Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Diamond and Pearl remakes coming to Nintendo Switch
A new open-world Pokémon game is finally coming to Nintendo Switch.
During a live stream event on Saturday, The Pokémon Company announced that the next entry in the franchise will be called Pokémon Legends: Arceus, an open-world action RPG set in the old Sinnoh region.
Featuring a vast and colorful environment reminiscent of Breath of the Wild, the upcoming game will take place before the events of Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl, and will introduce new elements that fans have been clamoring for years.
Unlike the previous generations, the company is finally ditching the game’s iconic turn-based battle system and instead, allow players to seamlessly catch or fight wild pokémons while exploring the region's sprawling environment.
“As Trainers explore the natural expanses in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, they’ll encounter Pokémon that call these grand vistas home. To catch wild Pokémon, players can study the Pokémon’s behaviors, sneak up to them, then throw Poké Balls. Players can also battle wild Pokémon with their ally Pokémon. By throwing the Poké Ball holding their ally Pokémon near a wild Pokémon, players will seamlessly enter battle. This new gameplay angle is intended to provide Trainers with an immersive experience,” the game’s description read.
The story will revolve around the mythical pokémon called Arceus and will feature Rowlet, Cyndaquil, and Oshawott as partner pokémons. The game is slated to come out for the Nintendo Switch early 2022.
Aside from the prequel game, The Pokémon Company also revealed that the remakes of Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl are heading to the Nintendo Switch this year.
Titled Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl, the Nintendo DS remakes have been “faithfully reproduced and colorfully revitalized” for Nintendo’s current console, and will bring players back to the Sinnoh region with an updated gameplay and mechanics introduced in Pokémon Sword and Shield.
“These remakes include easy-to-understand, player-friendly conveniences of the modern Pokémon series, plus up-close-and-personal Pokémon battle scenes,” the company said.
Since these are based on the fourth generation Nintendo DS games, players will get to choose among Turtwig, Chimchar and Piplup to be their first partner pokémon and will also feature legendary monsters Dialga and Palkia. Both Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl will be released for the Nintendo Switch later this year.
“Trainers caught their first Pokémon in 1996 and began an adventure that has lasted 25 years. Through eight regions, many different platforms, and countless Pokémon encounters, they have strived to be the very best,” The Pokemon Company president and CEO Tsunekazu Ishihara said. “We hope that fans of all ages will enjoy creating new memories while exploring the Sinnoh region in these new games.”
