Splatoon Nintendo Direct Breakdown!
True to its recent form, a special Splatoon Nintendo Direct was aired online for all to see today. In it, there came new details about the highly anticipated game. Below, you will find a complete list of details about what was revealed in the Splatoon Nintendo Direct.
-The “video records” (which is a funny way of revealing information) showed off the customization of the Inklings. You’ll be able to not only customize their clothes, but also their skin tone, eye color, and more!
– The abilities of the Inklings are actually enhanced in Squid form. For example, the swimming speed of the Squid form is actually twice as fast as the running speed of the Humanoid form. This also applies to jumping when you build up momentum. Oh and in Squid form (as previously seen), you can ride up walls. No doubt all of these will factor in heavily to gameplay, which is appreciated, as if it was only different on a swimming through ink level…it wouldn’t have meant as much.
– You can adjust the aiming of your ink gun using the Gamepad’s gyroscopic sensor.
– Touching the enemies colored ink will have a significant effect on your Inkling. It’ll slow them down tremendously, making them very sluggish, and easy to hit. Furthermore, you can’t swim in your opponents ink, just your own. It’s little details like this that make games more fun, don’t you agree?
– When you get hit enough times, you’ll “combust,” spraying enemy ink in your immediate area. When you do combust, you’ll warp back to your base area, and then be able to Super Jump into an area with an ally so you get right back into the fight! Again, little details.
– After every match, you’ll get points based on your performance. The better you do, the more you’ll get. These points will be used as currency in game. However, they’ll help you level up, and by extension unlock more stuff later on for your Inkling.
– The “video records” also showed off some of the stages you’ll battle in. Such as Urchin Underpass, SaltSpray Rig, Blackbelly Skatepark, Walleye Warehouse, and Arowana Mall. Each area is unique, with its own layout, terrain, and theme. Some are big open areas for full-on wars, while areas are smaller, more confined, thus creating a full force ink fight! You’ll have to learn the perks and downfalls of each level to understand how to attain victory!
– Inkopolis is your central hub when you’re not battling. In it are stores for weapons, gear, and other things to make Splatoon more fun and customizable. Every piece of gear has its own special ability. Being able to mix and match to your style with abilities could be the key to victory! Or…you know…you could just make them look epic…whichever you prefer.
– For the weapons, you’ll be able to access more as you level up. The Ammo Knights store in Inkopolis also lets you test out the weapons before buying them, so you never feel cheated about getting a weapon and not being unprepared for it.
– There are three main classes of weapon in Splatoon: Shooter (short range), Charger (long range), and Roller (big area of effect). Each class has different versions of its main weapon, allowing you to pick and choose which is best suited for your strategy. Personally, I’m a sniper kind of player, and that Charger weapon looks REALLY fun to play with.
– Sub weapons use large amounts of ink to use, how much will depend on the weapon. There are 9 sub-weapons that you can use in game. Much like the main weapons, they have a variety of abilities that you can test out and then choose which best suits your style. Some are offensive weapons, while others are support tools to help your team know where the enemy is, track their location, or even bring your team together in a pinch.
– Special weapons can only be used after being charged, and they can only be charged after covering the area around you in a certain amount of ink. But when they’re used? They can be devastating, super protective, or revealing in regards to seeing all of your opponents. Oh, and you can transform into a Kraken in one case, thought that was special.
– Inkopolis allows players to check out gear of other players have via their Inkling avatars. They can see what they’re wearing, and what abilities they have. Should you like what you see, you can special order it! Kind of reminds me how Miiverse is, no doubt it was an inspiration to Splatoon’s Hub.
– Gear abilities for clothing are restricted to its “Star Count”, the more stars it has, the more abilities it can obtain, with the maximum being four. Abilities come the more the gear is used, and what they obtain later on is random.
– The Single-Player Splatoon mode got shown off in a big way, revealing what you can expect from it. The Octarians are your foes, and they use both gizmos and giant machines to trip up your Inkling. Your goal in each mission is to obtain a Zapfish from the Octarians, but doing so won’t be as simple as you might think. No, really, it’s not that simple…
– Also, in the Single-Player mode you can get Fish Eggs and Sunken Scrolls. Get enough of the former, and you can upgrade your weapons. Get the latter, and you’ll begins to piece together the history of the world of Splatoon.
– Use the Battle Dojo for local multiplayer matches with friends. One person will use the Wii U gamepad for controlling their Inkling, while other devices can be used for the second player.
– Inkopolis Tower is where one can find access to full-on online matches. Regular Battles are Turf Wars, but with the twist that the playable stages actually alternate every 4 hours, allowing players to battle strategically with one pair of stages, then swap out when the time comes to be better suited for the next set.
– After launch, many updates will come for Splatoon. Some will be stages, some will be weapons, and some will be gear. These updates will be continuing throughout the summer. This proves in my mind Nintendo’s commitment to make Splatoon a long-lasting title well beyond launch.
– Along with the new gear, weapons, and stages, new gameplay modes for Ranked Battle will happen through the updates. First up is Tower Control. Where one Inkling stands on a tower that will move to a preset goal. If the player reaches the goal with the tower, their team wins! It also makes that player a really big target, so be wary of all threats! Then there’s Rainmaker, which we know nothing about for now…MAKE IT RAIN BABY!!!…just saying.
– In August we’ll get a major update. One that will include enhanced Matchmaking, with new rules to go with. You will be able to team with three of your friends, then find four enemies to fight, or you can find seven of your friends to go to battle with, have random selected teams or perfectly matched one. Then you can choose whatever stage and whatever rule set you want. It’s all up to you.
– The Splatoon Amiibo’s will play a big part of the game, as you’ll be able to do unique missions based on the Splatoon Amiibo you have. If you get the female Inkling, you’ll be put into missions using only the Charger weapon. The male Inkling will have you in Roller challenges, and the Squid Inkling will have you do special Kraken challenges, and “limited ink” challenges. If you complete these missions, you’ll get special gear, and a bonus mini-game for you to play!
– Splatfests are community wide events, where you’ll take part in special battles based on which “team” you are on. You’ll select a side, do battle, and try and get victories. If your team wins in the end, you’ll get a Super Sea Snail, which you can use to help improve your weaponry. First team challenge? Team Cat vs Team Dog! Which is best? Pick your side and duke it out when the first Splatfest occurs June 20th-21st.
– Finally, a special Splatoon event called the Global Testfire is getting ready to take place. If you download a special demo from the Nintendo eShop on your Wii U, you’ll be able to beta test the game before it releases on the 29th. Be warned though, these “testfires” will only occur at the following times:
5/8 8p.m. – 9p.m. PT
5/9 4a.m. – 5a.m. PT
5/9 Noon – 1p.m. PT
Well, after watching this, I am VERY excited for Splatoon. How about you? What was your favorite piece of info from this Direct? Let us know in the comments below!