Pokémon BDSP Update Improves Union Room & Colosseum Battles
A new update for Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl has expanded the games' Union Rooms and added additional multiplayer features.
A new update for Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl has arrived, bringing with it improvements and enhancements to the game's Union Room and adding Colosseum features. This duo of rebuilt Nintendo DS titles has seen a number of improvements over the original games, including mass leveling features, stabilized online play, and character customization options.
Pokémon BDSP came out late last year and was received generally positively by both fans of the original entries and newcomers. The games are very faithful to the DS titles that spawned them, carrying over Pokémon Easter eggs like Diamond Dust and keeping the main story, map, and basic game mechanics intact. Of course, a few alterations and embellishments were made along the way, such as the ability to have a Pokémon follow players, as well as the option to change avatar outfits. One of the most important features to remain, however, was the inclusion of online capabilities that let players battle and trade with their fellow Pokémon Trainers. This can be done through the in-game Union Rooms, which connect players to one another.
While Union Rooms were brought over into Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, they have been further enhanced through the new February 21 1.2.0 update. According to patch notes (via Wccftech), the maximum number of players that can interact with one another at once via Union Rooms has increased from two to eight. This means that more players can trade, (getting rid of Pokémon BDSP's less coveted Pokémon, perhaps), as well as battle. Players can also now show each other their Capsule Decorations and Training Cards. The update also includes additional Colosseum features, giving players the option to set custom rules like Pokémon level caps before taking part in a number of different battle types.
The arrival of these upgrades and additional features should please any fan of Pokémon BDSP, as it shows that Nintendo is not hurriedly moving on from this pair of games in favor of the more recently released Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Online battling is something that many gamers consider essential in modern Pokémon games, so smooth and unproblematic multiplayer integration will be important for any Pokémon game's legacy. Hopefully, future entries will continue to bolster this side of gameplay.
It will certainly be interesting to see how online play is implemented in the Pokémon franchise moving forward. Nintendo introduced a vast open-world in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, and the series could very well continue to evolve down the road. Until then, though, fans of Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl will hopefully be enjoying this upgraded multiplayer experience.
Source: Wccftech