Pokemon's Indigo Disk: A Game-Changing Innovation that Breaks Franchise Tradition
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet boldly challenge the franchise's long-standing traditions, and The Indigo Disk DLC promises to shatter expectations once again
Highlights
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet have reinvented the classic Pokemon formula, offering a fully explorable region with no separate areas, breaking tradition.
The Teal Mask DLC transports players to an unexplored region, whereas The Indigo Disk DLC presents the first-ever Elite Four in the mainline series.
In The Indigo Disk's BB League, players will encounter distinctive challenges and a point-based evaluation system to determine the top trainers in the academy. The potential champion will have the opportunity to utilize brand new exclusive Pokemon.
Modern Pokemon games have consistently succeeded in reinventing the classic formula that has been utilized since the release of Pokemon Red and Blue. However, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet have managed to take this innovation to a new level. While previous games in Generation 8 and Pokemon Legends: Arceus experimented with open-world elements, it was Pokemon Scarlet and Violet that truly shattered this tradition. These games introduced a fully explorable region with minimal separate areas.
In Generation 9, the series has pushed the boundaries even further by breaking numerous long-standing franchise traditions. And it appears that The Indigo Disk DLC will once again prove the extent of these advancements.
Despite sharing similarities with the DLCs available for Generation 8, The Teal Mask and The Indigo Disk expansions truly embody the spirit of Generation 9. These expansions strive to challenge the established norms of the series. The Teal Mask DLC for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet transports players to an entirely new region, a feat that has not been seen since Pokemon Crystal. However, the scope of this new region is vastly different from the return to Kanto in Generation 2. On the other hand, The Indigo Disk will accomplish something even Pokemon Crystal could not, breaking a tradition that has remained unbroken in Pokemon games.
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The Indigo Disk DLC will transport players to a distinct location, likely still connected to the Paldea region. This new area is home to Blueberry Academy, the third academy in Gen 9. Players can anticipate participating in a tournament reminiscent of the one at the conclusion of the Pokemon Scarlet and Violet story. This tournament will involve facing multiple trainers.
A unique feature of The Indigo Disk is the inclusion of Gen 9's second Elite Four. The Blueberry Academy boasts its own four champions that players must challenge. Additionally, a prominent Pokemon insider leaked that there will be a champion awaiting at the end of the new Elite Four, similar to battling Geeta at the end of the Pokemon League in Paldea. This groundbreaking addition sets The Indigo Disk apart from previous mainline games. Even in Gen 2's return to Kanto, there was only one set of Elite Four, despite there being a total of 16 gyms.
It is unclear whether the Elite Four of the Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's Indigo Disk are officially recognized within the in-game world. However, if they were, it would be an interesting precedent. The Blueberry League, also known as the "BB League," appears to have significant differences compared to Elite Fours in previous games. In the Indigo Disk DLC, players must complete various trials before they can challenge the BB League's Elite Four. The league has its own point system to determine the top trainers and presumably its champion.
The Elite Four members in the BB League are Lacey, Crispin, Amarys, and Drayton. Drayton is notable for using the new cross-gen Duralodon evolution called Archaludon in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. This sets the stage for the BB League champion, who is yet to be revealed, to have their own signature Pokemon. One possibility is Raging Bolt or Iron Crown, the new Paradox Pokemon introduced in the DLC. This unique take on the Elite Four concept could potentially be implemented in future games, especially if the current model of the base game with expansions remains the same.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are available now for the Nintendo Switch.
