Pokémon Developers Craft Early Game Maps with Lego Creations

Not all game development happens behind a screen; some of it starts with designers getting hands-on with physical materials. While pen and paper are common tools, toys can also play a crucial role in the creative process. A prime example of this is found in Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl, the Nintendo DS RPGs where developers utilized Lego bricks to shape the game’s map.

Images of Game Freak developers assembling the game with Lego have circulated online, but the full story emerged when Pokémon archivists released a previously unseen “making of” documentary for the 2007 titles. In the documentary, titled Pokémon Diamond and Pearl: Behind the Scenes DVD — Make All, Game Freak team members are seen manipulating Lego pieces while discussing the intricacies of the map. Given the blocky design of the game world, it’s no surprise that this was part of their development process.

Game Freak isn’t alone in using Lego for game design. Hideo Kojima, while at Konami, famously employed Lego to craft the levels and structures in Metal Gear Solid and Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty.

While Lego was useful for broader concepts, Game Freak also relied on hand-drawn maps for specific routes and dungeons. The newly released documentary footage shows developers sketching these elements, but the archivists creatively combined all the routes into a single image. Fans will notice some differences from the final version, such as an earlier depiction of Jubilife City, Sinnoh’s largest city. Eterna Forest was initially a smaller area, but expanding it likely enhanced the nostalgic feel, making it more maze-like.

The documentary also includes footage of an internal map test that emphasizes the 3D nature of the games. Although some fans view the Diamond and Pearl generation as 2D, it’s all about perspective. Beta footage reveals Game Freak testing a version of the game where players could control the camera, reminiscent of Super Mario 64. There’s even a 3D model of the protagonist. In an alternate reality, Pokémon could have been the first major series to popularize the now-common HD-2D aesthetic in RPGs.

The video analyzing Game Freak’s internal documentary, which has yet to be translated into English, runs for 56 minutes and is packed with intriguing trivia. For instance, it’s fascinating to learn that the game’s underground areas were inspired by game director Junichi Masuda’s father, who faced tough conditions as a coal miner.

Pokémon fans can check out the original documentary through the Internet Archive while they await updates on the next generation of games, Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves, set to launch on Switch 2 next year.

A small detail in Pokémon Pokopia actually reflects some deep development lore.