More information has been revealed for Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, after the games leaked ahead of official release.

Editor’s Note: While our previous reporting featured no story elements, some of this information reveals new features that may deemed a surprise by players, and therefore spoilers. 

As previously reported, at least one individual (who has since deleted the content they uploaded) getting the game ahead of the official launch. The leaks thus far have included the return of Friendship giving bonuses during battle, Gym Leaders giving out multiple versions of their single use TMs, and seemingly no Battle Frontier as in Pokemon Platinum, only the Battle Tower.

There is also no Distortion World (only one room inspired by it), the game featuring a Nation Dex of some form, a post-game area called Ramanas Park, Gym Leader rematches, and even the ability to acquire Mew and Jirachi based on save data from Sword and Shield or Let’s Go Pikachu or Let’s Go Eevee respectively.

While there has been criticism over the game’s battle music seemingly being identical to the original, it was speculated this would be updated via a day 1 patch. This would be further supported by the game having graphical bugs, overworld music being remade, and Ramanas Park being inaccessible.

Since then, Pokemon Centro (a Twitter account dedicated to gathering Pokemon datamining and leaked information) has collated more findings. Firstly, the Battle Tower will not support Multi Battles (where players could invite an NPC or other player to take part in double battles against the facility).

In addition, most of the moves removed in Sword and Shield are still absent; for a total of 314 removed moves. The cut moves include Return, Pursuit, and Heal Order- the latter one of the signature moves of Vespiquen, introduced in the original Diamond and Pearl. On the other hand, Hidden Power is one of the moves returning.

The Global Trade System (GTS) of the original Diamond and Pearl, where players could deposit and list the Pokemon they wanted to trade and automatically trade once a partner was found. The GTS feature was incorporated into Pokemon Home. 

As such, Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl‘s GTS is now the Global Wonder Station for Wonder Trades; randomly trading Pokemon with no telling what you’ll get. Pokemon Home will be compatible with Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl in 2022.

The National Dex seemingly contains the first 493 Pokemon [1, 2, 3]- meaning all Pokemon from generation 4 and prior. This means no Pokemon from Black, White, X, Y, Sun, Moon, Sword or Shield. However, this may mean many of them could be available via the Grand Underground, and Gym Leaders having more variety when rematched. In addition, the Vs. Seeker for rematching regular trainers return.

Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl also do not have Mega Evolutions, Alolan, or Galarian forms of Pokemon. While Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire incorporate the then new Mega Evolutions, it does not appear as though the Diamond and Pearl remakes will incorporate Dynamaxing.

Even so, abilities from Pokemon outside Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl‘s Pokedex appear; such as those of Calyrex. Some have claimed prior Pokemon games have featured the data of Pokemon within them without models however.

Several mythical Pokemon events from the original Diamond and Pearl return, including Darkrai and Shaymin, including the latter’s alternate form found in Pokemon Platinum. Arceus is also in the game, but its event is not.

Currently, prior to any day 1 patch, the game has no way to encounter Arceus; but does have a sprite for the Azure Flute and relevant music. It is the Azure Flute item, text, and battle are not programmed in. It may be players will be able to access this event with save data from Pokemon Legends Arceus, or a future real-world event.

It also seems players are able to obtain Legendary Pokemon from prior generations via Ramanas Park. Players can find slates in the Grand Underground (trading smaller Mysterious Shards for them).

They all make clear reference to Legendary Pokemon; such as the Oceanic Slate for Kyogre, the Kanto Slate for the Legendary Birds, and so on. Once a Slate is put on the park’s pedestal, players are taken to a new place to encounter those Pokemon.

In addition, the game’s Legendary Pokemon have a chance to be Shiny (except the gifted Mew and Jirachi). This can be compared to Sword and Shield‘s The Crown Tundra expansion pass DLC, which offered the chance through Dynamax Adventures. The starter Pokemon also have a chance to be shiny, but they can be bred (unlike Legendaries) to produce Shiny Pokemon.

Finally, there is a new item is the DS Sounds item. Much like the GB Sounds item of Heart Gold and Soul Silver, it seems the player can change the game’s soundtrack to the original DS version. It seems the game will have a new [1, 2] and original soundtrack. Several new items from prior games include the Nature Mints, Ability Patch, and the Dream Beast and Park Pokeballs.

UPDATE: The PC boxes also use wallpaper re-created from Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum. However, on the wallpaper featuring silhouettes of the Team Galactic Commanders and Boss; Charon is absent. He was a Team Galactic scientist who appeared in Platinum, but on the wallpaper he is replaced by a Galactic Grunt.

This would suggest the game has no plot elements from Platinum, or it may be when the wallpaper unlocked by the player Charon has yet to appear. This also casts doubts on other Platinum debuting characters, like Looker.

UPDATE 2: It has been discovered that there will be rematches against the Gym Leaders, Elite Four, and Champion. All of them feature a team of six high-level Pokemon, holding items, and synergy with their abilities and moves. If true, the Champion’s strongest Pokemon is tied for the highest-level Pokemon in a trainer battle in the series. Further, Gym Leaders and other major NPCs will appear in the Battle Tower.

The games’ are 4.65 GB in size each, with the day 1 patch taking it up to 8 GB. Some of those who are unhappy with the changes and cut features are hoping the patch will do more than fix graphical issues and music.

Even so, and based on Ramanas Park not being accessible, it seems mostly post-game content that would be added in, and the major features have been implemented already. The game was also made via the Unity game Engine.

UPDATE: Along with both versions being accessible on the same ROM (and easily patched if you know how), the Unity engine may have aided a certain subset of Pokemon fans. Thanks to being made in Unity, assets and code can be easily changed an altered. Essentially, some fans now have the tools to make 3D Pokemon ROM hacks and fan games [1, 2].

Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Pokemon Shining Pearl launches November 19th on Nintendo Switch.