Overall I find these games solid for games that were outsourced and I feel like the only true way to judge them is to try them yourself, perhaps by renting or borrowing them from a friend before you make the decision yourself as in the end you are the only one who can decide if a game is bad or not, and I personally feel these are good installments even if they aren't perfect. there are some aspects I do wish they had kept from platinum, such as platinum's story, and the distortion world, but removing them are not deal breakers, also despite the EXP share being on constantly, it has not made the game any easier for me, I can understand the fustration of those who wish that they could turn it off, but I feel the game is challenging even with it on.
Gym Leaders are just as challenging, in the cases of some of them even more so, and the E4 and Cynthia are even more extreme, and the grand underground exploration is so great, being able to find pokemon that are not in the original sinnoh dex and being able to use them, between that and the upgraded digging style, you could stay down there for hours and even better you can save down there so you are not forced to leave. They are much faster than the originals especially when it comes to surfing and trudging through the northern snow routes, which even in platinum was still a slow process to deal with. Gym Leaders I feel that these are welcome additions to the remake category, though they are not without flaws, I definitely feel that compared to the original Diamond and Pearl entries these are superior. I feel that these are welcome additions to the remake category, though they are not without flaws, I definitely feel that compared to the original Diamond and Pearl entries these are superior.