Pokémon Platinum Version is a 2008 role-playing video game created by Game Freak and released by The Pokémon Company and Nintendo for the Nintendo DS. It is an improved version of the 2006 games Pokémon Diamond and Pearl and is part of the fourth generation of the Pokémon video game series. The game was first released in Japan in September 2008 and later released in other countries in 2009.
In Pokémon Platinum, players choose to control either Lucas or Dawn and start the game with one of three Pokémon given by Professor Rowan. The main Pokémon of the game is Giratina, which plays an important role in the story. Giratina had only one form in Diamond and Pearl, but in Platinum, it gains a new form called "Origin Form." This new form is introduced with the Distortion World, a special area in the game where the rules of the environment are different from the Sinnoh region, where the game takes place. The gameplay follows traditional Pokémon rules: players explore towns, caves, and outdoor areas, catch and train Pokémon, and fight in turn-based battles.
Pokémon Platinum received mostly positive reviews, with average scores of 84 on Metacritic and 83.14% on GameRankings. Reviewers called it one of the better games in the series and praised the improvements made over Diamond and Pearl. Some critics noted that it was too similar to those games. Magazines like IGN, Nintendo Power, and GamePro highlighted its improvements. IGN ranked it ninth on its list of the best Nintendo DS games and listed it as one of the best DS role-playing games of 2009. At the time of its release, it was the fastest-selling video game in Japan. By March 31, 2010, it had sold 7.06 million copies worldwide.
Gameplay
Pokémon Platinum is a role-playing video game that includes adventure elements. It uses the same basic gameplay as Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, except for some bugs and glitches that were fixed. For example, a glitch called the "void glitch" was removed because it caused players to lose their saved game progress. Like all Pokémon games for handheld consoles before this one, the game is played from a top-down view and has three main screens: a field map where the player moves the main character, a battle screen where Pokémon fight, and a menu where the player manages their team, items, or settings. Players start with one Pokémon and can catch more using Poké Balls. They can also use their Pokémon to battle other Pokémon. When a wild Pokémon appears or a trainer challenges the player to a battle, the screen changes to a turn-based battle screen. During battles, the player can use a move, use an item, switch Pokémon, or run away. However, players cannot run away during battles against trainers. All Pokémon have hit points (HP); if a Pokémon’s HP drops to zero, it faints and cannot fight unless healed with a skill or item. A reviewer from Games for Lunch noted that while Platinum kept the main gameplay from Diamond and Pearl, improvements like faster menus and better AI made the game feel smoother for returning players.
If a player’s Pokémon defeats an opponent by making it faint, it earns experience points. When a Pokémon gains enough experience, it levels up, and many Pokémon change into a new form when they reach a certain level. Capturing Pokémon is a key part of the game. Players can use Poké Balls on wild Pokémon during battles, but they cannot capture other trainers’ Pokémon. A successful capture adds the Pokémon to the player’s team or stores it in the PC if the player already has six Pokémon. The chance of capturing a Pokémon depends on the target’s HP and the strength of the Poké Ball used. Lower HP and stronger Poké Balls increase the capture chance. Platinum includes most of the same Pokémon as Diamond and Pearl, with some added and some missing. It also includes the Pokétch, a wristwatch-like device with simple tools like a calculator, map, counter, and drawing pad. The game adds an Underground mode where players dig for spheres and fossils.
Platinum introduces a new area called the "Wi-Fi Plaza," which has mini-games themed around Pokémon and allows up to 20 players to join. It also adds the Vs. Recorder, which lets players record battles in the Battle Frontier or on Wi-Fi. The Global Trade System (GTS), which allows players to trade Pokémon anonymously over Wi-Fi, returns in Platinum. A change to the GTS lets players receive email notifications about trades, though this feature is limited to a message on the player’s Wii outside Japan. To use Wi-Fi features, a network with WEP key security is required. Many Pokémon have new appearances or are available earlier in the game, such as Giratina, Shaymin, and Rotom, which have new forms. New items help change Pokémon forms, like the Griseous Orb for Giratina and the Gracidea Flower for Shaymin. The game also adds the trio of Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres, as well as Regice, Regirock, and Registeel. The Battle Frontier, first introduced in Pokémon Emerald, is included. Pokémon Contests in Platinum work like those in Diamond and Pearl, with four stages and ribbons awarded for best performances. Poffins, made from berries, can improve Pokémon traits when fed to them. Platinum is compatible with Diamond and Pearl and third-generation games on the Game Boy Advance through the DS’s slot. Players can upload Pokémon to the Wii games Pokémon Battle Revolution and My Pokémon Ranch, though the latter is only compatible with Platinum in Japan. Two new characters, Looker, a police investigator chasing Team Galactic, and Charon, a Team Galactic admin, appear. A major addition is the Distortion World, where physics are different from the normal world. Compared to Diamond and Pearl, popular Pokémon like Togekiss, Gliscor, and Electivire become available earlier. The game also adds a post-game feature where players can decorate a Villa.
Setting and story
Pokémon Platinum takes place in the fictional Sinnoh region, just like Diamond and Pearl. However, Platinum has different environments, including snow in areas that did not have snow in Diamond and Pearl. To match this change, the player characters and their rival are dressed for colder weather compared to their designs in Diamond and Pearl.
Like Diamond and Pearl, Platinum includes familiar locations in Sinnoh, such as Twinleaf Town, Pastoria City, and the Resort Area. Many of these places have updated designs and changes compared to Diamond and Pearl. Platinum also brings back popular characters from Diamond and Pearl, including Sinnoh League Champion Cynthia, Elite Four members Aaron, Bertha, Flint, and Lucian, and Gym Leaders Roark, Gardenia, Fantina, Maylene, Crasher Wake, Byron, Candice, and Volkner.
Pokémon Platinum follows a similar story to Diamond and Pearl but adds new elements. Two new characters are introduced: Charon, a scientist in Team Galactic and the fourth commander alongside Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, and a detective working against Team Galactic under the codename "Looker." Giratina is the main focus of the story, unlike Diamond and Pearl, where Dialga and Palkia were the focuses. After finishing the game, players can catch both Dialga and Palkia, whereas in Diamond and Pearl, players could only catch Giratina and the mascot of their respective game. Players have multiple chances to catch Giratina during the game, which is the first time the game allows players to catch a Legendary Pokémon again after defeating it.
New scenes were added to Platinum’s story to develop the plot further. One scene includes the player sneaking into Team Galactic’s headquarters with Looker and watching Team Galactic’s leader, Cyrus, give a speech. In the speech, Cyrus explains his plan to use Dialga and Palkia to create a new world without spirit.
As in Diamond and Pearl, the Starter Pokémon are Turtwig (Grass-type), Chimchar (Fire-type), and Piplup (Water-type). These Pokémon evolve into Torterra, Infernape, and Empoleon, respectively.
Development
When deciding what to change from the games Diamond and Pearl, game designer Takeshi Kawachimaru believed the team should focus only on the most important changes to keep the game similar to the original. Game director Junichi Masuda noted that since Diamond and Pearl were designed as the "ultimate" Pokémon games, Platinum had to be even better than them.
One of the first changes revealed about Platinum in February 2008 was Giratina’s new design. The designers worked carefully to make Giratina look different from its version in Diamond and Pearl. They finalized its design as an "antimatter Pokémon." Masuda explained antimatter and the relationship between mass and energy to the developers. He also described the "Reversed Mount Fuji," a term used to describe the reflection of Mount Fuji. Kawachimaru initially did not understand these ideas but later used them in the game. The Distortion World, a key part of the game, was based on these concepts. The developers also added the Wi-Fi Plaza and Battle Frontier modes to help players share information more easily. They wanted players to communicate with friends and family more conveniently, and they believed the Battle Frontier achieved this goal.
The developers chose the name Platinum because they observed that diamond represents "love" and pearl represents "happiness." They wanted a name that felt "beautiful" and described platinum as something "different from a diamond, a gem, or a pearl—something that shines and is beautiful." They also changed the story to make it different from Diamond and Pearl, aiming to make Giratina "more fun, more interesting, and cooler." They added a new area for Giratina to make the story "more appealing." In Diamond and Pearl, some Gym Leaders had Pokémon that did not match their type. Platinum fixed this by expanding the Sinnoh Pokédex so that all Pokémon belonging to Gym Leaders matched their type. It also gave players earlier access to several new evolutions of older Pokémon, many of which were previously only available after defeating the Champion.
Release
Pokémon Platinum was first announced on May 15, 2008, as a game that came after Diamond and Pearl. It was first planned for release in Japan in August 2008, but no dates for other countries were shared at that time. The game was finally released on September 13, 2008, in Japan, March 22, 2009, in North America, May 15, 2009, in Australia, and May 22, 2009, in Europe. Its release in North America was celebrated at the Nintendo World Store in New York City.
As a special offer for people who ordered Pokémon Platinum before it was released, Nintendo gave away Giratina figurines in the United States. More space was provided in Toys "R" Us stores for Pokémon Platinum merchandise, which included a Pokémon Trading Card Game card set with the Platinum name. Nintendo also organized events where players could get rare Pokémon.
Reception
GamePro’s McKinley Noble said he expected the English version of Pokémon Platinum to be released. 1UP.com stated that fans would not be disappointed, saying, “once you return to playing Pokémon games, you will not want to stop for a long time.” Craig Harris of IGN noted that players looking for major new features, such as different ways to control the game, might be disappointed, as the controls felt “clumsy.” However, he said players who had played Diamond and Pearl would enjoy the new features and Pokémon available in Platinum. In another preview, Harris said players who had already played Diamond or Pearl would need to decide if the new features are worth buying the game, while those who had not played the earlier games should buy it if they are interested in playing a Pokémon game. Media scholar Seth Giddings used Pokémon Platinum as an example of how children mix virtual game worlds with their everyday imaginative play, especially noting its open-ended design and how it helps shape digital media habits. Later games in the series, such as Pokémon Black, improved gameplay elements first introduced in Platinum, including more dynamic battle sequences and better storytelling pacing.
Pokémon Platinum received mostly positive reviews. It has an aggregate score of 84/100 and 83.14% on Metacritic and GameRankings, respectively. It is the 56th highest-rated Nintendo DS game on Game Rankings. The Anglo-Celt called it a solid, fun game for those who had not played Diamond and Pearl. GamePro’s McKinley Noble called it a great game, saying other third versions of mainline Pokémon titles were “lightweight” in comparison. Famitsu praised Pokémon Platinum. One reviewer said players “get a lot for their money,” while another said those who had played Diamond and Pearl would not find it “more of the same.” Another reviewer praised the new features and improved gameplay. A fourth reviewer said the game felt like “Diamond and Pearl at the core,” making it difficult for players to complete the Pokédex from scratch. Official Nintendo Magazine’s Chris Scullion called it the “ultimate Pokémon game,” though he noted this was because it was an updated version of Diamond and Pearl. Nintendo Power said it was “everything a Pokémon experience should be, and more.”
Nintendo World Report’s Zachary Miller said players who were tired of Diamond and Pearl would not find much reason to play Platinum, but otherwise called it the “best Pokémon game ever made.” Zippy of Hardcore Gamer said its main quest, battle system, and multiplayer options made it “the best handheld RPG available right now.” Games(TM) said the depth of Platinum’s gameplay was deeper than “most hardcore MMO can boast.” Toastfarmer of PALGN called it a “crown jewel” of the Nintendo DS, saying it was a “deep, engrossing, and virtually endless game.” GameDaily’s Robert Workman said while the graphics and gameplay could have changed more, it “will score with hardcore fans and new players alike.” RPGamer’s Adriaan den Ouden said while it was similar to Diamond and Pearl, the expanded Pokédex made it “far more enjoyable.” GameZone’s jkdmedia said while Diamond and Pearl were great, Platinum was merely good. He added it was a “must-own” for those who had not played Diamond or Pearl, but not for others.
Dan Pearson of Eurogamer said those looking for a traditional role-playing game on the Nintendo DS should buy something like Chrono Trigger, Dragon Quest IV or V, or the Final Fantasy remakes, though he noted those wanting a Pokémon title should get Platinum. Eurogamer Portugal’s Ricardo Madeira called it the “most complete and distinct Pokémon third version he has seen to date.” IGN’s Craig Harris said while the improvements over Diamond and Pearl were not huge, its adventure mode and online mode were more detailed. They included it in their list of Nintendo DS games for the spring season, saying it improved on Diamond and Pearl’s gameplay and added “new areas, characters, and, of course, Pokémon.” In their article about role-playing games, IGN called Platinum “packed to overflowing with content,” saying even those who had played Diamond and Pearl many times could enjoy it. IGN named Platinum, along with Diamond and Pearl, as the ninth-best Nintendo DS game. They nominated it for best role-playing game for the Nintendo DS, while readers chose it as the best multiplayer 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 said players of Diamond and Pearl would only be interested in its expanded online mode. Game Informer said if someone was looking for a role-playing game and had not played Diamond or Pearl, it was “absolutely the way to go.” 1UP.com’s Justin Haywald called it the best Pokémon game, though noted it was not very different from Diamond and Pearl. GameTrailers said fans of the series and those who enjoy role-playing games would enjoy it, but blamed games like Platinum for making some lose interest in the series. GameSpot’s Shiva Stella said while it was not fresh, it was the best “special edition yet.” Game Revolution’s Joe Dodson said while it was not “breathtaking,” it was one of the “biggest and deepest phenomenons in gaming.” CESA gave Platinum one of nine awards for excellence.
Pokémon Platinum’s release helped increase Nintendo DS sales in Japan in September 2008. It sold more than one million copies in Japan in about three days, becoming 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 week, with sales exceeding 72,000 copies. Its total sales at that time were 1.75 million. It re-entered the top 10 list in early December due to fewer new releases. As of December 31, 2008, Pokémon Platinum had 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 2009.
In North America for March 2009, Pokémon Platinum ranked second on the top 10 best-selling video games chart, selling more than 805,000 copies from March 22 to April 4. For the week ending March 26, it was the second best-selling Nintendo DS game.