Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s Teal Mask DLC Honors a Franchise-Long Tradition

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are arguably the games that changed the classic Pokemon formula the most, at least alongside the spin-off Pokemon Legends: Arceus, and along the way they broke multiple traditions of the series. Breaking the mold is not unusual for Pokemon games, with each new entry in the series typically trying to make a name for itself by changing what doesn’t work and keeping what does. Much like Scarlet and Violet, The Indigo Disk DLC is breaking multiple traditions, continuing this trend for Gen 9, but The Teal Mask expansion does something just as brave in the way it honors a classic feature of Pokemon games that goes back to the roots of the franchise.