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. The game 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. It was first released in Japan in September 2008 and later sold in other countries during 2009.
In Pokémon Platinum, players choose to control either Lucas or Dawn and start with one of three Pokémon given by Professor Rowan. The mascot Pokémon of the game is Giratina, which plays an important role in the story. While Giratina had only one form in Diamond and Pearl, it gains a new "Origin Form" in Platinum. This new form is introduced with the Distortion World, a special area in the game where the rules of physics are different from the Sinnoh region, which is the main setting of the game. Gameplay follows familiar 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 said it was one of the better games in the series and noted the improvements made over Diamond and Pearl. However, some critics said it was too similar to those games. Magazines like IGN, Nintendo Power, and GamePro highlighted the game’s improvements. IGN ranked it ninth on its list of the best Nintendo DS games and listed it as one of the top 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 game rules as Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, except for a few bugs and glitches. For example, the void glitch was fixed because it caused many players to lose their saved game progress. Like all Pokémon games for handheld consoles up to that time, the game uses a third-person overhead view, with three main screens: a field map where players move their character, a battle screen, and a menu where players manage their team, items, or settings. Players start with one Pokémon and can catch more using Poké Balls. They can also use their Pokémon to fight other Pokémon. When a wild Pokémon appears or a trainer challenges the player to a battle, the screen switches to a turn-based battle screen. During battles, players can use moves, items, switch Pokémon, or flee. Fleeing is not allowed during battles against trainers. All Pokémon have hit points (HP); when a Pokémon’s HP reaches zero, it faints and cannot fight unless revived with a special move or item. A reviewer from Games for Lunch noted that while Platinum kept many core gameplay features from Diamond and Pearl, improvements like faster menu options 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. After earning enough experience points, the Pokémon levels up. Most Pokémon evolve into a new species 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 success rate of capturing depends on the target Pokémon’s HP and the strength of the Poké Ball used. Lower HP and stronger Poké Balls increase the chance of success. Platinum includes most of the same Pokémon as Diamond and Pearl, with some added and some missing. It also features the Pokétch, a wristwatch-like device introduced in Diamond and Pearl, which includes simple tools like a calculator, map, counter, and drawing pad. The game also includes the Underground mode, where players dig for spheres and fossils.
Platinum adds 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 introduces the Vs. Recorder, which lets players record battles from the Battle Frontier or Wi-Fi. The Global Trade System (GTS), a feature that lets players trade Pokémon anonymously over Wi-Fi, returns in Platinum. One change allows players to receive email notifications about trades, though outside Japan, this is only a message on the player’s Wii. 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, and new Pokémon like Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres, Regice, Regirock, and Registeel are added. The game also includes the Battle Frontier, a feature first introduced in Pokémon Emerald. Pokémon Contests in Platinum work similarly to those in Diamond and Pearl, with four stages and ribbons awarded for best performance. Poffins, baked goods made from berries, can improve Pokémon traits based on the type of Poffin. 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 Wii games like Pokémon Battle Revolution and My Pokémon Ranch, though the latter is only compatible with Platinum in Japan. New characters, Looker (a police investigator) and Charon (a Team Galactic admin), are introduced. A major addition is the Distortion World, which has unusual physics. Compared to Diamond and Pearl, many popular Pokémon are available earlier, such as Togekiss, Gliscor, and Electivire. The game also adds a Villa for players to decorate after completing the main story.
Setting and story
Pokémon Platinum takes place in the fictional Sinnoh region, just like Diamond and Pearl. However, Platinum has different environments, with snow appearing in areas that did not have snow in Diamond and Pearl. To show this change, the player and their rival wear clothing suited for colder weather, unlike 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 been redesigned or improved compared to Diamond and Pearl. Additionally, Platinum 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.
While Platinum follows the same story as Diamond and Pearl, it introduces new elements. Two new characters are added: Charon, a scientist in Team Galactic and the fourth commander of the group, and a detective known as "Looker," who investigates Team Galactic. Giratina is the main focus of the story, replacing Dialga and Palkia, who were the focuses in Diamond and Pearl. Players can still catch Dialga and Palkia after completing the game, unlike in Diamond and Pearl, where players could only catch Giratina and the mascot of each game. Players have multiple opportunities 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 shows 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 changes to make 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 versions. Game director Junichi Masuda explained that since Diamond and Pearl were designed as the "ultimate" Pokémon games, the team needed to make Platinum even better than those games.
One of the first changes announced for Platinum in February 2008 was Giratina’s new design. To make it look different from its version in Diamond and Pearl, the designer redrew Giratina many times. The final design was called an "antimatter Pokémon." Masuda explained the idea of antimatter and the concept of mass-energy equivalence to the developers. He also described the "Reversed Mount Fuji," which refers to the reflection of Mount Fuji. Although Kawachimaru did not understand these ideas at first, he later used them in the game. The Distortion World in Platinum was based on these ideas and was described as the "core concept" of the game. The developers also added the Wi-Fi Plaza and Battle Frontier modes to help players share information more easily. They wanted to include a way for players to communicate with friends and family, and they believed the Battle Frontier mode achieved this goal.
The developers chose the name Platinum because they wanted something that felt "beautiful." They explained that diamond represents "love" and pearl represents "happiness," but they wanted a name that was different from those and described platinum as "something that shines, something beautiful." They also changed the story to make it different from Diamond and Pearl, aiming to make Giratina seem "more fun, more interesting, 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 the type they focused on. In Platinum, the team expanded the Sinnoh Pokédex so that all Pokémon belonging to Gym Leaders matched their type. They also gave players earlier access to several new evolutions of older Pokémon, many of which were originally 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 to be released 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. The North American release was marked at the Nintendo World Store in New York City.
As a special gift for people who bought Pokémon Platinum in advance in the United States, Nintendo gave out Giratina figurines. More space was made available in Toys "R" Us stores for Pokémon Platinum merchandise, which included a Pokémon Trading Card Game card set with the name "Platinum" on them. Special events were also held to help players catch rare Pokémon.
Reception
GamePro's McKinley Noble said he expected the English version of Pokémon Platinum to be released. 1UP.com said fans will not be disappointed, stating that once players return to the Pokémon world, they will spend a long time playing it. Craig Harris of IGN said players looking for new ways to control the game might be disappointed, as the controls felt "clumsy." However, he noted that players who had played Diamond and Pearl would enjoy the new features and Pokémon included. In another preview, Harris said players who had played Diamond or Pearl would need to decide if the new features are worth buying the game, while those who had not played 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 structure and how it helps shape digital media habits. Later games in the series, like Pokémon Black, improved gameplay elements first introduced in Platinum, including dynamic battle sequences and better pacing of the story.
Pokémon Platinum received mostly positive reviews. It has an average score of 84 out of 100 and 83.14% on Metacritic and GameRankings. 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 yet 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 are "getting 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 both the features and the improved gameplay. A fourth reviewer said it was "Diamond and Pearl at the core," making it hard 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 new in 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 MMOs 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 for 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 of the spring season, saying it improved on Diamond and Pearl's gameplay and added "new areas, characters, and, of course, Pokémon." In their "Cheers & Tears: DS RPGs" article, 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. IGN nominated it for best role-playing game for the Nintendo DS, while its 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 like 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 not fresh, it was the best "special edition yet." Game Revolution's Joe Dodson said while 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 launch helped increase Nintendo DS sales in Japan in September 2008. It sold over one million copies in Japan in about 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 week with sales exceeding 72,000 copies. Its sales at that time were 1.75 million. It re-entered the top 10 list in early December due to a lack of 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. 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