Pokemon Platinum Version

Pokémon Platinum Version^[a] is a 2008 role-playing video game developed by Game Freak, published by The Pokémon Company and Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld game console. It is the third version after Pokémon Diamond and Pearl and is part of the fourth generation of the Pokémon video game series. It was released in Japan on 13 September 2008, and later in North America, Australia, and Europe in 2009.

In Platinum, players control either Lucas or Dawn and start with one of three Pokémon given to them from Professor Rowan. The mascot Pokémon is Giratina, who plays a central role in the game’s plot. While it only had one form in Diamond and Pearl, it is given a new alternate form (called “Origin Forme”) alongside a new area called the Distortion World, which features altered physics from the normal land of Sinnoh, where the game takes place. The gameplay stays true to traditional Pokémon game mechanics. Players explore a large area, which ranges from mountains to bodies of water, grasslands, populated areas, and snowy expanses. Similar to previous titles, players have their Pokémon fight turn-based battles against other Pokémon.

Gameplay – Pokemon Platinum Version

See also: Gameplay of Pokémon and Pokémon Diamond and Pearl § Gameplay

Pokémon Platinum is a role-playing video game with adventure elements. Its basic mechanics are the same as those found in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. As with all Pokémon games for handheld consoles up to that point, the gameplay is in third-person overhead perspective, and consists of three basic screens: a field map, in which the player navigates the main character; a battle screen; and the menu, in which the player configures their party, items, or gameplay settings. Players begin the game with one Pokémon and can capture more using Poké Balls.

The player can also use his or her Pokémon to battle other Pokémon. When the player encounters a wild Pokémon or is challenged by a trainer to a battle, the screen switches to a turn-based battle screen where the Pokémon battle. During a battle, the player may use a move, use an item, switch the active Pokémon, or flee. Fleeing is not an option during battles against trainers. All Pokémon have hit points (HP); when a Pokémon’s HP is reduced to zero, it faints and cannot battle unless revived with a Pokémon skill or an item.

Setting and story – Pokemon Platinum Version

See also: Pokémon Diamond and Pearl § Plot

Similar to Diamond and Pearl, Platinum is set in the fictional region of Sinnoh. Platinum features slightly different environments, there is snow on the ground in locations where it was not found in Diamond and Pearl, to reflect this change the player characters and the player’s rival are dressed for colder weather when compared with their designs from Diamond and Pearl.

Pre-release – Pokemon Platinum Version

GamePro‘s McKinley Noble commented that he anticipated the English release of Platinum.^[5] 1UP.com commented that fans will not be left “wanting”, stating “once you venture back down the Pokémon rabbit hole, you won’t be coming up again for a while.”^[13] Craig Harris of IGN commented that those looking for something particularly new in Platinum such as a new method of control would be disappointed, adding that the controls felt “clumsy”. However, he noted that those who played Diamond and Pearl will enjoy it for its new features and available Pokémon.^[14]

 In another preview, Harris commented that those who have played Diamond or Pearl will have to decide whether the new features are worth buying the game for, while those who have not should buy it if interested in playing a Pokémon game.^[15]

Critical response – Pokemon Platinum Version

Pokémon Platinum has received generally positive reception. It holds an aggregate score of 84/100 and 83.14% at Metacritic and GameRankings, respectively. It is the 56th highest rated Nintendo DS game on Game Rankings.^[16][17]