Pokémon Diamond Version was released for the Nintendo DS on September 28, 2006 in Japan. In 2007, it appeared in Western countries. The game got many new features over previous versions, including 107 new Pokémon and the possibility to play through Wi-Fi.

To go along with its many new features, the Pokémon Diamond Version ROM managed to save the basic gameplay principles of the previous games. You still have to collect the pocket monsters and defeat different enemies. Each player starts with no Pokémon or Poké Balls, but they have up to three starting heroes to choose from. When the Poké Balls are collected, the player can catch more heroes. The main aim of the game is fighting between the Pokémon, so the fight screens are an important part of the game. It is a turn-based competition. In each step, the player can choose from attacks, special moves, using items, or fleeing (in some battles, this latter option is not available). Each hero has hit points (HP), and if they fall to zero, the hero faints. The hero can be revived with a special item or in a special place. The winning pocket monster gets the experience points and can grow to other species of Pokémon after several levels.

Apart from battling, capturing different kinds of wild heroes and collecting them is another aim of the game. The player should use special Poké Balls to capture each kind of Pokémon. The success of the capture depends on the HP of the wild hero and the strength of the Poké Ball.

Particular Qualities of the Game

As for the new features, Pokémon Diamond has several worth noting. Firstly, the day is divided into five periods: morning, day, afternoon, evening, and night. The battling system went through some changes as well. In previous versions the battle moves were divided into two types: special and physical. In the Diamond version, a new kind of a special move was added, the status move, which does not deal any damage to the opposing Pokémon.

The Global Trade Station

This is a new place for the players to interact with each other. There they can sell items and look for any Pokémon they saw in the game. The heroes that are sold from abroad enter the Pokédex with the language of their origins. Each player can create his or her own secret vaults, decorate them, and play different minigames. Also, DS players could play with friends through the special DS Wireless mode.

Since its release, the game has received mostly positive ratings from different sites and players. The gamers enjoyed the traditions retained in the game and the many new features that helped enlarge the game world and play possibilities.