Topic: Splatoon 4- Hopes, Theories and Predictions

@Dev1024 I hope 3 is the "worst" in the series. Although I love it, it was a disappointment to many so I think 4 would be better. I hope Octolings are still playable, or just not playable in Story Mode if it's a Great Turf War theme.

Yeah, the ugly truth is that I'm far more pessimistic about Splatoon 4 than I let on. I'm keeping my expectations FIRMLY low. I expect absolutely nothing. Forget the expectations I posted earlier. I'm bracing myself for the worst.

No playable Octolings (or they're locked behind an unnecessary barrier), Deep Cut are neglected and left behind, Splatfest is still flawed with even lamer themes, no returning hubs, no more Salmon Run, more weapon kits are a thing of the past (hah!), the story modes are still fun and the lore is mildly interesting but nothing too spectacular or groundbreaking, very limited new hairstyles for Inklings and especially Octolings (oh wait, they're the bad guys again), still no new ranked modes, no solution for too many matches ending prematurely, posts are still 90% hot garbage and we still can't see our own, no apartments, a lack of offline modes, and so on. Personally, it'll be a disaster and a massive step back for the series. I'm going to hate it.

But the ink will look pretty in 4K!

As someone who started the series with 3, my perspective is very different from many others'... However, I think just the fact that the next entry will likely be so different from the previous entries is enough to make anyone optimistic!

I started with 2, and when I play it again it feels totally different from 3 so I have high hopes for 4. I'm optimistic like @CaleBoi25 but, also a little worried for 4 like @Dev1024.

How do you think the idols would act with each other in 4??

In 1- Cousins with almost sibling rivalry.
In 2- Friends, have crushes on each other.
In 3- Friends act like family, with a hint of rivalry.
In 4 I hope- it's an actual family group, 4 of them. 2 of them are boys, 2 girls and 2 of them are competitive 2 are not.

@Potato-man I would love an actual family, and that seems possible since the Squid Sisters were cousins, so they have done it before. However, I am really hoping for more variety in species, meaning I want maybe something like a brother and sister, their friend, and a mutual frenemy? IDK.

My thoughts on what @Dev1024 said:

No playable Octolings (or they're locked behind an unnecessary barrier)

I highly doubt Nintendo could do that without MAJOR backlash, so I don't think they will even try.

Deep Cut are neglected and left behind

Honestly, this is likely. Frye is my favorite idol, but I have a feeling all the old characters will eb left behind or only lightly referenced, rather than have any major appearences.

Splatfest is still flawed with even lamer themes

Eh, I like Fest themes as they are. Though I will be sad if there are no Anrachy Fests!

no returning hubs

This is pretty likely, but i don't mind.

no more Salmon Run

I thin this will be replaced rather than just outright being removed.

more weapon kits are a thing of the past (hah!)

Sadly, this is probable.

the story modes are still fun and the lore is mildly interesting but nothing too spectacular or groundbreaking

I hope not, I think we will get something very unique this time around!

very limited new hairstyles for Inklings and especially Octolings

Sadly you aren't wring here either....

(oh wait, they're the bad guys again)

I hope not but it is possible....?

still no new ranked modes

I doubt we won't get new modes! 3 had a bunch of other new stuff, but I think 4 will give us 1 (or maybe 2+) new modes!

no solution for too many matches ending prematurely

A good solution would be better servers lol, but if you mean you want bots then PLEASE NO!

posts are still 90% hot garbage and we still can't see our own

You are not wrong there smh.

no apartments

I never saw the appeal for this, and I think lockers were a better idea, personally!

a lack of offline modes

In theory, we will have more single player stuff. The last two games had 2 story modes, so I bet 4 will, too.

Personally, it'll be a disaster and a massive step back for the series. I'm going to hate it.

Can't force you to like it, I suppose!

But the ink will look pretty in 4K!

That is true!

@CaleBoi25 Believe me, I want to be wrong. I hate being a Devin Downer! I allow myself to dream up ideas. It's just that I'm doubtful Nintendo would do hardly any of them.

What if legwear became a new fourth piece of gear? It could be fun dressing up your Inkling or Octoling in jeans, dress pants, pajamas and more. Animal Crossing shows how legwear can have a surprisingly diverse variety and it would obviously be great for Splatoon's fashion scene. Of course, this means we could have another store. Having four pieces of gear might make balancing the game a headache for Nintendo because it would make us all a lot more powerful, but there's that new magic number of 4 again. They COULD make it work.

@Dev1024 Ya know... Everyone acts like 4 will be the big thing in S4, which is not "bad" per se, but 3 is such a nice number, while 4 feels like too much. "Quad Splashdown"? That's a bit much... "Killer Wail V4" That's a nerf. "Quad Inkstrike"? Please no! So while I am not against that... it could be very hard to balance! And like you said, pants would be neat, but equally tough to make feel fair.

I want male idols and- I have a theory:

Spoilers! (obviously...)

So we know at the end of Alterna Mr. Grizz was launch into space and was seen floating around during the end credits. I REALLY don't believe this is the last we'll see of him (Or tar tar for that matter, team up maybe? but I digress). Since octolings and inklings are basically cool now we need a new enemy and I believe it is...
Rabbits. Hear me out

The fuzzy ooze is basically a sludge that makes anything have fur but also ink (Like the octolings we fought in Alterna) and we see Mr. Grizz do just this, still be considered a mammal... While also being able to shoot ink like inklings. That entails that all mammals will be able to do this. Say a certian space colony landed on the moon... A colony with mammals... Namely: Bears and bunnies.

Why rabbits specifically though? I feel as if that would just make the most sense since in the Splatoon concept art inklings were originally rabbits and would be a fun cameo. I'll fine tune this theory later but tell me your feed back when you get the chance!

@Gamergirl4 OK, that is actually brilliant! I never even considered allowing other species to use ink like the cephalopods!

Golditale makes such cool concepts, I really hope some of these get into S4!

@CaleBoi25 I would totally use the Half-Shaven!

Offline Mode contents like Ratchet & Clank games.
Purchaseable stuffs (Weapons, Outfits, etc) Offline mode.
More Rhythm mini games variety Offline mode.
Manual Ink color setting.
Upgradeable weapons.

@Anti-Matter my thoughts on.. well, your thoughts lol

• Offline Mode contents like Ratchet & Clank games.
  YES! I loved RotM, and SO wasn't bad, but I'd love more focus to be put into the singleplayer/offline modes.
• Purchaseable stuffs (Weapons, Outfits, etc) Offline mode.
  I would like to be able to access shops offline, but I presume this would only be possible if you have an NSO sub, but are in airplane mode or something.
• More Rhythm mini games variety Offline mode.
  I would love SquidBeatz to return, but hopefully with more depth.
• Manual Ink color setting.
  This seems to be a common request in the Splatoon community, and I am all for it, but it isn't a dealbreaker if it is absent.
• Upgradeable weapons.
  This could be interesting, but might be tough to balance. Perhaps a special mode that uses unique SO-style pallette weapons??

@Gamergirl4 That's ironic you suggest rabbits because I used to wonder whether the villain of Splatoon 3's Story Mode could've been a rabbit. I should've seen Mr. Grizz coming from a mile away...

@CaleBoi25 UGH, I want that Samurai hairstyle so much. I've tried to go for a fresh Octo Samurai look in Splatoon 3 (even though I'm ironically not fresh with rollers) but I have to make due with the Ponytail that sometimes makes me look too girly with certain headgear, no offense. I need to have the thin serious eyebrows to stand out. If Inkling Boys always had topknots, why not Octoling Boys?

@Dev1024 I was wondering if that was your intent! Those who don't know about him won't get it, but Octo Samurai fans like us see it!

There's also mythology in East Asian cultures about moon rabbits (that was the basis for the Broodals in Mario Odyssey, for example), so this could play on that as well.

@Potato-man This is interesting to hear that some people were let down by Splatoon 3. I loved Splatoon 1 and eventually put in over 1600 hours on Splatoon 2 all in Turf War, never played or even tried any other mode or the campaigns in either games, just obsessed with Turf War. I thought I was ready for Splatoon 3 but something about how it looked put me off. I know nothing about Splatoon 3 or how people feel about it. So I guess it put some others off too?

I’m hoping that Splatoon 4 holds appeal for me. Between the first 2 games I’ve got about 2000 hours (all in Turf War, never tried any other modes because I that’s what drew me into the first game). But I feel with my knowledge and experience being limited 100% to Turf War, I’m far from the typical fan. I’ve not touched Splatoon in 3 years, but I’d like to play it again on a new Nintendo console. I might even try a different mode (but let’s not get crazy )