#testfire splatfest

[midnightmoonbeams]

YA'LL KNEW IT WAS COMING. DON'T LIE TO YOURSELVES! How long did I post Splatoon 2 pics?? However, this time around I will post 5 pics from Splatoon 3 instead of 1 or 2. Please enjoy our trip down memory lane of the testfire Splatfest in the lead up to the full release of Splatoon 3!

From August 27th, 2022

[splatloafbud]

THANK YOU SPLATOON 1 FOR CHANGING MY LIFE ❤️

[sadthixx]

sorry for not posting in a while ಥ⁠ ‿⁠ ಥ

recently i was given Splatoon 3 as an early birthday gift and i've been playing it nonstop like omg it's so funnnn

i imported my data from Splatoon 2 but i was kinda upset i have to get everything back from the beginning, so pretty much i don't have my previous stuff, my current level or anything. i was at a high level and had a loooot of stuff in the last game and I wish I had the ability to bring it back ಥ⁠_⁠ಥ

other than that it's really fun lol

[goblinbugthing]

man, i cant believe splatoon 3 is dead

[frosteee-variation]

hi i just want to go on the record this splatfest and say that nessie is real in my heart <3 <3 <3

[silvergarnet12]

Splatoon was the first Nintendo game to push me out of my comfort zone of single player games, and with the closure of it's servers I wanted to draw a tribute to a game that really means a lot to me.

Some long rambles about the game under the cut.

When I first played the Global Testfire I was 15, and the only mutliplayer games I played were with friends in the same room.

Splatoon was also the first shooter I ever picked up, as I always liked bright colours over more realistic graphics in my games, and back then the only shooters I knew about were Halo(and that was only really a name to me!) and the CoD games.

Any worries I had about being bad quickly vanished as the sheer vibe of chaotic fun the game had, particularly when no one had played it before, got rid of any worries, and all I remember is having fun. And choosing to play as the guy instead of the girl for the first time, solely becuase I wanted a ponytail like in real life(I would continue to use the guy through the series as a tradition, a contrast to what I saw most people online doing).

When the game came out I binged the single player, and vividly remember the first time I fought DJ Octavio, and the first time I heard Calamari Inkantation. If ever a game was to convince me that a song could irreversibly change your life, it was Splatoon. Because to teenage me, in that moment, with Calamari Inkantation playing in the background while I fought an octupus DJ, it did.

It gave me terminal brainworms for this series. And here I am, 8 yrs later. Older and more tired, been through some shit, had some good times, tried, succeeded and failed in things throughout the years.

I've always been grateful that they made the decision for the player character from 1 to return, everytime they've shown up it's felt a bit like seeing an old friend, especially since as the games time skips have always had them close to my age(which probably helped my attachement back in the first game). So hi Three, can't believe we both probably pay taxes now.

I have the original two Inkling Amiibos, in a collection that is slowly building, I'm still attached to Marie, and yes I was on her team for the Final Splatfest.

I cried when it was over, just like I did in 2's Final Fest(I was team chaos, two for two baby!) and will probably do so for 3's as well. Something about this series just makes me super attached to it's world and characters.

So booyah Splatoon, my final online game of yours was well and truly years ago, but I replayed story mode to share you with a friend recently, and I think I'll refight Octavio tonight in honour of the good times.

You encouraged me to try out games I wouldn't have otherwise(hello Overwatch and Deep Rock Galactic), and outlasted one of the other major games of my teenage years(...Overwatch 1 I miss you). So thank you for that.

I'll miss Squid Jump, Inkstrike, the og kit for the NZap 89(why does it's new one not vibe with me ;-;), the Squid Sister's broadcasts and the more saturated colours. At least I can always return to the Plaza in 3, and that Spyke isn't dead like I was concerned he was when 3 released, and see the Squid Sisters perform during Splatfests again.

I have so much more to say in my heart about you but no more ways to word it.

You've been a fantastic game, and will always be a treasured experience that I am grateful to have been a apart of from the very beginning.

Now bring back Moray Towers in 3 damn it! It's in 2 but I DON'T WANT TO LOSE MY FAVOURITE STAGE IF IT"S NOT IN 4.

[universeskies]

Okie-dokie! SOOOOOOO!! It's That Time for me to Yap more about My Favorite Blorbo, One OF My Favorite comfort characters: Pearl Splatoon 2 HEHEEHEHEHEEH XDDDDDDDD And ALSO!!! A bit of lore as well for Hooked on to You story! Now Then...

Pearl in Hooked on to You and the way I see Pearl? Gender Comforting Character. Pearl in my view is He/Shey/They, Nonbinary Lesbian! Nonbinary Butch or He/Him butch! Whichever!

The reason I'm saying this? Is that Pearl is a Comfort kin character of Mine. Ever since Splatoon 2's Testfire Splatfest: Cake vs Ice Cream, I was a fan. I LOOOOOOOOOVE Cake!! One of my favorites and Pearl's favorites being Strawberry Cake which is also my favorite! So already on to a GREAT AWESOME Look and why I choose the team.

Then it was on Splatoon 2's official release date that I played it, and went on Hero Mode 2's Sunken Scrolls. The tale of how Pearl join in the Singing Competition in Calamary Country and unfortunately was disqualified due to HOW ABSURD and LOUD Their voice was? I felt seen.

See, I am a HUGE YAPPER and can be quite loud and whatnot and there has been plenty of times that I've been told to stop it. That I shouldn't be that loud or that I am getting annoying with the way I talk or ramble or yap about, and the thing is? I just like to yap and yap around XD Especially when its like one of my favorite things ever, this case of course, Splatoon!

So already with the first Sunken Scrolls that talks about Pearl and Marina's little bits of Backstory? I was HOOKED on with Them already.

And then more Splatfests came to be....

I was Team Mayo (I like Mayo), Team Flight, Team Vampires and so on and forwards. It wasn't til Team Fantasy where I first time join a Marina's team. Either way, I go by what I feel and such based on the question and theme, and genuinely every time that Pearl would talk in why He would pick that choice? I would follow cause it was so much familiar! So in a sense, She was the most relatable ;W;

And then finally, Octo Expansion came to be! And Her backstory, the Punk story and how much He was trying and trying so much to deal in with what SHE WANTED to write and sing? Oh my gosh, SO MUCH Same here! Many times wanting to be myself and be unapologetic about it and decided to go with it! YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!

Truly amazing. And obviously that didn't stop in Splatoon 2 Octo Expansion, It came to be Final Fest: Chaos vs Order and I was Team Chaos. Because I truly believe that when it comes to Life, You really can't get ALL the order and that while Change is indeed scary, its something that inevitably comes and such. Its hard and easier than done for sure, but its why I Love being in the Present. I still have quite the power to also take in and see what I CAN DO! When it comes to like per say, what I MUST do in the Present and actual time (yes, I was also Team Present for Grand Fest XD)

Is also why I decided to go and expand on more to Pearl's backstory in based of True Experiences I lived when growing up. Certain experiences being quite that I look and are bitter about, but it is what it is Y'know? I can't change the past and surely there are bitter moments, but thats is why on to the Present is best to SO MUCH take ahold of those experiences and do what You can do!

As I see myself I wanted to represent as well those kinds of feelings. I'm one that is quite comfortable within my gender in how I like to feel and I want that to be seen in that case. Which is also why I gave in within per say also somewhat giving Pearl my body type too! Except that Pearl is shorter XDDDDDDDDDDD But hey! He's a SHORT QUEEN! YEAAAAAAAAH! THE MC PRINCESS!

But yeah! Reason I like to ramble about Me being seen with Pearl And having The lucky chance to do so via writing or drawing, Even gameplay Why Not XD Is something dear And Comfy! And I believe it's quite amazing to see anyone as well be on The Same feeling or Just being seen! Cause any of You That relate? HELL YEAH!

[splatoonusna]

Oughhhh y'all I haven't been this excited for a Splatfest since the Testfire

[nat-the-octo]

man, Splatoon 3 is basically over, huh?

Everyone is doing their Splatoon stories rn, so I guess I’ll do mine I got Splatoon 2 with some Christmas money in New Years of 2020. My only previous knowledge of the series was a vague concept of the game when the first came out and watching old Failboat videos on it like Octo Expansion and photoshopping new weapons. I wasn’t really into video games as an interest (hyper fixation) until the pandemic, where my mom got a switch lite for the family to see the new animal crossing, and me later getting my own console for my birthday later in the year. All of which is to say: I didn’t know what I was getting into with Splatoon.

I sat down minutes after midnight (probably sleep deprived) and I was thrust into this colorful, creative, and diverse world where you’re constantly encouraged to stand out, make a difference, and live by your own rules. It’s difficult to explain why this game where people living how they want get to cover mundane gray cityscapes with color and life was so instantly appealing to me, but it struck a chord that sent me hurtling down a rabbit hole that would without exaggeration, change the course of my life.

I immediately played through the story mode, then played it 8 more times to collect every weapon, got my ass beat by Octo Expansion, cried during Into the Light, 100% Octo Expansion, and was lucky enough to be just in time for the real final splatfest of Splatoon 2. (I lost) This also boosted me to be able to actually experience and understand more video games as a whole, but that’s a different topic. This all led me to February 2021, (yes that all happened in 2 months) where me and my friend skipped online school to watch the direct on a playground in my neighborhood, and saw the reveal of Splatoon 3. From here, everything begins to speed up. I found my way onto Inkipedia, consumed all possible knowledge about this tiny trailer that was available, then consumed all info and lore about the current games, including characters, old splatfests, previous metas, splatband lore, and more. THAT led me to splatoon theories, (shoutout to rassicas), which later led me to splatoon fanon with theories and ships and ocs and suddenly it’s September 2022.

Ironically the section of time with Splatoon 3 might be the part I have the least to say about, mostly because it all feels so recent even today. I watched the trailers, read the twitter posts, thought Shiver was nonbinary, played the testfire, everything. Everything post launch feels so wonderful and great and everything I wanted from the game and more. I actually felt like I was apart of a community as I debated splatfest topics with my friends and complained about my weapons being nerfed. (I still get upset about the tenta missile nerf from like. a month after launch.)

I think this part of the story will hit a lot harder in a few years, when I experience my first actual content drought instead of joining at the end of one, but for now, I can just be satisfied by my memories and experiences with the series so far. This franchise has truly changed who I am today and will be in the future. I’m a completely different gender person now because of playing the game, and now I have my own little theories and ships and ocs that I haven’t put to page and all the things that made me start in the first place, and it feels like I’m truly part of a community for once.

idk how to end this so to whoever read this far, thank you, honestly. I hope we both get to live the lives we want in the future, no matter what life throws at us.

P.S. here’s a pic of my main OC for the first time, might do more stuff with her if i feel like it

[thisbelongsto-nohbodys]

Looking at My Splat3 Splatfest count, I won 12 out of 20 (including the testfire splatfest which the farewell vid did) (those being, in order: Rock, Gear, Water, Nessie, Money, Shiver, Ghost, Solo, Keyboard, Beach, Rice and Past).

So a 60% winrate is a lot better than my ranked battles, lol

[deanthe]

now or never arrangement in my style ^_^

happy splatfest testfire anniversary :3

[midnightmoonbeams]

Here's a video of Deep Cut performing for the Splatfest!

From August 27th, 2022

[weirdmarioenemies]

Name: Now or Never!

Game: Splatoon Series et al

Hi :3 Mod Cat Flopter here. I was too busy sleeping in a sunbeam to post until now, but I’m here with an oddball.

Now or Never! is an iconic song by the band Squid Squad, one of the first popular rock bands in the Splatoon world! Now or Never plays in the last minute of a Turf War in all three Splatoon games, as well as at other times in other forms.

The first hint of Now or Never! that world saw was at E3 2014, a weird boogie that helped show off Splatoon (for the Wii U console!!)

The Beta version of Now or Never! is unavailable in a clean quality. Most of the footage has ink flying everywhere! However, one intrepid fan recreated the sound on youtube :3

The original track goes for even more of a hard rock sound than the final Now or Never! This song REALLY tells you to Ink or Sink down the rankings, and Splattack the enemy to win! However, it doesn't quite sound like a Squid Squad song to me, with a lack of their trademark vocalist and the synthesizers Splatoon is known for. Overall, I like the finished Now or Never! betta, but the changes have me Kracken Up!

The finished Now or Never! by Squid Squad, which debuted in Splatoon 1, is such an iconic piece of Splatoon that it's hard to imagine the game without it.

The track is high energy and establishes lots and lots and lots of Splatoon's sound, from the rock influences, to the synths, to the inklish vocals and the energy! To quote a cool video, it's loud, bold, and Booyah! (please imagine a guitar riff!) I'm just a little guy and I don't know music theory so please watch this video instead https://youtu.be/38h8eudzy7k

it's only 11 Now or Never!s long, it's a good use of your time.

Squid Squad is soooo creative for soming up with this song all on their own :3

Next is the Squid Sisters’ splatfest cover of Now or Never!

With more of a Jpop feel, the Squid Sisters change up the sound immensely, going for MORE synths and a BUBBLEGUM feel! It’s so cool. I bet the original creators of Now or Never! Were so happy when they heard this cover by a famous band!!

The next iteration is a slightly altered live performance by the Squid SIsters from 2016!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxkKUbNnXKE&t=326s

The song is modified to be extended in this version, although i have to say- too much of a good thing :c. The new sections that aren’t just a loop of the original song are interesting evolutions, but they’re sadly a small part of the performance.

Next up is an era shift! The Splatoon 2 Global Testfire (2017) had its own version of Now or Never! This came with a shift in bands and an overall higher push for Splatoon marketing within other Nintendo games, such as Super Smash Brothers Ultimate and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe! Its so cool that Squid Squad let Wet Floor cover their original song, and I'm excited to tell you about it!

With an obvious and notable shift in vocals, the Splatoon 2 Global Testfire Now or Never! also brings a shift in energy from the Squid Squad version, slowing the song down and bridging the gap between the Squid Squad and Wet Floor versions of the song. It adds even more synths to the composition, pushing it towards a western poppy feel over the rock and jpop versions of Splatoon 1.

And here’s the finished version!

It pulls back on the synths to pre-splatoon 1 levels and boosts the crowd section, adding in a ska feel. The classic guitar and drum kit are even more prominent here than in the Squid Squad version, which has both benefits and drawbacks. For one, the Splatoon sound is a fusion of both rock and synths, so scaling it back to more conventional instruments for the genre it’s aiming for is to the game’s detriment. On the other, my cat flopther (father cat flopter) has made me a big fan of classic rock all my life, so I can’t be too mad at moving Now or Never! In that direction.

On the other hand, Off the Hook’s version of Now or Never is…

Oh. Oh no.

:c

It’s the same issue I have with the other version of Now or Never! In Splatoon 2, but it’s also I think a bad song for Off the Hook. Sorry to fans of lesbianism everywhere, but this just doesn’t sound like an Off the Hook song to me, and although the bubblegummy synth composition works for a Japanese pop band like the Squid SIsters, it doesn’t quite vibe for an American hip-hop, as well as pulling back on Splatoon’s unique sound. The brassy sound at the very beginning is cool, though, and the homage to Marina's inspriation is nice!

Although I’ve been speaking in timeline order up to now, I have to admit something.

I skipped two (2!) Now or Never!s. Actually, I skipped one Bouyant Bougie and I’m going to talk about Ebb and Flow as well in this section.

Being a story mode song, Buoyant Boogie appeared before the Splatfest exclusive Off the Hook Now or Never! on day 1.

Buoyant Boogie is a Now or Never!; it samples the Squid Sisters’ Now or Never! and even includes backwards vocals from Callie, hinting at her story mode fate, which is cool. :3 The song additionally only lasts one minute before looping. Also, Turquoise October ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!

In Octo Expansion, the final battle is a Turf War on the NILS statue. For two minutes, Fly Octo Fly plays, then at one minute remaining, it transitions into Ebb and Flow. At the time, many people called this a Now or Never!

However, Ebb and Flow is NOT a Now or Never!. It’s an Ebb and Flow. Although it’s cool symbolically, it’s its own song and Off the Hook doesn’t need to be bound by tradition!! THEY GET TO MAKE THEIR OWN COOL MUSIC OK!!

sorry none of these videos are available btw

Okay so next is the first not a Splatoon game Now or Never!, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (2017)’s Now or Never!

This song plays on the Urchin Underpass battle stage when one minute is left in the match. Interestingly, this is the only Now or Never that is shorter than a minute- The Final Lap jingle takes up four seconds, so the song itself is sped up to accommodate. It’s modeled after Squid Squad’s Now or Never, which is fitting for a Splatoon 1 exclusive stage!

In fact, it feels like a lot of appearances of Now or Never! are almost identical to Squid Squad’s Now or Never!. Here are the rest of them:

Tetris 99 (2019)’s Splatoon Theme’s “10 players left” music

Wait, that’s it?

Yeah! Surprisingly, Now or Never! Is usually remixed. Even though Squid Squad’s iconic and original cover of the song is the most popular, most appearances pay tribute to them instead of keeping their sound 100% the same. Take Super Smash Brothers Ultimate’s Now or Never for example. It’s worse than the original! I’m not even going to pretend to link to it! It’s bad!

The Splattack cover, though, is fresh and new! A jazzy, big band vibe that samples Now or Never! in the same jazzy style. Although it’s far from my favorite Now or Never! it’s something new, something that I’d be excited to see in a Splatoon game. Perhaps an Ink Theory cover? Regardless, it’s an interesting evolution of this Strange Splatoon Entity.

Meanwhile, the The Super Smash Brothers Ultimate remix of Now or Never! itself is……….

….

…

…

bad.

it’s so bad

Sorry, Spikey, do I have to talk about this?

“Yes, Sorry Mod Cat Flopter! You said you wanted to talk about all versions of Now or Never!”

Ok, fine :(

I will continue not even pretending to link this. It’s so bad. zero tension. only nominally a Now or Never!. An infinite Now or Never! would be a good thing, you would think.

Next is the Taiko no Tatsujin Switch Splatoon 2 Medley. A compilation of two original Wet Floor songs (Rip Entry and Turf Master) and their Now or Never! cover. It starts about a minute into the song, not a minute from the end, strangely enough! It’s the middle song of the three!

Off the Hook Live! at Polymanga 2018 This is one of the BEST versions of this song. Take a listen for yourself: https://youtu.be/-i9GTp3Mp30

With the Squid Sisters and live band members here, they use ACTUAL INSTRUMENTS along with the synths, the Splatoon style that I love so much. With a fresh new intro to the song and lots of extensions that continue to ramp up tension, this version of the Squid Sisters’ classic is the height of this song in my opinion!! it’s sooooooo gooooood!! The record scratches in the beginning to lead into the song itself, the electric guitar, the DRUMS!! that kick in at around thirty seconds in. Pearl dabs. THIS is how you extend Now or Never! to four minutes.

Okay, now the SPLATOON 2 FINAL FEST CHAOS VS ORDER NOW OR NEVER!

A second collaboration between Off the Hook and the Squid Sisters, this Now or Never! takes after the Off the Hook cover of the Squid Sisters’ cover of the Squid Squad cover, with both bands providing vocals. With the Squid Sisters here, this version of Off the Hook’s cover is… less bad. Not as good as the other way around, but still better than before. I like it when squids sing :)

Fast-forward three years to Splatoon 3! The third game in the series had, fittingly, three versions of Now or Never! At launch.

First of all, the Deep Cut cover. This chaotic cultural fusion combines the Brazilian, Middle-Eastern, Indian, and classic Japanese influences of the three members of Deep Cut! I’m only one of those things, so I will not comment on how well they pulled this off! All I know is that I really like this song, and that Shiver and Frye are lesbians as fuck. The same guy from before has a video on this one too! I’ll link that instead of posting a not available image. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ebqBmL53UQ

Now! Wham!

Flashback to when I posted about the Infinite Now Or Never in Smash Ultimate!

This one IS an infinite Now or Never! The Tableturf 3 turns remaining theme is a modified infinite Now or Never! In the Tableturf sound style, with Onward! cutting in multiple times through the song. If Now or Never! represents the Turf Warring denizens of the Surface, and Onward! represents the octarian army, this tune is perfect for the Splatlands, where both live in Harmony (tee hee! Get it? :3) and have for generations. Pretty cool if you ask me!

Last but certainly not least, but certainly not last-

C-Side’s Now or Never!

While writing this post (this has taken a long time!) New information came to light! Beika, the lead of C-Side, has claimed to be the first creator of Now or Never! THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING!!!! And it makes perfect sense! C-Side’s Now or Never! Is pure rock, a decision that sets it apart from other Splatoon music, which always involve synths!! This perfectly reflects the change in setting from the trendy high tech big city to the grungy desert! It’s SO GOOD!! Not the best Now or Never! (I do prefer Splatoon’s unique style!) But it’s hard to beat the original! But it’s also easy to beat the original! I love you C Side!!!!

Okay, this has been Mod Cat Flopter, Logging Off! :3 see you next week!!

p.s. ichiya is a stupid bastard

[creativestarshine]

Screenshots of Splatsville

Back during the Global Testfire for the first Splatfest, I took a bunch of neat shots of the city to really take in the new vibe just before the festivities begun. I, uh... forgot to post them. Until today!

[pikaflute]

Shiver and Big Man fans whining on twitter about splatfests being a popularity contest after Frye won as if a) splatfests are not popularity contests and b) Frye was the least popular out of the three idols (she had 15% in the testfire splatfest and 20% in the first official one). You guys are like "well people don't chose the team based on idol!" when shiver and big man won but when Frye wins it's suddenly a problem?

[anonymouscomrade]

Now or Never tier list

SQUID SQUAD: the original establishes a "hurry-up" theme where you don't need to even look at the clock to know how much time is left in the match, plus it turned out to be a fuckin' banger. top marks

WET FLOOR: a great spin on the original. if Squid Squad's is a 10, Wet Floor's Now or Never is a 9.5. if you really wanna get nitpicky the testfire version is slightly worse but i think they were going for that unfinished feel to it since, you know, this was the Splatoon 2 beta so i'd still put it in S

DEEP CUT: hands-down the best Splatfest version of the song. the opening gets your attention, Shiver(?)'s wailing in the middle and Big Man piping in near the end makes this one. i'm pretty sure this was the one they used for Splatoon 3's testfire and at the time it thought it would be that game's regular version but turns out i was wrong

SQUID SISTERS: honestly i just felt like i couldn't skip B-tier with these, i don't like it that much more than either of the C-tier entries. which isn't to say anything on this list is bad per se (well, except That One. you know the one). probably the best middle of the bunch (the part that goes NAAAAAAAAA NA NANA NA NAAAAAAA)

C-SIDE: i hated this one when Splat 3 launched but it's grown on me. kinda love how it gets more desperate sounding near the end when the clock's almost run out

OFF THE HOOK w/SQUID SISTERS: the Splatoon 2 Final Fest version of the song was better than the usual Splat 2 fest version but imo not by much

OFF THE HOOK: look i'm sorry, i know there's a lot of OTH fans out there and Color Pulse and Nasty Majesty and Fly Octo Fly were bangers but their take on Now or Never is the weakest of the bunch. i don't hate it but i would rather listen to almost any other version of the song

TABLETURF: it's fun that they put it in tableturf at all, obviously it's not gonna go as hard as any of the real versions since you can just stand there thinking over your turn forever but at least it's there

SMASH:

if you told me this was a midi generated by an ai i'd believe you