Pokemon Brilliant DiamondandShining Pearlsought to remake the classic Gen 4Pokemontitles with an artistic approach that received mixed reception from fans. With Gen 5 being the next logical step forthePokemonremake pattern, potentialBlackandWhiteversion reimaginings have a big decision to make when it comes to their graphics.
Pokemon Brilliant DiamondandShining Pearlfollowed The Pokemon Company’s focus on nostalgia, as seeing Gen 4 brought back on the Nintendo Switch was a long-anticipated dream from older fans of the franchise. The remakes endeavored to strike a balance between 2D and 3D graphics, settling on a “chibi toy-like” art style that saw its characters shrunken-down in the overworld. While this decision leaned into the classic feel of olderPokemontitles with a modern twist, some were disappointed by the absence of a fully-realized 3D environment outside of battles, begging the question of where Gen 5 remakes might land.
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Pokemon Gen 5 Remakes Could Utilize a 2.5D Style Similar to the Original Games
Pokemon BlackandWhitewere considered stand-outs of the franchise. The Unova region felt brimming with personality thanks to its unique Pokemon roster and environments evoking the diversity of New York state. The titles sought a hybrid graphical approach, with certain vistas like Castelia City and Skyarrow Bridge adding three-dimensional assets amid the more traditional, 2D pixel art used by its characters and Pokemon designs. The resulting art direction felt both highly detailed and innovative for its time, continuing intoBlack 2andWhite 2just two years after their predecessors.
Along with its 3D take on backdrops, the use of detailed animations forPokemon BlackandWhite’s 2D battle spriteshelped further liven up its pixel art. Add in the titles' dynamic music during battles, andBlackandWhite’s approach feels compelling even over a decade after the fact. With potential remakes, Game Freak will need to decide whether to channel the strengths of the art style present in the original games or go for a more modern rendition. A fully 3D world akin to players' most recent travels into Paldea may have its own merits, though a hybrid model could work to retain what made Gen 5 entries such special entries in the franchise.
An HD-2D approach wouldn’t need to compromise on the ingenuity of what the Nintendo Switch can offer. Square Enix’sOctopath Travelerseries settled on a similar blend between 2D and 3D, garnering a lot of praise from players. TheOctopath Travelertreatment forPokemonremakescould be a strong avenue for both exploration and battle, allowing the 2D animated sprite work from the originals to shine in a more modern context. Focusing on 2D sprites for character and Pokemon designs could also help Gen 5 remakes avoid player issues withBrilliant DiamondandShining Pearlby sticking to something more traditional for the series.
WhileBrilliant DiamondandShining Pearl’s art direction proved to be a bit divisive,newer generations of Pokemonare already innovating on what were once considered staples of the series, diverging from past titles' linearity by way of fully 3D, open-world designs. While the remake treatment can and should be used as an opportunity to modernize traits of the original source material, it shouldn’t completely dismiss the charm of features that might be considered “outdated” by today’s standards. Gen 5 remakes would do well to strike a balance between the past and the present, building upon what made the original Unova adventures so special in the first place.
Pokemon Brilliant DiamondandShining Pearlare available now for the Nintendo Switch.
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