The latest trailer for Pokémon Legends: Arceus has revealed the wealth of character customization options in the game, which look especially impressive when compared to the paltry offerings in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. The ability to change the protagonist's appearance was once a dream of the Pokémon fanbase. However, it took a surprisingly long time for the series to add even the most basic options, outside of gender selection.
The original Pokémon video games appeared on the Nintendo Game Boy. The handheld nature of the series is what helped propel it to mainstream success, but the limited amount of memory available on the Game Boy cartridges was a major issue for the developers. The sequels had even more memory problems, thanks to the inclusion of more Pokémon in Gold and Silver. The developers have told the story of how the late Satoru Iwata created a program that solved their problems, which was discussed in a tribute message for those who completed the Pokédex in Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon.
The memory restrictions on the old Pokémon games were the reason why character customization options didn't appear until 2013. The series has often changed how it treats the character customization options, with some games dropping it entirely. One recent set of games that introduced a limited form of character customization was Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. The limited clothing options in BDSP have since been outdone by the offerings in the upcoming Pokémon Legends: Arceus, which will have a much bigger focus on character customization.
Pokémon's History Of Character Customization
The only character customization option in the Pokémon video games before the Nintendo 3DS era was the option to select gender, which was introduced in Pokémon Crystal. There are some mods for the older games that change the main character sprite, such as turning Blue into the protagonist, but there weren't any official ways to change character appearance in the single-player mode. This all changed in Pokémon X and Y, which let the player choose the appearance of their trainer, and purchase clothes that could be switched in towns. The shift to the hardware of the 3DS made this possible, and it also tied into the Kalos' region being inspired by France, most notably Paris, which is regarded as the world capital of fashion.
The customization options have been present in the mainline Pokémon games since Pokémon X and Y to different degrees, but they weren't included in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, which was likely a decision to keep the games close to their original counterparts. The number of aesthetic decisions and clothing options in the Pokémon games have varied, with titles like the Let's Go games having far fewer options than Pokémon Sword and Shield.
Pokémon BDSP Was Lacking In Character Customization Options
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl had no character customization options, so the remakes would have at had an excuse not to include any. As it stands, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl have a limited range of character customization options that weren't present in the original. The player can choose from four baseline designs for their trainer (skin tone, eye color, hair), depending on the gender chosen. The player cannot change their character's appearance after this initial selection. There are different hairstyles, but they are tied directly to outfits.
There are twelve outfits present in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, not counting one that is only worn during the Pokémon Contests. One of the outfits is based on the clothing worn by the protagonist of Pokémon Platinum and can only be claimed by early adopters of the game. Not only has this small selection of outfits frustrated players, but there's also an extended wait before they can actually be worn. The only place where the player can change their clothes is the Metronome Style Shop in Veilstone City, which is the location of the third Gym Leader. This means that it can take hours before the player is able to puy and purchase new clothes. It's unclear why the developers didn't give the player the option to change clothes in their bedroom at home, or why the entirety of the clothes in the Sinnoh region are sold in one store.
The New Pokémon Legends: Arceus Trailer Has The Clothing Options BDSP Fans Wanted
The Pokémon Company released a new trailer for Pokémon Legends: Arceus, which included thirteen minutes of gameplay footage. This included a segment outlining the character customization options in the game, which can be accessed from the clothing store in Jubilife Village. The number of options on display dwarfs the ones that are present in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. The narrator describes these as the "early customization options," suggesting that there will be more added along the way. Unlike Pokémon BDSP, the player can mix and match their clothing in Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Not only are there are way more clothing options in the game, but there are also save unlock outfits in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, allowing characters to don masks based on Pokémon.
It's also possible to visit the hairdresser and change the protagonist's appearance after the game has started, which is something that cannot be done in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. There are only a few options shown in the trailer, but there are far more there than in Pokémon BDSP. Previous trailers for Pokémon Legends: Arceus have shown all kinds of colorful outfits and hairstyles for the player to wear, to a degree that puts Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl's selection to shame.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus has often been compared to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, but it seems to have more in common with the Monster Hunter series, at least in terms of its mission design. In the Monster Hunter series, the players can only make new gear by slaying monsters. Pokémon Legends: Arceus could bring in a similar idea, with the player unlocking new outfits by completing objectives. This would be a lot more exciting than the dismal offerings in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, which has such limited character customization options.