While the world waits for what is guaranteed to be the greatest shooter featuring squidomorphic creatures to date, the official Japanese Twitter account for Splatoon has been happily dispensing screenshots and information from the upcoming title. Someone has been gracious enough to translate many of these tweets, which have been gathered into a thread on NeoGAF.
The tweets seem to be modeled as notes from a fictitious squid research agency, which is a bit odd but far from the weirdest thing this game has thrown at us so far. According to the translations, the headliner image at the top of this article features the "Hero Suit," worn by what is presumed to be your character in the single-player mode:
Investigation Report from the Squid Research Lab. This is the 'Hero Suit'. It is worn by the protagonist in 'Hero Mode'. It has a different feel to the regular clothes. According to our theory, it is designed to resemble a fire fly squid. The glowing translucent lights covering it are beautiful.
Above is another screenshot from the Hero Mode. This one seems to shed a small crack of light onto the way the antagonist Octopus Army operates:
Investigative Report from the Squid Research Lab. The protagonist, wearing the Hero Suit, travels through this underground world. The Octopus Army Corps, hoping to invade the Squid's world, built this underground facility. Is it just me that feels the Octopus' longing for the world above-ground from the blue sky projected onto those large monitors?
Now a focus on some of the primary weapons found in the game. The sniper rifle-like Charge Gun looks like the coolest Super Soaker ever, but the Paint Roller might provide a satisfying up close and personal experience:
Report from the Squid Research Labs. Your main way of painting the ground in ink and attacking enemies is the Paint Gun, which shoots using the ZR button. There's many different types of weapons, including the Charge Gun, which allows you to hit at a distance and the Roller, which is useful in close-range combat.
Sub-weapons will also be equipable:
Report from the Squid Research Labs. You can use 'sub-weapons' by tapping the R-Button. Pictured is the 'Splash Bomb' which explodes, shooting ink over the immediate area. It doesn't just hurt your opponents, it also has tactical uses, including distracting enemies or exposing hiding ones, too.
And the score-keeping cat is still a cat:
Investigative Report from the Squid Research Lab. This cat is the referee who decides the winner of each match. They can determine who has the largest covered area in an instant. But why is there a solitary cat in this world of squid....? This mystery is yet to be solved.
There are a few additional images to be found on the NeoGAF thread, and more translations may be added over time. Does this info whet your appetite for calamari-based calamity? Let us know below.
Thanks to Ryan Millar for the tip.
[source neogaf.com]
Comments 42
Can't wait for Splatoon!!
I agree with this monkey lad above me!
I'm super hyped for this game!
SPLATOOOOOOOOOOOON!!!!
LOL nice! I hope there's a Wiimote+nunchuk option as I suck using the sticks to aim.
SPERLAHTOOOOOON!
I wanna punch that Cat!
The more I look at this, the more I want this game. Can't wait for it to get it after MH4U.
This game looks better and better.
I knew this would be a day 1 buy for me as soon as it was revealed. The scenery and level design (and character design) just blow me away. Also, why do I get the feeling that SPLATOOOOOOON! will be a meme sometime soon?
More Splatoon!!!!
My most wanted game of 2015!!!!!
@beautifulstrong Yep, that would be most pleasing to me as well.
So hyped for this!
Hype!
I hope they release a sound track. I'd buy/redeem coins for it in a second.
This is best game yes
I hope there is an option to be the octopi!
GameXplain did a terrific analysis on the two gameplay trailers. It's definitely work checking out.
So hyped for this game. Truly a fresh gaming experience.
@luckybreak
Uhhh... I think those characters are actually black.
Anyways, man the more I see of these character designs the more I'm charmed by the way this game looks. To be honest I was not bowled over by it at the initial E3 pres, but the more I see the more I like.
Just let me play as a Squid already! D:
@gage_wolf @luckybreak
Looks to me like they're actually red, maybe orange or a mix of the two.
I don't do much multi-player so I'm glad there is a single player option....
@millarrp this could be the one that draws you in to some multilpayer action, due to a better multiplayer fun than regular modern shooters.
I am hoping this game holds up to my expectations of having the right levels of arcade action and strategy, with different types of play catered to, allowing different players to find their niche and be able to work in a team, more like TF2 and less like Halo of Duty.
@MadAdam81 Splatoon honestly makes me think "Like TF2 with squids", which is a good thing. TF2 is one of the best shooters out there.
Is it just me or does this game look finished?
This is my most hyped for game of 2015...(and Zelda but that's obvious)
@PinkSpider I have to agree with you there. I'm really looking forward playing this game.
Favorite game revealed at E3 this year (I'm not counting Zelda since they basically only showed the expected teaser), I'm really glad I'm sticking to the good games and not all the over-hyped games people are so disappointed about right now. I've waited really long for Nintendo to bring it's charm to the multiplayer shooter genre, I can't freaking wait!
@IceClimbers Except TF2 doesn't have an epic single player mode
a must have for sure! That single player trailer with the ultra-Japanese character designs <3 Love it!
Hopefully this will last longer than Steel Diver, which only preoccupied me for two to four months...
This game is coming together nicely. I'm still not sold on the overall visual style they are going for, still a bit too "Nickelodeon" for my tastes and the main characters still don't have that immediate universal appeal imo, but it's at least well done for what it is. Could end up being a surprise hit for Nintendo. Just wish they'd tweak the overall look and feel to something that doesn't look so much like a shiny, plastic, rendered, Nickelodeon cartoon. Maybe you just have to see it in person or something to really appreciate the specific look and style of it. It's definitely growing on me though and I've always liked everything about the overall game outside of the particular visual style.
I want this so bad because of the online combined with nintendo gameplay awesomeness.
It's becoming quite the looker too.
The local multiplayer game that we deserve. Splatoon looks like a blast!
@luckybreak Ethnic diversity is uncool? WAT 0_o
Still hoping we get to customize our Inklings.
I've seen so many different variations in their skin tones and outfits that'd it's easy to assume there will be customization.
At the very top of my list for 2014, together with Bloodborne, Quantum Break and The Division. Definitely a Day1, can't wait!!
@luckybreak
Black face is a complicated issue sometimes and I don't think you are quite getting it. Having different skin tones on the same base 3D model doesn't constitute "black face."
You'd want to look for exaggerated features. It's a tough issue, too, that some people accidentally step into because they don't understand it.
Fictional character design, for instance, often becomes more appealing with exaggerated features and should ideally incorporate the distinguishing features of differrent race lineages to help people identify with them.
The problem of using "black stereotypes" in imagery is that the whole black face wave of entertainment not only had a distinguishing look to it, but perpetuated some damaging simplified perceptions along with it. So, now, there is a sensitivity to it that is understandable and unfortunate. (There were some positives to the practice but they don't outweigh the negatives)
Anyway, nothing to be concerned about with this game as far as I can see.
This is turning out to be one of the most innovative games of this generation. Hope it sells well, I'd like to see this become a regular series.
Those shadows.
Muh shadows.
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