Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl release date, trailer, and Legendaries

Pokémon Diamond and Pearl are finally getting remakes. And they’re almost here.

First released on Nintendo DS in North America in 2007, these games introduced millions of players to the series and were the next in line for remakes after Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire came out in 2014. After seven years of waiting, the remakes are almost upon us and are recreating Sinnoh in all of its former glory.

During February 26's Pokémon Presents showcase, The Pokémon Company Chief Operating Officer Takato Utsunomiya unveiled Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl for Nintendo Switch. Then more was revealed about the games in May, August, and September.

This is everything that we know about these Generation 4 Pokémon remakes coming later this year.

When is the Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl release date?

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl will be released on November 19, 2021. Mid-November has become a standard release window for every new Pokémon game, so it’s not a surprise that the game would end up coming out on this date.

The release date was then confirmed on May 26, 2021, alongside a box art reveal. Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl will be released individually and in a double pack. Players will have a couple of months to try out the games before Pokémon Legends: Arceus comes out on January 28, 2022.

Is there a Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl trailer?

A new trailer for Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl was released on September 29, 2021. It introduced us to characters like Cheryl, Riley, and Gardinia, and finally showed the Poketch and Amity Square in action. You can watch it below:

The last time we’d heard about the game before this was at the August 18 Pokémon Presents showcase. You can check out its segment from the showcase below:

If all of that isn’t enough for you, you can also watch the game’s reveal trailer. That said, the graphics have noticeably improved since this trailer:

By watching all three trailers, you should get a nice feel for how these remakes compare to the original.

What are the Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl Legendary Pokémon?

For those that aren't familiar with the original game, Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl both have god-like legendaries that were confirmed to reappear by The Pokémon Company. Brilliant Diamond's Legendary Pokémon is Dialga, a Steel and Dragon-Type Pokémon that also has the power to control time.

Meanwhile, Shining Pearl players will encounter Palkia, a Water and Dragon-Type Pokémon with the ability to distort space. Both Pokémon have the ability Pressure, which makes the opposing Pokémon use twice as much PP.

Players will encounter both as they are going on a journey through the Sinnoh region with their rival Barry and ultimately fighting the evil organization Team Galactic, led by a philosophical man named Cyrus.

What’s new in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl?

Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl have some intriguing new features for those that have played the original. For example, Pokémon can follow you around everywhere! Normally, only one will follow you, but up to 6 can in Amity Square.

Character customization is also being introduced so that every trainer can look different on their adventure. You can also apply stickers to Pokéballs, so they have special effects when used.

Features from the original games like Pokémon Contests, the Union Room, and the Underground have also seen a revamp. The Underground, in particular, has seen a big visual overhaul and features new areas called Pokémon Hideaways. You can place statues in your secret base make special Pokémon not normally obtainable appear in these areas.

The Poketch returns but is now placed at the top right corner of the screen (it was previously on the bottom screen of the DS). Players will no longer have to teach Pokémon HM moves, and can instead use them via a Poketch app.

How faithful to the originals are Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl?

Outside of those few new features and revamps, these remakes look incredibly faithful. Pokémon Diamond and Pearl are beloved games thanks to excellent gameplay and region design. That said, those games did have some rough edges, like their extremely slow pace and odd Pokémon distribution that left some of the coolest new Pokémon to the post-game. The Pokémon Hideaways seem to be the remake’s workaround for this issue.

On the one hand, it's exciting that we'll be able to explore the Sinnoh region and fight Team Galactic once again in an extremely accurate remake. On the other hand, it’s disappointing that these games reportedly won’t have any Pokémon from the games after Diamond and Pearl. We won't know for sure until we go hands-on with the game.

Who is the Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl developer?

Game Freak is the company that usually handles every single new mainline Pokémon game, but that actually isn't the case with Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. As Game Freak is working on Pokémon Legends: Arceus, they handed off this project to Ilca Inc., an obscure Japanese developer that worked on Pokémon Home, was a support studio for games like Code Vein, and is now making a new Ace Combat with Bandai Namco.

These games have two directors: Ilca's Yuichi Ueda and The Pokémon Company's Junichi Masuda. While it's somewhat disappointing that these remakes were outsourced, it will at least give Game Freak more time to dedicate to Pokémon Legends: Arceus.

Is there a special Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl Nintendo Switch Lite?

Yes, there is! A special version of the Nintendo Switch Lite is being made in anticipation of these remakes. It’s inspired by an old DS Lite special edition released alongside the original games. It’s a gray console with a silver Dialga and Gold Palkia etched on the back. It can be pre-ordered now and releases on November 5, 2021.

Can I pre-order Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl?

Yes, you can! Both Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl are available to pre-order on the Nintendo eShop for $59.99. If you pre-order the game, you will get a Manaphy egg via Mystery Gift and 12 Quick Balls as long as you redeem them before February 21, 2022.

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl will be released on November 19, 2021.