Introduction
Basic information
Developer Name: ILCA, Inc. (Developed) / Game Freak & The Pokémon Company (Published)
Full Name: Pokémon Shining Pearl
Release Date: November 19, 2021
Released on: Nintendo Switch
Cross Play: No
Initial thoughts
My wife was in the mood to relive some memories, and Pokémon Pearl was the perfect choice. The idea of revisiting Sinnoh in full HD was exciting, and the nostalgia hit hard right from the opening. The remade soundtrack, the familiar dialogue, and the return of favorite routes brought her right back to the DS days.
At first, it was pure joy, catching her favorite Pokémon again, exploring the Grand Underground, and seeing updated graphics. But as the hours passed, so did the cheerful nostalgia. Frustration began to creep in, particularly when realizing just how much effort it takes to complete everything this game expects of you.
What looks simple on the surface becomes a grind-heavy journey that demands trading with strangers, digging endlessly for evolution stones, chasing rare spawns, and cross-connecting with other games just to get a complete collection. It’s fun, yes, but it’s also a monumental test of patience.
Story and setting
Plot overview
The story of Pokémon Shining Pearl remains almost identical to the original Diamond and Pearl narrative. You begin as a young trainer in the quiet town of Twinleaf, dreaming of adventure and Pokémon glory. Your journey quickly intertwines with the mysterious Team Galactic, a group of extremists seeking to harness the power of legendary Pokémon to reshape the universe.
Through exploration, battles, and gym challenges, you work to stop their plans while becoming the Champion of the Sinnoh region. The story is as classic as Pokémon gets, simple, but timeless.
World building and immersion
Sinnoh remains one of the most iconic regions in Pokémon history, filled with memorable cities and a beautiful variety of environments: snowy mountains, sunny lakes, eerie caves, and peaceful towns. The world still feels alive and diverse.
Character development
Your rival is energetic and persistent, though still retains that old-school always one step ahead but never quite ahead energy. Gym leaders feel familiar yet still exciting to face. There’s little in terms of deep character arcs, but it works within the Pokémon formula.
Emotional impact
The game’s nostalgia factor carries much of the emotional weight. Revisiting the legendary moments of Team Galactic’s plans or stepping back into Mt. Coronet again was emotional for both of us. The nostalgia alone was enough to make the grind worthwhile.
Rating for story and setting
I have visited multiple aspects of the story, and after some thought and objective thinking, I rated the story and setting with an 8
Gameplay and mechanics
Core gameplay mechanics
Pokémon Shining Pearl sticks close to the traditional formula, catching, battling, trading, and training. That’s both its greatest strength and its biggest weakness. While the nostalgic gameplay loop is comforting, it’s also grindingly repetitive.
Catching every Pokémon is an incredible challenge. To complete the Pokédex, you must trade with other players, explore every inch of Sinnoh, and even connect to external games like Pokémon GO for certain legendaries. My wife spent hours hunting through the Grand Underground, scouring every patch of grass, and still had gaps that couldn’t be filled without trading.
Then there’s the digging. The Underground is fun at first, the digging minigame is surprisingly addictive. but after your fiftieth session mining for evolution stones, it starts to feel endless. Even the Battle Tower, designed as an endgame challenge, becomes another grindfest. The BP rewards are laughably low, forcing hours of repetition for even a single useful item.
And yet… despite all of that, it’s hard to stop playing. It’s a strange kind of satisfaction, the kind that keeps you saying, just one more hunt.
Difficulty and balance
The main story is fairly easy, staying true to the series’ accessible roots. The challenge comes from postgame goals and competitive prep, where the grind intensifies.
Pacing of the game
The pacing is slow, especially if you’re chasing 100% completion. The core story is balanced well, but completionists will spend dozens of hours digging, trading, and evolving just to wrap things up.
Innovation and uniqueness
While not the most groundbreaking remake, Shining Pearl succeeds as a faithful recreation. It’s not trying to reinvent Pokémon, just modernize it.
Controls and user interface
Smooth and responsive. The menus are simple and well-organized. The Pokétch (your in-game smartwatch) is a nice nostalgic touch, though it feels slightly clunkier on the Switch screen compared to the DS stylus days.
Microtransactions
Officially, none, but indirectly, yes. To catch certain Pokémon, you’ll need Pokémon GO, which often requires paid raid passes and storage upgrades. It’s not a direct paywall in Shining Pearl, but the ecosystem subtly pushes you toward other paid systems.
Rating
After combing through many of the mechanics, the pacing, and other factors of this game, I rated the gameplay and mechanics with a 7.5.
Graphics and art style
Quality of graphics and art direction
The chibi-style art direction sparked debate among fans, but it works. It captures the charm of the original’s overworld while enhancing it with modern colors and lighting. Battles look great, especially with detailed Pokémon models and flashy attack animations.
Technical performances
Performance is solid, with smooth frame rates and no noticeable bugs or crashes. The game runs flawlessly on the Switch both docked and handheld.
Environment and design uniqueness
Sinnoh has never looked better. The reimagined routes, lakes, and snowy peaks feel fresh yet familiar. The remade Pokémon centers and towns carry nostalgic warmth.
Rating
It took me some time to give the graphics and art style an objective rating. There are many things to consider, but ultimately, I rated this section with an 8.5.
Sound and music
Music score and how it contributed to the game
The remastered soundtrack is excellent. Every route theme, gym battle track, and legendary encounter song has been beautifully updated. The Lake Trio’s music, in particular, stands out as hauntingly beautiful.
Sound effects quality
Crisp and clean, though many classic effects remain intentionally retro to preserve nostalgia.
Voice Acting
None, as expected from the series. Some light narration or trainer dialogue could have elevated certain emotional scenes.
Rating
After a lot of consideration, I rated the sound and music section with an 8.
Replayability
Game Length and content volume
Completing the main story takes around 25–30 hours, but achieving 100% completion can easily exceed 100 hours due to postgame content and trades.
Extra Content
The Battle Tower, Grand Underground, and Pokédex completion are major time sinks. There’s plenty to do if you love grinding and collecting.
Replay value
High for collectors, moderate for casual players. The repetitive nature may deter some, but completionists will find a near-endless loop of challenges.
Rating
After thoughtful consideration, I decided to rate the replayability and game length of Pokémon Shining Pearl with an 8.
Suggestions and comparisons
Suggestions and feedback
Allow players to capture all Pokémon within the game without external tools or transfers.
Increase Battle Points (BP) rewards to reduce grinding fatigue.
Introduce more variety in postgame challenges.
Comparisons
Compared to other remakes like Let’s Go Pikachu/Eevee and Brilliant Diamond, Shining Pearl stands out for its pure nostalgia. It’s more faithful than flashy, aiming to preserve rather than reinvent. Yet, the older systems it preserves come with old frustrations too, the reliance on trading and grinding being chief among them.
Personal experiences and anecdotes
My wife was thrilled to dive back into Sinnoh, but even she started showing signs of trainer fatigue midway through. The sheer number of hoops to jump through is staggering. To ease her pain, I stepped in to help by trading shiny Pokémon from Pokémon Violet (including an Iron Valiant) for rare legendaries like Kyogre and Groudon. It was the only way to bypass some of the most exhausting roadblocks.
She was so relieved she didn’t have to spend another fifteen hours mining or scouring the same grass patch. Despite the frustration, though, there was joy, that satisfying feeling of finally seeing the Pokédex fill up, of training G.O.D. (Arceus himself) that I had caught in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, and of seeing her team shine in the final league battle. It was tough, it was slow, but it was fulfilling in its own way.
Rating
Taking in all the personal experiences with Pokémon Shining Pearl, I give it a personal rating of 7.2.
Last words
Pros
- Faithful recreation of a beloved classic.
- Nostalgia factor is off the charts.
- Solid performance and smooth controls.
- Beautifully remade soundtrack.
- Excellent battle animations.
- Fun and addictive Underground system (for a while).
- Expansive Pokédex and endgame.
- Charming art style that preserves the DS spirit.
Cons
- Extreme grind for completionists.
- Reliance on external games and trades.
- Low BP rewards in Battle Tower.
- Repetitive Underground digging.
- No voice acting for key moments.
- Limited innovation beyond nostalgia.
- Some evolutions locked behind tedious mechanics.
- Hidden behind catch them all gatekeeping frustration.
Pokémon Shining Pearl is both a love letter and a test of patience. It’s beautiful, nostalgic, and mechanically faithful, but it also asks a lot from its players, sometimes too much. For casual trainers, it’s a delightful trip back to Sinnoh. For completionists, it’s a long, winding, occasionally exhausting road to victory.
Despite the endless grind, the emotional payoff of finishing the Pokédex, seeing Arceus reign supreme, and reliving old memories makes it worth it. It’s frustrating, yes, but also fantastic in its own right.
FINAL RATING
7.9
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