With the year getting to a close, we needed a date for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s expansions. With this Pokémon Presents, the date for the first part has been revealed. It’s an unfortunate thing that said date puts it right in the middle of a busy September, but The Teal Mask will be a fun part of the expansion to explore. As will The Indigo Disk, with me warming slightly to the location that one will give us from when we first saw it.

For The Teal Mask, the location we’ll be travelling to is Kitakami, a location beyond the Paldean border. Here, the focus is on a trio of Pokémon known as The Loyal Three. Okidogi, Munkidori, and Fezandipiti. Arriving as part of a joint school trip between the academy the player attends and those of the Blueberry Academy (that is the focus of The Indigo Disk), we’ll be tasked with an Orienteering activity to help us learn the history of Kitakami and how The Loyal Three fit into it.

Within the group of students are two siblings that we’ll befriend. Carmine and her younger brother Kieran. It seems we’ll be battling these two during this adventure, and Kieran has a new Pokémon. The candy-apple evolution of Applin – Dipplin. Perrin is another person we’ll befriend on this adventure, a photographer who has come to Kitakami to photograph a mysterious Pokémon. And oh am I happy for this.

An area of Kitakami is the Timeless Woods, a place where those of Kitakami rarely venture. Perrin will be by our side as we venture into these woods, camera in hand for what amounts to an open world version of Pokémon Snap. While it seems unlikely Perrin will be rating these photos and giving us points, the idea of taking pictures of Pokémon in the wild is the same.

Along with snapping Pokémon in the woods, our own camera abilities will be seeing a bit of an upgrade. The Roto Stick will allow our selfie camera view to be further away from us, allowing for better pictures than what was previously possible. We can also command our Pokémon to stay still when in photo mode, which will make it a lot easier to grab some photos of our more excitable creatures. When using a union circle, these photos can now also be shown off to others.

The town of Mossui is having a festival when we arrive, that ties in with the folktale we’re learning about. As part of that festival is a game of Ogre Oustin’, which sees us popping Ogre Balloons to collect the berries within and taking them back to the berry tables. Opportunist Pokémon will try to steal those collected berries, so there’s a bit of strategy to this, especially when playing with others. The reward for completing runs of Ogre Oustin’ is mochi, an item that can increase the base stats of a Pokémon, or even take the special Fresh Start Mochi to reset them.

As for The Indigo Disk, we’ll be heading for Blueberry Academy ourselves, where we have been invited to learn from the students who call this academy at sea their home. As part of this academy is an underwater terarium split into four biomes. When seeing this place before, it did feel unnatural. But that’s because it is. Hence me warming to it. Each biome is split by low walls, which all meet in the centre where the battle stadium is. And battling is a key part of this academy.

The academy has its own battle league – the Blueberry League. And they have their own Elite Four. Each member has a trial to complete before they can be faced in battle. One of those trials will give our rideable mount a special flight ability – rather than the poor excuse of the glide they currently have. While only for the trial, they sure are making it seem like this will become a permanent ability at some point. And I have a feeling about that.

As part of the League is a clubroom. Here we can meet other trainers of Blueberry Academy and face them in battle. Earning Blueberry Points for doing so, we can donate those points to various other clubs that are part of the academy and get gifts for helping them out. These unlock new things we can do, such as decorating the clubroom. We can also invite trainers from Paldea, such as the Gym Leaders, and battle them, too.

The end of the trailer brings us back to Paldea and back into Area Zero, where we’ll discover the Hidden Treasure of Area Zero. While it is unknown at present what that is, the fact they’re hiding it at present maybe means they want it to be a surprise. But because of what I said earlier, about how the marketing points out how the flying ability could become permanent, I feel we will gain it permanently on a return to Area Zero.

Other new Pokémon, such as Duraladon evolution Arrchaludon, and Paradox Pokémon Raging Bolt and Iron Crown were shown off. More returning Pokémon could be seen scattered throughout both new areas. Mew and Mewtwo will also be obtainable, the former with a mystery gift code and the latter in a special Tera Raid event. Will be fun to try battling against that mythical legend.

Of the two areas, I am looking forward to exploring Kitakami more. Despite warming to it, Blueberry Academy’s terrarium is still an enclosed environment. Until I can explore it myself, I’m still a little hesitant about it being a good place to do so. Both parts to the Hidden Treasure of Area Zero will certainly be good, however. I’m looking forward to beginning that adventure with The Teal Mask on 13/September.

Images Taken From:
The Timeless Woods | Pokémon Official Website
The Blueberry League | Pokémon Official Website