Pokemon Diamond and Pearl Beta Sprites Leak, Names, and Game Prototype

We have been covering the Nintendo “gigaleaks” extensively here on the site as they unfold. Information just keeps being uncovered by the community and now even more Nintendo games and code has surfaced online through leaks. Yesterday, we even saw leaks of N64 games, with confirmation of Luigi being in the beta version of the Super Mario 64 code. These leaks are likely to lead to significant advancements in Nintendo 64 emulation.

The scale of this data leaks is massive; many games have had their sources codes uploaded online.

What is in the Pokemon Diamond and Pearl Beta Leak?

Now we have received confirmation that a Pokemon Diamond and Pearl beta (the first two Pokemon games for the Nintendo DS) have now been uploaded online. Members of the community quickly got to work, finding many of the leaked beta Pokemon sprites in Diamond and Pearl. With all of the game’s original code available like this, developers are able to peer inside to get more useful information for the best Pokemon ROM hacks and the Citra 3DS emulator. These sprites are super interesting because they show very early versions of the Pokemon game’s starter Pokemon, the legendaries that were available, and much more.

The sprites included in this Pokemon leak are obviously not the ones that made it into the final version of Pokemon Diamond and Pearl, but it gives us an idea as to how much they vary from the versions that we received in the final releases of the games.

From what we have heard so far, from the video below, Lickilicky seems to have a completely different sprite design in this beta version of the games than we got in the release version. Garchomp, Rampardos, Torterra, and Darkrai also make an appearance (with the latter 2 looking like they needed a bit more word in the beta).

Also, you can tell that the sprites haven’t been edited to fit the newer designs of the Pokemon yet. In later Pokemon titles like Gold and Silver beta builds, we saw similar sprites, many Pokemon sprites having finalized front sprites, but their older back sprites still being different. Some Pokemon were also cut out completely.

Pokemon Diamond and Pearl Beta Leak Name Changes

Additionally, we’ve also been told by members of the community that some of the names in the beta were different from the final version of Diamond and Pearl. Here is the list so far of the name changes (first the beta names and then proceeded by the release names):

• Luxio
  バチチ (Bachichi) > ルクシオ (Rukushio)
• Luxray
  バチバッチ (Bachibacchi) > レントラー (Rentoraa)
• Rampardos
  ラムバルド(Ramubarudo) > ラムパルド (Ramuparudo)
• Ambipom
  ビイパム (Biipamu) > エテボース (Etebossu)
• Buneary
  ミミット (Mimitto) > ミミロル (Mimiroru)
• Glaceon
  アイシア (Aishia) > グレイシア (Gureishia)
• Giratina
  キマイラン (Kimairan) > ギラティナ (Giratina)
• Darkrai
  ダーレイ (Daarei) > ダークライ (Daakurai)
• Shaymin
  ミーシエ (Miishie) > シェイミ (Sheimi)

These Pokemon Diamond and Pearl leaks have revealed not only early beta game sprites, but we also have gotten a look into beta Pokemon name changes as well. Some of the Pokemon names in the beta version were changes before the games were released.

These leaks are quite interesting. It begs the question, what info will we be seeing leaked next? Let us know your thoughts on all of this in the comments down below.

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