Pok�mon Diamond

$35, Nintendo DS

Teaches: reading, logic, mathematics, graphs

CTR Rating: 96%

CTR Review

This is the twin title to Pok�mon Pearl (both released April 2007) and is another solid adventure that offers a good deal of depth, a lot of reading and problem solving opportunities as well as new content. After signing, you start out as an aspiring Pok�mon Trainer who can be a boy or a girl. The game takes place in a new location called Sinnoh, where 151 Pok�mon are hiding. In the story, the bad Team Galactic is trying to rule the region with their bad Pokemon. You can prevent this by exploring the world and picking up clues as you interact with residents by exchanging lines of printed dialog and duel against their Pok�mon.New features include the ability to play with others in the same room, or use a Wi-Fi Connection to play with another registered player. The coolest new feature is the ability to chat with the other player using the Nintendo DS microphone peripheral; a specialized headset which is sold separately. Other smart features to note: the power of certain Pok�mon is related to the time of day, and, according to Nintendo, once the player has become League Champion, he or she can use the dual-slot feature of the Nintendo DS to import Pok�mon from older titles, including Ruby, Sapphire, FireRed, LeafGreen and Emerald. In addition, once players enter an area called Pal Park, they can see and capture their Pok�mon from previous games, which are then permanently transferred to Pok�mon Diamond and Pok�mon Pearl. Up to six Pok�mon per day can be transferred to Pal Park and then captured in Pok�mon Diamond and Pok�mon Pearl. Also, if players own Pok�mon Ranger, they can enter a code (found on www.Manaphy.com) to unlock a mission to receive a special Manaphy Egg from Pok�mon Ranger and then hatch it in Pok�mon Diamond or Pok�mon Pearl.Pok�mon Diamond and Pearl are proof that a good title can get even better.