REVIEW: ‘Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: The Teal Mask,’ Is A Fun But Frustrating Adventure (Switch)

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet ushered in a new era of Pokémon games, with a large open world and a non-linear approach to how players could tackle their adventure. The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero: The Teal Mask is the first of two DLC additions to the game that helps expand the world of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet with a new story, new Pokémon, and new characters to get to know.

The Teal Mask sends players on a school trip to the beautiful land of Kitakami. After arriving in Mossui Town, the main town in Kitakami, it becomes abundantly clear that Kitakami is a deeply traditional land. It takes some clear inspiration from Japan and players get to learn about the rich history of Kitakami alongside their characters. The theme of learning works excellently and helps immerse players in the experience of discovering everything Kitakami and its traditions have in store.

Kitakami is considerably smaller in size than Paldea, the main region in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, but that works to its advantage. Instead of large open areas that feel empty and shallow, Kitakami is full of life and culture that increases the immersion. There is a lot to explore and every new discovery is rewarding and enjoyable. Climbing high into the mountains or traversing deep into the numerous caves gives this smaller region plenty of life.

Arguably the biggest highlight of The Teal Mask is the sibling duo of Carmine and Kieran. This brother and sister combo greets players right off the bat and they are dripping with personality. They aren’t the typical Pokémon rival, but there is a bit of that old-school feel to meeting them and fighting right away. Both of them have incredibly compelling story arcs across the entirety of The Teal Mask and there is still more to be learned when the second DLC arrives.

Alongside a new story and new characters come new Pokémon to catch. There are new Legendary Pokémon in the form of Okidogi, Munkidori, and Fezandipiti, known as “The Loyal Three,” and the cover art Pokémon Ogerpon. All four of these Pokémon are folk legends in Kitakami and are intertwined within the story quite well. The folk tales surrounding them alongside their designs and abilities make them some excellent new additions to the Pokémon roster.

There are also over 100 returning Pokémon from older generations available to catch in Kitakami. Original classics like Vulpix and its Ninetails evolution return along with others like my personal favorites Milotic and Nuzleaf. It is always nice to see old Pokémon return in the newest generations and the variety of the ones added in The Teal Mask is greatly appreciated.

While there is plenty to like in The Teal Mask, it suffers from some of the same very serious problems that the base games of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet dealt with. From the very start, The Teal Mask struggled to run without severe frame drops. There were moments where I was walking into a new area or a new cutscene was about to be triggered and the game completely froze up for a couple of seconds. Pokémon still randomly pop in on the ground when traveling around as well, something that was a major issue in the base games.

The fact that Pokémon Scarlet and Violet were released almost a full year ago and these issues not only still remain but in some cases are actually worse in The Teal Mask makes the experience incredibly frustrating. The world of Kitakami itself is one of the best Pokémon has delivered in years but it is marred by severe technical issues that should be unacceptable for a series as long-standing and profitable as Pokémon. Nintendo usually has a higher standard for what they release so the extreme lack of polish and inhibitive problems are baffling.

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: The Teal Mask is set in a beautiful world rich with culture but suffers from some severe technical problems that hinder the experience. Interesting characters and new Pokémon make it worth checking out, but some minor technical updates would have made it significantly more enjoyable.

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero: The Teal Mask is out now on Nintendo Switch.