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The release date for the Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Remakes is only a few months away, and little is still known about what the final games will offer. The original Diamond and Pearl titles were released in 2006 for the Nintendo DS and experimented with gameplay and graphics. Buildings were modeled in 3D, instead of the flat pixelated designs of previous Pokémon games, and the colors of character models and environments were vibrant. Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl seem to be retreating to the simple style of the original titles, but there is a flaw in the designs that could make the updated graphics in BDSP unappealing.
Currently, the teased gameplay and images of the updated Sinnoh region have displayed a colorful world with cute, chibi-style graphics. Trees sway in the breeze, water ripples, and all environments possess a surprising amount of detail. Mixed with sharp, clean colors, BDSP meshes the world of classic games with the graphic capabilities of the Nintendo Switch. However, the high-resolution visuals actually create a disconnect, with the highly detailed models of trees and buildings clashing against the oversimplified character models.
It isn’t uncommon for remakes of older games to overhaul graphics to the highest available standard. An example of this can be seen in Final Fantasy 7 Remake, which replaced the vintage 3D models and pixelated maps for hyper-realistic character designs and environments. However, there is an appeal to the original low-resolution design choices of older games like Diamond and Pearl, and these endearing, fuzzy graphics are part of the charm of older titles in the Pokémon series.
Pokémon Diamond And Pearl Remakes Could Improve Character Models
While it may seem like a step backward for a Nintendo Switch game, implementing a low-resolution option for the Diamond and Pearl remakes could be the answer to marrying the original charm of the games with the updated designs of BDSP. In the indie game, A Short Hike for the Nintendo Switch, brightly colored environments and characters have been pixelated and fuzzed out, giving the gameplay a retro feel while also offering modern-day improvements like environment movement effects. This unique look could also help the Pokémon Diamond and Pearl remake character models blend with the surroundings, as it would soften both the hyper-detailed surroundings and the over-simplified character designs, allowing them to melt together.
Another solution for the graphic dissonance would be to scrap the current chibi-style models and implement characters that fit more harmoniously into the hyper-detailed designs of the world. While the Sinnoh region seen in the BDSP trailers doesn’t look anything like the fully 3D Galar Region of Sword and Shield, a slightly more detailed sprite like the characters seen in X and Y may be a better direction for the Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, creating a more appealing overall design that still updates the outdated graphics of the original games.
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