Rumors have been doing the rounds on potential remakes of Pokemon Diamond and Pearl for some time now. These remakes haven't been confirmed by Nintendo or Game Freak, but for some fans, it seems inevitable that there will be new versions of the 2000s titles announced in February. An online post from October 2019 made several predictions about upcoming Pokemon games, and two of the three claims made so far have been proven correct. The correct predictions were concerning Galarian Mr. Mime and how fossils would work in Pokemon Sword and Shield. There is one outstanding claim which has yet to come to fruition but could prove divisive among the fanbase if it's true.
Pokemon Diamond and Pearl remakes have been subject to rumors for a long time now. There have been numerous supposed leaks, and with 2021 being the 25th anniversary of the Pokemon franchise, there has never been a more likely time for the remakes to be revealed for a lot of fans. The rumors and leaks that are circling relate to its release platform, the date the remakes will be unveiled, and potentially controversial change to catching mechanics.
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If the leaks are to be believed, the Pokemon Diamond and Pearl remakes will possibly adopt the catching mechanics that were used in the Let's Go series. Pokemon Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! used a simplified catching system in line with the Pokemon Go mobile game. In the Let's Go series, the trainer needed to approach a creature and throw a Poke Ball to attempt to capture them, and there was no requirement to engage in a battle to wear them down first. Many gamers were displeased with this change and this was reflected in the Let's Go titles being review-bombed. Along with this change, there were other tweaks related to experience gain, gyms, and the availability of certain pocket monsters.
Many gamers saw this as an attempt to further casualize the experience, and with Diamond and Pearl being mainline Pokemon titles, it's possible that such a major change could be received negatively. The anticipation surrounding the rumored remakes is high, and fans are possibly expecting gameplay in line with the original titles while adding more modern Pokemon series conventions. Due to the backlash Game Freak received for the catching mechanic used in the Let's Go games, this rumor may come as a surprise to some players, despite it being speculation at this time.
The Pokemon games generally aren't considered to be very difficult, but they do contain challenges and have tactical gameplay. In the main Pokemon series games, catching the creatures can be difficult because they need to be worn down in battle first without knocking them out, making them more susceptible to capture. Adjusting this mechanic would make it more of a casual experience, and has the potential to make a core part of the gameplay less satisfying for some Pokemon fans. With the success of Pokemon Sword and Shield and its use of traditional catching mechanics, coupled with the negative reaction to Let's Go's catching method, it's potentially in the best interest of Game Freak to follow the template set by the latest mainline games.
Remakes of Pokemon Diamond and Pearl would likely have an in-built audience who are ready to purchase them, based on players' nostalgia with the original titles. A drastic change to an essential part of the game, such as catching Pokemon, has the potential to put off gamers who are ready for a trip down memory lane. For many, Generation 4 games Diamond and Pearl are some of the most challenging in the entire franchise, and returning players may want to experience that level of difficulty again. If catching the pocket monsters was made so casual and easy, it could dilute the overall level of challenge for those coming back to the series.
Beyond the catching mechanic itself, there are some byproducts of using this system that directly affect other aspects of gameplay too. As players have seen with the Let's Go games, fighting wasn't necessary to aid in catching wild Pokemon, and as a result, would-be trainers were not able to battle wild creatures. The knock-on effect of this was that Pokemon experience gain had to be adjusted to accommodate the simpler catching system. Experience gain in the Let's Go spin-offs occurred when the trainer successfully captured Pokemon, and every creature in a player's party would benefit from it. This reduced the number of battles in the titles by a large margin, and it might be advisable for Game Freak to avoid this, as it could lead to alienating some returning fans.
Despite the negative reaction to the Let's Go releases, they seem to be considered spin-off titles rather than fully-fledged main series entries. If the developer was to adopt the controversial catching mechanic and the other changes that come with it for Pokemon Diamond and Pearl, there is potential for the backlash to be more severe. Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! were quasi-remakes of Pokemon Yellow yet weren't treated as main games in the franchise. Diamond and Pearl remakes have more potential to be treated as premier releases, due to this being the first remake treatment for the Generation IV games. As such, it might be in the best interest of Game Freak to minimize possible drama and keep the experience as fan-pleasing as possible.
The use of the controversial catching mechanic is purely speculation at this point, but the same post has been correct in the past concerning the Pokemon franchise. Recently, a notable Pokemon leaker denied Let's Go style versions of Diamond and Pearl, which for many will cast doubt on the chances of seeing the catching mechanic change. For now, fans will have to wait and see if the remakes will end up being revealed in February, and perhaps then there will be concrete news.
Pokemon Diamond and Pearl are available on Nintendo DS.
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