Summary
The land of Kitakami has been a compelling one for fans playingPokemon Scarlet and Violet’s Teal Mask DLC. Its overworld emphasizes a focus on nature; with its six wonders sprawled across its map, much of Kitakami’s experience comes in the form of exploring natural landmarks. From a field of Wisteria trees to a sparkling crystal pool filled withTerastal energy, the environment differs in terrain to accommodate the roster of new and returning Pokemon on offer. This approach to setting has significance on the Teal Mask’s story, which could inform the Indigo Disk’s own narrative focuses.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s Teal Mask DLC has its main storyline following Kieran, Carmine, and the lore surrounding the Loyal Three and Ogerpon. Its tightened focus on the two NPCs lets the sibling duo receive ample time to set up their backstories and motivations, a feat that might not have worked so well with a more crowded cast or industrial setting. Rather than establishing multiple towns throughout Kitakami, having its characters centralized to Mossui helps to accentuate the remote nature of its environment while building on their development, paving the way for certain attitude changes like Carmine’s lessened hesitancy of outsiders.
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Kitakami’s Focus on Nature Tightens its Narrative, Leaving The Indigo Disk More Room to Branch Out its Story
There are a couple of other notableScarlet and VioletNPCs who are introduced in the Teal Mask, like Briar and Perrin, though they aren’t as accentuated throughout the main story. Perrin’s side content can only be interacted with after the player catches at least 150 Kitakami Pokemon, furthering the DLC’s emphasis on exploration, while Briar is set up to have a much larger role in the Indigo Disk. In contrast to the Teal Mask, it looks likethe Indigo Disk will contend with a wider cast of characters, which could make its story content more of a primary focus.
This seems to be the case given the Indigo Disk’s setting; the Blueberry Academy is host to a number of NPCs, which would imply a more involved story across multiple perspectives. The Teal Mask was a bit more relaxed in this regard, as it could focus most of its efforts on establishingKieran and Carminewithout having to worry about other characters to interact with. While it’s unclear how much screentime the BB League will get, the narrative threads set up by the Teal Mask through Kieran, Carmine, and Briar already suggest a storyline with many unraveling plot points and factors in play.
Fans have already begun to theorize how these characters will impactThe Indigo Disk’s narrative. Kieran’s development as a rival leaves much to be explored, with many hypothesizing that he’ll act as the BB League’s Champion. This could potentially put him on the side of a misguided antagonist, though it’s likely that his insecurities with being an outcast will be addressed through the help of Carmine, the player, and other characters, making him feel more welcomed and accepted.
On the other end, the brief encounters with Briar have left many to believe that she’ll be the Indigo Disk’s central villain, as her obsession with finding Terapagos could cause conflict throughout its story. Her request to venture intoArea Zeroseems to leave Jacq hesitant at the idea, and her comments at the crystal pool on Oni Mountain show her desire to spread the Terastal Phenomenon across the world if it means being a step closer to finding Terapagos. Only time will tell how she’s integrated into the plot, though the character’s influence could be greater than expected.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violetare available now for the Nintendo Switch.
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