Game development often involves more than just software; physical tools can play a crucial role in visualizing game worlds. For the Nintendo DS titles Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl, developers at Game Freak utilized Lego bricks to conceptualize and refine the game's maps.
A previously circulating image of Game Freak designers working with Lego has gained new context through a recently surfaced "making of" documentary. Titled "Pokémon Diamond and Pearl: Behind the Scenes DVD — Make All," the footage shows developers physically manipulating Lego pieces as they discuss the particulars of the Sinnoh region's geography. The blocky, grid-like nature of the game's maps likely made Lego a fitting medium for this design process.
Game Freak is not alone in using Lego for game design. Hideo Kojima famously employed the building blocks to create levels and structures for Metal Gear Solid and Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty during his time at Konami. Lego's utility extends to providing a macro-level view for spatial planning.
While Lego aided in the broader layout, Game Freak also created hand-drawn maps for individual routes and dungeons. The newly published documentary includes segments where developers illustrate these elements. Archivists have since combined these disparate route designs into a single image, highlighting alterations from the final game. Notably, Jubilife City, Sinnoh's main urban center, appears different in early drafts, and Eterna Forest was originally smaller, with its expanded size in the final game contributing to its labyrinthine feel.
The documentary also features internal map testing, which supports the understanding that Diamond and Pearl were envisioned as full 3D experiences. Although some players perceive the generation as 2D, beta footage reveals Game Freak experimenting with camera control, reminiscent of Super Mario 64, and featuring a 3D protagonist model. This suggests a potential alternate reality where Pokémon might have pioneered the HD-2D aesthetic now common in RPGs.
The 56-minute documentary, not yet fully translated into English, contains additional development trivia. For instance, game director Junichi Masuda's father's experiences as a coal miner reportedly influenced the design of the game's subterranean areas.
Fans can view the original documentary on the Internet Archive. News regarding the next generation of Pokémon games, reportedly arriving on Switch 2 next year, is anticipated.