside of Japan, this feature has been reduced to being merely a message on the player's WiiWii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
. A variety of changes have been made to the appearance and availability of Pokémon; Giratina
Giratina
, is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Created by Ken Sugimori, Giratina first appeared in the video games Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, but gained prominence in the remake, Pokémon Platinum, which it was made the mascot of. It later appeared in various merchandise,...
, Shaymin, and Rotom all have new forms, the latter having five. The trios of Articuno
Articuno
Articuno, known as in Japan, is a fictional character in the Pokémon franchise. Articuno is one of the three winged mirages, along with Zapdos and Moltres. It is a large bird, noted for its ability to control cold. Articuno was one of many designs conceived by Game Freak and finalized by Ken...
, Zapdos
Zapdos
is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Zapdos is one of the three winged mirages along with Articuno and Moltres. It was originally conceived by Game Freak's character development team and finalized by Ken Sugimori...
, and Moltres
Moltres
is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Created by Ken Sugimori, Moltres first appeared in the video games Pokémon Red and Blue and later in subsequent sequels. Moltres is one of the three winged mirages, along with Articuno and Zapdos...
along with the trio of Regice, Regirock, and Registeel have been added to the game as well. The game also adds the Battle Frontier, a feature first introduced in Pokémon Emerald. Platinums Pokémon Contests play similarly to Diamond and Pearls; they feature three stages, awarding ribbons to Pokémon for having the best end result. Baked goods called Poffins can be made from berries and fed to Pokémon in order to improve certain traits, depending on the kind of Poffin made. In addition to compatibility with Diamond and Pearl, Platinum offers compatibility with the Game Boy Advance Pokémon RPGs. Players can upload Pokémon from Platinum to the Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
games Pokémon Battle Revolution
Pokémon Battle Revolution
is the first Wii incarnation of the Pokémon video game franchise. It is also the first Wii game to use the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection in North America and Japan and the first Wii game to wirelessly interact with the Nintendo DS handheld....
and My Pokémon Ranch
My Pokémon Ranch
is a Pokémon video game developed for the Wii by Ambrella. My Pokémon Ranch was released via the WiiWare download service on March 25, 2008 in Japan, in the Americas on June 9, 2008 and in Europe on July 4, 2008 for 1000 Wii Points....
, though the latter is only compatible with Platinum in Japan. A significant addition is the Distortion World, which features distorted physics versus those in the standard game.
Setting and plot
Platinum is set in the fictional region of Sinnoh, an island based on the Japanese island HokkaidōHokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
. Sinnoh is unconnected to any other region in the Pokémon universe and is characterized by large, snow-covered mountains (Mt. Coronet, part of a mountain range, divides Sinnoh in half). In this game, the starters are fire-type Chimchar, water-type Piplup, and grass-type Turtwig. Unlike other regions, Sinnoh has a "northern" feel to it: it is the only region with permanent snow on the ground, and with routes with snow on the ground and active snowfall. In Platinum, there is snow on the ground in other locations where it was not found in Diamond and Pearl, and the player characters and the player's rival are dressed for colder weather when compared with the designs from the original games. Sinnoh is also characterized by its waterways; it has three main lakes (Verity, Acuity, and Valor) that form a triangle. Unlike the Hoenn region, however, which is mostly water routes, only 30 percent of Sinnoh's landscape comprises waterways. Underneath Sinnoh's surface is the Sinnoh Underground, a large maze of caves and tunnels where players can dig for rare items. Pokémon Platinum, while keeping to the same plot as Diamond and Pearl for the most part, introduces several new elements to it. Two characters are introduced—the first being Charon, a scientist in Team Galactic, and the other being a detective investigating Galactic under the codename "Looker". Giratina
Giratina
, is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Created by Ken Sugimori, Giratina first appeared in the video games Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, but gained prominence in the remake, Pokémon Platinum, which it was made the mascot of. It later appeared in various merchandise,...
is also the focus of the plot whereas Dialga and Palkia were the focuses of Diamond and Pearl respectively. However you can still obtain both Dialga and Palkia, where as in Diamond and Pearl, you could only catch Giratina and the game's mascot.
Development
Pokémon Platinum was first announced on May 15, 2008 as a follow-up to Pokémon Diamond and PearlPokémon Diamond and Pearl
are role-playing games developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS. With the enhanced remake Pokémon Platinum, the games comprise the fifth installment and fourth generation of the Pokémon series of RPGs...
. It is in the same vein as Pokémon Yellow, Crystal, and Emerald, which are revisions of Diamond and Pearls predecessors Red and Blue
Pokémon Red and Blue
Pokémon Red Version and Blue Version, originally released in Japan as , are role-playing games developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy. They are the first installments to the Pokémon series. They were first released in Japan in 1996 as Red and Green, with Blue being...
, Gold and Silver
Pokémon Gold and Silver
are the second installments of the Pokémon series of role-playing video games developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy Color. The games have dual-mode capabilities allowing them to also be played on earlier Game Boy models. They were first released in Japan in 1999 and to...
, and Ruby and Sapphire
Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire
are the third installments of the Pokémon series of role-playing games, developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy Advance. The games were first released in Japan in late 2002 and later released to the rest of the world in 2003 . Pokémon Emerald, a special edition version,...
. When trying to determine what content to change from Diamond and Pearl, game designer Takeshi Kawachimaru felt that the designers should focus on changing only the most important things so as to make sure that it's not too different from the original games. Game director Junichi Masuda commented that since they designed the original two games as the "ultimate Pokémon titles", they had to make Platinum even stronger than them.
Giratina's design change was one of the first things revealed in Platinum. They designed Giratina's new form they paid attention to its details; his designer redrew Giratina several times, attempting to make it look different from its form in Diamond and Pearl. They finalized its design as an "antimatter Pokémon". Masuda explained antimatter as well as E=MC2 to the developers. He also explained the "Reversed Mt. Fuji", which is what they call the reflection of Mt. Fuji. While Kawachimaru didn't understand it at first, he later incorporated them into the game. The Distortion World was based on these ideas, described as the "core concept" of the game. They also added the Wi-Fi Plaza and Battle Frontier modes to improve players' ability to share information with other players. An idea that the developers wanted to include was to allow players to communicate with family and friends more easily; the developers felt that the Battle Frontier realized this idea.
The developers chose to call the game platinum due to their observations that "diamond" has a "meaning of love", while pearl has a "meaning of happiness". They explained that they wanted to choose something that seems "beautiful", describing platinum as "different from a diamond, different from a gem, different from a pearl, different from something that nature creates, something [that] shines, something beautiful." They also created the story to be different from Diamond and Pearl, commenting that they wanted to make Giratina
Giratina
, is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Created by Ken Sugimori, Giratina first appeared in the video games Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, but gained prominence in the remake, Pokémon Platinum, which it was made the mascot of. It later appeared in various merchandise,...
seem "more fun, more interesting, cooler." They added Giratina's new area to make the story "more appealing". While Diamond and Pearl had gym leaders who sometimes had Pokémon not in keeping with the type they focus on, Platinum changes this so all Pokémon belonging to gym leaders were the appropriate type.
Release and promotion
It was first announced for an August 2008 release in Japan, with no release date confirmed overseas. It was eventually released on September 13, 2008 in Japan, March 22, 2009 in North America, May 14, 2009 in Australia, and May 22, 2009 in Europe. Its North American release was celebrated by NintendoNintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. As a bonus for those who pre-ordered Pokémon Platinum, Nintendo gave away Giratina figurines in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Expanded space was given to Pokémon merchandise in Toys 'R' Us for Pokémon Platinum, which included a Pokémon Trading Card Game
Pokémon Trading Card Game
The Pokémon Trading Card Game is a collectible card game based on the Pokémon video game series, first introduced in Japan in October 1996, then North America in December 1998...
card set based on the Platinum name. They also arranged for several events to obtain rare Pokémon.
Pre-release reception
GameProGamePro
GamePro Media was a United States gaming media company publishing online and print content on the video game industry, video game hardware, and video game software developed for a video game console , a computer, and/or a mobile device . GamePro Media properties include GamePro magazine and...
's McKinley Noble commented that he anticipated the English release of Platinum 1UP.com
1UP.com
1UP.com is a video game website owned by IGN Entertainment, a division of News Corporation. Previously, the site was owned by Ziff Davis before being sold to UGO Entertainment in 2009....
editor Kat Bailey commented that fans will not be left "wanting", stating "once you venture back down the Pokémon rabbit hole, you won't be coming up again for a while." IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
's Craig Harris commented that those looking for something particularly new in Platinum such as a new method of control would be disappointed, adding that the controls felt "clumsy". However, he noted that those who played Diamond and Pearl will enjoy it for its new features and available Pokémon. In another preview, Harris commented that those who have played Diamond or Pearl will have to decide whether the new features are worth buying the game for, while those who have not should buy it if interested in playing a Pokémon game.
Critical reception
Pokémon Platinum has received generally positive reception. It holds an aggregate score of 83/100 and 83.14% at MetacriticMetacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
and Game Rankings
Game Rankings
GameRankings is a website that collects review scores from both offline and online sources to give an average rating. It indexes over 315,000 articles relating to more than 14,500 games.GameRankings is owned by CBS Interactive...
respectively. It is the 56th highest rated Nintendo DS game and the 1,542nd highest rated video game on Game Rankings. The Anglo-Celt called it a solid, fun game for those who have yet to play Diamond and Pearl. GamePro
GamePro
GamePro Media was a United States gaming media company publishing online and print content on the video game industry, video game hardware, and video game software developed for a video game console , a computer, and/or a mobile device . GamePro Media properties include GamePro magazine and...
s McKinley Noble called it a great game, calling other third versions of mainline Pokémon titles "lightweight" in comparison. Famitsu
Famitsu
is a line of Japanese video game magazines published by Enterbrain, Inc. and Tokuma. Currently, there are five Famitsū magazines: Shūkan Famitsū, Famitsū PS3 + PSP, Famitsū Xbox 360, Famitsū Wii+DS, and Famitsū Wave DVD...
gave praise to Pokémon Platinum. One of the reviewers commented that players are "getting a lot for their money"; another reviewer commented that those who played Diamond and Pearl would not find it to be "more of the same." Another reviewer praised both the features, but also the improved gameplay. The fourth reviewer found fault in it being "Diamond/Pearl at the core", and as a result, "filling up your Pokédex from zero is rough." Official Nintendo Magazines Chris Scullion called it the "ultimate Pokémon game", though noted that this was because it was an updated version of Diamond and Pearl. Nintendo Power
Nintendo Power
Nintendo Power magazine is a monthly news and strategy magazine formerly published in-house by Nintendo of America, but now run independently. As of issue #222 , Nintendo contracted publishing duties to Future US, the U.S. subsidiary of British publisher Future.The first issue published was...
called it "everything a Pokemon experience should be, and more."
Nintendo World Report
Nintendo World Report
Nintendo World Report is a Nintendo-specific video game website that covers Nintendo's current consoles, the Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi, and Wii.-History:...
's Zachary Miller commented that players who were burnt out on Diamond and Pearl wouldn't find much incentive to play Platinum, but otherwise, Platinum is the "best Pokémon game ever made". Zippy of Hardcore Gamer cited its main quest, battle system, and multiplayer options for why it's the "best hand held RPG available right now". Games(TM) commented that the depth of Platinums gameplay was deeper than "most hardcore MMO can boast". Toastfarmer of PALGN
PALGN
The PAL Gaming Network is an Australian based video game news and reviews website that focuses on the videogame industry and culture in PAL territories, particularly Australia and the UK. It was launched in 2003 by a group of PAL forum members on the IGN message boards who were disenfranchised by...
called it a "crown jewel" of the Nintendo DS, calling it a "deep, engrossing and virtually endless game". GameDaily
GameDaily
GameDaily was a video game journalism website based in the United States. Launched in 1995 by entrepreneur Mark Friedler under the name Gigex and focused on free game demo downloads, The site changed its business model from a flat fee per download CDN distributed service network to an...
's Robert Workman commented that while the graphics and gameplay could have been changed more than they were, it "will score with hardcore fanatic and newbies alike." RPGamer
RPGamer
RPGamer is a media and news website dedicated to covering computer and video game RPGs. Its coverage includes North American game news, European game news, Asian game news, gaming industry news, game reviews, game previews, hands-on game impressions, gaming conventions, game merchandise, release...
's Adriaan den Ouden commented that while it was similar to Diamond and Pearl, the expanded Pokédex makes it "far more enjoyable." GameZone's jkdmedia commented that while Diamond and Pearl were great, Platinum was merely good. He added that it was a "must-own" to those who haven't played Diamond or Pearl, but not for anyone else.
Eurogamer
Eurogamer
Eurogamer is a Brighton-based website focused on video games news, reviews, previews and interviews. It is operated by Eurogamer Network Ltd., which was formed in 1999 by brothers Rupert and Nick Loman. Eurogamer has grown to become one of the most important European-based websites focused on...
's Dan Pearson commented that those looking for a traditional role-playing game for the Nintendo DS should buy something like Chrono Trigger
Chrono Trigger
is a role-playing video game developed and published by Square for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1995. Chrono Triggers development team included three designers that Square dubbed the "Dream Team": Hironobu Sakaguchi, the creator of Square's Final Fantasy series; Yuji Horii, a...
, Dragon Quest IV or V, or the Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy
is a media franchise created by Hironobu Sakaguchi, and is developed and owned by Square Enix . The franchise centers on a series of fantasy and science-fantasy role-playing video games , but includes motion pictures, anime, printed media, and other merchandise...
remakes. Though he noted that those looking for a Pokémon title should get Platinum. Eurogamer Portugal
Eurogamer
Eurogamer is a Brighton-based website focused on video games news, reviews, previews and interviews. It is operated by Eurogamer Network Ltd., which was formed in 1999 by brothers Rupert and Nick Loman. Eurogamer has grown to become one of the most important European-based websites focused on...
's Ricardo Madeira called it the "more complete and distinct Pokémon "third version" has seen to date." IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
's Craig Harris commented that while the advancements over Diamond and Pearl were not huge, its adventure mode and online mode were more fleshed out and expanded. They also included in their list of Nintendo DS games of the Spring season, commenting that it improves on Diamond and Pearls gameplay formula, and goes "above and beyond with new areas, characters, and, of course, Pokemon". In their "Cheers & Tears: DS RPGs" article, which details role-playing games of both high and low quality, IGN included Platinum as a game of high quality. They called it "packed to overflowing with content", commenting that even those who have played Diamond and Pearl several times could enjoy it. IGN ultimately named Platinum, along with Diamond and Pearl, as the ninth best Nintendo DS game. IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
nominated it for best role-playing game for the Nintendo DS, while its readers chose it as the best multi-player game for the Nintendo DS.
Games Master UK called it "one of the most rewarding and substantial RPGs around", while NGamer UK's Rich Stanton called it "one of the finest strategy games ever made." RPG Fan's John Tucker commented that players of Diamond and Pearl would only be interested in its expanded online mode. Game Informer
Game Informer
Game Informer is an American-based monthly magazine featuring articles, news, strategy, and reviews of popular video games and associated consoles. It was formed in August 1991, when FuncoLand started publishing a six-page magazine, free in all its retail locations...
commented that if one was looking for a role-playing game and hadn't played Diamond or Pearl, it is "absolutely the way to go". Cheat Code Central
Cheat Code Central
Cheat Code Central is a video game website primarily known for its extensive list of cheat codes. Cheat Code Central, also known as CCC and CheatCC, offers previews, reviews, news, and various articles on the gaming industry...
's Jonathan Marx commented that players will be "playing for conceivably years to come". 1UP.com
1UP.com
1UP.com is a video game website owned by IGN Entertainment, a division of News Corporation. Previously, the site was owned by Ziff Davis before being sold to UGO Entertainment in 2009....
's Justin Haywald called it the best Pokémon game, though noted that it wasn't very different from Diamond and Pearl. GameTrailers
GameTrailers
GameTrailers is a media website that specializes in video game related content. It provides free access to original programming , game trailers and recorded game play. Along with standard definition , many of the video clips are offered in a higher resolution .Users can upload videos, create...
commented that fans of the series and those who appreciate role-playing games would enjoy it, but blames games like Platinum for why some have lost interest in the series. GameSpot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
's Shiva Stella commented that while not fresh, it's the best "special edition yet". Game Revolution
Game Revolution
Game Revolution or GR is a gaming website created in 1996. Based in Berkeley, California, the site includes reviews, previews, a gaming download area, cheats, and a merchandise store, as well as webcomics, screenshots, and videos...
's Joe Dodson commented that while it wasn't "breathtaking", it's one of the "biggest and deepest phenomenons in gaming". CESA gave Platinum one of nine awards for excellence.
Sales
Pokémon Platinums launch was credited for the increased sales of the Nintendo DSNintendo DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
. It sold more than one million copies in Japan in only three days, making it the fastest selling game in the region at that time. It sold 315,000 copies in its second week, totaling 1.3 million copies in nine days. Pokémon Platinum ranked second in another week, selling 195,000 copies; it ranked first, and sold 122,000 the week after. As of October 23, Pokémon Platinum was the second best-selling game for the respective week with sales exceeding 72,000 copies. Its current sales at that time were 1.75 million. It reentered the top 10 list in early December due to a lack of new releases. As of December 31, 2008, Pokémon Platinum has sold 2.12 million copies in Japan. It was the fifth best-selling Nintendo DS game for the week of February 12, 2009. For the week ending July 9, 2009, it was the second best-selling Nintendo DS game. For the week ending July 23, 2009, it was the fifth best-selling Nintendo DS game. It fell from the top 10 list in July of 2009.
In North America for the month of March 2009, Pokémon Platinum ranked second on the top 10 best-selling video games chart, selling in excess of 805,000 copies from March 22 to April 4. For the week ending March 26, it was the second best-selling Nintendo DS game. For the week ending April 9, it was the best-selling Nintendo DS game. It ranked second place in both April and May 2009. It was the fourth best-selling Nintendo DS game for the week ending June 11, 2009. For the week ending July 9, 2009, it was the fifth best-selling Nintendo DS game. For the week ending July 23, 2009, it was the third best-selling Nintendo DS game. MarketWatch
MarketWatch
MarketWatch operates a financial information website that provides business news, analysis and stock market data to some 6 million people. MarketWatch offers personal finance news and advice, tools for investors and access to industry research. Along with its flagship website, the company operates...
noted it as a strong seller for July 2009, a month considered to have been in a slump sales-wise. Pokémon Platinum was the 10th best-selling video game of 2009, selling in excess of 2 million copies. In the United Kingdom, Pokémon Platinum was the second best-selling Nintendo DS game for the week ended June 11, 2009. For the week ended June 20, 2009, Pokémon Platinum fell off of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's top 10 best-selling video games chart. For the week ending July 9, 2009, it was the second best-selling Nintendo DS game. For the week ending July 23, 2009, it was the fourth best-selling Nintendo DS game.
Pokémon Platinum was the fourth best-selling game worldwide in the third quarter of 2008, selling approximately 1,482,000 copies. In the third quarter of 2009, Pokémon Platinum sold more than 2 million copies. In North America and PAL regions, Pokémon Platinum has sold a combined 3.75 million copies as of May 7, 2009. As of August 14, 2009, Pokémon Platinum has sold over 5.66 million copies worldwide. By October 30, 2009, Pokémon Platinum had sold 6.39 million copies worldwide. Its sales increased to 7.06 million by May 7, 2010.
External links
- Pokémon Platinum Official U.S. Pokémon Platinum website
- Bulbapedia Bulbapedia's article on Pokémon Platinum