SPLATOON
I've been playing Splatoon since the first game launched on the WiiU in 2015! Ever since 2017 my interest has been on and off, but Splatoon 3 still manages to pull me in seasonally.
Next to MLP, Splatoon may be one of my most important interests in shaping the artist and person I am today. I call it "the interest that made me sentient", as it was my gateway into seeing media and fandom beyond just a few Youtubers ans passively looking at art. It's only recently now that I'm back on it and really putting into perspective everything about the gameplay and world that was so engrossing, and seeing how it influenced my tastes in other media such as Kirby and Sonic.
I've sunk a lot of hours into each game, and though I'm no pro, I consider myself a pretty skilled veteran.
Overview:
Fave Games:
Multi-player:
There's a big split between these two sides of the game to me, so it's only natural I rank them separately.
1. Splatoon 2
Despite removing one of my favorite weapons and never brining back the perfect kit of another, it's hard for me to argue that Splatoon 2 wasn't mostly a step above Splatoon 1. The weapons pool was even larger, the specials were less nightmarish, and most importantly, it still retained many of the great levels of the first game while introducing its own.
2. Splatoon 1
Unabashed nostalgia personally puts this as my favorite multi-player, but I do have to acknowledge its faults inherent to being the first outing of the series. Other than that, it was a beautiful chaotic time for Splatoon multi-player - the game boasted the best stages, all with creative aesthetic AND MECHANICAL gimmicks that hooked I and countless other Splatoon vets in.
3. Splatoon 3
There's a lot to love about Splatoon 3 as the most recent, and therefore biggest multi-player on top of the fun new movement gimmicks, but lord the stages... The new stages and even some that are brought back have lost all mechanical character and are just boxy, lame, and unfun to play on. Add on top of this how obnoxious the brought back specials are and you have a wholey lesser multi-player in my opinion.
Single-Player
1. Splatoon 2 - Octo Expansion
An unparalleled cultural reset for the entire franchise, being there in 2018 since Splatoon 1 and seeing Octolings finally get their time to shine was insane! And then on top of that, the campaign is almost unmatched in terms of story and spectacle. Later campaigns have built off of it very well, but its hard to top.
2. Splatoon 3: Return of the Mammalians
The immediate successor to the glory of Octo Expansion that took all of its interesting gameplay structures and applied it to the rather stagnating base singe-player campaign. It was a beautiful marriage to me, and on top of that boasted THEE most ambitious ending of the series so far, as well as genuinely heart-wrenching themes about the hopes and world humans will leave behind.
3. Splatoon 3 - Side Order
Side Order is UNBELIEVABLY fun, addictive, and as visually creative as ever, and follows in Octo Expansions footsteps of being a more personal but equally flamboyant story. It's greatest sin is not having more, in terms of story AND gameplay - I need an endless mode so bad...
4. Splatoon 1 Hero Mode
Incredibly nostalgic to me, and unlike the big bombast of every following single-player, there's something more cozy about this one and its story. But it still didn't pull its punches in establishing everything about Splatoon's world-building what makes it so great.
5. Splatoon 2 Hero Mode
Though definitely not a down-grade from Splatoon 1, the changes it made to the formula weren't all that, especially in the shadow of Octo Expansion's impact. I still have very fond regard for this campaign however and its introduction of more spectacle and character involvement in the stories.
Fave Weapons:
Splatoon gameplay is like nothing else out there, and a massive part of that is the weapon design. Or more specifically, those creative and wacky weapons that make it's identity (not the 10million shooters...) Once again broken up by multiplayers.
Splatoon 1
1. E-Liter 3K Scope
THIS! Was my absolute baby in Splatoon1! I was CRESTFALLEN when burst bombs were removed from the E-liter kit in Splatoon 2, and I truly have never recovered as a charger warrior. Burst bombs were the perfect answer to close range combat for the weapon. I have incredibly fond memories of dancing around opponents with them, but now anytime I pick up an E-liter I find myself rather defenseless...
2. Dual Squelcher
This weapon was the last time I ever loved a shooter... the Dual Squelchers assimilation in to the DUALIE Squelcher was such an insult to me, as I rather despise the Dualies line, and now I find myself incredibly bitter towards the shooter family. It was the perfect medium of range, fire-rate, and damage to me and incredibly fun to play.
3. .52 Gal Deco
Next to the .52, my one other beloved shooter. This was my go-to main for a good deal of my Splatoon career. It was the main of my first Splatoon OC, and very importantly to me, was the weapon I beat up a YouTuber with on stream! Screw you, ZackScottGames - the Arts are STILL better than the Sciences!
Splatoon 2
1. Slosher
My main in Splatoon 2 throughout pretty much all of the games lifespan (next to another splatterscope). I wasn't a big fan of the buckets in the first game, but something about it in 2 warmed me up to it, and I embraced the whole family, but always stayed true to the OG. I still play it in Splatoon 3 from time to time, but those suction bombs were somethin' else.
2. Gold Dynamo Roller
The Splatoon 1 Gold Dynamo was a darling of my twilight years with the game (next to the Octobrush Nouveau), and it became that again in Splatoon 2. I think the Ink Armor was very good for tapping into its offensive side as opposed to the old Inkstrike. It's incredibly fun to murder people with ^_^.
Splatoon 3
1. Splatterscope
As you could read from the past two games, Splatterscopes have been a staple of my Splatoon career (especially after the E-liter lost its burst bombs), but I've never played one as fun as this! It's infinitely versatile with the splat bombs, and the Ink Vac is an incredibly interesting special for it, a perfect mix of defense and offensive capabilities (that I have yet to master). 10/10 weapon!
2. Dynamo Roller
Ever since the Gold Dynamo of Splatoon 2 piqued my interest with the weapon, I played the base Dynamo in 3 waiting patiently for the return of my beloved. But when it did come back, I found myself having grown to love the vanilla and its defensive playstyle. The sprinkler is the perfect aid to the weapons sluggishness and a great pestering tool, and gotta say, I love a good Crite Spranberry. It's still very fun to murder people, but also to support my teammates.
3. Carbon Roller Deco
Carbons have ALSO been a staple of my Splatoon career, but once again, I've never loved one like this! The Burst Bombs were a genius move that up the killing, movement, and pestering powers of the weapon tenfold! And Tri-Zooka is a wonderful successor to the previously nightmarish Inkzooka, now it takes more strategy and aim and is a joy to get kills with.
Fave Bands:
Without a doubt one of the most outstanding aspects of Splatoon's world design is that nearly every song you hear in the game is created by an in-universe band, a choice that adds so much charm to the already diverse and incredibly designed soundtracks of the games. Choosing individual favorite songs is impossible, and even this is rather harsh!
1. Turquoise October / OCTOPLUSH
Combining the two as my excuse to say - I adore the single-player soundtracks! Ever since the first game the juxtaposition of the charmingly alien rock sound of the multi-player, with the even more out-there techno sound of the Octarians. In Splatoon 2, the accents of Callie's voice hinting at her abduction into the army were especially chilling along with a slightly more refined sound. And in Return of the Mammalians, the now Fuzzied band takes on a new sound - more 80s and synthy - but it still works for that dichotomy to the new metalcore bands.
2. Wet Floor
Being the successors to the absoluye icons of Squid Squad, Wet Floor blew the assignment out the water by brining in a completely new sound that helped so much to establish Splatoon 2's identity. The style of rock is one I still seek out now; it's just full of a lot of character and hard-wired in nostalgia juice to me, and I'd love to see them return in the chaotic harder style of rock dominating Splatoon 3's soundscape.
3. Free Association
Though not having any of the bands background introduced yet, this is just an excuse to say that Side Order's soundtrack is stellar! It's amazing how many new styles the sound team manages to pull out to perfectly color new settings and scenarios, and the loosely Y2K break-beat angle compliments the mode so well. The progression of the songs as you climb the tower gave me chills the first few runs, and had me head-bumping the rest.
4. Chirpy Chips / ABXY
Debuting alongside Hightide Era (another iconic band), they brought a very fun and lighthearted sound to Splatoon 1's more grungy tones of rock. It's always fun to see them come back game after game with new bangers, and for their frontwoman to even appear as a shopkeep too! They were one of the first multi-player bands I really took a shine to.
5. Omega-3
Omega-3 may be THEE most creative band in the franchise sound-wise, and it was incredibly fun to hear the chaotic marriage of cello and techno that made up the music of Salmon Run, and a canonical Salmonid band! The first hint at the species being more than initially met the eye. In Splatoon 3 the Omega-3 corruptions of the multi-player themes for Big Runs are spectacular and I love hearing their uniquely dark, dirty sound.
Fave Characters:
Splatoons biggest strength in writing is mostly its surprisingly well-considered and at times thematically deep world, but that doesn't mean its goofy ah characters aren't another joy. The whimsy of Splatoon wouldn't be the same without those silly seafolk.
1. The Captain (Agent 3)
Making a canon character who is basically your OC feels like cheating... but it isn't going to stop me from letting MY OC be the coolest and strongest character in Splatoon canon! The fact that the franchise commits to letting the player and their inkling/octoling become a part of the universe is so endearing and personally super meaningful to me. Canon Agent 3 even manages to line up with the personality of my OC post-campaign - Evelyn, who was originally a hot-head but mellowed out as she matured.
2. Agent 8
Agent 8 is a delightful little character, canonically a rather soft-spoken and imaginative octoling with a burning passion to see a new life. There's a sense that they've been through a lot, but despite it all are still just a little goober wishing for better things. It's incredibly fun seeing the culture and legacy of the Octarians, as well as a new light on Inkling society, explored through their eyes.
3. Pearl & Marina
Hands down the best idol group. The Squid Sisters are fun, and Deep Cut have a great energy, but Off the Hook have kinda grown far beyond their station in my opinion, and are by far some of the most compelling characters in the series. Watching their relationship grow and them completely throw cultural barriers to the wind is the stuff I come back for in this series.
4. Mr. Grizz
HILARIOUS yet incredibly tragic and interesting character! He's similar to Commander Tar Tar in a lot of ways, but I don't think you can beat the impact of him actually just having been a giant evil bear this entire time. As well as his roots in the series fabric as the owner of Grizzco, and having (very obviously) been playing the cephalopod world for years.
5. Agent 4
Splatoon 2 meant a lot to me when it came out, so like with The Captain, it's a bit unfair that my OC gets to be a character. But either way, even if they have yet to make a cool 2nd appearance, the canonical personality of the stinky scamp compliments my pompadour-haircut, aviators-lifevest-flip-flop combo wearing, bucketeering idiot from back in the day.