What's new in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl from Pokémon Presents

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There's only three short months now until the long anticipated Generation IV remakes, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, are released worldwide. In this post, we'll be giving a quick wrap-up of everything discussed today relating to these games, in both today's Pokémon Presents video, as well as the updates on the official website that went up shortly after the video concluded.

General Gameplay
After a certain point in the game, players can choose to journey together with a partner Pokémon, who'll walk along behind the player. Every single Pokémon in the game is eligible to be used as a partner Pokémon in this way.

Unlike the original DS titles, where players were fixed into a single set outfit for the entire game, players in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are able to buy and change outfits at the Metronome Style Shop in Veilstone City. The level of customization does not appear quite as expansive as in Sword and Shield however, with players only able to change between whole outfits, rather than mixing and matching individual items of clothing to taste.

Super Contest Shows
The classic Pokémon Super Contests from the original Diamond and Pearl have inspired the new Super Contest Shows. Taking clear inspiration from the depiction of contests in the Pokémon anime, Trainers dress up in outfits and show off their performance skills together with their Pokémon. Whereas contests in the older titles were judged over two rounds, the Super Contest Shows add an additional round with the Dance Evaluation, with players building hype points through a simple rhythm game.

Grand Underground
The Grand Underground is the successor to The Underground of the original Diamond and Pearl. All of the original features of The Underground appear to be included in this new version, with the addition of Pokémon Hideaways. The terrain of these hideaways are influenced by the decorations that players add to their Secret Base, and give players the opportunity to capture Pokémon not otherwise found in Sinnoh.

Union Room
The Union Room of the original Diamond and Pearl allowed only for local wireless communication with other players. In Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, the Union Room will also support online communication for trading, battling, and other activities.

Early Purchase Bonus
Early purchasers of Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl will be able to receive a Manaphy Egg via Mystery Gift. The event will be available only until February 21, 2022. It takes approximately two hours of play time before you are able to access the Mystery Gift function.

Pokémon Home Compatibility
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl will not be compatible with Pokémon Home at launch, however compatibility will be added to the games at some time in 2022.

Nintendo Switch Lite: Dialga & Palkia Edition
In a homage to the Nintendo DS Lite that released back in 2006, a special edition Nintendo Switch Lite will be released on November 5th. As with the classic DS Lite, this black colored console features a silver-colored Dialga and a gold-colored Palkia.