Up to four people can also battle via Ad-Hoc in Communication Club Colosseum. Groups split into two teams, and each participant uses one Pokemon. Another localized multiplayer mode, Underground, lets players travel beneath the Sinnoh region and customize a personal base, set traps and capture other players' flags.
In the single-player mode, gamers tired of the franchise probably won't find enough new content to warrant a purchase, but Pokemon loyalists will be drawn in by sweet touches like 3-D buildings on a 2-D background, the ability to dress-up Pokemon, a Super Contest that allows people to compete in Visual Dance and Acting competitions, and a day/night cycle that encourages around-the-clock play in order to locate all of the Pokemon. And what tried-and-true Poke-fan can resist the primal urge to catch 'em all -- both new and old Pokemon, including Munchlax, Bonsly, Mime Jr. and Lucario.
Both Diamond and Pearl lets players transfer Pokemon captured in Game Boy Advance Pokemon games Ruby, Sapphire, FireRed and LeafGreen by inserting the cartridges into the DS' GBA slot.
Although the single-player quests might invoke a sense of deja vu, Pokemon enthusiasts will love the brand new story and other small tweaks added to the game. The new online battles, however, make this a Pokemon essential for anyone's -- fanboy or not -- DS collection.
Final Score: 8 (out of 10)
Related Links
Pokemon Diamond Version Game Guide
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