Pokemon Platinum Coverage; CoroCoro Scans; Rotom Forme Sprites

By: Water Pokémon Master · Posted Posted onSep 10, 2008 at 1:28 AM · 0 Comments

Some CoroCoro scans are posted in the text links below, showing the Battle Frontier Brains and the Rotom key. Information that is not related to our actual Platinum journey have “-” in front of them so you can easily find them.

The points of information below are arranged from newest to oldest. If you want to read about Platinum from beginning to end, scroll down to the bottom of this news story and work your way up to the top.

  • Our coverage of Pokemon Platinum has continued to a new news story. Click here to go to it, or visit the front page.
  • Just went back to Stark Mountain, and Heatran is there. It’s at Level 50. In the D/P storyline, Buck took the Magma Stone, and Heatran wouldn’t appear until after you went to his house and convinced him to return it. In Platinum, Buck returns the stone before you visit his house. I wonder if the programmers forgot to change the event trigger?
  • Volner: LV.61 Jolteon, LV.62 Luxray, LV.61 Raichu, LV.63 Lanturn, LV.65 Electivire
  • Byron: LV.61 Skarmory, LV.65 Aggron, LV.61 Steelix, LV.62 Magnezone, LV.63 Bastiodon
  • -Candice: LV.62 Weavile, LV.61 Mamoswine, LV.65 Glaceon, Lv.63 Frosslass, LV.61 Abomasnow
  • -Gardenia: LV.61 Jumpluff, LV.65 Roserade, LV.62 Cherrim, LV.61 Bellossom, LV.63 Torterra
  • -Maylene: LV.62 Hitmontop, LV.63 Medicham, LV.66 Lucario, LV.64 Machamp, LV.62 Breloom
  • -Roark: LV.62 Aerodactyl, LV.63 Rampardos, LV.65 Tyranitar, LV.61 Golem, LV.61 Probopass
  • Now for the explanation of the strange sign on the door of Buck’s house: It’s been transformed into an exclusive club for Gym Leaders! Of course, you’re welcome too, now that you and Buck are friends. Only a few of the Gym Leaders will appear in the house at once, and you can battle them if you’d like. Their Pokemon are much stronger than they were the first time you faced them.
  • Neither the Magma Stone nor Heatran are inside Stark Mountain. Hmmmmm.
  • So, now that the the threat of Heatran waking up has passed, it’s time for us to go wake Heatran!
  • When you catch up to Pluto, he’s already grabbed the Magma Stone. He laughs at you, saying you’re too late, that Heatran will now awaken, granting him the power to make the volcano erupt. He’s going to use the destructive power of the volcano to extort money from the people of Sinnoh. Just as he says this, a Croagunk appears from out of nowhere and snatches the Magma Stone away from him! A nearby rock throws off its disguise, revealing Handsome. Since all of the other Galactic commanders are out of the picture, Handsome has shifted his invstigation to Pluto. The two Galactic grunts panic at the sight of the international police officer and run away, leaving Pluto to helplessly deny his involvement with Team Galactic. The Sinnoh police arrest Pluto, and you leave the cave with Handsome and Buck. Handsome thanks you for all your help, but expresses concern about Heatran. He says that according to legend, if the Magma Stone is moved, Heatran will awaken and the volcano will erupt. Buck says not to worry, and takes the stone from Handsome to return it to its rightful place. While Buck is gone, Handsome explains that after parting ways at Mt. Coronet, he went back to the Galactic Base and learned about Pluto’s scheme. That’s how he knew to stakeout Stark Mountain. Handsome hopes that Pluto’s arrest will be the end of Team Galactic, and the end of his mission. Buck returns, saying that the stone is back in place and Heatran doesn’t appear to have woken up. He leaves, inviting you to visit him in the Survival Area, then Handsome says farewell, leaving you alone at the entrance to Stark Mountain.
  • Stark Mountain has the same layout as in D/P, but everything in the cave has a reddish tint, as if being lit by the magma. The rocks that make up the walls appear to be smoldering.
  • In D/P, you find Buck waiting for you in the second room of Stark Mountain. In Platinum, he runs up behind you as you enter the room. He partners up with you as usual, but this time it’s to defeat Team Galactic, and not to obtain the Magma Stone for himself.
  • Buck’s house (in the Survival Area) is locked up. A sign on the door says “Not accepting new clients.” Huuuuuuhhhhh? O_O
  • Pluto calls the girls arrogant rookies, and gloats about finally gaining control of Team Galactic. He says that money is their first priority, so he and the two grunts head deeper into the cave to look for the Magma Stone.
  • After you defeat Jupiter, Mars decides that she’s going to go after Cyrus, even if he is in the Torn World. She says a sarcastic goodbye to Jupiter and quits Team Galactic! Jupiter grumbles that she hates to agree with Mars on anything, but a Team Galactic without Cyrus is too boring. She quits too, telling Pluto he can do as he wishes with the Team.
  • When you step inside the Stark Mountain cave, the two grunts, Mars, Pluto, and Jupiter are all waiting for you. You’re immediately cornered by Mars, who demands to know where Cyrus is. She doesn’t believe you when you tell her about the events inside the Torn World, and decides to beat the truth out of you. Her Pokemon this time around are a Level 58 Bronzong, Level 58 Golbat, and Level 60 Purugly. (Still no Crobat?!?! I guess it’s hard to max Golbat’s Tameness stat when I keep beating it up!) After being defeated, Mars wonders how she could lose when fighting for Cyrus’ sake. Jupiter says that Mars is a weakling, and she’s ashamed to be on the same Team as her. Jupiter attacks you next, with a Level 58 Bronzong, Level 60 Skuntank, and Level 58 Golbat.
  • Stark Mountain is now an active volcano, complete with pools of lava and billowing steam. It’s worth noting that all of the rocks in Fight, Survival, and Resort Area look like lava rocks, as opposed to the generic rocks that appear elsewhere in the game.
  • TEAM GALACTIC IS AT STARK MOUNTAIN!!!! As you approach the cave entrance, you overhear two grunts discussing the future of the Team. Pluto has taken over in the wake of Cyrus’ disappearance, but the grunts aren’t sure if he can replace their old leader.
  • On the way to Stark Mountain, you run into your rival, who’s training with Crasher Wake. The rival says that he needs to get stronger so he can challenge the Battle Brains. Wake warns you about the strong Pokemon inside Stark Mountain, then the pair heads back to the Survival Area.
  • In the Resort Area, a man offers to give you his villa. Apparently he was asked to take care of it by the previous owner, but now he’s passing it on to you. The villa is initially unfurnished, but you can order furniture from a catalogue and decorate the interior as you see fit. When your rival sees your new home, he becomes jealous and runs off to tell everybody about your good fortune.
  • The Pal Park itself is unchanged.
  • The Pokemon Mansion has received a slight visual update. Instead of a brick wall, it’s surrounded by an ornate metal fence. The Trophy Garden remains unchanged. If you talk to the maid who’s blocking the east hallway, she’ll tell you it’s off limits, just like in D/P. If you talk to the maid who’s blocking the west hallway, she’ll invite you to take the Maid’s Tournament Challenge. You can repeat this challenge once a day. The trick is to defeat all five of the mansion’s maids in a set number of turns–this number changes with each challenge. The maids all use Clefairy of varying levels, and since they know Endure, beating them on the correct turn can be difficult. If you complete the challenge, your reward is an opportunity to battle Miss Sayaka (presumably Mr. Backlot’s daughter). It’s not much of a reward, but you do get 5000 Poke for beating her.
  • We just realized that the Galactic Scientist promoted with Handsome before the game was released is actually Pluto.
  • The GBA transfer feature (before your Pokemon are uploaded to Pal Park) functions exactly as it did in D/P. The transfer screen is a different color than it was in D/P, and new music plays during the transfer process.
  • -Jason has extracted the new Rotom forms from the rom. They are officially called: Wash Rotom (the washing machine), Frost Rotom (the refridgerator), Spin Rotom (the fan), Oven Rotom (the oven), and Cut Rotom (the lawnmower). As we said before, they are all Electric / Ghost. Please do not take these sprites without providing proper credit (or any info below, for that matter). Thanks.

    Rotom Forms: Wash Rotom (washing machine), Frost Rotom (refridgerator), Spin Rotom (fan), Oven Rotom (oven), and Cut Rotom (lawnmower)

  • I also caught Palkia with a regular Poke Ball. After your battle, its pink portals disappears, and Spear Pillar is left empty.
  • I thought if I walked out of Spear Pillar and walked back in, Palkia would appear. It did! There is a pink portal next to where the blue portal was, and when you walk up to it and hit A, your battle with Palkia initiates. It is also at Level 70.
  • I caught it with just a Poke Ball. Palkia is no where in sight, yet…
  • I made my way back to Spear Pillar again, since I now have the Sinnoh PokeDex. What did I find? A small, blue portal. I walked up to it and hit A, and right away, the screen changes to a battle with Dialga! It’s at Level 70.
  • The island that the Battle Frontier is on has tropical trees instead of the normal ones you see in Diamond and Pearl.
  • When traveling via boat, you can see much more ice in the water. Why hasn’t Sinnoh warmed up yet? Hmm…
  • I now have the National PokeDex after seeing 210 Pokemon! Professor Rowan and Oak congratulated me for it. Too bad they didn’t know I cheated and traded most of the ones I hadn’t seen from Diamond and Pearl to Platinum. XD Let’s see what having the National Dex unlocks…
  • I have now been awake for 28 hours. -_- Working on getting the Sinnoh Dex done…
  • When starting a wireless battle, the Pearl player sees the Platinum player’s sprite as the Pearl one. The Platinum players sees the Pearl player with the Pearl sprite, meaning the old sprite is programmed into Platinum.
  • The same thing happens with a local battle. Giratina reverts to its regular form and the Platinum Orb goes into your backpack. It does not seem like any of the new forms can be traded or battled with while in their forms. They are exclusive to Platinum for this generation it seems.
  • I setup a trade between Platinum and Pearl. I wanted to trade my Giratina Origin Forme with its Platinum Orb to Pearl. When entering the trading room, Giratina Origin Forme reverts back to Giratina and its Platinum Orb goes back into the backpack. When you leave the room, you have to put the Orb back on yourself to transform it into its Origin Forme.
  • Even though I have been up for more than a day (XD), I am now going to try to complete the Sinnoh PokeDex so that I can see what is beyond 225.
  • I’m not sure what happened to Handsome either. The last time we saw him was before the showdown at Mount Coronet.
  • I went to Spear Pillar to check if Dialga and Palkia were there (since in Emerald you could catch Kyogre and Groudon), but the place is empty. I wonder where they went. Maybe they are not catchable in Platinum?
  • The Battle Factory is also the same – 3v3/4v4 battles, but you rent random Pokemon instead of using your own. Every time you win a battle, you have an option of switching one of you Pokemon for one of your opponent’s.
  • The Battle Tower is the same as in Emerald – 3v3, 4v4 double battles.
  • The Battle Stage only allowes you and your opponent to use one Pokemon. You choose your opponent from a list of types. The Pokemon are not scaled down to Level 50 for this area. The opponent’s Pokemon starts at Level 70 and continues to grow about two levels with each passing battle. Different Pokemon and Trainers are used each battle. You fight 10 rounds.
  • Battle Roulette is a “multi battle.” You battle 3v3 or 4v4, and before battling you play roulette. Random things happen depending on what you roll – for example, you can get a Berry put on each of your Pokemon, all of your Pokemon may go into battle Poisoned, or nothing may happen at all.
  • The guy in the tux on the CoroCoro scan works in the Battle Castle to heal your Pokemon.
  • The building is a castle, and the arena looks like a castle ballroom. Katorea watches your battles from above.
  • The Battle Castle works like this: you fight either 1v1 or 2v2 battles, 7 in a row, Battle Tower style. The catch is, you don’t get healed in-between battles and you can’t use any items. After each match, you earn “Castle Points.” You can use the Castle Points as currency to heal your Pokemon, rent items, or look at your next opponent’s stats.
  • A woman named “Katorea” is the Battle Castle Brain (she’s the brunette in the pink dress in the CoroCoro scan below).
  • The Battle Frontier sets all of your Pokemon to Level 50.
  • You can’t get onto Route 225 (leading to Stark Mountain) until you’ve completed the Sinnoh PokeDex.
  • A Platinum Orb now exists and is located within the Torn World. When you attach it to Giratina, its Dragon and Ghost-type moves are boosted, and it transforms into its Origin Forme. This is similar to Shaymin, which needs Glacidia’s Flower to change to its Sky Forme. Again, this is only after you beat the Elite Four.
  • Turnback Cave is now foggy inside. There is a small portal to the Torn World as well, and when you go through it, you are in the full blown Torn World. Giratina obviously changes to its Origin Forme.
  • The names of the various areas of the Battle Frontier are: Battle Castle, Battle Roulette, Battle Factory, Battle Stage, and Battle Tower.
  • The prizes in the Battle Frontier are the same ones as in Diamond and Pearl.
  • The Battle Recorder is upgraded once you enter the actual Battle Frontier.
  • Buck introduces himself and says that he hangs around Stark Mountain.
  • The people you fight are still called Frontier Brains.
  • Palmer, head of D/P’s Battle Tower, runs out of the Battle Frontier and accidentally runs into the rival. The rival then says, “Daddy?!”
  • While you battle, several people watch, including Buck.
  • The Battle Frontier replaces the Battle Zone from Diamond and Pearl.
  • When you go to the Battle Frontier, you and your rival will immediately go into a double battle with Volkner (the 8th Gym Leader) and Flint (the E4 member). They have together a Level 56 Houndoom and Luxray, a Level 56 Jolteon and Magmortar, and a Level 58 Electivire and Level 56 Flareon.
  • Make that 21 hours. I guess we are still going to cover the news while we fight to stay awake.
  • The game is over. There is still the Battle Frontier, though. We will try to get to the Battle Frontier tomorrow or later in the week. Playing Pokemon Platinum 20 hours straight isn’t exactly an easy task. ^_^; I’d like to thank Bangiras for translating and helping with almost everything when playing this game. She did way more work than myself and deserves most of the credit. Now we can both go to bed. :D
  • The credits show the main character riding his bike in 3D. Drifloon are flying above him. It also shows scenes from the game: meeting Professor Rowan, getting your PokeDex, Pokemon Centers, the Windworks, the Psyduck Roadblack, etc. It shows the player biking through the forest, then the city, with Wingull flying above. Additional scenes from the game are shown, including walking through the snow, Spear Pillar, etc. The credits end with the player biking through the forest at night with shooting stars and Magnezone, then eventually concluding at home.
  • Cynthia: Lv.58 Spiritomb, Lv.58 Roserade, Lv.60 Togekiss, Lv.60 Lucario, Lv.58 Milotic, Lv.62 Garchomp. When battling her, your bottom DS touchscreen is gray and purple colored and looks pretty cool.
  • Lucian (Psychic): Lv.53 Mr. Mime, Lv.55 Espeon, Lv.54 Bronzong, Lv.56 Alakazam, Lv.59 Gallade
  • Flint (Fire): Lv.52 Houndoom, Lv.55 Flareon, Lv.53 Rapidash, Lv.55 Infernape, Lv.57 Magmortar. Magmortar’s sprite is cool because it is shooting at you.
  • Bertha (Ground): Lv.50 Whiscash, Lv53 Gliscor, Lv52 Hippowdon, Lv52 Golem, Lv.55 Rhyperior
  • Aaron (Bug): Lv.49 Yanmega, Lv.49 Scizor, Lv.50 Vespiquen, Lv.51 Heracross, Lv.53 Drapion
  • Each of the Elite Four’s rooms are now decorated and more elaborate. Aaron has trees and logs in his room, Bertha’s room looks like a canyon, Flint’s room contains a platform suspended over lava, Lucian’s room is still the same, and Cynthia’s room is gray and boxy (it looks worse than D/P). Also, when you battle them, the versus banner shows both you and the person you are fighting.
  • Your Rival: Lv.48 Staraptor, Lv.48 Heracross, Lv.51 Infernape/Empoleon/Torterra, Lv.49 Snorlax, Lv.47 Floatzel/Rapidash/Roserade (2 of the 3)
  • The Pokemon Center you are in before you face the Elite Four has been redesigned. It is much more colorful.
  • After defeating Volkner, you go to Victory Road, which has not changed in terms of structure. There are wild Gabite, which is cool. Many of the Trainers also have the new Sinnoh Pokemon that appear in the PokeDex, like Lickilicky, Dusknoir, Altaria, Glalie, Tangrowth, etc. Once you make it out, you face the Elite Four.
  • Volkner has a Level 46 Jolteon, a Level 46 Raichu, a Level 50 Electivire, and a Level 48 Luxray. He gives you TM57, Charge Beam.
  • The Sunyshore Gym is the same as in Diamond and Pearl.
  • Jasmine is still in Sunyshore and still gives you Waterfall.
  • You can FINALLY go to Sunyshore City. The man blocking the route has moved.
  • You now have to go back to Twinleaf Town to talk to Professor Rowan. Cynthia instructed you to do so. He just says he is proud of you, yada yada.
  • You and Cynthia are warped to Turnback Cave, which is where Giratina resided in Diamond and Pearl. Cynthia stays at Turnback Cave and does not allow you to enter.
  • Giratina is captured at Level 47. The Torn World remains, and Cyrus wonders why it did not get destroyed. Cynthia says that Giratina understood the trailer’s feelings and why they needed to capture him. Cyrus says he does not understand the player and has decided to stay in the Torn World.
  • We traded over our own Giratina from Diamond and Pearl and it was in its Origin Forme when sent out into battle against Giratina. It seems that any Giratina that is within the Torn World is automatically changed into Giratina Origin Forme. Shaymin did not change, not that we expected it to.
  • Cynthia says that you can confront Giratina and it will understand the situation and your feelings. Giratina shows up and the caption says, “Giratina quietly stares at [Player].” The battle commences, with brand new music.
  • Cynthia tells you have a choice: If you do not capture Giratina and destroy the Torn World, your own world will be destroyed. [Theory: They were emphasizing that Giratina is the only resident of the Torn World. If you capture Giratina and the Torn World is destroyed, it won’t affect anyone.].
  • Cyrus understands you and Cynthia now [typical], but warns you that if you capture Giratina, the Torn World will be destroyed. He walks off, and Cynthia says to leave him be.
  • A new platform appears, and you go down deeper into the Torn World. Cyrus is already there. Cynthia asks him why he wants to get rid of the world, and he says because it is imperfect. Cynthia suggests he should stay in the Torn World where he can be by himself, but he asks her why he should conceal himself. “I’ll destroy everything that is imperfect.” Cynthia says, “That isn’t justice.” Cyrus says, “I won’t lose to anybody. Not even that shadow Pokemon.” Cyrus battles you. We defeated him easily, but I wonder what would happen if all your Pokemon fainted? His Pokemon are a level 45 Houndoom, a Level 46 Gyarados, a Level 47 Honchkrow, a Level 48 Weavile, and a Level 46 Crobat.
  • After you have moved the boulders, you meet up with Cynthia at the bottom of the Torn World. She says, “With the help of the Lake Trio, we restored the balance between Dialga and Palkia, but it’s too soon to say we have calmed Giratina.”
  • Your mission now in the Torn World is to knock boulders down holes through the various levels of the Torn World. Uxie and Mesprit “tell” you to. You are probably pushing boulders to seal off the Space-Time rift, though we aren’t sure right now.
  • You need to Surf in the Torn World, even down a waterfall. At one point, Giratina flies above you again.
  • Note: At this point, the player has not gone to Sunyshore City or battled the 8th Gym Leader.
  • You have to push boulders around to walk through the Torn World. Uxie and Mesprit cry when you are moving in the right direction or moving the right boulder. They are basically trying to guide you.
  • Cyrus walks off. Uxie appears, followed my Mesprit. They are guiding you as the Torn World gets weirder. Platforms keep appearing and disappearing. You see Cyrus again and he walks off.
  • You eventually find Cyrus. He says, “That shadow Pokemon isn’t here. It abandoned me here – this ruins my plans! Do you know about genes? Genes are the building blocks of all living things. Humans, Pokemon, etcetera. DNA is made out of two pieces that are intertwined. They can be broken apart, copied, and returned to its original form. Do you know the implications of this?” We’ll explain the rest. He compares the two worlds to D.N.A., explaining they are intertwined like its two strands. Since they are intertwined, anything he does in the regular world will have an effect on Giratina’s world, and that is why Giratina stopped Cyrus.
  • You catch up with Cynthia, and she says, “I’ve only heard about it in legends, but the legends talked about our world’s reverse side… that is this world. What is the purpose of this world, and why is Giratine the only Pokemon here? I don’t know anything about it. We’ll have a better chance of finding the right path if we split up.”
  • At one point, you hear Mesprit’s cry and it fades in and then disappears.
  • Cynthia walks off. You have to follow her. The rocks / pathways that you stand on work in different ways. Some are like elevators. Some slide. You have to jump from rock to rock too. As you are walking and following different paths, entire screen will flip and change its position, sometimes even rotating. It’s very cool, but hard to describe.
  • “This is… there’s no sign of any Pokemon. Time isn’t flowing and space has become destabalized. The Torn World… first of all, we should search for Giratina to stop the distortion at Spear Pillar. Just now… Giratina! [Giratina flies over you and Cynthia]. Let’s hurry! The thing warping the Torn World and our world… this rock, it moves!”
  • You arrive in the Torn World. [Note: We have in our party Shaymin and Giratina that we traded from D/P. We’re going to see if anything happens to them.]
  • Cynthia apologizes for being late, and explains, “Dialga and Palkia were born when the universe was created. The truth is, at that time, there was another Pokemon that was born with a power equal to that of Dialga and Palkia that was never talked about.” “It’s called Giratina. It’s concealed in a world on the other side of our own. That shadow from before… I believe it was Giratina’s shadow. All of the pillars in Spear Pillar are warped. That hole must be the pathway to the other world. If the hole remains as it is, the distortion will engulf the entire Sinnoh region. The world will be destroyed. Well, shall we chase after Cyrus?” [Guess he’s not dead. She gives you an option to chase after him, and you can yes or no. If you say no, she will wait for you. You can take this time to save the game or go heal your Pokemon.] If you say yes, she says “Let’s hurry!” The screen cuts to a video of a first-person perspective of you plunging into the Torn World.
  • The screen goes white, and where Giratina was standing appears a black hole. An image of another world is seen through the hole. Cynthia appears and says “What is this?!” Then, the pixies fly into the hole one-by-one. Before flying into the hole, Mesprit had hovered over the player’s head, as if trying to tell him something.
  • “What is this presence? Who is throwing this fit of anger I sense?” [Giratina appears in front of Cyrus – his red eyes glow. It looks creepy. Cyrus was not expecting Giratina to come.] “Interesting! There is a Pokemon in the shadows.” [Giratina fully emerges and spreads his wings, and the shadows that make up his wings splatter on the floor.] “What’s this? Are you really so foolish as to go against me, the person who controls Dialga and Palkia?” [Giratina lunges at Cyrus, and the screen goes black.]
  • Cyrus continues, “Everything is going to vanish. You, your Pokemon, everyone important to you. The moment I have been planning for is coming to fruition!”
  • The three pixies begin to circle around the top of Mt. Coronet. “The god of wisdom, Uxie. The god of willpower, Azelf. The god of feelings, Mesprit. The symbols of emotion have come here without any though of themselves to protect Sinnoh. But they can only balance time OR space, and both Dialga and Palkia have appeared at the same time. No matter what they do, it will be useless.”
  • When the battle ends, Cyrus begins to talk and stare off into space. He says “the world is going to end and the world is going to begin,” with him in power. He says Dialga and Palkia’s names, two black circles appear on the floor, and the Temporal and Spacial Pokemon appear in front of him. He compares time and space to the double helix of D.N.A., saying that Dialga and Palkia are the double helix of time and space that created the world. “I have been waiting for this day. Your power will become my power to create a new galaxy. The universe will be born. It’s okay if this imperfect world is extinguished for the sake of constructing the perfect world.” Then the bottom of the DS shows Uxie waking up, Mesprit waking up, and Azelf waking up. On the top screen, you see them begin to fly toward the top of Mount Coronet.
  • After Handsome gives the Black Flute, you battle several Galactic Grunts and make your way to the top of Mount Coronet. You and your rival then battle Mars and Jupiter. They have together two Lv. 44 Bronzor, a Level 44 Golbat, a Level 46 Skuntank, a Level 46 Purugly, and a Level 46 Golbat.
  • -NEWS: CoroCoro scans have been released on 2ch. They show the four Battle Frontier brains. Another scan shows the head of the Battle Factory, a man named Neijiki. The final scan posted shows the Rotom key. Later this month, players will somehow be able to unlock a secret room to change Rotom into its new forms.
  • Note: There are many more Fire-type Pokemon that can be captured, like Flareon, Houndour, Houndoom, and Magmortar. In D/P, there was only Ponyta, Rapidash, and the Infernape line.
  • You go to Mount Coronet and there is debris inside. It seems like Team Galactic has blown part of it up, or dug it up, or something. There is a huge hole in the debris, and Handsome reappears and tells the player, “That hole… it’s not natural. Please stop Team Galactic for me.” He then gives you the Black Flute, which makes wild Pokemon less likely to appear. The Black Flute was in Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, but not in Diamond and Pearl. You had to trade it from a GBA game to get it in the DS games. Thus it is now obtainable in the DS games.
  • Surfing is faster in Platinum compared to Diamond and Pearl. The speed over the water is faster.
  • Standing next to the machine the Pixies are hooked up to is Pluto. He is a scientist for Galactic. He looks like an Einstein with purple hair.
  • You go down to the basement to free Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf, but Saturn confronts you and says he wants revenge. He has a Level 42 Golbat, a Level 44 Croagunk, and a Level 42 Bronzor.
  • Cyrus congratulates you for beating him and gives you a Master Ball. He compliments you on your strength. He says he doesn’t need the Legendary Pokemon anymore or the Master Ball and is going to Mt. Coronet… DUN DUN DUN!!!
  • Cyrus goes to the top of the Galactic Base and you battle him. He has a Level 44 Sneasel, Level 44 Crobat, and a Level 46 Honchkrow.
  • As soon as you enter the Galactic Base, there are hundreds of Galactic Grunts listening to Cyrus giving a speech. Cyrus says he hates the world because its imperfect and wants to create a new one himself. Handsome is also present. Cyrus leaves the room, Handsome follows him out, and you follow Handsome.
  • When you arrive back in Veilstone to explore the Team Galactic base, Handsome appears again. He has the missing Warehouse Key, and he runs in ahead of you leaving the door open.
  • Candice has a Level 40 Sneasel, a Level 40 Piloswine, a Level 42 Abomasnow, and a Level 44 Froslass. She gives you TM72, Avalanche, for defeating her.
  • The Snowpoint Gym does not seem to have changed. You still have to slide around and break the snowballs to battle Candice.
  • On Route 216 there is a Trainer with a Tropius.
  • Toward the exit of Mt. Coronet heading to Route 216, there is an extra cavern with a Nevermeltice in the center.
  • Nosepass appears inside Mt. Coronet.
  • At Lake Verity, Mars has a Level 38 Golbat, a Level 38 Bronzor, and a Level 40 Purugly.
  • Saturn has a Level 38 Golbat, Level 40 Toxicroak, and Level 38 Bronzong.
  • The Magmarizer can be found lying on the ground on Route 214. Definitely more convenient than farming Magbies!
  • Byron has a Level 37 Magneton, a Level 38 Steelix, and a Level 41 Bastiodon. He gives you TM91, Flash Cannon.
  • The Canaclave Gym is more or less identical to the one in D/P. Less Onix, more Magnemite. Same elevator puzzle.
  • When you encounter your rival in Canaclave, his Pokemon are considerably stronger than they were in D/P. His Starter is Level 38, and all of his Pokemon are fully evolved.
  • Cyrus appears inside the cave in Celestic Town, but while in D/P he just left after talking to you, in Platinum he attacks. He has a Level 34 Sneasel, a Level 34 Golbat, and a Level 36 Murkrow. After you defeat him, Cynthia tells you to go to Canaclave City. Normally she gives this lecture after you beat Fantina, but since the Gym order is different in Platinum, this sequence is also altered.
  • After fighting Wake, you run into your rival outside the Gym. In D/P you battle him, but in Platinum, Wake overhears the two of you talking and comes outside. He comments that the rival is just like his father, and then the conversation is interrupted by a loud noise. A Team Galactic grunt runs out of the Great Marsh, laughing about the bomb he planted. Your rival and Wake stay behind to take care of the bomb while you chase after the fleeing grunt! Handsome eventually joins in the hunt. Really, this sequence is exactly the same as it was in D/P, but with more narrative. Once the grunt is defeated, your rival shows up to say that everything’s under control in the Great Marsh, and Cynthia gives you the SecretPotion (as usual).
  • When in Pastoria City, you can go behind a Croagunk billboard and your face will appear like it is on a Croagunk’s body. It’s like one of those muscle boards you go behind, stick your head in, and it appears as if your face is on a bodybuilder’s body.
  • Wake has a Level 33 Gyarados, a Level 34 Quagsire, and a level 37 Floatsel. He gives you TM55, Brine.
  • Golduck’s beak is outlined in red, giving it a bloodstained appearance. Apparently he’s getting back to his roots as a kappa.
  • The Pastoria Gym appears unchanged. Guess they didn’t want to mess with a good thing?
  • Handsome appears again when you go to get Dawn’s Pokedex back from Team Galactic. Dawn refers to him as “That weirdo from Jubilife,” and he chews her out for being rude. After Dawn leaves, Handsome says that he heard some rumors about Team Galactic while undercover in the Game Corner, and suggests that you go to Pastoria.
  • The prizes at the Game Corner are the same as the ones in D/P. Usually the third game in each generation offers an expanded selection of Game Corner prizes, but it’s possible that these items are being reserved for the Battle Frontier instead.
  • Crasher Wake makes an appearance immediately before you challenge the Veilstone Gym.
  • The Veilstone Gym is a mess of exercise equipment. To reach the Leader, you need to swing punching bags into the piles of junk to clear a path. Maylene’s Pokemon are Meditite, Machoke, and Lucario. When you beat her you receive TM60, Drain Punch.
  • In D/P, you receive a Happiny egg as you’re leaving Hearthrome. This is the game’s way of introducing players to the egg hatching mechanic. Since Cynthia provides an egg in Platinum, the Happiny event has been removed.
  • Fantina has a Level 24 Duskull, a Level 24 Haunter, and a Level 26 Mismagius. She gives you TM65, Shadow Claw.
  • -Aaron (Bug): Lv49 Yanmega, Lv49 Scizor, Lv50 Vespiquen, Lv51 Heracross, Lv53 Drapion
  • -Bertha (Ground): Lv50 Whiscash, Lv53 Gliscor, Lv52 Hippowndon, Lv52 Golem, Lv55 Rhyperior
  • -Flint (Fire): Lv52 Houndoom, Lv55 Flareon, Lv53 Rapidash, Lv55 Infernape, Lv57 Magmortar
  • -Lucian (Psychic): Lv53 Mr. Mime, Lv55 Espeon, Lv54 Bronzong, Lv56 Alakazam, Lv59 Gallade
  • -Cynthia: Lv58 Spiritomb, Lv58 Roserade, Lv60 Togekiss, Lv60 Lucario, Lv58 Milotic, Lv62 Garchomp
  • -I am not at the Elite Four yet, but Jason has extracted some rom data telling us details about them.
  • Giratina is #210 in the Sinnoh Dex. Rotom is 152, Nosepass is #155, Eevee is #163, and Togepi is 173. Shaymin is still National Dex-only.
  • In D/P, when you first arrive in Eterna City, you meet Cynthia for the first time and she gives you a Cut HM. This still happens in Platinum, but you also meet her a second time after beating Jupiter, and she gives you an Egg. The Egg hatches into a Togepi.
  • The wi-fi menu graphic has been updated, and now features an image of Pachirisu and Pikachu. The Pal Pad has bigger numbers and is easier to use.
  • The Pokemon Center basement has 2 wi-fi counters. The one on the right is for trading and battling, while the one on the left is for the Wi-fi Plaza, which features minigames. The trade/battle area is set up like the Union Room, and displays sprites of all of your friends who are currently online. You can connect by talking to their sprite, or check their Trainer Card by clicking their name on the touch screen. Voice Chat can be turned on or off by hitting the X button.
  • The Hearthrome Gym opens up immediately after you talk to Fantina in the Contest Hall. The Gym is pitch black, but all of the Trainers have flashlights. If a Trainer catches you in his light, the battle starts. There are multiple doors inside the Gym, and each door has a symbol on it. Only one door leads to the next room, while the others teleport you back to the entrance. To determine which door is the correct one, you need to search each room for a second symbol and match it up with one of the doors.
  • Amity Square’s received a few graphical updates, including a sign over its entrance featuring Psyduck, Torchic, and Drifblim.
  • When you first meet Bebe in Hearthrome City, she gives you an Eevee. It’s at Level 20.
  • Nosepass, another Pokemon who used to be post-E4 only, makes its first appearance in a Trainer battle outside Mt. Coronet.
  • Cyrus appears again in Mt. Coronet.
  • After beating Jupiter, you receive an Upgrade, the item used to evolve Porygon. In D/P, the items related to Porygon (and Porygon itself) were only available post-E4.
  • The Galactic grunts in the Eterna base have traded in their Wurmples and Silcoons for Croagunks and Stunkys. Jupiter’s team is unchanged aside from the levels.
  • Upon entering the Team Galactic base in Eterna City, you encounter Handsome, who’s disguised as a Galactic grunt. He warns you that half of the staircases in the base lead to ambushes, then resumes his role as guard.
  • Gardenia has a Level 20 Turtwig (Reflect, Razor Leaf, Grass Knot, Sunny Day), a Level 20 Cherrim (Magic Leaf, Grass Knot, Safeguard, Leech Seed), and a Level 22 Roserade (Stun Spore, Magic Leaf, Grass Knot, Poison Sting) with a Sitrus Berry. When you beat her, you receive TM86, Grass Knot.
  • Gym Leaders now have animated sprites.
  • The Eterna Gym is completely revamped, with obstacles such as hedges and water spouts blocking the path to Gardenia. Defeating the Gym’s junior trainers causes a central walkway to rotate, gradually bridging the path. This replaces the Gym’s previous hide-and-seek gimick. The junior trainers’ Pokemon are unchanged from D/P, however their levels are higher than in D/P.
  • In Eterna City, your rival takes you to see the Legendary Pokemon statue. In D/P, the statue depicted whichever Pokemon was native to the game; in Platinum the statue depicts Palkia. Cyrus also appears before the statue, and when he sees you, he says a few words and leaves.
  • After defeating Mars at the Valley Windworks, Handsome shows up to investigate the aftermath.
  • The Galactic grunts around Floraroma also sport different Pokemon, and at higher levels than in D/P. Thus, Platinum continues the trend of the third game in each generation being slightly more difficult than the original versions.
  • Handsome warns you about “suspicious adults” upon your return to Jubilife. After that, you face Team Galactic in a double battle, as usual. In Platinum, the Galactic grunts have Glameow and Stunky (in D/P they used Zubat and Wurmple).
  • Roark has a Level 12 Geodude, a Level 12 Onix, and a Level 14 Cranidos. He then gives you TM76, Stealth Rock.
  • When facing a Gym Leader, their “before the battle versus” sprites are high-quality sprites. They aren’t just blown up, pixely versions of their regular Trainer sprites.
  • The bottom screen changes colors during a battle depending on where the battle takes place. If it’s in the grass area, the background is green. When in a cave, the colors are purple.
  • Haha, when you face the Rival on Route 203, he stomps his feet and hands as if he is super excited. The trainer animations are pretty awesome.
  • The Poketch is slightly redesigned. It now has up and down buttons for easier scrolling.
  • When you arrive in Jubilife City, Dawn takes you to Handsome, the detective. He hides behind one of the lamp posts, runs around, but then approaches you. He gives you the Battle Recorder. He looks around to see if anyone is listening to what he is saying (I have no idea what he is saying), then he runs off.
  • When opposing Trainers send out Pokemon, the speed is much faster than in D/P. In D/P, it seemed like there was a lag when they would send out something. It is absent now.
  • It seems like pretty much everything is the same now as Diamond and Pearl. You go to Dawn in the grass, she shows you how to catch a Pokemon, then gives you 5 Poke Balls. I’ll only now post if there are any changes between D/P and Platinum. Keep checking back.
  • You have to go back to Twinleaf and talk to your mom. She gives you your Journal, I think. Then Clint’s mom comes in, inquires about her son, and gives you a package to deliver to her son. This is the same scenario as in D/P.
  • Pictures added! Continuing my journey!
  • -All of Rotom’s forms are Electric / Ghost, according to Arty2.
  • At this point in the game, it looks like the immediate future isn’t much different from Diamond and Pearl. I am now going to add photos to the links below.
  • You exit the lab, Dawn and Rowan talk. You are given TM27 by Rowan (Return attack). Dawn escorts you throughout Sandgem Town and shows you the Pokemon Center, the Mart, and then leaves. NOWWWW you can begin your journey!
  • When you arrive in Sandgem, Dawn stops you. She walks you to Rowan’s lab and your rival comes out of the building. He blabs as usual, then Dawn takes you inside to Rowan. He examines your Pokemon and probably says something like it has grown attached to you or whatever. You receive the PokeDex, and now I think your journey begins!
  • Your rival realizes he does not have a Poke Ball and runs off.
  • Mesprit’s cry is heard!
  • When you enter, the screen pans to the grass area that Dawn and Rowan were at in Diamond and Pearl. Cyrus is there, says something about Mesprit, then exits without any trouble.
  • Or not. Clint stops you when you exit Twinleaf. He wants to go to Lake Valor… I think he wants to capture Mesprit. You lead him to the lake.
  • After you kick your rival’s butt, you appear in your house and your mom gives you the Running Shoes. You can now start your journey!
  • The touch screen layout is different. The top left shows how many Pokemon you have, the top right shows how many Pokemon your opponent has, and then the attack buttons are beneath them.
  • Rowan and Dawn leave, and you and your rival BATTLE!
  • -Rotom’s new forms: HP 50, Attack 65, Defense 107, Speed 86, Special Attack 105, Special Defense 107.
  • -Giratina Origin Forme’s stats are: HP 150, Attack 120, Defense 100, Speed 90, Special Attack 120, Special Defense 100.
  • -Shaymin Sky Forme’s stats are: HP 100, Attack 103, Defense 75, Speed 127, Special Attack 120, Special Defense 75.
  • -NEWS: Arty2 from Legendary Pokemon has extracted the stats for the new Pokemon from the Platinum rom.
  • Professor Rowan comes from the direction of the lake. The rival and you talk to him about Pokemon, then Dawn approaches with Rowan’s suitcase. Rowan offers you a Pokemon, you approach the suitcase and select either Turtwig, Chimchar, or Piplup. The rival picks whichever one you are weak too, obviously.
  • Clint is in his house, forgets his Journal, and you go in to find him. You then exit Twinleaf Town and meet up with Clint.
  • Twinleaf Town has much more snow, as previously revealed.
  • Clint (the rival) appears in your room! He says that you and he should go get your starter Pokemon from Professor Rowan and he checks your computer for something.
  • The news report on the Red Gyarados is gone, replaced with a report about Professor Rowan returning from the Kanto region. The music is also different during the report.
  • The Professor Rowan intro is the same, spare Buneary coming out of the Poke Ball instead of Munchlax. The boy and girl characters and the rival are updated with their new Platinum clothing.
  • The intro shows: the Gamefreak logo, Pokemon logo, an overview of Sinnoh with cloud cover, Handsome and the Galactic Scientist, the male and female characters running, the different starters and their evolutionary forms attacking, Cyrus, Giratina in the Torn World, and then Giratina Origin Forme for the splash screen. When you hit A, you hear Giratina’s cry.