Pokémon Scarlet & Violet DLC Is A Probability To Win Again Disenchanted Followers

Soapbox options allow our particular person writers and contributors to voice their opinions on scorching matters and random stuff they have been chewing over. Forward of tomorrow’s Pokémon Presents, Alana is hoping that The Hidden Treasure of Space Zero is an actual treasure for Pokémon Scarlet & Violet.

Pokémon Scarlet & Violet’s DLC, The Hidden Treasure of Space Zero, is a little bit of a thriller in the mean time. We all know it’s cut up into two components – The Teal Masks is due out this Fall, whereas The Indigo Disk follows in Winter – and we all know the areas, just a few characters, and a few returning (and new) Pokémon. However whilst somebody who cherished Scarlet & Violet, regardless of its swathe of technical points, this DLC has some actual work to do if Recreation Freak goes to win again disheartened followers.

We all know little or no at this second in time, and the Pokémon Presents August 2023 showcase will probably take away the masks and present us much more particulars, particularly for Half One. However the 9 months since Scarlet & Violet dropped haven’t precisely been the smoothest. The Hidden Treasure of Space Zero, and particularly The Teal Masks, is an actual probability for Recreation Freak and The Pokémon Firm to make amends with the numerous followers who misplaced endurance with the bottom sport; to embrace the components of Scarlet & Violet that make it particular, and clean over a number of the points that presently exist.

To be clear, I don’t suppose that’ll embrace efficiency points, sadly — I feel that S.S. Anne has sailed — however I reckon there’s a lot The Teal Masks can deliver to the desk to reignite followers’ curiosity within the sport, and produce a sceptical group of individuals again to a franchise they as soon as cherished.

The Teal Masks – which will probably be accessible after you’ve began your Treasure Hunt – is all a few faculty journey to Kitakami, a land impressed by its namesake Japanese city and the Iwate prefecture. On the centre of this story appears to be 4 model new Pokémon and the pageant at Kitakami village.

We’ve seen loads of Japanese-inspired areas in Pokémon earlier than, however Kitakami has the possibility to face out from the remainder of Paldea. My favorite a part of exploring Paldea was all the small pockets throughout the map with regional variations – there weren’t many, and so they have been usually nestled between enormous open, empty fields of… nothing, however discovering them was usually a pleasure. The bamboo thickets are one in all my favorite locations to go to, and so they really feel so totally different from the forests, plains, and arid lands of the remainder of Paldea.

Kitakami is overshadowed by an enormous mountain, and the folks of the area stay at its base. We’ve additionally obtained Mossui City, which is your base hub throughout your time in Kitakami. The rapid environment of layered cliff faces, a small waterfall, and stone partitions, make this look extra interesting than most of the different cities within the base sport. And even the Pokémon Heart – located exterior the primary constructing – appears very totally different from the drive-through-style hubs we obtained in Paldea.

The Teal Masks will really feel far more rural than numerous the area. We had mountainous cities and a few smaller areas, however Paldea went larger with lots of its house cities, very similar to Sword & Protect. Massive when it comes to measurement, that’s. The attractive avenue markets evoke a humbler model of the Division Shops we’ve seen in earlier video games, and the extra rural setting ought to enable for an much more various set of locales.

The screenshots we’ve seen to this point haven’t blown me away, however the prospects are there. Kitakami is house to apple orchards and rice paddies, the previous a transparent nod to Morioka. All the Japanese-inspired options deliver again reminiscences of Kanto and Johto – the previous of which we’ve seen in full HD 3D because of Let’s Go, Pikachu & Eevee, however Kanto goes for a really totally different aspect of Japan. Kitakami captures the essence of the time after I was a faithful Pokémon fan, and I can really feel the ripples of Johto’s historic, conventional Japanese inspirations right here.

If The Teal Masks needs to seize extra of the magic I’m on the lookout for, it’ll have to take action with its story – however I’m not anticipating an excessive amount of. The Indigo Disk might be the place I’m going to get that Space Zero lore dump that I’m so determined for. No matter you consider Scarlet & Violet as a complete, there’s no denying that the tip sequences inside Space Zero are a number of the greatest moments within the sequence so far. It’s a disgrace that efficiency points stopped lots of people from pushing via, however the music, environment, characters, and ultimate battles made for an unbelievable capstone to a fractured expertise.

There’s nonetheless an opportunity The Teal Masks may result in some marvel, although. The 4 new Pokémon – Okidogi, Munkidori, Fezandipiti, and Ogerpon – have robust ties to Kitakami, and the robust regional id coupled with the folktales implies that there are methods these new ‘mons might be tied into the mysterious house pocket on the centre of the crater in Paldea. Perhaps. How else may Pokémon of legend and historical past make an look? Properly… some ways, however for the sake of Scarlet & Violet, Space Zero might be the reason for this. What do these crystals behind Ogerpon’s masks imply anyway?

I’m not holding out hope for that revelation in The Teal Masks, however The Indigo Disk completely has that probability. Terapagos – the turtle-like Pokémon – and Terarium, have clear visible hyperlinks and anomalies that line up completely with Space Zero. We all know a part of the historical past of the crater, the discoveries a personality named Heath made on the Herba Mystica, and the origin of the Terastal phenomenon. However there’s no approach there aren’t extra hidden treasures for Space Zero lurking in Terarium, or associated to Terapagos.

It’s arduous for me to get extraordinarily enthusiastic about The Hidden Treasure of Space Zero, however there’s hope. I favored Sword & Protect significantly lower than I do Scarlet & Violet – regardless that the efficiency points and the post-game cycle of Tera Raids and lacklustre Thriller Presents have not enticed me again too usually. However Sword & Protect’s DLC improved upon so many features of the bottom sport and embraced what made Galar stand out from the pack.

The Teal Masks is step one of this two-part journey towards a possible hidden treasure, the treasure that makes Pokémon as beloved as it’s. May there be extra new Pokémon? Extra regional types? Or maybe extra Paradox Pokémon? And are there methods battles may be streamlined or sped up? We will hope for lots – and lots of of our needs received’t probably come true – however The Teal Masks must make me and lots of resentful, wanting extra from the world of Paldea.

It might not remedy the sport’s tech issues, however Recreation Freak has confirmed again and again that technical perfection is not a prerequisite to a magical expertise. It has an opportunity show that after once more, and I hope the Pokémon Presents provides us that first glimpse of the treasure that (hopefully) awaits us.

What do you need to see from The Hidden Treasure of Space Zero? Tell us within the feedback.