History Heartwarming / Splatoon2

* Also, just in general, seeing the Octolings in Inkopolis Square, especially since the placement and interaction engine places a mild emphasis on having an Inkling and Octoling interact in pairs, where possible. Scenes of an Inkling and Octoling chatting and smiling over some snacks or after a sporting Turf War match will call to mind, for ''Splatoon 1'' veterans, a century-old photograph of Craig Cuttlefish and a certain DJ-to-be, and you'll know that, despite the history of the two groups, the future doesn't have to look like the past. (Which is even, really, the ''Octo Expansion'''s CentralTheme!)

* Also, just in general, seeing the Octolings in Inkopolis Square, especially since the placement and interaction engine places a mild emphasis on having an Inkling and Octoling interact in pairs, where possible. Scenes of an Inkling and Octoling chatting and smiling over some snacks or after a sporting Turf War match will call to mind, for ''Splatoon 1'' veterans, a century-old photograph of Craig Cuttlefish and a certain DJ-to-be, and you'll know that, despite the history of the two groups, the future doesn't have to look like the past. (Which is even, really, the over-arching theme of ''Octo Expansion''!)

* [[https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DilzW7OVMAAtqDh.jpg:large Another promo image]] released in celebration of the game's one year anniversary shows the entire New Squidbeak Splatoon, plus Pearl and Marina, posing together for a group photo. It's clear that the motto the New Squidbeak Splatoon goes by isn't entirely true; with TrueCompanions like these, the path of a hero is ''not'' a lonely one.
* Pearl states in [[https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/001/395/125/61e.jpg an in-universe magazine interview]] that meeting Marina was the best gift she ever got.

* [[https://gonintendo.com/system/file_uploads/uploads/000/046/865/original/001.jpg This promo image]] for Splatoon's collaboration with Tower Records. Whether it implies the two are roommates or just good friends, there's something nice about seeing Agent 4 and Agent 8 hitting it off so well, especially with how recently Octolings have entered Inkling society. A great many fans also ''love'' the idea that the explanation for why Eight shares an inventory with Four in multiplayer is "they're staying at Four's place, at least for now".

* [[https://gonintendo.com/system/file_uploads/uploads/000/046/865/original/001.jpg This promo image]] for Splatoon's collaboration with Tower Records. Whether it implies the two are roommates or just good friends, there's something nice about seeing Agent 4 and Agent 8 hitting it off so well, especially with how recently Octolings have entered Inkling society.

* Once you beat the ''Octo Expansion'' story and can unlock playing as an Octoling in general, go look into Pearl & Marina's studio. Remember that when Inklings do so, Marina gives an awkward wave and Pearl scowls before giving a brief gang sign to satisfy the onlooker and let her get back to talking to Marina. As an Octoling? Pearl notices you first, and they both give you a much warmer greeting, with Pearl looking absolutely ''delighted'' to see you. They ''recognize'' Agent 8, and are happy to see their friend and comrade checking in on them. Not even Callie & Marie did that in the first game!

* Come update 3.0, Callie joins Marie in Octo Canyon and can be talked to.

* When the final boss of the Octo Expansion goes down, Marina glomps and nuzzles Pearl. And then continues to do so after she ends up knocking the both of them to the ground because she's so much taller than Pearl is.

* The characterization shift even goes into Splatfest announcements. Pearl and Marina are about to break out into a serious argument on the air, but they both stop cold and proceed to apologize to each other.

* Also from ''Octo Expansion'' shown in the chatroom segments, Cuttlefish drops the bombshell that Marina used to be a high-ranking engineer for the Octarians, before she heard Calamari Inkantation like Agent 8 did and realized that the Inklings weren't the monsters she thought they were. Even learning this, Pearl gives a twofold moment of Heartwarming: the first being that the infighting she and Marina do on ''Off the Hook'' is purely for show and that they're thick as thieves, and the second being that Pearl does not care in the slightest that Marina is of a different race.

* Doubling as a Funny Moment, after Marina tricked Pearl into quitting one of their chat sessions, she reveals to Agent 8 that she really thinks her partner is the coolest.
* When the true final boss of the Octo Expansion goes down, Marina glomps and nuzzles Pearl. And then continues to do so after they're both knocked on the floor because she's so much taller than Pearl is.
* Once you beat the ''Octo Expansion'' story and can unlock playing as an Octoling in general, go look into Pearl & Marina's studio. Remember: when Inklings do so, Marina gives an awkward wave and Pearl just scowls, looks unimpressed, and gives a brief gang sign to hopefully satisfy the onlooker and let Pearl & Marina get back to talking. As an Octoling... Pearl notices you first, and they both give you a much warmer greeting, with Pearl looking ''delighted'' to see you. They ''recognize'' Agent 8, and are happy to see their friend and comrade checking in on them. Not even Callie & Marie did that in the first game!

* When the true final boss of the Octo Expansion goes down, Marina glomps and nuzzles Pearl.

---> '''Cuttlefish''': I guess shes OK for an octo
---> '''Pearl''': I swear, cuttlefish. if you try to splat Marina I WILL CUT A FISH. U GOT THAT?

* How the player switches from the Octo Expansion back to the main game is through an option called “Imagine Inkopolis”. You’re literally having Agent 8, a lone Octoling and AmnesiacHero stuck in the [[SceneryGorn dark, depressing, and downright-creepy Deepsea Metro]], attempt to imagine what the “promised land” is like, which fades the screen to white in an ImagineSpot-like effect before taking the player back to the control of their Inkling in the [[SceneryPorn bright, colorful, and much-more beautiful-in-comparasion Inkopolis Square]].

* How the player switches from the Octo Expansion back to the main game is through an option called “Imagine Inkopolis”. You’re literally having Agent 8, a lone Octoling and AmnesiacHero stuck in the [[SceneryGorn dark, depressing, and downright-creepy Deepsea Metro]], attempt to magine what the “promised land” is like, which fades the screen to white in an ImagineSpot-like effect before taking the player back to the control of their Inkling in the [[SceneryPorn bright, colorful, and much-more beautiful-by-comparasion Inkopolis Square]].

* How the player switches from the Octo Expansion back to the main game is through an option called “Imagine Inkopolis”. You’re literally having Agent 8, an lone Octoling and AmnesiacHero stuck in the [[SceneryGorn dark, depressing, and downright-creepy Deepsea Metro]], imagine the “promised land”, which fades the screen to white in an ImagineSpot-like effect before taking the player back to the control of their Inkling in the [[SceneryPorn bright, colorful, and much-more beautiful-by-comparasion Inkopolis Square]].

* The credit roll, with the crew looking on as day breaks over Inkopolis and the now-sunken statue, and how Agent 8 [[PaintingTheMedium looks back at the screen]] for a moment and gives the player a smile is likely to melt anyone and everyone's heart.

* Once you beat the ''Octo Expansion'' story and can unlock playing as an Octoling in general, go look into Pearl & Marina's studio. Remember: when Inklings do so, Marina gives an awkward wave and Pearl just scowls, looks unimpressed, and gives a brief gang sign to hopefully satisfy the onlooker and let Pearl & Marina get back to talking. As an Octoling... Marina notices you first, and they both give you a much warmer greeting, with Pearl looking ''delighted'' to see you. They ''recognize'' Agent 8, and are happy to see their friend and comrade checking in on them. Not even Callie & Marie did that in the first game!

* This little exchange.

* Once you beat the ''Octo Expansion'' story and can unlock playing as an Octoling in general, go look into Pearl & Marina's studio. Remember: when Inklings do so, Marina gives an awkward wave and Pearl just scowls, looks unimpressed, and gives a brief gang sign to hopefully satisfy the onlooker and let Pearl & Marina get back to talking. As an Octoling... Marina notices you first, and they both give you a much warmer greeting. They ''recognize'' Agent 8, and are happy to see their friend and comrade checking in on them. Not even Callie & Marie did that in the first game!

** As it turns out, [[spoiler:the Sunken Scrolls imply that Judd's owner made provisions to clone Judd so that he wouldn't be the last cat when he woke up from cryosleep. He really did love his cat]].

* One of the members of Off the Hook, Marina, is an Octoling. The possibility's open that some Inklings and Octolings might be on more friendly relations. [[spoiler:The second Sunken Scroll implies that Marina is not alone in being an Octarian who wants better relations with the Inklings.]]

* Hero Mode's final boss: [[spoiler:Marie starts singing "Tide Goes Out" to snap Callie out of hypnosis, and after successfully breaking her of the brainwashing, the two finally sing a new version of "Calamari Inkantation" after two years of being separated. Even after all is said and done, Marie is clearly grateful that Agent 4 helped her find her cousin.]]
* Off the Hook's live hologram concert, akin to the one The Squid Sisters did previously, was adorable and awesome at the same time. [[spoiler:Midway through, Callie & Marie show up to sing Fresh Start and Spicy Calamari Inkantation as well. Not to mention Marina almost {{squee}}ing at the end where ''all four'' got to do the Splatfest version of "Now or Never!"]]
* As of the release of the first paid DLC, [[spoiler:Octolings become playable in multiplayer for the first time. Apparently Marina isn't the only one able to befriend Inklings.]]

* Come update 3.0, [[spoiler:Callie]] joins Marie in Octo Canyon and can be talked to.
* As the beginning of the ''Octo Expansion'' reveals, Agent 8 expands on an idea introduced with Marina, above. [[spoiler:The confrontation between the Squid Sisters, Agent 3, and Octavio was so life-changing for 8 that it's part of what compels them to try and reach the surface and Inkopolis. Even when they forget ''everything else'', that feeling when they heard Calamari Inkantation stays with them - "etched into their soul", as Cuttlefish puts it.]]
* Also from ''Octo Expansion'' shown in the chatroom segments, [[spoiler:Cuttlefish drops the bombshell that Marina used to be a high-ranking engineer for the Octarians, before she heard Calamari Inkantation like Agent 8 did and realized that the Inklings weren't the monsters she thought they were. Even learning this, Pearl gives a twofold moment of Heartwarming: the first being that the infighting she and Marina do on ''Off the Hook'' is purely for show and that they're thick as thieves, and the second being that Pearl does not care in the slightest that Marina is of a difference race.]]