Between “lo siento” and “aisumasen” the treasure of Area Zero starts from Nordivia: here is the (first) review of the Pokémon Scarlet and Violet DLC
The last time we found ourselves dedicating a review a Pokémon Scarlet and Violetwe are left thinking about how many of the base game’s problems a DLC could have been remedied. And this is, or rather it will be during the autumn and winter, the mission of The Treasure of Area Zero. What we are considering today, the Turquoise Mask, is the first half of the base game expansion. And, talking about it at the end of Pokémon Presents, we wondered if it was possible to run into the same traps seen three years ago, at the height of the pandemic, in Galar.
If you remember correctly, the Pokémon Sword and Shield Expansion Pass was also released in installments. Its first half, The Isle of Armor, was a Poké-inspired reimagining of Isle of Mann, with little substance in favor of some immediate help for competitive players. The juiciest content was saved for The Crown Tundra, an episode featuring a more substantial co-op mode, lore expansion and, simply, more creatures than were seen in the base game. Mere appetizer this time too, symptomatic of the “few but significant” additions of the third versions? Let’s find out together.
Kabuki theater | Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: the Turquoise Mask DLC review
As the bureaucracy of the Pokémon series dictates, the DLC for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet opens the dance as soon as we load the game. With a phone call, Professor Zim immediately summons us to the Orange/Grape Academy. The coordinator (from Unova, therefore “Black and White confirmed!”), Reatakes us on a distant school trip Nordic. It is a (mini-)region with Japanese inspiration, where among the farmers of the rice fields he hopes to find answers: both on the Scarlet/Violet Book written by his ancestor Calligaris, and on the possibility of replicate the Teracristal phenomenon even outside of Paldea.
Leaving aside the possibility of having, for once, a gameplay feature perhaps destined to remain in the battle system, we don’t want to give spoilers about the small plot tailor-made for this first DLC. We will simply say that we were very pleased to notice the small burst of ambition on a narrative level: where the main story also talks, in accessible terms, about bullying and childhood trauma due to the loss of loved ones, here there is an allegory similarly sweetened by religious fanaticism. In short, from this point of view there is very little to complain about.
GAME FREAK returns to Hisui steps | Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: the Turquoise Mask DLC review
In parallel with the main story, the downloadable content also offers us the character of Liters (with an eye cut probably inherited from Damon). There side quest sees us as personal assistants of this photographer, and during the digression (assuming we have first obtained 150 of the 200 Pokémon present in Nordivia) we will also be offered a parenthesis inspired by Pokémon Snap. However, it is only once the ten required creatures have been photographed that the subplot will come to life, although the character himself will disappear as much as the brothers Riben and Rubra once this first episode is concluded.
The name of the ancestor mentioned above will probably have lit a light bulb for any of you who have played the game Laying Pokémon: Arceus, but in case we remove any doubts. The side quest, predictably, overflows with fanservice for anyone who has supported one of the most courageous (and successful, we might add) experiments GAME FREAK. The rewards, both in terms of content and on an auditory level, although symbolic, are not lacking. You will be able to take home a couple of Hisui’s creatures, but apart from a few generous raids we would still advise you to pick up the game itself.
Joys and sorrows to share | Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: the Turquoise Mask DLC review
Speaking of which, let’s talk about what this expansion means for the metagame. Even without the DLC, your copy of the base game will receive a update to be compatible with anyone who is a friend of yours who has the downloadable content. To put it simply, there are positive sides and some less so. Let’s start from the sore point: if you expect to be able to allow some friends to play the DLC “free”, the answer is no. The circle of friends will bring everyone back, unceremoniously to tell the truth, to a Pokémon Center in Paldea. Those in the circle can return to Nordivia (where other players’ raid crystals appear!) without interrupting anything, but the days of Team Kirby Clash Deluxe on Nintendo 3DS are over.
That said, if all players are interested in about the DLC are (quite understandably) the Pokémon themselves, the discussion becomes much more positive. Of course, by participating in a raid of Victreebel, Ludicolo, Kommo-o and the like you will have the opportunity to make the co-op experience accessible to others by sharing the raid password as you have always done. However, the Teracristal Raid bulletin board on the Poképortal (although limited to the usual eight raids at a time) also includes those of Nordivia, regardless of whether you have purchased the DLC or not. And even without being physiognomists, just look behind the silhouette: instead of the academic coat of arms, you can see the “horned” Poké Ball of the expansion.
Ogerpon world | Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: the Turquoise Mask DLC review
Nordivia’s folklore also includes a minigame (also multiplayer) to topic: the “Ogre Hunt”. The legend is replicated in an extra activity, during which you will have to explode the colored balloons inspired by the ogre and the so-called “benemies”. The contents of the piñatas will then be returned to a specific point, where they will be exposed to looting by wild Pokémon that we will have to return to chase away often with Koraidon or Miraidon. In short, the classic “anxiety-provoking” minigame in which leave point A unprotected to return to it occasionally while we deal with point B.
Beyond the record scores, the reward for our performance is the various Mochi. These are tools with which, alas, improve a certain statistic of one of our Pokémon. We hoped that it would stop at the Max Mushrooms (with Max Soup attached) in the Sword and Shield Expansion Pass, but unfortunately it happened again: here we are again competitive advantages (including an “Esperienzamuleto” with a self-explanatory name that leaves little room for doubt) exclusive to DLC buyers. “It’s business as usual, Calimero.” As if on purpose, this content limitation was introduced in the first half of the downloadable content, exactly as it happened three years ago.
“A Poké Ball? But my carpenter in Hisui can do it better for you!” | Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: the Turquoise Mask DLC review
There is nothing left to do except technically evaluate everything. Let’s start fromgraphic appearance: we appreciate the faithfulness to the aesthetics of rural Japan, among the rice fields, folk festivals, masks and wooden pylons, but the positive notes stop there. As enjoyable as the various “oldies but new” like Hoothoot with the realistic textures introduced in ninth generation are, this update blew a precious opportunity to restore order in technical performance. No Nintendo fan worth his salt has ever been picky about framerates and other technicalities, but the hiccups here continue to be numerous. And Nordivia is smaller than the Fortnite island!
If on the one hand there is still work to be done, however, on the other it is also true that the sonorous still remains at very high levels. Although the melodies are perhaps less markedly memorable than those that the various comings and goings around Paldea have engraved in our brains, the highlights are not lacking, one above all the Lago Cristallìo which fully reflects the abstract sounds of the Zero Area in the Voragine of the main game . When Litha’s subquest borrows from the Japanese distillate that is Pokémon Legends: Arceus, then very high peaks are reached. For a few minutes of gameplay, but they touch.
Final considerations
The quality/price ratio for this Pokémon Scarlet and Violet DLC is not the most flattering, but to be honest, I condemn the 35 euro requested at the review stage may be premature. What we’ve learned with the Galar region is that for every lone Isle of Armor to serve as an appetizer (with early dessert for competitive players), there’s also The Crown Snowlands to later prove worthy of the entrance fee . So we invite you to take the evaluation below with a dutiful pair of pliers: after all, we are still talking about the first half of a DLC released in installments as if it were sold individually.
On the other hand, however, this does not prevent us from extrapolate Nordivia from its choral context and to judge it on its merits. You can reserve the right to take an average with the rating we will give following The Indigo Disc, when it comes out in two or three months (probably). We avail ourselves of the duty of reviewers, which prevents us from glossing over the modesty of content of the aforementioned appetizer as it is partly richer than what was seen in Galar three years ago. Of course, over half of the local Pokédex is shared with the main game. Another reason to remember that the litmus test on the quality/price ratio and general value of the season pass has only been postponed. For the better, hopefully. Or for the worse, if that is the case.
This was what we thought. But what is your opinion? Tell us below, and as always don’t forget to stay on techgameworld.com for all the most important news for gamers and beyond. For your purely gaming needs, you can instead find the best discounts in digital format on Instant Gaming.
After the appetizer, we wait
Points in favor
- Shareable content with the base game (Raid)…
- Excellent presentation on an auditory level…
- Nordivia is so fascinating in its history…
- Pleasant fanservice on Pokémon Legends: Arceus
Points against
- … and other sadly exclusive ones (Mochi, Esperienzamuleto)
- …but we’re not there yet when it comes to performance
- … how poor in points of interest