Set in the beautiful region of Sinnoh - a land of myths and stories about the legendary Pokémon - players begin by assuming the role of a ‘Pokémon Trainer’ who sets off from the town of Twinleaf. Players will meet the Pokémon-mad Professor Rowan, who asks them to join him in his mission to document all the species of Pokémon that exist using a special tool – the Pokédex. Players must leave Twinleaf and travel all around Sinnoh to complete this mission, whilst trying to reach their ultimate goal of becoming the Pokémon League champion. This can only be achieved when eight Pokémon Gym Leaders have been defeated. But players need to keep their wits about them, as on their journey they will encounter the shady Pokémon thieves, Team Galactic, and become embroiled in their wrong doings!
True to tradition, collecting and battling Pokémon play a key role in these games and by making full use of the touch screen, the battling system is even easier and quicker to use. What’s more Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl can now be connected to the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection allowing you to battle, trade, and voice chat with friends from anywhere in the world!
The immense depth of Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl is revealed in several new features including the Pokémon Super Contest and the Underground World. The Super Contests take place in the Pokémon Contest Hall, where trainers can enter their Pokémon in to a competition consisting of three trials: Visual (dressing up), Dance (a rhythm game) and Acting (Pokémon perform battle moves to the judges). Trainers can also enter the Pokémon Super Contest with up to three other players using the DS’s unique wireless functionality. Players can also explore underground tunnels beneath Sinnoh with up to seven other friends, digging up Pokémon fossils, spheres, and other vital items.
Your Pokémon from the GBA adventure series need not miss out on your adventures in Sinnoh! By using the Double Slot feature of the Nintendo DS, you will be able to transfer Pokémon from Ruby, Sapphire, FireRed, LeafGreen and Emerald version games over to Pokémon Diamond or Pokémon Pearl, once certain conditions have been met. Also players who have completed the Manaphy Egg mission, in Pokémon Ranger, will be able to transfer the Manaphy Egg to Pokémon Diamond or Pokémon Pearl where it will hatch. To discover more about this mysterious and exciting new Pokémon see www.manaphy.eu ; for details.
A special stylus is available for those who pre-order (a Dialga stylus when ordering Pokémon Diamond and a Palkia stylus when ordering Pokémon Pearl ) through any GAME store in the UK. Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl launches across Europe on 27th July 2007 for an estimated retail price of around £29.