Generation IV
Pokémon Platinum Version
Title screen of Pokémon Platinum Version
Debut EN April 22, 2007
JA September 28, 2006
Pokémon 493 (107 new)
Main games Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum
Region(s) introduced Sinnoh
Other RPGs HeartGold and SoulSilver
Contains remakes of Generation II
Battle arena games Battle Revolution
Storage games Ranch
Current length EN 6185 days
JA 6391 days

The fourth generation of Pokémon games, sometimes called the 3D generation by fans due to the fact that it contains the first main series (i.e. non-spinoff) games to use 3D graphics, is the fourth set of Pokémon games released.

Like Generation II followed from Generation I, Generation IV follows from Generation III, although it is unlike Generation II in that it is not a direct sequel (Hoenn is inaccessible in all Generation IV games). Like previous generations, Generation IV focuses on one main region across three games, the Sinnoh region featured in Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum on the Nintendo DS, released in 2006 and 2008 (and 2007 and 2009 outside Japan). Also like Generation II, the Generation IV games retain much compatibility with their Generation III counterparts, though in a different manner, and introduce many new Pokémon which are related to those of the previous three generations.

Much like Generation III remade the Generation I games, the Generation II games also receive much anticipated remakes in the form of HeartGold and SoulSilver, and through details revealed in the five main games, Generation IV is thus known to be contemporaneous with Generation II, occurring three years after Generation I and Generation III. Like all generations, the handheld games are joined by several games on Nintendo's latest console, the Wii, specifically, Pokémon Battle Revolution and My Pokémon Ranch.

Advances in gameplay

Much like how Generation II enhanced Generation I mostly by building on its features, Generation IV builds on the features introduced in Generation III. The advancements introduced in Generation IV include:

  • The addition of 107 new Pokémon, bringing the total to 493. New evolutions and pre-evolutions abound in this generation, including ones for long-time favorites such as Electabuzz and Eevee.
  • The addition of 113 new moves, bringing the total to 467.
  • The addition of 47 new abilities (and removal of the unused Cacophony), bringing the total to 123. Many older Pokémon can now have one of two abilities, rather than the single ability they could have in Generation III.
  • Four more boxes in the Pokémon storage system, bringing the total to 18, for a total of 540 Pokémon.
  • Another new region to explore, Sinnoh, yet again with its own Gym Leaders and Elite Four. Player characters are again changed.
  • Four new variants of Poké Ball, retaining the seven introduced in Generation III.
  • A new villainous team, Team Galactic, whose intent is to capture Dialga and Palkia, said to be the creators of the Pokémon universe, and remake it in the image of their leader, Cyrus.
  • The return of the time system from Generation II, with enhanced transitions between the time periods of the day.
  • A three-dimensional rendering of the overworld, rather than just sprites, with the same style seen in previous games.
  • Moves are now designated physical or special based on the move itself, rather than its type.
  • Pokémon are now able to be traded and battled over the internet through the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.

Alterations from Generation III include:

Further additions in Platinum include:

  • Another new Battle Frontier, with several different facilities than the one in Hoenn.
  • Ability to record and share battles with other players and in the Battle Frontier over the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.
  • Sinnoh Pokédex is expanded, making the total of 210 Pokémon in the Sinnoh Pokédex.

Further additions in HeartGold and SoulSilver include:

Regions

Sinnoh

Main article: Sinnoh

Like Generation III, Generation IV introduces a new region disconnected from all previous ones, the Sinnoh region, found far north of Kanto. Being that it is so far north, snow can be found on its northern tip, as well as in the mountainous center of the region. Much of the western half of the region is rural, while its east is comparatively urban, in a similarity to the continental area shared by Johto and Kanto, respectively.

Starter Pokémon

Though it was initially rumored that the Grass/Fire/Water setup that had been the norm for the past three generations would be replaced with a Dark/Psychic/Fighting trio[citation needed], these rumors were later proven false. At the beginning of the journey, players must choose from the Grass-type Turtwig, the Fire-type Chimchar, and the Water-type Piplup to defend themselves from a wild Starly in Diamond and Pearl, or be given one of the three by Professor Rowan directly in Platinum.

Gym Leaders

Like the other three regions, Sinnoh has its own set of eight Gym Leaders. This set specializes in the same types as Gym Leaders from other regions, though not in the same order. Like always, badges and TMs are given away by defeated Gym Leaders.

Sinnoh League
Gym Leader
Japanese
Location
Japanese
Type Badge
 
Roark
ヒョウタ Hyouta
Oreburgh City
クロガネシティ
Kurogane City
Rock  
Coal Badge
 
Gardenia
ナタネ Natane
Eterna City
ハクタイシティ
Hakutai City
Grass  
Forest Badge
 
Maylene
スモモ Sumomo
Veilstone City
トバリシティ
Tobari City
Fighting  
Cobble Badge
 
Crasher Wake
マキシマム仮面 Maximum Mask
Pastoria City
ノモセシティ
Nomose City
Water  
Fen Badge
 
Fantina
メリッサ Melissa
Hearthome City
ヨスガシティ
Yosuga City
Ghost  
Relic Badge
 
Byron
トウガン Tougan
Canalave City
ミオシティ
Mio City
Steel  
Mine Badge
 
Candice
スズナ Suzuna
Snowpoint City
キッサキシティ
Kissaki City
Ice  
Icicle Badge
 
Volkner
デンジ Denzi
Sunyshore City
ナギサシティ
Nagisa City
Electric  
Beacon Badge


Johto

 
Johto
Main article: Johto

Much like Generation I's version of Kanto was featured a second time in Generation III, Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver cause Johto to be featured a second time in Generation IV.

Starter Pokémon

Much as Kanto's Generation III starters were the same as in Generation I, Johto's starters have not changed. Professor Elm offers Chikorita, Cyndaquil, or Totodile to the player as protection on an errand to Mr. Pokémon's house on Route 30.

Gym Leaders

As would be expected, Johto's Gym Leaders are the same as before, but many give out different TMs than they gave out in Generation II.

Johto League
Gym Leader
Japanese
Location
Japanese
Type Badge
 
Falkner
ハヤト Hayato
Violet City
キキョウシティ
Kikyō City
Flying  
Zephyr Badge
 
Bugsy
ツクシ Tsukushi
Azalea Town
ヒワダタウン
Hiwada Town
Bug  
Hive Badge
 
Whitney
アカネ Akane
Goldenrod City
コガネシティ
Kogane City
Normal  
Plain Badge
 
Morty
マツバ Matsuba
Ecruteak City
エンジュシティ
Enju City
Ghost  
Fog Badge
 
Chuck
シジマ Shijima
Cianwood City
タンバシティ
Tanba City
Fighting  
Storm Badge
 
Jasmine
ミカン Mikan
Olivine City
アサギシティ
Asagi City
Steel  
Mineral Badge
 
Pryce
ヤナギ Yanagi
Mahogany Town
チョウジタウン
Chōji Town
Ice  
Glacier Badge
 
Clair
イブキ Ibuki
Blackthorn City
フスベシティ
Fusube City
Dragon  
Rising Badge


Kanto

Main article: Kanto

In its fourth appearance, Kanto returns in HeartGold and SoulSilver much in the same way as it did in Generation II (as a post-League area).

Gym Leaders

Kanto's Gym Leaders are the same as in the original Gold and Silver, changing slightly from the group who were there in Generation I and Generation III. All Kanto Gym Leaders give TMs, unlike in Generation II.

Indigo League
Gym Leader
Japanese
Location
Japanese
Type Badge
 
Brock
タケシ Takeshi
Pewter City
ニビシティ
Nibi City
Rock  
Boulder Badge
 
Misty
カスミ Kasumi
Cerulean City
ハナダシティ
Hanada City
Water  
Cascade Badge
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Lt. Surge
マチス Matis
Vermilion City
クチバシティ
Kuchiba City
Electric  
Thunder Badge
 
Erika
エリカ Erika
Celadon City
タマムシシティ
Tamamushi City
Grass  
Rainbow Badge
 
Janine
アンズ Anzu
Fuchsia City
セキチクシティ
Sekichiku City
Poison  
Soul Badge
 
Sabrina
ナツメ Natsume
Saffron City
ヤマブキシティ
Yamabuki City
Psychic  
Marsh Badge
 
Blaine
カツラ Katsura
Cinnabar Island
グレンタウン
Guren Town
Fire  
Volcano Badge
 
Blue
グリーン Green
Viridian City
トキワシティ
Tokiwa City
Various  
Earth Badge


Other Generation IV games

Pokémon Battle Revolution features a Pokémon Stadium-like arena for battle, allowing Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, HeartGold, and SoulSilver to link to it through wireless communications between the Nintendo DS and Wii, much like previous generations' games would link to Colosseum, XD, Stadium, and Stadium 2. Battle Revolution also features online battles with players around the world via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.

My Pokémon Ranch lets players of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl deposit their Pokémon, via wireless communication, to a ranch owned by Hayley, who will also bring Pokémon to the ranch. Players can interact with up to 1,000 of their deposited Pokémon. An update for this game enables support for Platinum, as well as allowing storage for 500 more Pokémon, however, it will not be released to players outside Japan. It is unknown if another update will be released for HeartGold and SoulSilver.

Trivia

  • Every player character in all Generation IV games has a Wii in his/her room, referencing its status as the current Nintendo console during the generation. This is in contrast with Generation III, in which player characters in Hoenn had a Nintendo GameCube, while player characters in Kanto had a NES.
  • Generation IV's framerate is downgraded from Generation III: whereas Generation III games ran at 60 frames per second, Generation IV games run at only 30, like Generation I and II do. This is likely to prevent slowdown or crashing due to the 3D models.
  • Due to the Generation II remakes, and the inclusion of Kanto in them, Generation IV has the largest number of accessible regions (in the handheld games) of all; Generation I had only one (Kanto), Generation II had two (Kanto and Johto), Generation III had two (Kanto and Hoenn), whereas Generation IV has three (Kanto, Johto, and Sinnoh).
    • Because Hoenn was not included in Generation IV, its Gym Leaders, Elite Four, and Frontier Brains lack the now standard animated battle sprites and close-up headshots. Lorelei and Agatha, the only important Trainers from another region who are not in Generation IV, also miss out.
  • The Japanese font, including its rendering, that is used in the dialogues of the international versions is different from the Japanese versions. This doesn't happen in Generation III, where international versions use the same Japanese font and rendering.
  • So far, Generation IV has had the most regions explored, Sinnoh, Johto, Kanto, Almia and Oblivia.

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  This game-related article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games.