Pokemon Scarlet and Violet: The Teal Mask Reviews
The Teal Mask is yet another step in a slow quality downslide for this series: it runs terribly, looks ugly, feels predictable, doesn’t offer any of the freedom Scarlet and Violet’s main story did, and falls short in so many ways compared to just about every other Pokemon game and DLC I’ve played.
Technical problems and a lack of difficulty balancing spoil what would've been a neat slice of DLC, with some surprisingly good storytelling.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's first DLC expansion, The Teal Mask, is a commendable step in the right direction that's held back by some familiar technical shortcomings.
But it’s also still this. Scarlet and Violet already showed major signs of technical stress, and the bulging seams are even more apparent in The Teal Mask. As much as I enjoyed this DLC, it remains disappointing that some of Pokémon’s best stuff is being dragged down by a game engine that feels like it’s just a slight breeze away from falling apart.
’ll spend about five hours finishing up the story, and 10-15 hours cleaning up everything else, with a full Kitakami ‘Dex. I really hope Indigo Disk brings it, because at present, the current incarnation of the season pass is tough to recommend.
While performance issues have tarnished the experience, we've had a good time returning to the world of Pokémon Scarlet and Purple in The Turquoise Mask. It's an entertaining expansion; Not like to shoot rockets, but it's fine and leaves us with the promise that the best is yet to come.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Perfect if you're looking for a well-built story and a wide variety of Pokémon, as long as you don't care too much about performance or graphics quality.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: The Teal Mask is good, excelling in its storytelling, but the performance issues really do damage what would be an otherwise stellar piece of new content.
Pokémon Scarlet & Pokémon Violet: The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero Part 1 The Teal Mask offers nothing we haven't seen before. Kitakami, despite the Japanese theming, feels exactly like Paldea just with different Pokémon. The story is uninteresting and has characters changing completely on a dime, and quite a lot of the included Pokémon already appear in the main game. There's just not much going on here.
Once again I ask, is the Pokemon Violet DLC worth buying? That depends. If you were hoping for a smoother framerate, you’ll be disappointed. The Teal Mask DLC runs just as well as the base game. If you want more Pokemon content, you’re in luck! There’s something like 100 old Pokemon being added to the total roster. There’s also new sidequests, new story content, and new items to acquire. The battles are challenging (by Pokemon standards), and there’s a wide variety of biomes within Kitakami to explore. For me, this was a perfect excuse to jump back into the game. But I recognize that I’m a hardcore fan of these games. Ultimately, that’s who Pokemon DLC is usually for. If you’re a fan, you’ll enjoy this extra content. Otherwise, you can leave this one be.
If you didn't have a good time playing the games at the time, I doubt Teal Mask will change your mind, as there are no major graphical or performance improvements.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
The highlight of the experience, which unfortunately is penalized by the same technical problems already encountered in the base game, is therefore represented by the introduction of a new Pokédex to complete, which as usual will push you to scour every corner of the albeit small region of Nordivia.
Review in Italian | Read full review
The Teal Mask contains your average monster catching fun, but it doesn't do enough to address Pokémon Scarlet and Violet's biggest problems.
The Teal Mask is a fun diversion for Pokémon Scarlet & Violet players that builds on the base game's strengths, but also exposes its weaknesses that much more. Fortunately, those strengths sparkle and Terastalize into a breezy, fun experience that delivers some rich regional storytelling, great characters, and some fantastic new Pokémon. We wanted more, though - more love and care put into the visuals and the battles. The Indigo Disk has a chance to build on the foundations The Teal Mask has laid, and we hope that's exactly what it will do.
Gamefreak's latest DLC improves the game in some ways, while not in the ways that would matter the most.
No matter how good The Teal Mask is, it will always be held back by the issues innate to Scarlet & Violet.
I am giving Pokemon Scarlet and Violet The Teal Mask DLC 4.5 stars solely because I did list a couple of glitches and things that made the Tera Raids and catching Pokemon a bit tricky. Otherwise, I couldn't have any complaints about this game, and I am truly obsessed with it.
The Teal Mask is a great first part to Pokémon Scarlet and Violet's pair of DLC packs. While it suffers from the same presentation issues of the base game, The Teal Mask offers a digestible standalone experience that simultaneously satisfies and teases you with the promise of more. A more condensed open world, great characters, and fantastic new Pokémon designs make for a worthwhile return to the world of Scarlet and Violet.
Despite its flaws, The Teal Mask DLC, with its fresh setting and intriguing side quests, amplifies the experience of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet—perfect for those seeking a return trip to the vibrant world of Paldea.