So you've never played Platinum?
Well the fifth leader in DP is the third in Platinum,the third in DP is the fourth in Platinum and the fourth in DP is the fifth in Platinum.
Some Gyms have had their puzzles changed. The seventh gym has the same idea, but with different placement of obstacles, while the second, third and fourth are completely different.
You can catch Fire types in the wild other than Ponyta. You get given an Eevee during the main game for Flareon, obviously you can choose the Fire starter, and you can also catch Houndour (the one I recommend you use), Magmar and still Ponyta. Go south of the city with the department store to find Houndour.
Because of this, the Fire type Elite Four member actually has Fire types instead of a Normal type, a Steel/Ground type and a Ghost/Flying type.
You can't catch Murkrow/Misdreavus in Eterna Forest. That's one thing I prefer in DP (fuck yeah Mismagius) but it's pretty much the only thing.
Overall there's just a lot more choice of Pokemon in Platinum, especially with the aforementioned Eevee.
Team Galactic is a lot better, having ditched the Wurmple and having their plot make a lot more sense.
You probably know about the Distortion World (its on the back of the box). On the Spear Pillar, where you beat Cyrus, the Team Galactic boss and catch Dialga/Palkia in Diamond/Pearl. Well in Platinum, Giratina comes along and whisks you and Cyrus into the Distortion World, a world with strange gravity, where you find your way to the end, beat Cyrus and battle Giratina. Definitely a lot more badass.
The surf speed is running speed like in Gen III. In Diamond/Pearl it's walking speed, and while it's also walking speed in Gens I and II, it's torture surfing in DP. But at least it doesn't have as much water as Hoenn.
I have a 2000 character limit, and I'm nearly past that, but Diamond and Pearl are considered some of the worst games, while Platinum is considered one of the best. That is for a reason.
Enjoy your game!
