Pokémon Platinum
Enhanced fourth-generation Pokémon title featuring Giratina and the Distortion World.
Pokémon Platinum Version is a role-playing video game released in 2008 for the Nintendo DS. It was developed by Game Freak and published by The Pokémon Company and Nintendo. As an enhanced version of the 2006 titles Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, it belongs to the fourth generation of the main Pokémon series. The game launched in Japan in September 2008 and arrived in other regions throughout 2009.
Players take on the role of either Lucas or Dawn, starting their journey with one of three Pokémon given by Professor Rowan. The legendary Pokémon Giratina serves as the game’s mascot and is central to the story. Unlike in Diamond and Pearl, where Giratina had only one form, Platinum introduces a new "Origin Form" for it. This form is tied to the Distortion World, a new area with physics that differ from those in the Sinnoh region, where the game is set. The core gameplay follows the familiar Pokémon formula: players explore towns, caves, and outdoor areas, capture and train Pokémon, and fight in turn-based battles.
Critics generally received Pokémon Platinum well, with aggregate scores of 84 on Metacritic and 83.14% on GameRankings. Reviewers praised it as one of the stronger entries in the series, highlighting the additions and refinements over Diamond and Pearl, though some felt it was too similar to those games. Publications such as IGN, Nintendo Power, and GamePro noted its improvements; IGN ranked it ninth on its list of the best Nintendo DS games and nominated it as one of the best DS role-playing games of 2009. At the time of its release, it became the fastest-selling video game in Japan, and by March 31, 2010, it had sold 7.06 million copies worldwide.
**Gameplay**
Pokémon Platinum is a role-playing game with adventure elements. Its basic mechanics are largely the same as those in Diamond and Pearl, except for a few bugs and glitches that were fixed—for instance, the void glitch was patched out because it caused many players to lose their save files. Like all Pokémon handheld games up to that point, the gameplay uses a third-person overhead perspective and consists of three main screens: a field map for navigating the character, a battle screen, and a menu for managing the party, items, or settings. Players start with one Pokémon and can capture more using Poké Balls. They can also use their Pokémon to battle others. When encountering a wild Pokémon or be
- Developer
- Game Freak
- Publisher
- The Pokémon Company, Nintendo
- Platform
- Nintendo DS
- Release
- Japan: September 2008; internationally: 2009
- Genre
- Role-playing video game
- Aggregate scores
- 84 on Metacritic, 83.14% on GameRankings
- Sales
- 7.06 million copies worldwide by March 31, 2010
Lore & Background
Pokémon Platinum retains the core gameplay of Diamond and Pearl, with players controlling either Lucas or Dawn and beginning with one of three Pokémon from Professor Rowan. The game is set in the fictional Sinnoh region, which features slightly different environments, including snow in locations where it was not present in Diamond and Pearl. The plot largely follows that of its predecessors but introduces two new characters: Looker, a police investigator, and Charon, a Team Galactic admin. Giratina is central to the story, whereas Dialga and Palkia were the focuses of Diamond and Pearl respectively; the player can still obtain both Dialga and Palkia after completing the game.
Reader's Guide
Pokémon Platinum is significant as an enhanced version that refined the gameplay of Diamond and Pearl, with critics noting quicker menu response times and improved AI. It introduced the Distortion World, a new area with distorted physics, and new forms for Giratina, Shaymin, and Rotom. The game added the Battle Frontier, the Wi-Fi Plaza with mini-games, and the Vs. Recorder for recording battles. It was the fastest-selling video game in Japan at its release and sold 7.06 million copies worldwide by March 31, 2010. IGN ranked it ninth on its list of the best Nintendo DS games and nominated it as one of the best DS role-playing games of 2009. Its legacy lies in being a definitive version of the fourth-generation Pokémon experience, incorporating new features while maintaining compatibility with Diamond, Pearl, and third-generation Game Boy Advance titles.
Did You Know?
- Pokémon Platinum was the fastest-selling video game in Japan at the time of its release.
- The game introduces the Distortion World, an area with altered physics compared to the standard Sinnoh region.
- Giratina gains a new 'Origin Form' in Platinum, whereas it had only one form in Diamond and Pearl.
- The void glitch from Diamond and Pearl was patched out in Platinum because many people lost their save files.
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