Rusty blasting in Tower Control (9-4, Grim Range Blaster)

Avoiding the obvious bombs lobbed on to the Tower and then bagging a double-splat is a good way to start the battle. I don't even mind that I'm splatted myself immediately. I don't think I've used a blaster for a while, so this may be as good as it gets. Thankfully, my shabby aim isn't punished quickly, and I get a couple of sighters before hitting my next mark, as my squidmates push the Tower in to a good lead. I was a bit unlucky in not getting a direct hit on that jumping squid, though.

We manage to continue the push, moving the Tower ahead of a dastardly Killer Wail just in time, after which I hop off to put my Burst Bombs to deadly close-range use. It takes a bit of finessing to keep the yellow inklings from pushing the Tower backwards, but staying out of the watchful laser sights of two chargers turns out to be rather more difficult.

I take the right-hand corridor back, inkling a new path, looking to create a flanking path if the yellow team push the Tower. They're not yet, so I continue and head up around the side of the yellow team. But they're moving forwards and there's no one to shoot. I pause to see where some targets are, and, well, maybe 'pounce' is the wrong word, as I splat no one and get splatted, but I throw some ink around from behind that gets some attention.

I take the left-hand route next, with the Tower coming towards us, and I help a little with the range of my Grim Range Blaster. But the charger who spies me sets up her own little trap, and when I drop down to push our turf control forwards, she comes out from hiding to splat me from behind. Nice work, inkling. But I come back with immediate, and some would say lucky, revenge.

I help clear the Tower, not with splats but by the threat of splats, and hold my own against the other Blaster, before finally remembering my Killer Wail Special. I even get a splat with it! I do a bit less well when an inkling and a super-jumper almost drop in my lap, but I probably assist my squidmates a bit, at least.

We finally get the Tower moving again. I get right in the thick of things, and although I don't get splats directly, I'm pretty sure my ink contributes here and there. And despite being pushed back in to our own half for the past while, this push becomes the final push. My squidmates ride the Tower straight to the goal. Woomy!

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Tags: console, grim range blaster, splatoon, tower control, walleye warehouse, wii u

Edging closer to victory in Tower Control (12-2, Tri-slosher)

There's not really anyone to aim for, but I'm still speeding to the centre of the Underpass. Maybe I can do something there if I'm not expected, plus I really like moving quickly. I'm fast, but not as fast as my squidmate with the Inkstrike! Blimey. Still, I get a surprise splat, but no other inklings are really around, until I see a squid in a Seeker trail. I hop on the Tower with not much else to do, and hop off again as a squidmate is also on there and I see inklings.

I head up the wall to the side corridor, and thankfully have a Bubbler ready when an irritating jumping inkling is right in front of me. Moving on and having an Echolocator active isn't quite enough to get a splat right under my nose, but I'm not foolish enough to chase it in to so much green ink, and turn to support the Tower. Everyone gets on, though, which is goof for me to go skirmishing. I get back on to the Tower when no inklings are around, or so I think. One lurks in the shadows, Inkzooka at the ready. Nice!

I am nearly blindsided by the Aerospray trying to cause us problems, and he nearly does. I cover his tracks before moving further. A long-range Disruptor throw hits someone, but they super-jump away before I get to them. Another inkling is super-jumping, a squidmate to me, and just as a green inkling is lurking. I stay nearby, to help provide a soft landing, before checking the corners for Inkzookas.

I almost think about hitting the flank myself, but as the Tower is going in the other direction a bit of sense prevails, and I go back to help the battle more directly. There's a bit of to-and-fro, more Inkzookas, and a deft step away from a Seeker I didn't see, but we start getting the Tower moving in the right direction again. Now I hit the flank, and apart from slinking neatly backwards past the Tower, I don't achieve too much.

I take the long route back, as I tend to do, and as the Tower isn't going forwards it turns out to be quite the indirect route to the middle of the Underpass. But I join the team, just in time to hide from another Inkzooka. I'm not quite sure how I avoid being splatted, but it's good that the Splattershot Pro's Inkzooka charges, as he moves back as I drop down, keeping me safe just long enough to slosh him the moment he pulls out the Inkzooka. Such a shame.

It looks like we're in the home stretch. The Tower is close to the goal, I'm close to the Tower, and my Bubbler has charged. I squid on to the Tower and pop the Bubbler, just in time to deflect a green assault. But to my chagrin, I'm pushed off the Tower, moments from victory! Thankfully, the Tower stays at ground level just long enough for me to squid back on, and I trundle to the goal with my squidmates. Woomy!

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Tags: console, splatoon, tower control, tri-slosher, urchin underpass, wii u

Attack and defence in Tower Control (21-6, Tri-slosher)

There are no obvious targets for my Tri-slosher on the yellow team, indeed they seem to be good weapons to splat me instead, so I simply build a base of inked turf to work from early in the battle. The yellow team move aggressively towards us, which is perhaps to be expected from their choice of shooters, and as we hung back we end up being in a fairly defensible position. I get three splats and recover the Tower, to give me a positive start.

One thing I've learnt to do is not to try squidding on the Tower, particularly over water. It's too easy to fall off. Instead, I get up and walk. Much easier and more precise. It's also a good idea not to be on the Tower when the ink comes flooding in. Hopping off stops the push, but skirmishing to splat the other team often gives a better advantage.

I'm not quite sure I should survive all the yellow ink flying my way, but I also seem to be in the right place at the right time quite a lot. Unlike the Jet Squelcher, who keeps returning to the same spot, despite it not working. The Tower also keeps moving forwards, but it keeps trundling backwards occasionally. I try to keep it moving in the right direction, but it's not always easy to catch up when the ink is patchy.

As I said before, splatting the other team can give its own advantage. We get that advantage when the yellow inklings are waiting to come back, and I push the Tower around the corner. It's not as easy to hop on and off over the water, but at this point it is often better to stay on as long as possible, to eek out the distance travelled. I get pretty far before the ink overwhelms me!

That was my first splatting, which is quite a streak! I probably won't keep it going, but I still manage another couple of splats before I'm splatted again. I return to do some tidying up, as there's too much yellow ink near our side of the Museum. This puts me in a good position to defend the Tower coming our way, but moving up as the yellow team pushes forwards gets me in the crosshairs. I had thought the Kraken had got me, though.

Coming back to hit the flank works really well, although it would be quicker if there wasn't so much yellow ink in our corner. Turf control is so important. But I turn the Tower around, and it's path lets me slosh blue ink around. I also think I'm being smart by hopping off the Tower when coming under pressure to splat the inkling getting on the Tower. And I suppose I was, but the tables are turned on me immediately. Nice move!

I take a more direct route next, which stops the Tower, but only by trading a splat. It doesn't make much difference, and although my squidmates prevent the Tower going any further afterwards, that is only temporary. I try to hit the flank, aware time is perhaps at a premium, but only manage to trade with an inkling coming from the other side. Thankfully, the Tower is stopped briefly, and I head straight for it this time.

My approach is well-timed, and I clear the Jet Squelcher from it. Falling down wasn't part of my plan, but it gives me the opportunity to look for other activity. None is around, so I hop on to the Tower just as the battle ends, securing our victory. And it's another battle with 20+ splats! Woomy!

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Battling cheese in Tower Control (17-4, Tri-slosher)

Heading around the back goes well, with a superb squid-jump off the block, but doesn't really achieve anything. At least I catch up with the Tower to almost help stop its backwards progress. Diving under the Killer Wail was a nice move too. I get more self-preservation manoeuvres working too, as my squidmates push the Tower, but I run in to a really cheesy Luna Blaster that deflates my spirits. I don't understand these people.

I return to do my best, which with the Tri-slosher mostly means skirmishing, although I try not to forget the Tower. I get some splats, ink as much turf as possible, and try to slow down the yellow team. But catching up with the Tower on another backwards push has my concerned for my safety, with a Blaster behind me if I tried to clear the Tower. My Bubbler helps me focus on the Tower, but by then the yellow team have taken the lead. A triple-splat, plus three minutes left in the battle, soothe the blow.

I skirmish some more, trusting my squidmates to look after the Tower once there are less yellow inklings around, but come to a gruesome end when caught between two Blasters. That was messy. I come back to just about splat the Luna Blaster, but maybe why bother, and quickly charge my Bubbler. That gives me an opportunity to ride the Tower, even with the Splatterscope's laser sight on me. I try to position myself so that the Tower's pillar will stop me skidding off, but it doesn't quite work. A squidmate hops on, though, so it's back to skirmishing!

Everything gets messy again, and I think I see the yellow charger in a bit of a panic. But, no, it's our charger in a bit of a panic. She gets the splat, though, which I think deserves a 'Nice!' I follow-up by finding the Splatterscope and splatting her, and using my Bubbler to splat and push back two more inklings, retreating before I get myself in trouble. It happens anyway, when I trade splats with the Luna Blaster, although it probably isn't much of a trade.

More skirmishing follows, squidding around a Killer Wail to try to find the right yellow puddle, just about managing it, and splatting a super-jumper whose pooped Splat Bomb's explosion seems luckily limited. I come across the Slosher next, who can out-range me, but my Bubbler charges just in time to save my skin. She times her Kraken to threaten me, but ends up bumping me like a sea lion with a beachball. We meet again soon enough, and Slosher beats Tri-slosher.

That may have been our last push. The lead isn't huge, but we haven't got too close to it. We might have time for one more attempt at stealing the victory, but the battle ends a split-second before both me and a squidmate get squiddy toes on the Tower. So it goes. It was a fun battle!

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Getting inky in Tower Control (7-2, Tri-slosher)

Everyone's going the same way! I jink to the left, to the left, to prevent congestion, and hold back a little, as the only charger is a Splatling, and they don't sit on obvious perches for me to slosh over. i catch up and push through some yellow ink to try to avenge a squidmate, but it was the wrong choice.

My squidmates start pushing the Tower as I return, so I naturally head around the side in the other direction. Another squidmate is there and retreating, so I probably shouldn't push forward, as a couple of Burst Bombs prove. But I survive, and end up chasing a Roller for no good reason.

At least the inking and splat charges my Bubbler, which I can use when I hop on to the Tower, just as it passes a nasty section of the Pit. We survive, but get cocky and all hop off for splats. I catch up to the Tower, squidding past a squidmate squidbagging rather unflatteringly, and get it moving again, just as the Splatling catches up to our flank.

I take stock on my return, but all looks well. The inklings are battling amongst themselves, letting the Tower do it's thing. I push it forwards a bit when it's safe, and hop off to clear the inklings from the side. A squidmate continues the push as I do this, and our lead is extended almost to the goal.

There's a concerted effort from the yellow team to prevent the knockout defeat, and quite a fracas breaks out. But once the Roller hassling the Tower is splatted, I spot the opportunity and hop on to complete the ride. Woomy!

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A bit of skirmishing in Tower Control (11-2, Tri-slosher)

I'm going for that Splatterscope to start with, but end up with a different splat. That's not unusual, and I would have continued to the normal perch, but I instinctively squidded and fell through the grate. I just roll with it, and go for the Octoshot in front of me, but he squids out of reach. Somewhat sensibly for me, I don't just chase ahead anyway, and a bit of patience instead gets the splat.

Circling around helps to stop the Tower, and I retreat sharpish to avoid the laser gaze of the Splatterscope. At least I know where she is, and rather than go for the Jet Squelcher heading for the Tower, I push to take the charger pressure off us. That works nicely.

The Tower's probably around here somewhere. I assume that my squidmates will take care of it, so head along its route to clear it of inklings. I lose track of the Carbon Roller, but that's how they roll, and my squidmates lose control of the Tower. Circling back has the Splatterscope do a neat teleportation trick, and as she doesn't drop in front of my bucket, I look for a different target.

The Carbon Roller splats a squidmate, and I seek revenge. I get it, partly, but return to my squidmates pushing the Tower. I head around the side to support on a flank, and although the Tower trundles backwards, I use some cover to get the splat on the expecting Splatterscope. Nice!

I've done some nice skirmishing, I think it would be good to push the Tower a little myself. I hop on and start it moving, hopping off only to avoid the Splatterscope's aim, coincidentally just as we take the lead. I need my Bubbler as purple ink flies in, but even that doesn't let me get back on the Tower. Thankfully a squidmate hops on, letting me squid around for more splats.

I get a bit lucky with against the Carbon Roller, and drop down to catch the Jet Squelcher from the side, but pushing forwards aggressively lets the Carbon Roller get pretty quick revenge. But that's okay. Before I get close to rejoining the battle, my squidmates have pushed the Tower to the goal. Woomy!

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Tags: console, kelp dome, splatoon, tower control, tri-slosher, wii u

Early tomfoolery gives way to sense in Tower Control (5-3, Carbon Roller Deco)

Why did I try to squish that Slosher? For the lols, I think, but getting splatted for it makes me feel a bit silly. So when I tidy up after her, and spy her returning, I more sensibly hide and time the flick properly.

Even better, when I spot her ink coming when I'm on the Tower, I hop off, get the splat, and hop back on. It's a little ruthless, but it's certainly effective.

With the same efficiency, and some excellent support, I help push the Tower quite a distance forwards. I hop off again to use my Seeker trails and ninja squid t-shirt to clear the path ahead. I am sure an inkling is hiding in a puddle, but my ink isn't hitting to start with.

I'm moving on as the inkling surfaces, and although I get two splats I am splatted back. That's okay, as my squidmates push the Tower a little further. I super-jump back to continue the push.

Despite the green ink flying and blasting in, and my getting splatted again, the Tower hits the goal for the knockout victory. Woomy!

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Tight end to Splat Zones (10-10, Fresh Squiffer)

A speedy N-ZAP is going to cause me all sorts of problems, as my aim is already a bit loose and I need to get relatively close with the Fresh Squiffer. I should probably try to stay out of his way, but that's not so easy when Echolocated. My Cold-blooded shirt may help a bit, but I don't think my Suction Bombs will catch him out, not with his Bomb Sniffer shoes. Time will tell.

I can't really sit back and try to ink from above either, not having a Splatterscope on our team as well. I don't want to get in her way, so I'll just do my best trying to ink and move. Consecutive Echolocators keep us on our toes too. Dropping down to ink the Splat Zones gets me a splat at last, if not control of the Splat Zones themselves. And I also find the answer to the N-ZAP when my Kraken charges. Excellent!

I chase an Inkzooka as a Kraken too, but even though my beak doesn't seem as big as some others, I still get the splat when I transform back. The Splat Zones are ours too, and I spend a little time take care of them and trying to keep back the orange team. It works for a short while, and my squidmates are do well too.

Trying to stop the Octoshot Replica from dropping down to the Splat Zones is a futile plan, because I don't think he wants to. He just wants to charge his Inkzooka. Still, it's not very effective, either at getting splats or inking the Splat Zones, and we keep control until we've almost won. If I hadn't squidded right in to a Suction Bomb Rush, maybe that bit more ink could have clinched us the battle.

The Splat Zones turn orange, and we get a big buffer, so on we battle. I pick a different angle, but am pushed back by the Dual Squelcher, which wouldn't be so bad if there wasn't a drop behind me. There is quite a battle for the Splat Zones as I return, and some inky pressure coming my way. I fluke a splat on the N-ZAP, who jumps in to my shot, but maybe he shouldn't be so spry on his feet.

Charging my Kraken lets me be more aggressive for a few seconds, which I keep up for longer than I should, and am splatted back with little to show for myself. I attempt inking from another angle next, and although I'm spotted I am prepared for what's coming. Maybe I should have been more prepared, perhaps squidding a little to the side first. But the countdown is ticking, the Splat Zones are neutral, and we're in the lead. It looks lie victory is ours.

The Splat Zones turn teal, and all looks good, but moments later they are orange, and we are in to extra time. No problem, our lead is quite big, and we just need to neutralise the Splat Zones for a few seconds. But even a double-splat with my Kraken, converted in to a triple-splat with my Squiffer, doesn't help turn the Splat Zones teal. I'm not sure why not either.

I surge back, and get a Suction Bomb in to the Splat Zones and splat the N-ZAP nicely, but even though he splats me back, and he was in the Splat Zones and I was out of them, they are turned orange again quickly. Are we destined to lose this battle?

One last attempt to claim victory, and I am really pleased to see a squidmate using a Burst Bomb Rush. Again I get a splat on an inkling in the Splat Zones, and again I stay out of them as I am splatted, and finally we keep the Splat Zones neutral for long enough to end the battle in our favour. That was tight!

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Tags: ancho-v games, console, fresh squiffer, splat zones, splatoon, wii u

Being the Rainmaker (13-6, Tri-slosher)

I purposely ink the side of the rotating wall, in case I need to squid on it. After bursting the Rainmaker, and avoiding picking it up just to get splatted, I chase the yellow team backwards along a rather more sensible route than just following them, and make use of that inked wall. It's like I'm psychic. I help clear the yellow team away before bursting the Rainmaker free again, and I show some more good sense in jumping over the shield, knowing that if I didn't it would bump me off the platform.

The yellow Killer Wail just misses the Rainmaker, which is handy for us, and I grab the Rainmaker and run with it, splatting the seen and unseen inklings in the way. I get a good distance, but perhaps make a mistake with a short burst when a bigger one would ink the side of the block ahead of me too. Maybe it could have caught the Dynamo Roller as well, whose ink thumps down on me to stop the push.

I decide not to head hastily back to the action, and get some height to see what's happening. This lets me see the Rainmaker's movements and help slosh ink down on it, before hitting the flank to help keep our team safe. Dodging the Dynamo Roller keeps me safe too, and I find the Carbon Roller by following a Seeker. I splat her mid-Seeker Rush, which is amusingly wasted against an already burst Rainmaker, which I grab and take back to the other side of the Museum, before the Luna Blaster stops me.

I tidy up some yellow ink as I return, as it's always important to stop the other team's free movement, and get some quick revenge on the Luna Blaster. Another splat is accidental, which charges my Bubbler so that I can survive the Dynamo Roller. Dropping down to get the Rainmaker again finds the shield intact, and by the time it's burst the way above me looks unfriendly. I try another route, but am caught quickly.

My route back drops me to the side of the action, which I jink across very timely, catching the Dynamo Roller as she activates a Killer Wail. The Carbon Roller super-jumps in to give me a second target, and her instinct to launch a Seeker on landing gives me the time I need to splat her too. I tidy up the yellow ink a bit more and, as no one looks like they want to carry the Rainmaker, I grab it again. I get back to where I was, go a little bit further, and am stopped by the Luna Blaster again.

The yellow team bring the Rainmaker to us very efficiently, there clearly being too much yellow ink still in the Museum, and I am overwhelmed by the excellent support. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it is the Luna Blaster carrying the Rainmaker, and he gets close to stealing the lead. Our Bamboozler stops him just before that happens, which really does deserve a 'Nice!'

I struggle to burst the shield until a squidmate comes to help, but I think the biggest mistake in the match is the Dynamo Roller's aiming choice with the Killer Wail here. She could have hit the Rainmaker and us, but instead tries to zone my squidmates. That lets us burst and grab the Rainmaker, and make another dash whilst the yellow inklings are on the wrong side of the map.

The small amounts of blue ink left around the Museum are just enough for me to move relatively smoothly, with just a few small Rainmaker bursts required, and I get past my previous point. The way forwards looks clear, the podium itself has enough ink, and one last little Rainmaker burst connects the path to the goal. I squid ahead and up the podium, and am hit by that blasted Luna Blaster and his Inkzooka. I'm not even upset, that's actually hilarious in the context of this battle!

They yellow team get one last chance to win, as the battle enters extra time. And, rather fittingly, the Luna Blaster carries the Rainmaker, and I splat him to win us the victory. Woomy! This has been one of the most entertaining battles I've had for a long time!

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Tags: console, museum d'alfonsino, rainmaker, splatoon, tri-slosher, wii u

To us and to them in Rainmaker (11-6, Carbon Roller Deco)

I'm aiming for the Splat Charger, but I see that ripple in the ink ahead of me, so I turn the surprise around. What I also should have done was not then pursued the Splat Charger once she realised I was there. I became quite an obvious target. I come back to perform some sensible turf control, before sneaking up on the Rainmaker.

I perhaps should wait in the ink for the super-jumper, or they will poop a Splat Bomb on landing. I get a bit lucky this time. And talking about luck, I did not spot that inkling squidding up the column. I was flicking at the one I could see, but I gladly take that defensive splat that keeps me going. I try to use my Seeker Rush to ink a path that I can use with the Rainmaker, but I get distracted by a yellow inkling, and we splat each other.

Waiting for the ink to die down a bit lets me finally grab the Rainmaker, once I realise the shield needs bursting, and even though I do an emergency dive that still gets me splatted it gets us in to a fairly decent lead. I come back to pursue the Rainmaker whilst I'm Echolocated. It's more of an art than a skill, because it shouldn't really work, but I get the splat.

And I'm off with the Rainmaker again, squidmates all around for support! We do well to get where we do, and not get caught by the choke point, but there's not much you can do about an Inkzooka in the middle of the Dome. I return to try to cut-off the Rainmaker's advance, which turns in to a flanking manoeuvre, which itself shows me the patience of the N-ZAP inkling. Well played!

I have a little trouble defending next, which is more disappointing because the Rainmaker doesn't come that way. We lose the lead, but there is still over a minute to go. To help ensure things don't get worse, me and a squidmate tidy up the inklings and ink around our podium, before moving up to support our squidmates with the Rainmaker.

Our squidmates get a good distance, but are stopped by the choke point again. What an excellent time for my Seeker Rush to charge! I let loose wave after wave of Seekers, as a squidmate ahead of me tries to clear the path ahead. She gets a splat, I burst the Rainmaker's Shield for another splat, and that wipes out the yellow team for the moment. Nice!

The Rainmaker is free, the yellow team are out of the battle, and there's ink almost all the way to the podium. A short squid later and I dunk the Rainmaker for the victory. Woomy!

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Tags: carbon roller deco, console, kelp dome, rainmaker, splatoon, wii u