Each time a new Pokemon title hits the shelves, fans of the series make a mad dash to the store to gobble up one of the new versions released. In the past gamers have had to choose between Red and Blue, Gold and Silver, and Ruby and Sapphire. Now, with the arrival of Pokemon Diamond and Pearl, the craze is about to start up again. Nintendo, and series developer Game Freak, has promised that there will be significant changes to the franchise with Diamond and Pearl. So what does that mean for Pokefans? Aside from the obvious new Pokemon, we'll take a look and highlight some of the differences.

One of the most important aspects of any traditional Pokemon title is its battle system. For the most part, battling has been the same over the years with only a few minor tweaks being made in each new generation of games. Even though Ruby and Sapphire introduced battles with two Pokemon, and an emotional aspect, the core was still the same. With Diamond and Pearl, however, things are going to be revamped in a big way. Game Freak is adding a bit more depth to the types of attacks. Each category of attack (physical, psychic, etc.) will now have a standard and special counterpart. This new type of categorization will force you to take more care and put more thought into the leveling of your Pokemon as you train.

In addition to the new types of attacks and categories, Diamond and Pearl will make extensive use of the touch screen. You'll select your commands via the touch screen as the battle plays out on the screen above. This will help to simplify battles, speed up their pace, and streamline the overall battling and capturing mechanic. As you make your way through the different areas of the game, the improved and revamped battle and leveling system will be much appreciated for the added variety in gameplay.


Touch screen battling is more streamlined.

So, you know that the battles are going to be different, but is it going to be more of the same old thing when it comes to the story? What is known about the story so far -- and we'll avoid spoilers here -- shows that Diamond and Pearl's storyline will have a bit more of a serious tone than in the past. Instead of bumbling and stumbling villains, you'll be facing sophisticated and dangerous enemies that are involved in conspiracy and dishonest practices. Something is not right, and you'll work to uncover the secret behind some disturbing events as you play as either a boy or girl from the peaceful, and new to the Pokemon franchise, Sinnoh Region. Just as in the past, you'll choose a starter Pokemon, but collecting the rest is up to you.

The Sinnoh Region is much larger than any other region in the Pokemon franchise. You'll have plenty to explore, including snow-covered landscapes, as you work to uncover the story's secrets and capture Pokemon to train. The overall look of the region is really unique and is guaranteed to pique the interests of Pokemon fans, both old and new. Time is an important aspect in Sinnoh as well. Like other Pokemon games before it, Diamond and Pearl use the internal DS clock. Certain Pokemon are only out and about at certain hours. Yes, the game is now hour specific instead of just being day or night. For those of us with 9-5 jobs, getting in some mid-day or morning hours on the weekends will be necessary to catching all of the hundreds of Pokemon in the game.


Pfft...only pansies tap the run button.

There are other differences to be found in Diamond and Pearl, including a Wi-Fi enabled multiplayer aspect, but half the fun is discovering them for yourself. The bottom line is that Game Freak didn't just recycle the Pokemon formula and toss in a few new faces. No, Diamond and Pearl offer a wealth of new gameplay varieties, innovations, and features. Whether you're a first-time Pokemon trainer, or you've been playing from the beginning, Diamond and Pearl will ignite your fire for exploration and discovery.

-- Jeff Rivera