New Pokémon Diamond and Pearl info

The official Pokémon website has been updated with some new Pokémon Diamond and Pearl information. First off it would appear that the DS’s internal clock will be used to regulate the time of day in the game world. Screenshots show the game at several times of the day, from a bright morning to the evening sunset and through to the night. The website also states that the Pokémon in the game will be affected by the time of day.

Unlike in previous games where the sex of the Pokémon had no visual impact on the creatures, in Diamond/Pearl there will be physical differences that will enable the player to tell if the Pokémon you’re looking at is male or female. The website shows the spots on a Butterfree as one example.

The Pokédex has been given an overhaul, with a dual screen design resembling the DS. Naturally, the DS’s touch screen will enable for fast access of info, such as Pokémon stats and calling sounds. Something that hits me about the new Pokédex is that Nintendo could release a limited edition Pokédex version of the DS, an idea that would no doubt go down exceedingly well with Pokémon fans.

The Pokémon watch is a new addition to the series, and will be fully upgradeable with new features that become available as you progress though the game. The functions of the watch are much more interesting than simply time keeping – features include a calculator, and the ability to determine the effect a particular Pokémon technique will have on other types of Pokémon.

Pokémon Diamond/Pearl is scheduled for release in Japan later this year.