If you’ve ever played a Pokemon game, you’ll probably know that most of them are set in different regions. As is the case with the real world, natural geography dictates that this causes distinct kinds of flora and fauna to appear in individual areas based on things like climate and culture. This is what makes travelling so enticing - we open ourselves up to new experiences and gain the opportunity to learn both about the world and ourselves. I reckon this is also the case when it comes to Pokemon.
It was recently announced that Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl will not feature new Pokemon, meaning they will only include ‘mons from Gens 1 through 4. As expected, a lot of very loud people are unhappy about this. Naturally, this flak comes from the same crowd who kicked up a fuss about Sword & Shield’s necessary and understandable removal of the National Dex. It has its origins in the sort of “game devs are lazy!” rhetoric that has seemingly poisoned so many otherwise reasonable people’s perspectives on how and why games are made.
Not only is it silly to suggest that loads of extra Pokemon from a whopping four generations be back-ported into the upcoming Gen 4 remakes - it just doesn’t make sense. As established in the original Diamond & Pearl - and as made definitive in Platinum - Sinnoh as we know it is home to its own range of indigenous species and a variety of ‘mons from Kanto, Johto, and Hoenn. It wouldn’t make sense for a bunch of Unova, Kalos, Alola, or Galar Pokemon to show up in the remakes. These are set at the same time as Diamond & Pearl, so why on Earth would the world be radically different? One of the key tenets of putting together a successful remake is honouring the vision of the original game.
It also spectacularly misses the point of what Pokemon is about. Ever since Gen 2 - which was, you know, the first generation after Gen 1 - returning Pokemon from previous generations are largely confined to late- or post-game areas. Game Freak doesn’t create 100~ all-new designs every generation so you can take on the Sinnoh Pokemon League with Charizard, Pikachu, and Mewtwo. You’re supposed to experiment with the new ‘mons, to learn which ones you like and don’t like.
For example, I was a huge fan of Abomasnow as a kid, but as I’ve grown older I’ve started to gravitate more towards Weavile. Despite Fire traditionally being my least favourite of the three starter types, I’ll probably choose Chimchar come November, too. It’s been a long time since I played these games, so I’m excited about the prospect of having to use Gen 4 Pokemon as opposed to sweeping teams with a Dragapult no different from the one I caught before rolling credits on Sword & Shield less than two years ago.
The beauty of revisiting old Pokemon regions in remakes is getting reacquainted with the Pokemon they’re home to. If you want new Pokemon… I don’t know what to tell you. Just play Sword & Shield, I suppose. The idea that the Sinnoh remakes were going to include all sorts of brand new Pokemon just reads as a little weird to me. It feels entitled and thoroughly unexamined in the grand scheme of things. Also, that’s coming from a huge Alola fan - Tsareena would make Crasher Wake, traditionally known as the instigator of the biggest difficulty spike in all of Gen 4, a breeze.
Do you know what’s better than that, though? Beating Wake with actual Sinnoh Pokemon like Roserade. I’m telling you: ignoring new Pokemon is the best thing Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl could have done. Once you play them and fall in love with Sinnoh for what it is, as opposed to what it isn’t, I’m sure you’ll agree.