Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl Will Have Some of the Deepest Lore in the Series
The Pokemon universe is filled with Legendary Pokemon possessing incredible powers. A lot of Legendary and Mythical Pokemon are tied to specific regions, where they play a specific role in the region's story. However, the Sinnoh Region has arguably the deepest lore of them all, meaning that Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl (as well as Pokemon Legends: Arceus) have a great opportunity to showcase some of the best and most fascinating Legendary Pokemon out there.
Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are remakes of course, so these topics have already be addressed by the Pokemon mainline series and the remakes probably won't add anything new as far as lore is concerned. With the remake rapidly approaching, it's a good time to take a look back at what makes the Sinnoh Region, and the Legendary Pokemon who call it home, so special.
First and most obviously, the Sinnoh Region is home to Arceus, the creator of the Sinnoh region and the entire Pokemon universe. Pokemon fans will get to see more of Arceus in the upcoming Pokemon Legends: Arceus title, but it's an important part of Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl's lore too.
The first time Arceus was ever available for Pokemon trainers to catch was in the original Pokemon Diamond and Pearl. However, it remains one of the rarest and most elusive Pokemon in the game because it was only available during a limited-time event, and now can't be obtained without trading or using cheats. Arceus has appeared a handful of times in other mainline games, but it's uncommon even by Legendary standards.
If Arceus was the creator of the universe and of the Sinnoh Region specifically, that means that Sinnoh is the first region to ever exist. And while Arceus is a big deal, that's not where Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl's lore ends. In addition to creating the universe, Arceus created Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina, also known as the Creation Trio. Later, to keep them in check, Arceus also created the Lake Trio consisting of Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf. Arceus is considered the master of both trios.
When players think about Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, the Legendaries that come to mind are Dialga and Palkia. Both of these dragon-type Legendaries have incredible power with huge implications and stand apart from even the most impressive Legendary Pokemon because of their responsibilities.
Dialga and Palkia are one of the most powerful duos to ever be featured as the primary Legendaries in a mainline Pokemon game; as lovable as they are, Sword and Shield's Zacian and Zamazenta can't hold a candle to these two. That's not specifically in regards to their competitive stats, because there is some room for improvement there, but Dialga and Palkia are responsible for space and time, which is a pretty big deal.
Dialga is a steel/dragon-type Pokemon that controls time, and a couple of Pokedex entries emphasize just how crucial Dialga's role is. Some Pokedex entries say that time started moving when Dialga was born, and others say that time moves forward every time Dialga's heart beats. So basically, if Dialga died or didn't exist, time would be at a standstill and nothing would ever happen.
Palkia is in charge of space, and is said to live in the space between dimensions. Some Pokedex entries say that with every breath Palkia takes, space becomes more stable. That's pretty important, and implies that without Palkia space might completely unravel. Just like Dialga, Palkia is pretty much essential for life to thrive.
Giratina is the last of the Creation Trio, and appeared in Pokemon Platinum. While it doesn't have a huge role in the Diamond and Pearl story, it is closely connected and an integral part of the lore. It was created with Dialga and Palkia, but was banished to the Distorted World by Arceus due to its violent tendencies. Giratina isn't quite as vital to existence as Dialga and Palkia, but when the three of them start to fight it could be mean the end of the world.
At first glance, the Lake Trio isn't as impressive as the Creation Trio, but it is almost as important. Mesprit, Azelf, and Uxie are the reason that humans have emotion, knowledge, and willpower, all of which are incredibly vital, but that's not all the Lake Trio does. Arceus created them to be able to calm Dialga and Palkia whenever their tempers got out of control; a power that was taken advantage of in the original Diamond and Pearl story.
Team Galactic sets out to find the Lake Guardians and harness their power in order to control Dialga or Palkia, depending on the version of the game being played. The player races Team Galactic to each of the three lakes that the Pokemon call home, but isn't ever able to keep the Pokemon from being captured. Thankfully, Team Galactic is defeated and the Guardians return to their lakes — until the player goes back to catch them, that is.
The Lake Trio is essential as an extra layer of security between Dialga, Palkia, and the destruction of time and space. Although they're smaller than other Legendary Pokemon and don't look incredibly intimidating, their importance cannot be overstated. Just imagine a life without emotion, knowledge, or willpower. Even with time and space intact, it would feel pretty empty.
Between these three groups of Legendaries, the Sinnoh Region, and Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl by extension, is home to the deepest and most important lore in the entire Pokemon series. Most players rank Pokemon by their usefulness in competitive battle, but it's important not to forget what role these Pokemon have in creating and maintaining the entire universe. Without them, no one would be comparing Pokemon stats in the first place because Pokemon wouldn't even exist.
Even though these are the major groups, it's worth noting that several other Legendary Pokemon come from Sinnoh. Regigigas is a giant that can be found in Snowpoint Temple. Heatran is another Legendary Pokemon that was created at the same time as the Creation Trio, even though it's not included in the group. According to legend, Heatran is the spirit of fire and volcanic activity. Finally, Cresselia can be found on Fullmoon Island, where the player must secure a Lunar Wing to end another character's nightmares.
All of this lore has already been established, but Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl have the opportunity to revisit it for both old and new fans of the series. Players will get to take several trips back to Sinnoh with the upcoming Pokemon games, and it'll be exciting to see these old myths back in action. Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl could add even more depth to the known mythology because there's quite a bit to work with.
Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl will release for Nintendo Switch on November 19.
Post a Comment