Product ReviewsPokemon: Pearl Version (Nintendo DS, 2007)

IGN Ratings for Pokemon Pearl Version

Presentation
Though the game keeps a modest approach in visual and audio, the design goes even deeper for DS owners.

Graphics
The team purposefully stuck with imagery that stays close to the GBA style. 3D is used throughout, but if you're looking for impressive visuals you're not going to get them.

Sound
Pokemon still screech with the flair of the original Game Boy. Tunes are more advanced, though not much beyond GBA quality.

Gameplay
The already proven, very addictive Pokemon RPG and battle core is here, enhanced with DS elements like touch-screen control and internet play.

Lasting Appeal
It's a good 40-plus hours of adventuring and bulking up your team, and then you've got near endless play over wireless and Internet. You can even use the game as a VOIP phone.Read full review...

Not as Good as Platinum, but Better than 3rd Gen Games

This game has a good storyline and good graphics, though the story and improved features of Platinum version are better. It's very affordable, and a good game to use if you want to fool around with cheat packs. Definitely a good starter game for Nintendo DS, and easy enough to restart and play again if you get bored with it.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: breathlessmovies

Unexpectedly Entertaining Game

I, for one, am not a pokemon fan at heart. I was told to buy it and play it, so I did--expecting entirely to get a few hours into the game and tossing it into a soon-to-be-dusty corner. Didn't happen. If you have any interest in renewing your interest in Pokemon games, I would recommend this one. If you've played Diamond, I do not recommend it; it's basically the same game--verbatim. If you're bored and want to try a game that doesn't require and/or cause intensive attention or fanatical obsession (Come on, you know at least one game comes to mind with that idea.) then this is probably a good idea.
It doesn't require any previous knowledge of the story line (Try playing some other sequel games without knowing what's happening!) which is a very positive detail in my book, considering I haven't played any of the games since Red.
The only real qualm I have with the game is that it plays like a Game Boy game, not a DS game. The touchpad is usable, some rare times even the only way to do something (such as moving between the poketch applications, which are explained in-game), but for the most part the directional pad and the x/y/a/b buttons are just about all you need.

Over all, though, it's a decent game for most age groups, as long as the player isn't overly concerned with the social implications of playing a pokemon game (or any RPG-based video game, for that matter) in the first place.Read full review...

Pokemon Pearl

New completely interactive version of pokemon. The graphics i found arent so pixally, theres new hidden mini games, and an underground cave system which i thought was pretty cool i spend hours collecting spheres! : In this version you also have the choice of being a male or a female, and theres alot of different pokemon i didnt see in any of the advance games. Also, the " bike " has a gear option, where you can choose from 4 speeds, as well as being able to use teleport, flash, and a few other special moves without having to get the certain gym badge. [you do still need them for the HM moves] All in all the game is great, it's fast playing, the picture quality is amazing, and theres ever more stuff to do. [like dressing up your pokemon for pictures with the new acessory bags, and not to meantion the new trainers watch with all the little features is great too!] Im 22 and enjoyed playing it.. but my husbands 6 year old loves the game as well.. great for all ages. 5/5Read full review...

A Real Treat for a Long-Time Pokémon Fan

My first introduction to the Sinnoh region. I am still only on the road towards my second gym badge, and wow - I am not disappointed!
With a wonderful soundtrack, and graphics that may not be as polished as the next generation's - but make me woozy with nostalgia.
If you are already familiar with the series, but have not tried this gen of games yet - do yourself a favour and try it! Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: mattsgameshop

perfect for shiny hunting

The game works! I bought it to get non-english pokemon to breed for shiny pokemon, it came with a file on it already, which was great for me since I'm a lot closer to the point I need to be to start breeding pokemon and it will take less time fumbling through the Japanese.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: periquito997

Awesome Game

For a game that's literally sold countless millions of copies over the past ten years, it's pretty amazing to discover gamers who have yet to experience what Pokemon is all about. Under its kid-friendly, thick sugary coating lies a deceptively deep and addictive design that encourages players to create collections of highly marketable creatures of various species. The core mechanic is an adventure with role-playing game battle mechanics -- these creatures will fight for their owner using their abilities in a turn-based interface, where players choose the best mode of attack or defense that'll get them through the brawl. Winning battles will earn these creatures experience which will, in turn, advance their levels and increase their capabilities...as well as earn their owners some coin for purchases at the shops.

It's a concept that's already proven itself enormously successful, both critically and commercially, in close to a dozen iterations over the course of ten years. There's a tremendous amount of depth and strategy within the Pokemon design, and because the designers incorporate hundreds of different creatures to capture, it also becomes addictive even when the whole adventure potion's at an end.

While there have been some similar spin-off designs on the console side Nintendo's kept the true experience exclusively on its handhelds. Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl is the RPG's official move to the Nintendo DS platform, and as long as you're comfortable with playing "more of the same," which -- let's be honest here -- is more of a really excellent and strategically deep handheld experience, then it's thumbs up for the DS version, too.

The developers do a fine job incorporating the Nintendo DS elements into the design of Pokemon. For example, in battle you no longer have to cycle through a menu using the D-pad to pick your Pokemon and attacks -- it's now handled through the simplicity and elegance of big, fat, thumb-friendly buttons on the lower screen. This streamlines things more so than you might realize, since you no longer have to scroll through menus or navigate using the directional arrows. Just tap and go. The designers also have fun with the new item for Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl: the Poketch, or Pokemon Watch. It's essentially a personal "computer" where you'll get programs to plug into it throughout your travels. So, while it might be disappointing that you don't get a map on the lower screen while wandering the environment, don't worry...you'll get one eventually. Some widgets are rather cool, some are completely useless, and a variety of them fit in between.

Game interfaces are all over the place in Pokemon DS. Some Pokedex menus use the touch screen, others do not, some spread out over two screens, others are smooshed on one. It doesn't really hurt the experience to have the interfaces scattered like this, but it's obvious how Game Freak managed to toss in all this functionality during development...it most likely had bunches of groups working independently.

The biggest issue is its hard-to-shake feeling of deja vu -- most of what players do in the single player experience is identical to the adventuring laid out for the gamers in previous versions. That "explore the world, fight gym leaders, stop the evil Team" storyline progression hasn't changed at all in Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl. Instead of Team Rocket, you've got Team Galactic, and while their aim is different, their motivations aren't.Read full review...

Pokemon Pearl

I got this game at first mainly to get all the pokemon it and transfer them to my Soul Silver version, mostly because I grew up in the ninties with all of the original Pokemon and I thought that all these new one's were bordering on insane and completely stupid with the new 500 or however many there were, but I gave it a chance. After a little while I was having as much fun as the original games, some of the Pokemon have totally weird names and look like who knows what but that didn't take away from the novelty of it, there were a bunch of silly new characters that added a lot to the story line, and new evolving stones and items that made things a lot more interesting, I was wrong about the games Diamond and Pearl, they're still great.Read full review...

Pokemon Pearl Version satisfactory

I bought this product (Pokemon Pearl Version Nintendo DS 2007) as a gift for my mother in law.
This product was the perfect gift for her, easy to use and understand. A lot of the controls were similar to the past editions of this type making it easier to learn quickly.
As far as comparisons, I find that it is satisfactory.Read full review...

The nostalgia is real; feels like I've been transported to 2007.

I bought this game because I lost my original one and it's just the same as it was before! I am super happy with my purchase!

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: new | Sold by: zahirisali09