Aesthetic changes
* Lucas, Dawn, and Pearl have different outfits designed for colder weather, as the entire Sinnoh region has dropped in temperature.
* The template for the level, HP, and name of Pokémon in battle is a dark gray instead of white and its shape has changed.
* The Pokétch has been redesigned. Players can now move up and down between apps instead of having to go through all of them to return to a previous one.
* Some of the moves have been redesigned and have a different animation, such as Razor Leaf.
* When Pokémon are sent out from their Poké Balls, their back sprites now animate much like their front sprites have since Emerald Version. Front sprites for Generation IV Pokémon and other Pokémon in the Sinnoh Dex have also changed.
* When battling certain Trainers such as Gym Leaders and Pearl, their sprites are now animated to move in the same manner as Pokémon.
* Some trainers now use seals when sending out some of their Pokémon.
* The Eterna, Hearthome, and Veilstone Gyms have all had complete redesigns in the interior.
* Gym Leader closeups, just before a Gym battle, have been changed from enlarged sprites to higher-quality drawings and the terms VS. The Elite Four now also has this but it includes the player on the left side of the VS. and the Elite Four member on the right of the VS.
* The rooms where the player battle the Elite Four have been redesigned. Aaron now has logs and foliage in his room. Bertha now has rocks in her room. Flint now contains lava pits in his room. Lucian’s room has only had minor changes to now include four large lights or glowing orbs on the floor. Cynthia’s room has changed its color scheme and the lift leading up to the Hall of Fame is now partially contained. The Pokémon Center at the Elite Four has also been redesigned.
* When entering new areas, the location ‘labels’ on the top-left corner have been redesigned, much like they were between Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire and Pokémon Emerald.
* All gyms now only have Pokémon of their type specialty.
Storyline changes
* The player meets Professor Rowan and the opposite gender character earlier, and obtains his or her starter Pokémon on Route 201.
* The first battle is against the player’s rival, who, as always, has chosen the starter Pokémon that weakens that of the player.
* The player and the rival now encounter Cyrus at Lake Verity at the start of the game. The player can also meet Cyrus at different venues such as the Eterna City statue.
* Both Dialga and Palkia appear on Spear Pillar. Giratina, the mascot of Platinum, then phases into the world in front of Cyrus.
* A new area known as the Distortion World (Japanese: やぶれたせかい Torn World) is playable. It has floor-like sections floating at ninety-degree angles from each other, creating an effect similar to the art of M. C. Escher. It doesn’t follow the Laws of Physics, making things like surfing down a waterfall going up possible. The camera angle switches between perspective and isometric views to suit the angle of the player. It also has moving platforms with jumpable gaps between them. Giratina, when here, will be in its Origin Forme and is also the only wild Pokémon located here.
* At least two new characters were added. One is Pluto, a professor of Team Galactic, and the other is a police officer spying on Team Galactic, using the codename “Handsome” (Japanese: ハンサム).
* A tag battle between the player and his or her rival against Flint and Volkner takes place at the entrance to the Battle Frontier when the player first arrives there.
* Team Galactic’s plans for world domination and the layouts of their HQs, such as the one in Eterna, have been changed. In addition, they openly recognize their goal and are more openly villainous.
* Some of the Gym Leaders have been reordered: Fantina is now the third Gym Leader, Maylene is the fourth and Crasher Wake is the fifth.
* Dawn/Lucas no longer gives the player the Dowsing Machine or the Vs Seeker near the Route 206 junction; instead he/she meets the player at the entrance to Mt. Coronet.
* Team Galactic appear in Stark Mountain under the command of Pluto, who seeks to use the destructive power of the volcano to extort money from the people of Sinnoh. The player, with help from Buck, must defeat them. During this event, Mars and Jupiter quit Team Galactic because Pluto does not share the same ideals as ex-boss Cyrus. Ultimately, Pluto and his two accompanying grunts are apprehended by Handsome and two policemen.
* After the aforementioned event, the player is able to challenge all the Gym Leaders of Sinnoh to rematches in the Match Place. The player’s tag battle partners from throughout the game (Cheryl, Buck, Marley, Mira, and Riley) are also able to be challenged in this café. Each of the 13 characters has a team of five Pokémon, whose levels are between 61 and 66.
* The Elite Four increase their Pokémon’s levels after the player has completed the Stark Mountain event. Their levels are now between 65 and 78.
* When one finishes the Stark Mountain quest, instead of the rival appearing at the Fight Area on weekends, he now appears at the Survival Area in front of the Match Place. During the first battle, the levels of the Pokémon in his party range from 59-65, second battle 69-75, and third and beyond 79-85. On his last battle, he is the trainer with the highest-leveled Pokémon in all main series games.
* When first visiting the Resort Area, the player receives a villa. Inside on a table is a catalog that lists items that can be purchased to furnish the house in the same manner as decorating a secret base. The player will be visited by NPCs such as the Sinnoh Gym Leaders, the player’s mom, Professor Rowan, and the rival.
Gameplay changes
* Giratina’s cry will be heard when “Start” or “A” are pressed at the title screen, unlike in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl which just play the background music. It shares this trait with some previous generation games.
* The Wi-Fi area has been enhanced with the Wi-Fi Square, which supports up to 20 people at a time. The new area seems to focus exclusively on mini-games, which include Rapid Wobbuffet, where players hit a Wobbuffet, and Merry Mime Jr., where players can balance Mime Jr. on a ball.
* The Poffin making has been modified with a new feature involving a Swalot-shaped machine, into which Berries can be thrown. This can be done over Wi-Fi in the new Wi-Fi Square.
* There is a new key item called the Battle Recorder (given by Handsome when the player first meets him in Jubilife City), which allows players to record battles in Battle Frontier and Wi-Fi, and share the records with other players over the GTS. Battle records can be rated by other players upon viewing, and the most popular battle records are displayed for all to see. Players can also take pictures of their PC boxes and share them with other players in a similar fashion.
* The GTS has incorporated an E-mail system that allows players to be notified of completed trades. Notification messages are sent to the player’s actual E-mail address.
* The Sinnoh starters and their evolutions are now allowed in an expanded Amity Square, making a total of 20 Pokémon allowed in the Square.
* Over local wireless, there is a new feature where the player and their friends can put their Pokémon eggs in and randomly swap.
* HM05 (Defog) is now located inside the Solaceon Ruins instead of the Pastoria Great Marsh.
* The player now receives HM04 (Strength) from Riley on Iron Island instead of in the Lost Tower.
* The player can now challenge other trainers in certain Pokémon Centers. The trainer(s) are located in front of the desk. These trainers change location every day.
* In addition to the move tutors in Diamond and Pearl, three new move tutors are added, in Snowpoint City, on Route 212 and in the Survival Area.
* The Accuracy of Hypnosis was changed back to 60.
* The surfing speed has become faster.
Obtainable Pokémon
* 59 more Pokémon have been added to the Sinnoh Pokédex to give it a grand total of 210 entries, with all non-legendary Pokémon introduced in Generation IV now included, along with their pre-evolved forms and several other Pokémon. The added Pokémon, such as Rotom and Giratina, are now available prior to the Elite Four challenge.
* Giratina can appear both as Altered Forme and Origin Forme in Platinum. It will appear in Origin Forme while in the Distortion World, and in Altered Forme while out of it. A Platinum Orb is required to transform it to its Origin Forme outside of the Distortion World.
* The ability of Origin Forme is Levitate and its base stats mirror those of Altered Forme in that the offensive stats have been switched with their respective defensive stats.
* Shaymin’s new Forme is called Sky Forme and takes on a canine appearance. Its ability is Serene Grace and the form is focused on Speed and Special Attack. It will be able to learn new moves like Quick Attack, Air Slash and Leaf Storm.
* Shaymin is able to change between its two forms via the use of the Glacidea Flower (Japanese: グラシデアのはな). This item doesn’t work at night or if Shaymin is frozen.
* Rotom has new forms as well. Each of the five forms is a Rotom that has possessed an electrical appliance. Despite having visual characteristics of other types, the five forms share the original Rotom’s Electric and Ghost types, whereas their base stats are far higher. They also share the original Rotom’s ability: Levitate. These Pokémon are not normally available and are therefore banned from official tournaments. The item to unlock these Pokémon in the game, the Secret Key, is an event-only item.
* Regirock, Regice and Registeel are catchable at level 30 with the help of an event Regigigas that has been distributed in Japan.
* Regigigas is now found at level 1, making it the lowest-level non-glitch wild Pokémon in a game (not to mention the lowest-level non-glitch legendary in a game).
* The legendary birds can be found as roaming Pokémon after the National Pokédex is obtained. They roam Sinnoh much like Mesprit and Cresselia do. The player has to talk to Professor Oak in Eterna City to trigger their appearance. They are all at level 60.
* Dialga and Palkia appear on Spear Pillar one at a time after the player has spoken with Cynthia’s grandmother in Celestic Town, and obtained the Adamant and Lustrous Orbs in Mt. Coronet.
* Cynthia now gives the player a Pokémon egg containing Togepi after the player has defeated the Galactic Eterna Building.
* Bebe now gives the player an Eevee before the player receives the National Dex; Eevee can now be obtained from the first time the player arrives in Hearthome City. It is at level 20.
* A man in Veilstone City gives the player a level 25 Porygon as a gift.
* Manaphy, while still uncatchable in-game, is now required to obtain the National Dex. It can be added to the Sinnoh Dex from finding its picture in a book in the Trophy Garden.
Map changes
* Much like the third version of the last generation, a new Battle Frontier takes the place of the Battle Park. It has the Battle Tower, Battle Factory, Battle Castle, Battle Roulette and Battle Stage as venues.
* Twinleaf Town and nearby routes now have snow patches.
* Jubilife City has been refurbished with new pathways and some buildings have animated roof lights.
* The Global Trade Station in Jubilife City has been redesigned and now includes a bigger global terminal.
* An arch now represents the entrance to Floaroma Town.
* The trees in Eterna Forest cast shadows that cover the forest floor.
* Eterna City has been refurbished with new foliage and pathways. Also the Galactic Eterna Building has had a complete redesign, inside and out.
* Cycling Road has been redesigned and now has tunnel-like shelters in the middle of the Cycle Route.
* Hearthome City has been refurbished with new pathways.
* Amity Square has been completely remodeled. It now includes a small lake, more paths and more upper levels. The old buildings that previously inhabited Amity Square now contain Warp Panels which transport the player to the other old buildings within Amity Square.
* Lost Tower has had its color scheme changed and now has fog on three of its five floors, which can be cleared by HM05 (Defog).
* Solaceon Town’s houses have been remodeled and the Pokémon Daycare now has a trough filled with water and tent-like shelters.
* Veilstone City has been refurbished with new pathways. The Galactic Veilstone Building has been redesigned, inside and out. The Veilstone Department Store now has a basement.
* The Hotel Grand Lake has been refurbished with new pathways.
* Pastoria City’s houses have been remodeled and now also includes a board with a Croagunk on it which is located in front of the Great Marsh.
* The Great Marsh has had its color scheme changed and has also had foliage changed and added.
* Celestic Town’s houses have been remodeled.
* Canalave City has been refurbished with new pathways and its houses and library have also been remodeled.
* The player now needs to use HM08 (Rock Climb) to access Lake Acuity.
* The area of water to the south of Snowpoint City where the player can get a boat to the Battle Zone now contains a small amount of icebergs. These can also be seen in the ocean when the boat is crossing to the Battle Zone. The boat has also been redesigned, most likely due to the icebergs in the sea.
* Sunyshore City has been refurbished with new pathways and its houses have been remodeled.
* Sinnoh’s climate has changed drastically. Snow is now found as far south as Twinleaf Town, whereas the Battle Zone is now warmer. Palm trees can be found in the Battle Zone.
* Stark Mountain now has more features evocative of a volcano, such as crags and pits of lava.
* Veilstone Department Store now has a basement, in which contest items can be sold and bought. Berries and Lava Cookies can be bought as well.
* The entrance and exit of Victory Road have become wider, having a Poké Ball at the center of the arch.
* Oreburgh Mine now has twin coal transporters starting from the entrance and ending at the entrance to the last section of the mine.
check spoiler below for the full list of differences.
