History VideoGame / Splatoon

* AfterTheEnd: [[spoiler:This rivals [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker The Great Sea]] and [[WesternAnimation/AdventureTime The Land of Ooo]] for the title of most colorful, lighthearted post-apocalyptic world. Basically, the game is set on Earth long after humanity (and most mammals in general) died off. While the game itself vaguely puts the catalyst for that mass extinction on global warming, the [[BonusMaterial official art book]] takes it UpToEleven by elaborating that sea levels rose to the extent they did as a result of a nuclear weapon hitting the South Pole during the '''fifth''' [[WorldWarIII World War]]]].

* FamilyFriendlyFirearms: Ink guns, ink bazookas, ink grenades, oversized paint rollers... you might see a pattern here.

* AnimalGenderBender: The violinist of ''[[https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DPKXeSyU8AAEMwF.jpg Bottom Feeders]]'', center, looks pretty female, but is supposed to based on a Betta fish -- and only the ''males'' of the species look so flamboyant. Because so little beyond appearance and musical style (Celtic punk) is known about them, some parts of the fandom have rolled with it outright being DudeLooksLikeALady.

* BloodlessCarnage: Well, kinda. While the Inklings don't ever seem to get ''hurt'', they are still made of the same ink that flies all over the place; so depending on how you look at it, it's either [[AlienBlood gut-churningly bloody]], or not at all.

** [[https://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/splatoon/images/8/82/Squid_Girl_tunic.png/revision/latest?cb=20150807191035 This outfit...]] Well, It is a game all about squid boys and [[SquidGirl squid girls]]...

* AfterTheEnd: [[spoiler: This rivals [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker The Great Sea]] and [[WesternAnimation/AdventureTime The Land of Ooo]] for the title of most colorful, lighthearted post-apocalyptic world. Basically, the game is set on Earth long after humanity (and most mammals in general) died off. While the game itself vaguely puts the catalyst for that mass extinction on global warming, the [[BonusMaterial official art book]] takes it UpToEleven by elaborating that sea levels rose to the extent they did as a result of a nuclear weapon hitting the South Pole during the '''fifth''' [[WorldWarIII World War]]]].

* AndManGrewProud: [[spoiler: One of the first Sunken Scrolls reveals that the game takes place thousands of years after humans were driven to extinction by the rising sea level, after which marine invertebrates evolved to live on land and became the Inklings, Octarians, and other creatures we see in the game. Judd comes from before this era, having been placed in a specially-designed pod that released him after 10,000 years.]]

* AntiVillain: [[spoiler: As shown by the Sunken Scrolls, Octarians are not a gratuitous EvilCounterpartRace of the Inklings. The war between them was over a territorial dispute, one that forced Octarians to take to the underground after their defeat. The reason behind their invasion is that the underground domes they call home are starting to fall apart, and they're starting to desperately need the electricity and territory.]]

* ArtShift: Many of the Sea Scrolls are drawn in a realistic art style, the most detailed of which are wartime photos of the Great Turf War [[spoiler: that depict Cap'n Cuttlefish and Sheldon's grandfather in their prime]].

* BizarreSexualDimorphism: While Octarians look no different from each other normally, only females display the ability to take humanoid forms. The Inklings are an aversion, with both genders having two forms that don't look too different from each other. [[spoiler: A Sunken Scroll shows Cap'n Cuttlefish and an Octarian soldier laughing together, both in humanoid form. This brings up some questions.]]

** The only person who believes Cap'n Cuttlefish about the Octarian threat is Agent 3. [[spoiler: Or so it seems until the other Agents get involved.]]

* ChekhovsGunman: In singleplayer, you're designated "Agent 3", so it's obvious that Agents 1 and 2 must be around somewhere if they aren't dead. [[spoiler: Turns out they're a very poorly disguised Callie and Marie, who take over as MissionControl in Worlds Four and Five.]]

* CockroachesWillRuleTheEarth: [[spoiler: In the backstory, humans rendered themselves extinct via global warming and eventually the ancestors of the Inklings (squid), Octolings, and other sea creatures came on land and started their own civilization.]]

** [[spoiler: DJ Takowasa - DJ Octavio]]

* ElaborateUndergroundBase: The Single Player campaign takes place in large underground domes entered through Kettles made by the Octarians to simulate the surface world. [[spoiler: The reason that the Octolings are invading in the first place are twofold. One is that they are running out of power and blackout periods are necessary, and two the domes are failing and will eventually crumble.]]

* EvilCounterpartRace: The antagonistic Octarians are to octopus like the Inklings are to squids. This is most exemplified with the Octolings, who are the Octarian version of the Inklings. Only females [[spoiler: at least nowadays]] are capable to take humanoid form. [[spoiler:However, Inklings and Octarians used to have friendly relations before the war. Octarians turn out to be not so much "evil" as just "desperate"]].
* EvilFormerFriend: [[spoiler: Sunken Scroll 16 depicts a male Octoling and the younger Cap'n Cuttlefish being friendly with each other. However, when one takes note of the Samurai headpiece of the Octoling as well as the Wasabi plant in his arm, you can see this is none other than DJ Octavio himself. This is even lampshaded when the Squid Sisters joke that their grandfather got captured again because he was lonely. This trope is, however, subverted in that Octavio's more or less not ''evil'' per se, just the opposite side of a war that nobody wanted to happen.]]

* GreenAesop: The backstory could be seen as a nod to the climate change debate, as [[spoiler: humanity's fate of dying out due to rising sea levels is basically what those warning about it theorize will eventually happen if not enough is done in response to it]].

** The announcement for the 10th NA Splatfest, Past vs. Future has Callie mention [[spoiler: wanting to meet an "odd 'human' thing" from the past]]. The revelation that [[spoiler:the game [[ApocalypseHow takes place after humanity dies out]]]] is only mentioned through the Sunken Scrolls in the single player campaign. This is worse because this is the first Splatfest after the 2015 Christmas newbie boom.

* SurpriseCreepy: [[spoiler: The world of ''Splatoon'' turns out to be distantly post-apocalyptic, set long after the rising sea levels ended the human race.]]

* UnusualUserInterface: The final boss makes use of a quite bizarre one. [[spoiler: DJ Octavio controls his HumongousMecha with turntables that are scratched with wasabi roots]].

* ElaborateUndergroundBase: The Single Player campaign takes place in large underground domes called Kettles made by the Octarians to simulate the surface world. [[spoiler: The reason that the Octolings are invading in the first place are twofold. One is that they are running out of power and blackout periods are necessary, and two the Kettles are failing and will eventually crumble.]]

* PermanentlyMissableContent: You unlock songs for the rhythm game minigame by simply hearing them, but there are three songs that only play during Splatfests. So if you got the game or the amiibo that unlocks the rhythm game after Splatfests were done running, the songs were impossible to unlock. The sequel has even more Splatfest-exclusive songs and its rhythm game is built-in rather than tied to an amiibo, so time will tell if it has the same problem.

* MiniGameCredits: The end credits have you shoot ink and burst bombs to reveal them. Initially, [[GuideDangIt the game never told you this]], leading many people to think the game crashed right at the very end.

* CharacterCustomization: The Inklings' gender and skin and eye color can be customized, which then is combined with customization of their offensive and cosmetic equipment. Furthermore, each piece of cosmetic equipment comes with a fixed associated perk that affects gameplay, and up to three other ones chosen at random after being unlocked.

** The N-ZAP '85 shooter is modeled after the original gray NES Zapper, and the N-ZAP '89 after the orange one released later ForSafetyReasons (Which Sheldon lampshades). Later, Sheldon's Picks Vol. 2 added the N-ZAP '83, a Zapper given the Famicom controller's colors.

** The N-ZAP '85 shooter is modeled after the original gray NES Zapper, and the N-ZAP '89 after the orange one released later. Later, Sheldon's Picks Vol. 2 added the N-ZAP '83, a Zapper given the Famicom controller's colors.

** After beating the fourth world in Hero Mode, the ensuing cutscene has [[spoiler:Agents 1 and 2 openly referring to DJ Octavio as the FinalBoss.]] Much later, [[spoiler:his final words are ''"Cross-[[{{Music/Metallica}} fade...to black...]]]]"''

** After beating the fourth world in Hero Mode, the ensuing cutscene has [[spoiler:Agents 1 and 2 openly referring to DJ Octavio as the FinalBoss.]] Much later, [[spoiler:his final words are ''"Cross-[[[{{Music/Metallica}} fade...to black...]]fade to black..."'']]]]

** The basic Splattershot weapon is clearly based on the [[http://nerf.wikia.com/wiki/File:Super_soaker_50.jpg original Super Soaker]] by Toys/NERFBrand, complete with a slightly rearranged color scheme.

** After beating the fourth world in Hero Mode, the ensuing cutscene has [[spoiler:Agents 1 and 2 openly referring to DJ Octavio as the FinalBoss.]] Much later, [[spoiler:his final words are ''"Cross-fade to black..."'']]

* CargoCult: When information about an upcoming Splatfest is announced in-game, it is represented as a message "from on-high" through the Squid Sisters, coming through an old fax machine with a few {{paper talisman}}s on it and candles ceremonially placed around it. In the single-player campaign, a Sunken Scroll depicting the fax machine even has a vague metaphysical blurb on it. Furthermore, before they became {{Idol Singer}}s in the final game, the Squid Sisters [[WhatCouldHaveBeen were going to be called]] [[Miko "Shrine Maidens"]], and their role was to transmit divine messages from god to people.

* CargoCult: When information about an upcoming Splatfest is announced in-game, it is represented as a message "from on-high" through the Squid Sisters, coming through an old fax machine with a few {{paper talisman}}s on it and candles ceremonially placed around it. In the single-player campaign, a Sunken Scroll depicting the fax machine even has a vague metaphysical blurb on it. Furthermore, before they became {{Idol Singer}}s in the final game, the Squid Sisters [[WhatCouldHaveBeen were going to be called "Shrine Maidens"]], and their role was to transmit divine messages from god to people.

** While in the plaza, when standing next to Callie and Marie for a moment, if the player camera is centered on them, they'll smile and wave at you before going back to their conversation. No zooming necessary.

A sequel, ''VideoGame/Splatoon2'', was announced for the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch in January 13, 2017 and released on July 21, 2017.

* MorphicResonance: The Inklings retain their eyes and their tentacle/hair is the same color as in their squid form. Furthermore, the 10 limbs real squids have [[https://33.media.tumblr.com/3395d26b2dfd2a4a381652a64db2b61f/tumblr_nhcpy0m5Rb1u3akyno1_1280.jpg are still represented in their humanoid form]]: 2 legs, 2 arms, 2 hair tentacles, and the remaining 4 in the back of their head.

** While in the plaza, if the player camera is centered on Callie and Marie for a moment when close to them, they'll smile and wave at you before going back to their conversation. No zooming necessary.

** While in the plaza, if the player camera is centered on Callie and Marie for a moment when close to them, they'll smile and wave at you before going back to their conversation.

A sequel, ''VideoGame/Splatoon2'', was announced for the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch in January 13, 2017 and released in July 21, 2017.

A sequel, ''VideoGame/Splatoon2'', was announced for the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch in January 13, 2017 and set for release July 21, 2017.

* SuspiciouslySpecificDenial: The description for the N-ZAP '89 says "Ah yes, the N-ZAP '89. This is quite simply an N-ZAP '85 that was redesigned for… well, definitely not legal reasons. No siree. Nothing to see here. Lawyers definitely did not have anything to do with this."