Quite a way to start the day, huh? We got a brand new, hot out of the fryer, Nintendo Direct dedicated solely to Splatoon, which hits shelves this month! So, of course we needed some new info as the game approaches as rapidly as it has been.
For those of you who caught the Direct, we'd love to see your thoughts and discussion all across Squidboards. However, for those of you who may have missed some or all of the Direct, you've come to the right place.
This will be a quick recap of all the information spewed during the Direct, which ran for just over half an hour. For anyone (a majority of us I'm sure) who has been keeping up with Splatoon over the past several months will likely find a good portion of this information redundant. That being said, Nintendo did surprise us with some new tidbits of inky info, so make sure you get a good fill of it all.
Basics:
-Inklings can change into "Humanoid" and "Squid" forms. They can be either male or female and have modifiable skin tones and eye color.
-Their hair-like tentacles change depending on team color.
-Squids cannot cross the checkerboard border at the tops of walls.
-Humanoids and Squids move and jump at different speeds and heights.
Turf War:
-Two teams of four compete in a three-minute match to cover as much of the ground with your team's paint as possible.
-Inklings can only swim in their own paint. Opponent's paint will hinder your progress.
-Kills do not give you bonus points, but they do spread more of your paint around the kill spot.
-Points accrued from games can be used as currency and contribute to leveling up.
Battle Stages:
-Urchin Underpass, Saltspray Rig, Blackbelly Skatepark, Walleye Warehouse, and Arowana Mall seem to be the starting roster of available maps. They sport structural differences like variance in high and low points, narrow to wide combat areas, numerous central points of high ground, and a variety of close-quarters areas.
Inkopolis:
-Different shops are owned by quirky shop keepers who have different assortments of gear, weaponry, and more to purchase.
-Variety of gear available to buy increases as you level up.
Weapons:
-Three types: Main, Sub, Special.
-Three classes of Main: Shooter (Rifle), Charger (Sniper), Roller (Melee).
-The Shooter class includes weapons like the Splattershot, Aerospray MG, Jet Squelcher, and the Ink Blaster. These weapons have difference ranges and ammunition types.
-The Charger class includes weapons like the Splat Charger, E-liter 3K, and Splatterscope. These weapons have different ranges, charge times, and attachments.
-The Roller class includes weapons like the Splat Roller, and Dynamo Roller. These weapons have different sizes and utility.
-Ten different types of Subweapon: Splat Bomb, Sprinkler, Seeker, Splash Wall, Suction Bomb, Burst Bomb, Point Sensor, Ink Mine, Squid Beakon, and Disrupter. These weapons may explode and disperse paint, reveal enemy locations, hinder enemy abilities, stick to walls, and much more.
- Several different types of Special weapons, including the Inkstrike (a rocket shot launched by using the Gamepad), Echolocator (reveals multiple enemies for a limited time), Bubbler (creates a bubble shield that reflects enemy fire), and Kraken (squid form becomes larger and invincible for a limited time).
Gear Abilities:
-Certain gear can be special ordered.
-Icons on gear denote "gear abilities" that power-up your character.
-Star count for each piece of gear limits how many abilities can be used at a time. Each ability has a star cost.
-Super Sea Snails can be collected to optimize gear.
Solo Play - Octo Valley:
-Retrieve Zapfish from Octarians.
-Octarians retaliate with grunts enemies, octopi, octo-girls, boss characters, and giant marine enemies.
-Players can use special devices powered by paint to help their cause, like Ink Rails, Geysers, Sponges, and more.
-Items can be found in crates across each level.
-Power eggs are collectables found on every stage that can be used to level up your weapons.
-Sunken Scrolls are collectables found on every stage (one each) that gives back-story to the single player experience.
-Splatoon gets K-Pop duo with Squid Sisters.
Battle Dojo:
-One versus one. One player plays on the Gamepad, the other on a TV with the Pro Controller (or another input device apparently).
-Balloons are popped to score points.
Inkopolis Tower:
-Hub for online battles. Regular and Ranked are the two matchmaking choices.
-Regular Battles have Turf War matches.
-Regular Battles have shuffled teams. Friends can join other friends' games, but teams are still random.
-Players can vote between two maps for their Regular Battles. The stage combination changes every four hours.
-Ranked Battles have Splat Zone matches, which work similar to King of the Hill.
-Players are ranked based on wins and losses from A+ to C-.
-Level 10 or greater in Regular Battles must be attained to play Ranked Battles.
-When enough players reach level 10 globally in Regular Battles, Ranked Battles will be unlocked for all players.
Splatoon Free Update Events (New!):
-These free updates are planned through Summer 2015.
-More stages will be added. Some are considered "more technical."
-More weapons will be added, like the Roller-class Inkbrush, which can spread paint ridiculously fast.
-More gear on the way, as well.
-New rulesets will be introduced to Ranked Battle. These include: Tower Control and Rainmaker.
-Tower Control: Players stand on a tower moving on a rail system. Standing on the tower moves it into enemy territory. Control the tower long enough to win.
-Rainmaker: No clear details yet, but was announced with an image of a golden fish with a cannon in its mouth.
August 2015 Huge Post-Launch Update (New!):
-Additional matchmaking options will be added.
-Players will be able to search with friends for matches with pre-made teams of four.
-Players will be able to host custom games for up to 8 players. The host will be able to select stages and rules.
Squiddy Games (New!):
-Assortment of different minigames and applications, like Squid Jump. Amiibo Challenges, Squid Beatz, and Splatfests.
-Splatfests are global team ranking systems. Join the right team and play in matches to try and win Super Sea Snails.
-First Splatfest will be from June 20th (6:00 AM PT) to June 21st (6:00 AM PT).
Splatoon Global Testfire (New!):
-Special event coming to Nintendo eShop on Wii U: A free demo for Splatoon.
-Available on May 8th (8:00 PM - 9:00 PM PT) and May 9th (4:00 AM - 5:00 AM PT & 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM PT).
-The Treehouse at Nintendo of America will livestream during this event alongside developers of the game.
Gamestop Pre-Order (New!):
-Pre-order Splatoon at Gamestop to unlock Inkling apparel for your Mii fighters in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.
For those of you who caught the Direct, we'd love to see your thoughts and discussion all across Squidboards. However, for those of you who may have missed some or all of the Direct, you've come to the right place.
This will be a quick recap of all the information spewed during the Direct, which ran for just over half an hour. For anyone (a majority of us I'm sure) who has been keeping up with Splatoon over the past several months will likely find a good portion of this information redundant. That being said, Nintendo did surprise us with some new tidbits of inky info, so make sure you get a good fill of it all.
Basics:
-Inklings can change into "Humanoid" and "Squid" forms. They can be either male or female and have modifiable skin tones and eye color.
-Their hair-like tentacles change depending on team color.
-Squids cannot cross the checkerboard border at the tops of walls.
-Humanoids and Squids move and jump at different speeds and heights.
Turf War:
-Two teams of four compete in a three-minute match to cover as much of the ground with your team's paint as possible.
-Inklings can only swim in their own paint. Opponent's paint will hinder your progress.
-Kills do not give you bonus points, but they do spread more of your paint around the kill spot.
-Points accrued from games can be used as currency and contribute to leveling up.
Battle Stages:
-Urchin Underpass, Saltspray Rig, Blackbelly Skatepark, Walleye Warehouse, and Arowana Mall seem to be the starting roster of available maps. They sport structural differences like variance in high and low points, narrow to wide combat areas, numerous central points of high ground, and a variety of close-quarters areas.
Inkopolis:
-Different shops are owned by quirky shop keepers who have different assortments of gear, weaponry, and more to purchase.
-Variety of gear available to buy increases as you level up.
Weapons:
-Three types: Main, Sub, Special.
-Three classes of Main: Shooter (Rifle), Charger (Sniper), Roller (Melee).
-The Shooter class includes weapons like the Splattershot, Aerospray MG, Jet Squelcher, and the Ink Blaster. These weapons have difference ranges and ammunition types.
-The Charger class includes weapons like the Splat Charger, E-liter 3K, and Splatterscope. These weapons have different ranges, charge times, and attachments.
-The Roller class includes weapons like the Splat Roller, and Dynamo Roller. These weapons have different sizes and utility.
-Ten different types of Subweapon: Splat Bomb, Sprinkler, Seeker, Splash Wall, Suction Bomb, Burst Bomb, Point Sensor, Ink Mine, Squid Beakon, and Disrupter. These weapons may explode and disperse paint, reveal enemy locations, hinder enemy abilities, stick to walls, and much more.
- Several different types of Special weapons, including the Inkstrike (a rocket shot launched by using the Gamepad), Echolocator (reveals multiple enemies for a limited time), Bubbler (creates a bubble shield that reflects enemy fire), and Kraken (squid form becomes larger and invincible for a limited time).
Gear Abilities:
-Certain gear can be special ordered.
-Icons on gear denote "gear abilities" that power-up your character.
-Star count for each piece of gear limits how many abilities can be used at a time. Each ability has a star cost.
-Super Sea Snails can be collected to optimize gear.
Solo Play - Octo Valley:
-Retrieve Zapfish from Octarians.
-Octarians retaliate with grunts enemies, octopi, octo-girls, boss characters, and giant marine enemies.
-Players can use special devices powered by paint to help their cause, like Ink Rails, Geysers, Sponges, and more.
-Items can be found in crates across each level.
-Power eggs are collectables found on every stage that can be used to level up your weapons.
-Sunken Scrolls are collectables found on every stage (one each) that gives back-story to the single player experience.
-Splatoon gets K-Pop duo with Squid Sisters.
Battle Dojo:
-One versus one. One player plays on the Gamepad, the other on a TV with the Pro Controller (or another input device apparently).
-Balloons are popped to score points.
Inkopolis Tower:
-Hub for online battles. Regular and Ranked are the two matchmaking choices.
-Regular Battles have Turf War matches.
-Regular Battles have shuffled teams. Friends can join other friends' games, but teams are still random.
-Players can vote between two maps for their Regular Battles. The stage combination changes every four hours.
-Ranked Battles have Splat Zone matches, which work similar to King of the Hill.
-Players are ranked based on wins and losses from A+ to C-.
-Level 10 or greater in Regular Battles must be attained to play Ranked Battles.
-When enough players reach level 10 globally in Regular Battles, Ranked Battles will be unlocked for all players.
Splatoon Free Update Events (New!):
-These free updates are planned through Summer 2015.
-More stages will be added. Some are considered "more technical."
-More weapons will be added, like the Roller-class Inkbrush, which can spread paint ridiculously fast.
-More gear on the way, as well.
-New rulesets will be introduced to Ranked Battle. These include: Tower Control and Rainmaker.
-Tower Control: Players stand on a tower moving on a rail system. Standing on the tower moves it into enemy territory. Control the tower long enough to win.
-Rainmaker: No clear details yet, but was announced with an image of a golden fish with a cannon in its mouth.
August 2015 Huge Post-Launch Update (New!):
-Additional matchmaking options will be added.
-Players will be able to search with friends for matches with pre-made teams of four.
-Players will be able to host custom games for up to 8 players. The host will be able to select stages and rules.
Squiddy Games (New!):
-Assortment of different minigames and applications, like Squid Jump. Amiibo Challenges, Squid Beatz, and Splatfests.
-Splatfests are global team ranking systems. Join the right team and play in matches to try and win Super Sea Snails.
-First Splatfest will be from June 20th (6:00 AM PT) to June 21st (6:00 AM PT).
Splatoon Global Testfire (New!):
-Special event coming to Nintendo eShop on Wii U: A free demo for Splatoon.
-Available on May 8th (8:00 PM - 9:00 PM PT) and May 9th (4:00 AM - 5:00 AM PT & 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM PT).
-The Treehouse at Nintendo of America will livestream during this event alongside developers of the game.
Gamestop Pre-Order (New!):
-Pre-order Splatoon at Gamestop to unlock Inkling apparel for your Mii fighters in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.
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