Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

First off, I must address the numerous reviewers who are complaining that Platinum is essentially a remake of Diamond and Pearl versions of Pokemon. Yes, it is. And everybody should have known that before blowing $40 on it, simply by reading the product description. The third installations of all 4 Pokemon series of games have always been remakes of the previous 2. Yellow was an enhanced version of Red and Blue; Crystal was an enhanced version of Gold and Silver; Emerald was an enhanced version of Ruby and Sapphire; and now, Platinum is an enhanced version of Diamond and Pearl. This is how the Pokemon games have always worked, so it is beyond me why so many people are now complaining about it. Pokemon games typically get 4 1/2 star ratings on Amazon, and Platinum is now poised to have the worst rating out of any Pokemon RPG game, when in reality, it is the best. Now that that's out of the way... I partially gave Platinum a 5 star review to counteract some of these 2 and 3-star reviews we're seeing, but I truly think it is a great game. If you have a DS, Platinum will give you as much fun as any other DS game you have. Very casual Pokemon fans who already own Diamond and/or Pearl might not feel the need to buy this game. More serious Pokemon fans, and newcomers to the series, on the other hand, will love this game. I have played through all 13 previous Pokemon RPG games, as well as the Gamecube games, several times each, and Platinum still captivated me enough to get me playing for 5 straight hours without a break! (Not exactly the healthiest thing to do on a regular basis, but parents, think about the possibilities of getting your kids to sit quietly for a few moments...) As mentioned above, Platinum is essentially a remake of Diamond and Pearl, but with enhancements. The storyline is tweaked a bit to keep things interesting, and there is a new legendary Pokemon for you to capture. Some places have been redesigned, and there are new characters. A very welcome addition is a new Battle Frontier, back from Emerald version. The Battle Frontier will keep you playing hours after you complete the main quest. Besides all the new changes, the raw appeal of catching Pokemon, training them, and battling with them is ever present in Platinum version, and really, isn't that the reason these games are so loved, anyway? Ultimately I give Platinum version a heartfelt recommendation because it is fun, will provide hours and hours of gameplay, and is accessible, yet challenging. Platinum is the best Pokemon game. Newcomers, start here. Oldtimers...you know what to do.