>>54541670https://www.ign.com/articles/pokemon-scarlet-and-violet-the-teal-mask-dlc-review>somehow The Teal Mask runs worse than the base game of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet does....Instead, it feels like the DLC has the jankiness turned up about one or two more notches.It doesn't run any worse than the base game does, and runs far better than SV did at launch.
>It's even more of a disappointment when you consider that Kitakami is based on Japan Kitakami is based on a part of Japan, not Japan as a whole. Paldea isn't even consistent in its Spanish inspiration, with half the region feeling bizarrely Japanese.
>The Teal Mask’s plot is so overdone that even a Slowpoke could see its twists coming, which is a pretty big bummer after the heights reached during the ending of Scarlet and Violet.SV's plot is basic for rpg standards, which means it's excellent for Pokemon. Teal Mask's plot may be more streamlined, but its unique to the series and uncommon for the larger rpg sphere.
>Isle of Armor added challenge by forcing you to train a brand new Pokemon, while Crown Tundra included multiple new game modes. The Teal Mask does… none of that, and feels distinctly incomplete...I question the wisdom of splitting the DLC at all.Training Pokemon is a core gameplay mechanic, not an added challenge. Training Kubfu 20/60 levels is also not a challenge, it's a chore you can avoid with candies. It's also highly unfair and incredibly disingenuous to compare IoA+CT together against the Teal Mask: IoA may run better, but thats all it has. Teal Mask's story is better done, more involving of the player, and a more natural extension of the base game than IoA was to base SwSh.
For context, this is the same reviewer who did base SV, which she gave a 6 (picrel). I don't think Teal Mask is the greatest thing ever done, but I feel it deserves a 6 as well.