In one of the most anticipated announcements in the history of the Pokémon franchise, three new games set in the Sinnoh region have just been announced during the Pokémon Presents video presentation for Pokémon Day 2021.
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl, remakes of the classic Diamond and Pearl games, are set to release some time late this year. Featuring a chibi art style that evokes the appearance of the classic games in full 3D, with perhaps a touch of the Link's Awakening remake, these games promise to be a faithful recreation of the originals. While based on Diamond and Pearl, early images do suggest that at least some elements of Platinum are included in the game, such as with the inclusion of Porygon-Z which was only available with the Platinum dex expansion.
Interestingly, in a first for the franchise these titles aren't being developed by Game Freak, but rather by ILCA, a support studio who have previously worked on Pokémon Home, but who may be better known to general gaming audiences for their work on popular Japanese AAA titles such as Code Vein, Dragon Quest XI, and NieR: Automata. No further information about the company is readily available as of the time of writing, as ILCA's website has seemingly gone down from the sudden burst of traffic following this announcement.
Joining these remakes is Pokémon Legends: Arceus, l launching in early 2022. In a first for the Pokémon franchise, this game, described as a "pre-make" by Pokémon's official Twitter account offer a glimpse into the distant past of the Sinnoh region, with players working to create the region's very first Pokédex. Interestingly, whereas Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl are explicitly noted as supporting multiplayer functions, the official site for Pokémon Legends: Arceus describes the game as only a single player experience, suggesting that the title may be more similar to Pokémon Colosseum or Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness than to past core series titles. Much as Breath of the Wild was to the Zelda franchise, Pokémon Legends: Arceus has been presented as a rethink of some of the basic conventions of the Pokémon franchise, while still paying close attention to its core gameplay. Additional action elements are fused with Pokémon's traditional RPG gameplay, with a more immersive catching experience where players must observe and sneak up on wild Pokémon to set up the best Poké Ball throw. Breath of the Wild comparisons can also be made with the game's art style, with a lush open world for players to explore. The game evokes a feeling of Japan's past, with character outfits reminiscent of the indigenous Ainu people inhabiting Hokkaido, Sakhalin, and Kunashir, on which the Sinnoh region is based. The design of buildings in what appears to be the central village are similarly reminiscent of Japan's late Taisho era in the early 1900's. These cultural aspect may also be evident in the game's selection of starter Pokémon. Rather than the traditional set of Sinnoh starters that players would be familiar with, players will be able to select their initial partner from Rowlett, Cyndaquil, and Oshawott, with each of these evolution lines being able to be connected, through design or (Japanese) name, to Japanese cultural history.
Press Release said:
- Sources
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