Diamond/Pearl vs. Platinum

that one guy

that one guy

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Hi everyone,
I'm planning on revisiting generation 4 pretty soon. I played Platinum a few years ago, but I'm wondering whether I should go for Diamond or Pearl this time around? I've heard Platinum is much improved, but I'm wondering if the original duo are different enough that they might be worth trying out--are there enough differences to warrant that? Or is Platinum the way to go in gen. 4?
 
Diamond and Pearl have some missing pokemon like Glameow and Stunky that Platinum doesn't have. If you are planning to complete the pokedex of that gen then you should consider getting them.
 
On this page there's a list of changes made in Platinum compared to Diamond/Pearl. Overall I think Platinum is the way to go, it has a lot more features and quite some improvements were made. However, they are some Sinnoh Pokémon not available in Platinum (that list can also be found on the page), most notably Glameow (in Pearl) and Stunky (in Diamond). So it could be worth playing Diamond or Pearl to be able to have those on your team. But for me, that would be the only reason to ever go back to them, instead of replaying Platinum.
 
Pretty much what others said. Platinum lacks some Pokemon, but overall it's a much improved game over D/P.
 
I mean, to me, even Platinum already feels rather dated and slow. The one time that I gave DP a shot, it was even slower and rougher than that, and there is less content and fewer Pokémon to choose from. I don't really see a contest here, unless you like, really want to go through Sinnoh with a Mismagius or something like I would like to.
 
Platinum is my favorite game of all. It added a lot to the story and made major improvements, both graphically and gameplay wise to DP.
The added Pokemon in the Platinum Dex, the better story, and the better look, among other things, make Platinum far superior to its other Sinnoh counterparts.

But that's just my opinion.
 
Platinum. Move Tutors and the vastly improved Sinnoh Pokédex more than make up for the absences of Glameow and Stunky.
 
omg Platinum. Platinum is soooo much better. I didn't really like DP much at all, but I love Platinum. The improvements made in Platinum made a world of difference. Speaking of which, if we get DP remakes, I really really hope we get every Platinum improvement/addition.
 
If you're looking for a Gen IV game to play I would actually say get HG or SS. But if you're set on Sinnoh, I'd say Platinum. Platinum has the extended regional Dex as well as move tutors and an expanded storyline, with the Distortion World climax and the Stark Mountain event after finishing the League. Plus there's also the Sinnoh Battle Frontier.

that or just wait for D/P remakes
 
I'm gonna play devils advocate and say go for DP, I will admit, Platinum is the more complete version, much like how Emerald/Crystal are in their respective generations, but if you want difficulty, DP are way harder. In DP the level gap to the Pokemon League was absurdly high, you almost always got to the league underleveled and I personally enjoyed that aspect, in Platinum they evened the playing field in the player's favor. If you want completeness, do Platinum, if you want difficulty... DP is your best bet.
 
Fair warning: The only 2 Fire types available in DP iirc (main game) are Chimchar and Ponyta.

Platinum fixes this and added another few fire lines, among others. More Pokemon availability overall in Platinum.
 
EmpoleonProd said:
^ Another reason why DP is just in general harder.
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And to an extent, less interesting. Looking back, DP just seem.... bland. Platinum is worlds better. It's why I really really hope that whenever DP remakes come, that they include improvements made in Platinum. It's a great region, but it's potential didn't seem to be truly touched until Pt.
 
The_Doctor said:
And to an extent, less interesting. Looking back, DP just seem.... bland. Platinum is worlds better. It's why I really really hope that whenever DP remakes come, that they include improvements made in Platinum. It's a great region, but it's potential didn't seem to be truly touched until Pt.
Click to expand...

If HGSS and ORAS are anything to go off of, they will. I agree they're less interesting but as far as being difficult, they do outclass Platinum in that respect.
 
EmpoleonProd said:
If HGSS and ORAS are anything to go off of, they will. I agree they're less interesting but as far as being difficult, they do outclass Platinum in that respect.
Click to expand...

Not quite sure I follow. Ruby and Sapphire left out some of Emerald's improvements (namely Battle Frontier). And I think the games have overall gotten a bit easier (though ORAS difficulty was a little more than XY, for the better).
 
The_Doctor said:
And to an extent, less interesting. Looking back, DP just seem.... bland. Platinum is worlds better. It's why I really really hope that whenever DP remakes come, that they include improvements made in Platinum. It's a great region, but it's potential didn't seem to be truly touched until Pt.
Click to expand...

DP feel practically like betas to me in comparison to Platinum. I appreciate the work that went into them and all but like, holy hell, they needed the polish. Even the aesthetics were unusually poor. Cynthia's "grand" Champion room is just white square with a red circle pattern, for crying out loud!

Deliberately repeating DP's shortcomings (which I feel like they acknowledged as such with Platinum, so I'm thinking they recognized the flaws too) would be inexcusable. I don't think even the already-thin "it's a remake" logic could cover that.

You can debate whether Cyrus should have his DP motives or his Platinum motives or whatever, or where Giratina should factor into the story, but things like restricting us to either Chimchar or Ponyta again? No. Flat out. Cannot happen.

The_Doctor said:
Not quite sure I follow. Ruby and Sapphire left out some of Emerald's improvements (namely Battle Frontier). And I think the games have overall gotten a bit easier (though ORAS difficulty was a little more than XY, for the better).
Click to expand...

Unlimited-use TMs alone are a modern change that will soften the difficulty of hypothetical DP remakes. Some of this stuff is just down to the games these days having smoother and less demanding mechanics.

I mean, I am sure that you can count on some of the NPCs and Gym Leaders getting a bit of a nerf. And I am guessing that the Battle Frontier won't make it in, but they had other reasons (however debatable) for not including it in ORAS. Aside from that, though, I don't think that they left out any really crucial additions from Emerald (I admit that I personally was disappointed to see the Gym Leaders using their RS teams, especially Liza & Tate because I feel like I shouldn't be able to KO the Gym Leaders with one or two Surfs, but I still don't know that I would say that their team buffs were "crucial"), but even then, there is a difference, because I feel like RS weren't begging to be improved in the way that DP were. Yes, there were things in RS that stood to be touched up, but the Sinnoh region was languishing until Platinum came along. I mean, hypothetically, even if Emerald had never happened, I feel like RS would still be remembered pretty fondly. I cannot say that I would expect the same for DP in a world without Platinum.

(Ironically, however, I would actually prefer for the Sinnoh Leaders and Elites to retain their DP teams. I feel like Volkner and Flint including counter-checks on their teams made them feel more savvy.)
 
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I have to agree with those who say Platinum is the way to go. Platinum is one of my favorite games in the franchise. It just had the best of everything. Expanded Pokedex, improved story, more physical and visual enhancements (Team Galactic's Veilstone HQ, for example), more fleshed out characters, Move Tutors, and the inclusion of the ever-cool Distortion World that used pseudo-3D effects, which is impressive for a regular DS game. Not to mention the AI was pretty savvy, something that isn't heavily touched on anymore. And many NPCs, not just Gym Leaders, used TM moves and such (though Gym Leaders were more proficient in that art). And anytime you got tag-teamed in a double battle, both sides were able to work off each other well, which was quite refreshing to see. Plus you're not restricted to just two Fire lines, which is very helpful at multiple points. While DP was harder due to the pacing, it paled in comparison to Platinum overall. So go with Platinum if you want the most from your game.
 
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