Splatoon (スプラトゥーン, supuratūn) is a third-person shooter video game franchise created by Nintendo and the title for the first game for the Wii U.

Unlike other TPS (third-person shooter) games, it is less about defeating the opponent with shooting and more about other tasks as a team. As well with it's cheerful atmosphere and sense of immorality of using water guns to spray ink literally changed the bloody nature of the TPS genre. This makes the game suitable not only for beginners, but also for experienced TPS players who want to make full use of their previous experience.

You're a kid now, You're a squid now!

Another feature is that the player is an Inkling (aka "squid") who has two forms: human form and squid form.

In human form, the inkling can run on the ground and perform actions with thier weapons.

When transformed into squid form, it can swim quickly through ink of the same color as itself (painted by it's own team). As long as they are submerged in the ink, there remaining ink will recover greatly. Damage taken by the enemy will also be recovered. However, you cannot become a squid on the opponent's ink. You will be taken off your feet and slowly take damage. In other words, painting over the ink can also stop the opponent's footing.

Since the squid can hide anywhere in the ink, including the floor and walls, they can perform a variety of actions using the ink, such as painting walls to climb, spreading ink to clear a route for allies to pass, or hiding in the ink to ambush opponents.

However, the squid form also has some weaknesses, such as not being able to use there weapons, being defeated in a battle if there are too focused on ambushing, and being painted with enemy ink from above, causing them to be one-sidedly beaten up.

Although there a squid, if they touches deep water, they will die instantly, just like Yoshi in Super Mario Sunshine. The cause is said to be the difference in osmotic pressure.

Another action unique to the inklings is the super jump. This action allows the inkling to become a squid and make a big jump, rushing to any of there allies on the map.

This is a very hot ability that can be used to shorten movement time, and even when you are outnumbered, you can aim for a major reversal depending on the position of your allies.

Game Modes

Turf War

Turf War or Turf Battle (ナワバリバトル, nawabari batoru) in Japan comprise of splitting into two teams of four at random covering the turf with their colored ink. The team that covers the largest area by spraying ink of it's team color onto the field wins.

You can defeat your opponent by hitting him with ink, but the number of times you defeat or are defeated does not affect your points, since victory or defeat decisions and individual scores are based entirely on the area you have covered (however, when you defeat an opponent, ink of your color is sprinkled around him, so you get indirect paint points).

Even if you are defeated, you can revive infinitely from the starting point. It is truly a game of "paint or be painted".

Of course, kills are not a total waste of time; they have very important implications, such as "being able to paint the area around your opponent in your own color", "reducing your opponent's special gauge", and above all, "being able to do whatever you want while you are back at the start point".

Ranked Battle

Ranked Battle or Competitive Match (ガチマッチ, Gachi Matchi) in Japan is the second online mode, it can be accessed to players Level 10 and up. Players are matched according to the Score System, a system rated on letters. The Score System will increase or decrease the player's score depending on the wins and losses in Ranked Battles, and the higher the score, the higher the experience and money rates will be.

Unlike Turf War, players can play under irregular rules familiar from traditional FPS. There are three types of rules: Splat Zones, Tower Control, and Rainmaker (Clam Blitz was added in the next game).

Winning gives you a large amount of experience and money, while a knockout loss gives you zero points. Basically, it is a battle of 0 or 100. This mode is designed for those who are more concerned with winning head-to-head.

Splat Zones

Splat Zones or Competitive Area (ガチエリア, Gachi Eria) in Japan is a contrast to Turf War, contestants paint a designated narrow "area" on a large map and compete for the time it takes to "secure" the area. The first player to secure a total of 100 counts wins.

Since players gather in a small area, encounters with the enemy team are inevitable. The rules are designed to test the player's ability to fight against other players.

In some maps, there are two areas to be painted, and in this case, the count will advance only when both areas are painted. Therefore, if the two teams are very close and the two areas are far apart, the count may not progress very far and the game may end in an overtime (there is no tie, and the judge will award one point to whichever team has the advantage).

Tower Control

Tower Control or Competitive Watchtower (ガチヤグラ, Gachi Yagura) in Japan is a rule in which players compete for a moveable tower placed in the center of the map. When the tower is mounted, it moves along a predetermined route toward the enemy's position. The winner is determined by whether the tower is pushed to the opponent's goal or how far the tower is advanced.

The key to victory is to fully understand the nature of the subweapon in order to protect the members on top of the tower and to drive the opponent off the tower.

The route of the tower depends on the map, but it usually passes through water or along the edge of a gully, so it is also a rule that players often make mistakes in painting.

Rainmaker

Rainmaker or Competitive-hoko Battle (ガチホコバトル, Gachi hoko Batoru) in Japan requires the player to grab the Rainmaker or Gachihoko (ガチホコ, Gachi hoko) to the goal that's at the other team's side. The Japanese title and the Gachihoko itself is based off and a pun of the shachihoko, a folklore animal that could summon rain.

The Rainmaker cannot use any weapons or super jumps, so the player must cooperate with allies to clear a path to the goal. The Rainmaker itself can also attack the opposing team with a large twisters of ink which can be charged and released, so it is important to note that Rainmaker holders are not carriers only.

The Rainmaker is initially covered by a barrier, which must be destroyed by attacking it. The moment the barrier is destroyed, it sprays a large amount of ink from the team that destroyed it.

If the Rainmaker is too far from the opponent's goal and cannot advance because it is too slow, it will explode with the other team's ink and wrap itself in the barrier again.

Once a player possesses a Rainmaker, they cannot relinquish it until the goal is reached or the Rainmaker holder is defeated, so be careful not to relinquish it as it's a disadvantage.

Single Player Mode

Octo Valley (タコツボバレー, Takotsubo Barē, lit. Octopus Pot Valley) or Hero Mode (ヒーローモード, Hīrō Mōdo) is the only dedicated mode that can be played alone offline in the first game.

One day, the Great Zapfish, which provides the energy for Inkopolis, suddenly disappears.

According to Cap'n Cuttlefish, an old man (old squid?) who is the self-proclaimed hero of the Great Turf Wars that once took place between the squid and octopus, the octopus army is now in charge.

According to Cap'n Cuttlefish, it was the work of the octopus army. The player, who has been appointed to Agent 3 takes it upon themselves to confront the octopus army in order to recover the giant catfish.

Passing through a manhole in a corner of the plaza, the player will find themself in Octo Valley, where a kettle-shaped transfer device is hidden. In this action-packed mode, players use the power of ink and squid to fly around a stage with a variety of tricks against the Octarians' octopus army, a far cry from Turf War.

Battle Dojo

Battle Dojo (バトルドージョー, Batoru Dōjō) is a offline-only mode where players can enjoy battles on the TV side and the WiiU Gamepad side.

The map is the same one used in the online Turf War mode and the rules are very simple: the player who breaks the most balloons on the map wins.

amiibo

The amiibos used for this game

Compatible amiibo can be used to challenge missions to obtain new gear, weapons, and mini-games. Get all three types of amiibos together to take on the special missions! Note, however, that if you have not progressed through Hero Mode, the missions you can select are limited.

Splatfest

Splatfest or just Fest (フェス, Fesu) in Japan is a irregularly special event where participants belong to one of two teams and aim for team victory. Teams are divided upon making a choice, and the winner is determined by the percentage of votes received and the percentage of battles won. The theme is different for domestic and international teams, suggesting the cultural differences between the two countries.

Regular matches and ranked matches will not be available during the festival. Some of these Splatfest also had sponsorship deals to make up the teams.

Major Update

A major update was made on August 6, 2015. In addition to the release of the rank limit (20⇒50) and the addition of new gear and BGM, the following two game modes were added:

Private Battle

Private Battle or Private Match (プライベートマッチ, Puraibēto Macchi) in Japan is a mode in which up to 8 friends can get together to play against each other. Rules and team assignments can be freely set.

Squad Battle

In Squad Battle or Tag Match (タッグマッチ, Taggu Macchi) in Japan, you and your friends form teams of 2 to 4 players to challenge each other in a squad. The opponent is chosen by the team challenging the squad, so you will never be pitted against a team that has not formed a squad.

After this, new weapons, stages, rules, and modes will be added through regular updates.

Setting

Splatoon resembles a modern Japan, but no humans live there (the only mammal that appears is Judd, a cat), and marine animals that have evolved into humanoid forms, led by squid, live on land.

They speak their own language, which is neither Japanese nor a foreign language. Many of the main characters are of different species but speak the same language, and some are fully humanoid with some of their original characteristics, while others have almost all of their original characteristics.

The stages in the online mode show that marine animals have evolved in the same civilization as humans, with vehicles such as cars, helicopters, and trains running around.

Inkopolis

Inkopolis known as Haikara City (ハイカラシティ, Haikara Shiti) in Japanese has the atmosphere of a modern city and is based off of Shibuya in Tokyo, Japan. NPCs with a variety of personalities offer services that are useful in battle.

However, in the Splatoon world, being "fresh" is the criterion for evaluating a person (squid thing?). If you are not "fresh" to some extent, you will not be taken seriously as a customer and will be turned away with harsh words.

The standard for being "fresh" or not is a rank number that is gradually raised in Turf Wars.

To buy the first weapon, you need to be rank 2 or higher, and as you move up in your Freshness rank you will have more equipment options in battle.

The top idols of the squid world, the Squid Sisters, are also located here, and on a large TV in the plaza, they host the Inkopolis News, a news program that constantly broadcasts updates, large-scale events, battle tips, and other information. However, the tips for battles are very vague.

Inkopolis Plaza

The plaza is a place where squids that have arrived via Miiverse roam around. You can check the information of these squids, which will be useful for customizing the items and fashions described later. It seems that each species has its own language, and jellyfish other than Jelonzo do not speak the language of squid.

Inkopolis Tower

The tower is the symbol of the plaza. Once you enter the tower, you can engage in online battles. Near the entrance, Judd is sleeping and will give you advice on battles, and you will also receive money as a bonus if you talk to him after raising your Freshness.

Booyah Base

Found within Inkopolis Plaza is a shopping mall for all your needs such as:

Ammo Knights, weapon shop run by Sheldon
Cooler Heads, headgear shop run by Annie
Jelly Fresh, clothing shop run by Jelonzo
Shrimp Kicks, shoe shop run by Crusty Sean

Back Alley

An alley with a somewhat seedy atmosphere. There is an urchin, Spyke, and if you have some skill, you can make (backroom?) deals with him about customizing your gear.

Weapons & Gear

A set of weapons (ブキ, Buki) used in battle consists of a main weapon, a sub weapon, and a special weapon. The combination is predetermined, and the battle style changes accordingly.

The main weapon is literally the main weapon to be used in Tur War. Basically, it is used to paint the ground and walls.

The sub weapon is a supplementary weapon to the main weapon. Compared to the main weapon, the sub weapon consumes a lot of ink at once, so it must be used systematically.

The special weapon can be activated when the special gauge is full, which is accumulated by painting the ground. Some special weapons have powerful attacks or support effects for all allies.

If used properly, it is possible to turn the tables in a single blow.

For more information on each of the weapon, see the List of Weapons in Splatoon.

Headgear, clothing, and shoes are collectively called gear (ギア, Gia). A gear has one ability from the beginning to help in battle (e.g., reduce ink consumption, etc.).

As you use more and more gear, you will be able to add more abilities to your gear, and any gear has the potential to become a top-class ability.

Gears has a rarity level, and the rarer the gear, the more slots it has for abilities and the more experience it requires. Even with lower rarity gear, if you give a Super Sea Snail or cash (from rank 20) to Spyke, he will increase the number of slots (however, the performance of the additional slots is 1/3 of the initial slots), giving you more flexibility in your coding.

The appearance of the gear is varied and extremely fashionable, and there are even brand name items in various genres, so you can enjoy fashion with an emphasis on appearance.

BGM and Artists

The music in Online Mode is composed by artists popular among squids.

The songs in Hero Mode are all instrumental songs remixed by DJ Octavio and his direct subordinates.

On October 21, 2015, the original Splatoon soundtrack Splatune was released, which includes these BGM and some sound effects.

The booklet includes song introductions, behind-the-scenes stories about the band, lyric cards, and more, as well as four different artist-specific dress-up jackets.

See also the article List of Artists in Splatoon.

Squid Squad

Squid Squad (イカ分隊) is a charismatic and popular band that plays background music for battles. They have been in charge of BGMs since before the major update. They can be seen on billboards in Inkopolis and in the Sunken Scrolls.

The band's appeal lies in its rock-based music, which incorporates a wide range of genres.

They are not seen in public these days because their popularity causes chaos at their live performances. Their signature song is Splattack!.

Songs

Battle BGM	Splattack!, Ink or Sink !, Seaskape, Kraken Up, Metalopod
Other	Now or Never! (BGM played when time remaining is less than one minute, for Turf Battle only)

Memebers

Vo. & Gt.: Ichiya

Ichiya, alternatively stylized as ICHIYA in Japan, is the blue-haired (Inkling Boy?) guitarist and vocalist writes all the lyrics. He cannot read sheet music and writes songs only with the momentum of riffs, but he pulls the members along with his power and charisma.

His name comes from ichiya zushi (一夜鮨, lit. one-night sushi), a kind of fermented sushi.

Syn.: Namida

Namida, alternatively stylized as NAMIDA in Japan, is the orange-haired (Inkling Girl?) keyboardist, who is the only one in red. She is strong in musical notation and has dabbled in jazz theory, giving the songs a sexy and different feel while keeping them together.

Her name comes from namida (涙), a sushi roll rolled only with wasabi, it can also mean tear.

Namida's nicknames are Mida-chan, Master Namida, Naminami, and Girl from Planet Namik.

Ba.: Ikkan

Ikkan, alternatively stylized as IKKAN in Japan, is the purple-haired (Inkling Boy?) oldest bass player who is expressionless and cool, but his playing brings out the band's strength. He stays until the last minute at an encore.

His name comes from ikkan (一貫), the number of pieces of sushi in Japanese.

Dr.: Murasaki

Murasaki walking with Harmony

Murasaki, alternatively stylized as MURASAKI in Japan, is is a sea urchin and the youngest drummer is mischievous and rough around the edges, but has great potential. Surprisingly, he has a tendency to cry. He treats his spikes as drumsticks.

His name comes from murasaki, an industry term used in sushi restaurants for soy sauce.

Chirpy Chips

Chirpy Chips, known in Japan as ABXY is a four-member group that is currently blasting up the hit charts in the squid world with their unique character with a anemone girl doing vocals and chiptune music.

They are responsible for two battle BGM songs, Friend List and Quick Start, which were added in a major update.

In Japan the origin of the band's name is unknown, but it is believed to be derived from the ABXY button on Nintendo's previous hardwares. The names of the songs are also taken from the functions of the Wii U.

The band's name in the North American version is Chirpy Chips, coming from how chirping can be seen as a form of singing and chip from chiptune. This is the only band whose name was changed in the localization.

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