Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are the Generation 4 remakes fans have been waiting for, and with the recent Pokemon Presents, fans are in for a treat. When Pokemon Brilliant Diamondand Shining Pearl were first announced, there wasn't much in the way of new information aside from how the games looked, but now fans have a better idea of what these remakes will offer. There are numerous features returning such as the Grand Underground or the Super Contests Shows, but one feature that doesn't seem to be returning is Veilstone's Game Corner. This is because, from the latest Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl trailer, the new Metronome Style Shop has replaced it.
The Metronome Style Shop will take over where Veilstone City's Game Corner building used to be, which makes sense as the Game Corner is a feature that has not been included in Pokemon games since Gen 4. The Style Shop will allow players to purchase unique outfits for their characters, a feature that has now become a staple of Pokemon games. This gameplay mechanic started in Gen 6 with Pokemon X and Y where players could purchase individual articles of clothing to really mix and match what their trainer looked like. This carried onwards through Pokemon Sun and Moon and its sequel, as well as Pokemon Sword and Shield.
Trainer Customization in Pokemon Games
One of the first-ever instances of the player being able to change their appearance in a mainline Pokemon game was actually in Gen 4, though it was quite limited. In Pokemon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum the player would have their outfit changed to a tuxedo or a dress when they took part in the Pokemon Super Contest. In Pokemon Heart Gold and Soul Silver, the player would change into a Team Rocket outfit during a brief moment in the story where the player has to infiltrate the Radio Tower. They cannot wear the Team Rocket outfit after this event, but they can take a picture of themselves wearing the outfit alongside their Pokemon.
The ability for players to change their clothing wouldn't make a return until Pokemon X and Y when players could customize their characters like never before. Throughout Pokemon X and Y's Kalos region, the player can visit a number of boutiques and salons where they can purchase clothing or hairstyles. As the Kalos region takes inspiration from France, it makes sense that fashion and trainer customization would be one of the central game mechanics. Players can select from numerous clothing options such as hats, shirts, pants, socks, shoes, and bags. Not only was the level of customization for the player rather extensive, but the player could also change their hairstyle and hair color, making for a truly unique look.
In Pokemon Sun and Moon, the level of customization for players was more or less the same, with similar categories of customization only with new selections depending on the game version. Much like in Pokemon X and Y, players could choose their skin tone at the start of the game after picking their gender, with the option to change their eye color later. Pokemon Sun and Moon featured a number of Apparel Shops which carried many of the same types of clothing such as bags, hats, and shirts, with a new option of dying white clothing. Next to each boutique was a salon where the player could change their hairstyle and color making customization easily accessible.
Pokemon Sword and Shield carried character customization even further with more options presented to the player. Along with the option to select skin tone at the beginning of the game, players could once again visit the many boutiques that were featured in many of the cities in the Galar region. In these boutiques, players could purchase a variety of clothing like before such as hats, glasses, socks, and more with many more selections than seen in past games. On top of this, players in Pokemon Sword and Shield could customize their makeup including eyebrow type and eye colors. If that wasn't enough, players could also select the outfit they wore when riding their Rotom Bike which was an option new to the series.
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Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl Player Customization
It was revealed in the latest Pokemon Presents on August 18 that players will be able to have some element of customization for their trainers in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. Much like the last few generations of Pokemon games, players can once again choose their skin tone for their trainer at the start of the game. This wasn't a first for Pokemon remakes because Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu and Eevee also had this feature, but Pokemon HeartGold, SoulSilver, Omega Ruby, and Alpha Sapphire did not include this as a feature. It is very possible that Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl will allow players to also customize their hair and eye color like previous Pokemon games, but this hasn't been confirmed yet.
The Metronome Style Shop has been showcased in the Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl trailer as having various outfits available for the player to purchase. Though, unlike previous games, it seems players will only be able to purchase full outfits rather than individual articles of clothing. This makes sense as not only are the outfits worn by the player in battle but the player is also seen wearing their outfit in their chibi form when running around the world. This means each piece of clothing would have to be modeled for both models of trainers, making the choice to only have full outfits available the best option.
From the trailer and the screenshots on Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl's website, it seems the outfits will be themed around a specific style such as the Winter or Leather Jacket styles, or around specific Pokemon such as the Eevee and Gengar Jacket styles. Though it doesn't seem like players will be able to select the shirts, hats, socks, or shoes that they can wear, the themes across each outfit seem diverse enough that players can still feel unique. This is a good enough compromise for players who wanted to enjoy what Pokemon Diamond and Pearl had to offer while offering some level of customization options, making the remakes feel fresh to their modern counterparts.
Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl will release on November 19, 2021, for Nintendo Switch.
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