Pokemon Scarlet: The Teal Mask Storyline Review

The first part of the Pokemon Scarlet/Violet DLC: The Teal Mask was released this week and here are my hot takes on the relatively short story-line.

I really dislike Kieran as a character. I’ve never liked his kind of character, all weak and snivel-ly. Aaand then he went and did that “listening around corners and not calling you on your not-exactly-a-lie thing for no actual reason…” Spare your nonsense, sir. You can call anyone on their shit at any time instead of being passive about it. Kieran is setting up to either be a villain or and annoying rival in the next part of the DLC. I'm not a fan. I feel like having a character who's whole identity seems to be wrapped up in whether or not he can defeat the player and then having extreme negative reactions when he's inevitably beaten is just messed up. I should not be made to feel bad because I'm playing the game and am ostensibly the main character who will always kick your ass. Not what I'm here for.

This is straight after Kieran overhears the conversation you had with his grandpa and then mentally accuses you of lying when you don't tell him what the talk was about.

 

Carmine, I also can’t stand. Though she’s definitely got tsundere vibes, she’s also just a bitch on top of it. Literally the line: “I was being kind. It’s not like I hit him or anything,” came out of her mouth in regards to how she treated her brother. Seriously??? Abusive much? Ugh.

Also, I’m really not sure exactly why the grandfather things Kieran is too young to know the truth about the ogre. Seems like just a reason for annoying drama, which it was.

I really cannot stand the characters from this story-line and I’m glad to have finished with it. Time to fill out my Pokedex with very easily evolved Pokemon… because everything’s over level 60. That was a weird choice. I probably didn’t need the Pokemon to be normal levels, but I still feel like 60+ was a weird choice.

I am not a fan of the Legendaries for this DLC. It honestly feels like Ogrepon was the only one who had any real design and thought put into that design. Okidogi is essentially Doggo Hulk and not in a cute way. Munkidori and Fezandipiti just look odd, in my opinion. Do not like.

Munkidori, Okidogi, and Fezandipiti

 

I am incredibly happy to be able to change out of the school uniform. I may not be a gigantic fan of the Jinbei, especially as you're made to run around in a Green one the entire storyline and green is not my favorite color... but I'm reasonably happy with the Dark Blue one you can get right after from Kieran and Carmine's grandmother. I really just want a clothing option that's casual. Just jeans and a t-shirt. That's all I really want.

 But yeah, The Teal Mask was alright. I really just felt like I was running between locations over and over while collecting the thousands of items that're littered around the place, but it was reasonably fun. Now to go off and actually catch me the unappealing Legendaries...