Honestly, I remember exactly where I was when the first trailer for the Nintendo Switch Pokemon Diamond and Shining Pearl remakes dropped. The hype was unreal. For years, fans had been practically begging The Pokémon Company to take us back to Sinnoh. We wanted that sweeping, epic feeling of the DS era but supercharged with modern hardware. Then, we saw the art style.
The "chibi" look. It sparked a literal war on social media.
But look, once you get past the visual shock of seeing Dawn and Lucas looking like little Funko Pops, there is a massive amount of game here. We’re talking about a faithful—almost too faithful—recreation of the 2006 classics. Whether you’re a veteran who remembers the pain of traversing Mt. Coronet without enough Repels or a newcomer wondering why everyone is obsessed with a dragon that controls time, these remakes are a weird, nostalgic, and sometimes frustrating trip.
The Problem with "Faithful" Remakes
When ILCA (the first developer other than Game Freak to handle a core series title) took the reins for Nintendo Switch Pokemon Diamond, they had a choice. Do they make a "reimagining" like Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, or do they stick to the blueprint? They chose the blueprint.
That means the grid-based movement is back. It means the top-down perspective is back.
It also means some of the flaws from 2006 are still lurking in the tall grass. For example, the original Diamond and Pearl were notorious for their limited Pokédex. If you wanted a Fire-type Pokémon and didn't pick Chimchar, your only real option was Ponyta. That’s it. Just a horse on fire. While the Platinum version fixed this back in the day by adding more variety, the Switch remakes ignored many of those improvements in favor of staying "true" to the original Diamond and Pearl.
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It's a bold move. Some call it lazy; others call it a pure nostalgic hit.
The underground, though? That’s where the real meat is. Renamed the Grand Underground, this sprawling maze beneath Sinnoh is where the game actually feels "modern." You can see Pokémon wandering around in open areas called Pokémon Hideaways. This is where you find the variety the main routes lack. You might stumble upon a Houndoom or a Magby way earlier than you’d expect, which completely changes how you build your team. It’s the one area where ILCA really let their hair down and improved the source material.
What Nintendo Switch Pokemon Diamond Gets Right (and Wrong)
Let's talk about the difficulty spike. Most modern Pokémon games get criticized for being too easy. They hold your hand. They give you a map with a giant "GO HERE" arrow. Brilliant Diamond does that too, but then you hit the Elite Four.
Holy cow.
Cynthia is still the final boss of your nightmares. In the original games, she was tough because her Garchomp was a literal speed demon. In the Nintendo Switch Pokemon Diamond version, her team is actually competitively trained. We’re talking perfect IVs, strategic held items, and actual AI logic. She will swap Pokémon to gain a type advantage. She will use moves you didn't expect. It’s a brutal, refreshing wake-up call for anyone who cruised through the first eight gyms.
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The Technical Side of Sinnoh
The game runs at a mostly stable 30fps, though you'll see some stutters in the Grand Underground when the online features are active. Speaking of online, the Union Room is... fine. It’s clunky, but it works.
One thing that really bugs me? The controls.
Because the game is built on a 3D plane but uses a 2D grid logic, moving diagonally feels awkward. You’ll find yourself getting stuck on the corners of tables or trees constantly. It’s a minor thing, but when you’re 40 hours deep into a shiny hunt, it starts to grate on your nerves.
Sound and Fury
The music, however, is a masterpiece. The remastered Sinnoh soundtrack is phenomenal. The jazzy night theme of Jubilife City or the frantic, high-stakes strings of the Cynthia battle theme sound better than ever. They kept the soul of the MIDI tracks but gave them the orchestral depth they deserved.
Hidden Mechanics and the Post-Game Grind
Once you beat the champion, the game opens up in a way that feels very "old school" Pokémon. You get the Poké Radar, which is the gold standard for shiny hunting. If you want a green Machop or a blue Psyduck, this is your best bet. It’s a high-stress, high-reward mini-game that requires patience and a lot of Max Repels.
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Then there’s Ramanas Park. This replaced the Pal Park from the DS and acts as a legendary Pokémon hub. You collect slates, plug them into pedestals, and summon legends like Mewtwo, Rayquaza, or the Johto beasts. It’s a grind. A long one. You have to dig for Mysterious Shards in the Underground, which is basically a gambling simulator disguised as a mining game. But for collectors, it’s the only way to fill that National Dex.
The Mystery Gift Factor
Keep an eye on the internet. Pokémon games are famous for time-limited events. We’ve already seen distributions for Manaphy eggs and the Member Card for Darkrai. If you miss these windows, you’re usually stuck trading with strangers on Reddit or waiting years for a rerun. It’s a classic Nintendo tactic—FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) is a powerful motivator.
Is It Worth It?
If you never played the originals, Nintendo Switch Pokemon Diamond is the most accessible way to experience one of the best regions in the franchise. The lore of Sinnoh—dealing with the literal creators of the universe—is way more intense than the "save the gym" plots of other generations.
However, if you still have your DS and a copy of Pokémon Platinum, you might find this version a bit redundant. Platinum still has the Battle Frontier and a better story pacing. The Switch remakes are "Brilliant" and "Shining," sure, but they aren't necessarily the definitive versions of the Sinnoh story. They are a specific flavor of nostalgia.
Actionable Steps for Your Sinnoh Journey
If you’re picking up the game today, don't just rush to the first gym. You'll get burnt out. Here is how to actually enjoy the experience without losing your mind:
- Spend time in the Grand Underground early. As soon as you get the Explorer Kit in Eterna City, go down there. You can find statues that boost the spawn rates of specific types. This is the only way to get a balanced team before the mid-game.
- Don't ignore the Pokétch. The friendship checker app is vital. Some Pokémon, like Lucario or Roserade (via Budew/Roselia), require high friendship to evolve. Check it often so you aren't stuck with a baby Pokémon at level 50.
- Prepare for Cynthia. I cannot stress this enough. If your team isn't at least level 62-65 with a solid plan for a Dragon/Ground type, she will sweep you. Use the underground to grind XP if you're falling behind.
- Turn on "Automatic Save" but be careful. There were some game-breaking glitches at launch where people got stuck behind NPCs. Most are patched, but it’s always safer to keep a manual backup save just in case.
- Check the Mystery Gift daily. Sometimes Nintendo drops items or Pokémon without a massive announcement. It’s in the menu, but you have to unlock it in the Jubilife TV station by talking to a specific NPC on the third floor.
The Sinnoh region is beautiful, cold, and punishing. Whether you love or hate the art style, the core of the game remains one of the most mechanically sound entries in the series. Just watch out for that Garchomp. It doesn't play fair.