Pokémon Let’s Go Pikachu & Let’s Go Eevee vs. Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl: Full Comparison

The Nintendo Switch is one of the most popular consoles on the market and in history. With over 130 million units sold, the portable system has revolutionized the industry. With this popularity, bringing back old classics for fans is a no-brainer. Not everyone has a DS or Game Boy but wants to experience older games with a fresh makeover.

Let’s Go, Pikachu/Eevee!, and Brilliant Diamond/ Shining Pearl do exactly that for Pokemon fans. These games are remakes of the originals, allowing new fans to play modernized versions with the convenience of their Switch. But when looking at the two, deciding which one is right for you can be difficult. Look no further, as this article will break down everything there is to know about them. Their differences, similarities, and unique features listed will help you figure out which game fits your needs.  

Games

As mentioned, both of these games are remakes of past titles. Let’s Go, Pikachu/Eevee! are remakes of Pokemon Red/Blue/Yellow, released in 1996 (Japan). Let’s Go ushered in a new age for Pokemon by becoming the first title in the franchise released on Switch. Since 2018, when the game was released, all Pokemon games have been exclusively released on the Switch. The game sold over 15 million copies worldwide and quickly became one of the most successful titles in the series. 

On the other hand, Pokemon Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl remakes the 2006 release of Diamond/Pearl. Like Let’s Go, the games feature an overhaul to the graphics and engine to give a modern and sleek design. As of 2022, BD/SP has sold over 14 million copies worldwide, which isn’t too far from the 17 million copies the original games sold.           

Regions 

Let’s Go, Pikachu/Eevee is set in the Kanto region, the first region created for the franchise. It takes its name and is inspired by its real-life Japanese counterpart. Players start in Pallet Town before venturing out into the world. With eight cities, one island, caves, forests, water routes, and the Indigo Plateau, there is much to explore. 

Brilliant Diamond/ Shining Pearl occurs in the Sinnoh region, an island north of Kanto. The area is based on the Japanese island of Hokkaido. Due to its location, it featured the first snow/cold weather route in the franchise. A large mountain splits the island in half, creating two distinct sub-regions. It also doesn’t have many water routes, with most areas in the games taking place on land despite being an island.      

Features

While comparing these two games, it’s important to understand how they changed from the original titles. Knowing how they altered and modernized the games will also help show their differences. 

Let’s Go, Pikachu/Eevee added many more features than Red/Blue/Yellow. Not only is there a twenty-year difference in release date, but Let’s Go also followed the success of Pokemon GO. While the games still follow the original story, characters, Pokemon, etc., some notable changes exist. Not all of these changes were well-received by fans, but they helped show a new direction for the franchise.   

• No Wild Battles: Players can only capture wild Pokemon instead of battling wild Pokemon. The battle mechanic was removed to feature the new catch mechanic from Pokemon GO because most players were running from wild Pokemon. 
• Random Encounters: They removed random encounters and introduced wandering Pokemon that players can choose to walk into.
• Pokemon GO: The game is integrated with the Pokemon GO app, including a transfer feature. After linking your accounts, the Pokemon you catch in Pokemon GO can appear in your Let’s Go game.  
• Poke Ball Controller: Players can use a new controller shaped like a Poke Ball for catching Pokemon. 
• Co-Op: Players can play Let’s Go with one other friend and explore the world together and battle.
• Customization: Players can customize the look of their character instead of choosing one of two base options. They can also put various outfits on their starter Pikachu/Eevee. 

There are several big differences that BD/SP makes from the original games. The games are more faithful remakes than Let’s Go, bringing back features like battling wild Pokemon and random encounters. But let’s examine the changes the games make to get a better understanding of the remake.

• HM Moves: HM or Hidden Machine moves make their return in BD/SP. In the original games, players had to teach these moves to Pokemon in order to access certain areas. Only the required HMs return and no longer require teaching one of your own Pokemon to use them. 
• Auto-Save: Unlike past titles, BD/SP have auto-saves, meaning you won’t have to save after every minor accomplishment manually. 
• Portable PC: Players can access their PC from anywhere after unlocking it following the first Gym Battle. No longer will players have to travel to a Pokemon Center to swap out Pokemon. 
• Exp. Share: Pokemon can now gain experience and level without having to battle. If one Pokemon wins a battle, every Pokemon on the team will receive some exp.
• Battle Knowledge: After battling a Pokemon once, the game will inform you which moves are effective/not effective, making fights easier. 
• Pokemon Platinum: Many consider Pokemon Platinum as one of the best games in the franchise. The game fixed issues from Diamond/Pearl and created one of the most memorable experiences. However, content and changes from Platinum cannot be found in these remakes, as they aim to be more faithful to their respective original games.

Gym Battles

Both games feature Elite Four and Gym Battles to become the Pokemon Champion. In Let’s Go, Pikachu/Eevee! players must travel to the Indigo Plateau and battle Lorelei, Bruno, Agatha, Lance, and their rival after defeating eight Gym Leaders. Trainers must battle Aaron, Bertha, Flint, Lucian, and Champion Cynthia in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl after defeating eight Gym Leaders.

These remakes make the final encounters a lot easier due to features like Exp. Share, which was not present in the original games. This can be good or bad, depending on your play style. Exp. Share eliminates hours of level grinding but can often make your team over-leveled, leading to easy victories against the Elite Four and Champion with just a few hits.

Pokemon

Each remake features the original Pokemon, except for Let’s Go, which adds one new Mythical Pokemon, Meltan. Other than that, Let’s Go, Pikachu/Eevee! has the classic 151 Pokemon fans have come to know and love. BD/SP features the Generation IV Pokedex but incorporates some changes to movepools introduced in Generation VIII.

Let’s Go, Pikachu/Eevee! Pokedex

Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl Pokedex