Pokemon Scarlet and Violet players looking to take a detour in The Teal Mask DLC can tackle an interesting side quest that allows them to capture the awesome Bloodmoon Ursaluna. Along the way, they will work side by side with a new character, the photographer Perrin, who asks for their aid in capturing a shot of this unique beast. While catching Bloodmoon Ursaluna is a great reason to help out Perrin, the tasks she issues the player during this side quest could serve as the perfect inspiration for their own unique spin-off game.

The Pokemon franchise has had numerous spin-off titles over the years, including fan favorites like the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon series, the Pokemon Ranger series, and more recent hits like Pokemon GO. One classic spin-off that finally received a sequel prior to the release of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet was Pokemon Snap, with New Pokemon Snap releasing in 2021. Since the Pokemon Snap series is now more than just a one-off N64 game, a future entry should draw inspiration from Perrin's photography side quest in The Teal Mask DLC.

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Perrin’s Quest in The Teal Mask is a Perfect Blueprint for Future Pokemon Snap Games

In her quest to photograph the elusive Bloodmoon Ursaluna, Perrin leads the player to the Timeless Woods in the northeast corner of Kitakami's map where it has reportedly been sighted. In order to more easily find it within the foggy forest, Perrin tasks the player with taking photographs of the other critters living in the woods so that the software she uses to detect Ursaluna can rule out any other subjects it may pick up. As such, this mission requires the player to sneak around the foggy environment so as not to disturb the creatures living there while trying to covertly capture their photo without scaring them off.

The design of this portion of the side quest feels like a natural evolution of the formula developed by the Pokemon Snap games. In those titles, players have a 360-degree field of view with which to view and take pictures of mons in their natural habitat, with the caveat being that their movement is confined to an auto-moving, on-rails tram that takes them through each location. Instead, future Pokemon Snap games should adopt the freedom of movement that players have for Perrin's side quest, allowing them to explore environments freely and get up close to the critters they are trying to snap a photo of.

A game like this could combine the best elements of Pokemon Snap with those of Pokemon Legends: Arceus to make capturing mons on camera a well-rounded and more challenging experience. Players could have the freedom to move around each zone within the game but would need to approach their targets carefully or risk having them flee like in The Teal Mask. The game could even give players access to items that can help lure certain mons out for the perfect shot or help keep themselves hidden while trying to get up close to unsuspecting subjects.

This side quest was a surprise treat for many players as it was unlike anything else in The Teal Mask, despite the DLC having an unusual focus on improving the player's photography toolbox. Getting to experience this side quest is not only worthwhile for the chance to capture Bloodmoon Ursaluna, but it gives players a glimpse at what a potential future Pokemon Snap game could look like, if only during a bite-sized segment of a side quest. With this foundation already laid, there is a lot of room for a new full-length game to expand upon these new photography mechanics that tie elements of some of the series' most beloved entries together for an intriguing new spin-off.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are available for Nintendo Switch. The Teal Mask DLC is also available now.

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