Blasting ahead in Tower Control [11(3)-6, Blaster]

I battled with the Blaster a fair bit before, and I think it's worth seeing how I fare with it now. Not too great, to be honest, because I have to aim well at close range, but this is why we practice. The Toxic Mist comes in handy and doesn't need to be aimed as well, and lobbing one at the charger's perch does the job. That lets me hop back on the Tower, and inking blasts get me an accidental splat. I'll take it.

The purple team are already encroaching on our turf, and the puny lead I started is beaten immediately, but we fight back, even if no one else seems keen to ride the Tower. I give it another go, but things get inky pretty quickly. Hitting the flank to try to dislodge the charger doesn't go any better, as I fail to notice the charger isn't there. But a squidmate hops on to the Tower and pushes it in to the lead. Nice!

I super-jump my way on to the Tower, and normal jump my way off, blasting the Inkjetter in mid-air like it's no big deal. We push the Tower whilst defending as best we can, but everything gets purple quickly. I can't even activate a defensive Splashdown before the Goo Tuber splats me. My squidmates cling on to the Tower a little longer, and I super-jump back to try to continue the push. That ends quickly.

I try to repeat my dazzling mid-air splat of the Inkjet as we battle in the middle of the Towers, but it doesn't quite work so well this time. That just makes the first look better, to be honest. We defend a little, and keep the Tower neutral. I activate the ink rail as a diversion, then ride it when the purple team aren't expecting anything. I drop on top of a few of them, and if my aim was better that would definitely end up on the highlight reel.

An inkling hides from us on our perch, planning to cause trouble. My indirect blasts can't find him, so I change my approach to find his hiding place. I double-back to defend more directly, and hit the ink rail again, luckily finding no inklings waiting. That sudden appearance of a green patch of ink is curious, though.

I work my way up the Towers, inking a path and looking for inklings, and get my Splashdown working this time. I help a squidmate also looking to clear a path, as our squidmates are sensibly riding the Tower. I push higher still, and just about get a final splat, as the Tower reaches the goal. Woomy!

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Tags: blaster, console, moray towers, splatoon 2, switch, tower control

Splooshing it up in Rainmaker [17(2)-6, Sploosh-o-matic]

Back to the Sploosh-o-matic for some Rainmaker, and this time with a nifty Ninja Squid jacket. I like it from the start, the Curling Bomb being Seeker-like, and squidding around the edge to patrol for inklings to splat. I even hit the flank to make a potential path for the Rainmaker to take, which goes a bit wrong when the other team takes the Rainmaker instead. They're squid quite fast too.

It looks like we get back under control soon enough, and I even get a Curling Bomb splat, which was not at all lucky and obviously just me working the angles. An interesting route by a squidmate grabs us the lead whilst technically being further as the inkling squids from the podium, and although he is splatted my Splashdown charges to help me regain the Rainmaker. I grab it too, once I work out that I haven't been splatted myself. That feeling doesn't last long.

That Rainmaker can move quickly through ink. Or my Sploosh-o-matic has a really short range. Probably a bit of both. I'm a bit disappointed that the Splattershot Pro just has to casually look my way to splat me, though. Our precarious lead holds, and falls, as I try to be clever and out-flank the purple team. I get my splats in the end, but we have a bit of a task to win the battle now.

I ride the rail with the Rainmaker, and it's nice to feel in-sync with a squidmate. It falls apart soon enough, the purple team defending well, but we shared a moment. The Rainmaker gets caught in an awkward spot, for both teams. If we grab it, the purple inkling will splat us from above, but if he grabs it, he has to drop down from that one-way ledge. Working our way around to him will open a path for him to grab and move the Rainmaker, but staying where we are lets him splat us from the high turf to open the same path. It was not a good position for us.

In other news, look at me maturing, by ignoring the Splattershot Pro and chasing the Rainmaker instead. A Curling Bomb up the jacksie does the trick, and I use my Splashdown to splat the Roller and stop him being an awkward nuisance. We move the Rainmaker back the other way, but again not too far, and now the purple team can taste victory.

They burst the Rainmaker free, retreat in to a sea of purple for a bit of security, then realise they don't want to lose the Rainmaker close to their podium if they can help it, so move back towards the centre, but just to shoot it a bit. There's not much we can do, so I have a little consolation dance, which makes me feel better.

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Tags: console, humpback pump track, rainmaker, splatoon 2, sploosh-o-matic, switch

Playing to the whistle in Splat Zones [13(6)-8, Custom Splattershot Jr]

An early precaution of not inking the Splat Zones but the ramp to the left of me pays off, and keeping to the sides keeps me unsplatted for long enough that the orange Splat Zones turn teal soon enough. We take the lead, and I patrol the edges to try to keep the orange team at bay. It almost works, but my scattershot inking can't match the my weapon's bigger brother at close range.

The orange team recapture the Splat Zones, and as I fail to keep our Splatterscope safe, the lead is reversed again. The orange team's position is starting to look quite strong. I try to approach from an unexpected angle, which works to some extent, but I get overwhelmed by orange ink fairly quickly anyway. I like to think my contribution helps my squidmates retaking of the Splat Zones, though.

We have a long way to go to get the lead back, which won't be helped by the Splat Zones turning orange again, or my getting duped by a decoy Sprinkler. I join my squidmates in trying to avoid the orange ink, which mostly succeeds in giving the Brella a good splat, as he tracks two of us. And now the orange ink is just about everywhere.

Just about everywhere, but not in the Splat Zones. The orange inkling inking near our base may be making things a bit awkward, but his ignoring the Splat Zones could come back to haunt him. I decide to splat him away anyway, as my squidmates are all taking care of the Splat Zones, and am happy I have Respawn Punisher equipped. Covering his mess lets me charge my Ink Storm too, which helps.

The orange team regroup and make a coordinated attack on the Splat Zones that steals them from us before we've taken the lead, and looks set to increase that lead. I'm happy for my Robo Chicken to get a splat, but less than happy to be splatted at the edge of the Splat Zones seconds later. The situation's getting a little more desperate, so I try a frontal push in to the Splat Zones, which goes well until I jump in to the waiting Brella.

It's probably better to ink away at the edges again, keeping the ink flowing in to the Splat Zones whilst presenting as low a profile as possible. Robo Chickens fly in, an Ink Storm meets an Ink Storm, and we wrest control of the Splat Zones with ten seconds to go. As we enter extra time, we have one last chance to hold the Splat Zones.

As much as we need to keep the Splat Zones, the orange team need to neutralise them. There is pressure on both sides, which grows for the orange team as our buffer disappears and we draw close to winning the battle. We just need to cover whatever they can throw in to the Splat Zones, but they have to splat us away.

The orange lead disappears, and despite their strong position at several points in the battle, we pull off an excellent extra time victory. Good battle, everyone! Woomy!

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Tags: console, custom splattershot jr, musselforge fitness, splat zones, splatoon 2, switch

Robot chickens everywhere in Splat Zones [6(2)-3, Custom Splattershot Jr]

Two Custom Splattershot Jrs and an Octobrush on our team, one Custom Splattershot Jr, an Octobrush, plus a Carbon Roller on the blue team, adds up to a lot of Robo Chickens. And we all like using them. The little automatons start flying as soon as we get close to each other.

It's like a Robo Chicken convention out there, and we're just guests to the display. I'm okay with that. I could watch these little fellows all day. I suppose we've got Splat Zones to battle over too, but mostly we're throwing Robo Chickens.

I get caught by a couple here and there, but that's only to be expected when so many are walking around, even if they're not coming for you specifically.

We win the battle for the Splat Zones, but the Robo Chickens deserve a pat on the back and an oil change.

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Tags: console, custom splattershot jr, musselforge fitness, splat zones, splatoon 2, switch

Keeping the ink flowing in Splat Zones [15(3)-5, Custom Splattershot Jr]

Trying to sneak around the side before heading up the ramp sort of pays off, but it shouldn't have. I'll take it, though. My two-for-one splat doesn't really help us that much, as it turns out, and the purple team take control. Now I have to be careful heading back, so that I don't just get splatted away when foolishly rushing in. I manage to keep out of harm's way whilst lobbing Robo Chickens, and an Ink Storm gives me the cover I need to push forwards, luckily catching a super-jumper on landing.

Avoiding the Hamster Ball keeps me safe, and the Hamster unwisely moves out of the Splat Zones, letting us capture them back. Now we have the upper hand, at least for now. I fail to see an Echolocated inkling coming behind me as I concentrate on splats in front of me, and am caught out, and my squidmates get a little overwhelmed, turning the Splat Zones purple again.

I dodge this way and that to ink what I can of the Splat Zones, dropping out of view to stay safe, which does well for the most part. I get bolder as my Ink Storm crawls over the Splat Zones, which gets me a couple of splats, but puts me in the line of ink. I try the same tactics again, as they work well, and this time get caught out when pursued out of the Splat Zones.

Time to hit the other flank, as my squidmates re-capture the Splat Zones. That makes it easier to move around, and I run around covering all the purple ink to frustrate the other team. It only delays their return slightly, of course, and I am forced in to running away from encroaching ink. That lets me splat an Inkjetter, at least, which encourages me to turn around and keep the ink flowing.

With all four of us in the Splat Zones, we are pretty commanding. The purple team are splatted away in dribs and drabs, and it's only when two super-jumpers are imminent, and a third inkling pops up over a ledge that we are tested. The two squidmates that stay unsplatted keep their cool, though, and hold the Splat Zones until we steal the lead, and claim the knockout victory. Woomy!

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Tags: console, custom splattershot jr, musselforge fitness, splat zones, splatoon 2, switch

Hunt the Goldie and a Mothership in Salmon Run [19-27-23, 20/498]

Giddy-up! The Grizzco Blaster to start with. But that's all Mr Grizz is being generous with, as the first wave is a medium-tide Hunt-the-Goldie. Still, a squidmate finds the Goldie quickly, and we dogpile on it for the Golden Eggs, bagging us eleven on the first attempt. Not too shabby. Goldie is found quickly again and we make quota with ease, and we're all happy to keep things at that. Two of my squidmates want to make sure too, calling everyone to the basket. I'm happy to have a little squid party.

Back to the job, with an N-ZAP '85 in hand. Good choice. This time is a normal wave of salmonids and bosses, and it takes me a surprising amount of time to get in to the swing of things, mostly shooting ineffectively at bosses or just the little salmonids. But my squidmates are doing better, or must be because we're all still floating, and I get in to a groove after a while. We collect a healthy batch of Golden Eggs to take us in to the third wave.

I like the Splattershot too. But the tide is coming in, the sky is darkening. We have a mothership incoming! These can be a pain, but we all know what we have to do, and thanks to the high tide we even get a nice concentration of Golden Eggs not too far from the basket. We're having more problems collecting them than anything.

We force away the mothership, easily make quota, and have a little Special-throwing party at the end to celebrate another successful Salmon Run. Woomy!

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Tags: console, salmon run, spawning grounds, splatoon 2, switch

Celebrating the turnaround in Splat Zones [6(3)-1, Custom Splattershot Jr]

Hitting the flank at the start, with the wall for protection, keeps me safe for a bit, although I don't have much effect on the battle for the Splat Zones. A Robot Chicken is almost my downfall too, as I have to move and, perhaps impetuously, head towards the Splat Zones instead of retreating a little, which is not the smartest move when all the orange inklings are there. Still, my Ink Storm is keeping them a little on their toes.

I just about avoid a Curling Bomb Rush on my return, but that just makes the very orange Splat Zones look even more intimidating. Thankfully, there are alternative routes, and I pick the one closest to me to see if I can start to make a difference. I hope so, we don't have much longer to try.

Getting around the back coincidentally charges my Ink Storm, which encourages me to drop down after launching it to follow up with more ink. And my Ink Storm, a squidmate's Hamster Ball, and our coming from behind the orange team secures us the Splat Zones. Nice! I take advantage of our position to make the orange team's return more difficult, just as they did to us, as my squidmates splat them all back to their base. It's worth inking our side our colour again too.

The orange team come back and put up a spirited battle for the Splat Zones, but their coordination has gone, putting us more on an even keel. We can keep the Splat Zones teal whilst splatting back the odd intruder. I am even sensible enough not to engage the Octobrush directly, letting my Ink Storm provide the pressure as I hit the flank again.

I'm happy to see my Robot Chicken catch out the Splattershot, although it didn't look like it would be effective for a moment. My Ink Storm is helping get the orange team inky too, and in what seems like a short period of time, we've turned the battle around from nearly losing to nearly winning.

Given the circumstances, I think a little squid party to celebrate the imminent victory is justified. Woomy!

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Tags: console, custom splattershot jr, splat zones, splatoon 2, starfish mainstage, switch

Getting a little too close for comfort in Salmon Run [16-26-20, 14/482]

The H-3 Nozzlenose is a surprise weapon, and one that I have barely practiced with. This could be a disastrous first wave. Even just inking the Spawning Grounds before the salmonids appear has my feeling uncomfortable with it. At least the first boss being a Steelhead appear below me gives me an easy start. Better than the Stinger half-way across the Grounds aiming for me, anyway.

Multiple Drizzlers appear, plus some Flyfish, and a Stinger. Thankfully, the ink rain from the Drizzlers doesn't all head in the same direction, and we splat the Flyfish and Stinger pretty quickly. But dropping a Golden Egg off at the basket has a Steelhead wandering nearby, and we can't quite splat him before the bomb is launched. Despite reaching quota, we are now three inklings down.

A squidmate tries to revive us with a Splashdown, but it comes a second too soon for our rubber rings to appear, and has little effect. He tries it again, which can hardly be considered a waste given the circumstances, and has better luck, reviving all three of us. That was close! We can grab a couple more Golden Eggs, before falling through a grate and getting splatted by a Stinger as the round ends, like true profreshionals.

The Tri-slosher is a much more favourable weapon for me, and I have buckets of fun with it and the Sting Ray, splatting Stingers, Steel Eels, and the occasional Steelhead, before a Steel Eel takes exception to me and bumps me in to the water. We're well above our quota by the point anyway, and hardly in much threat, and we have a very successful second wave.

Getting the .52 Gal for the third wave could be worse. At least I have some mobility with the weapon, and some decent range and firepower with it. The first two bosses are tidily close together, I find a Scrapper next to the egg basket after that, and even Maws is nearby. The first problematic boss is a Flyfish down near the gangplanks, made a little more awkward by another Flyfish somewhere being mid-launch.

Our Splat Bomb throws are a bit shaky, but the Flyfish is splatted, as a Steel Eel wants to eat me. Not today, you won't! But as I move in to collect a Golden Egg and turn to splat the Steel Eel, it seems things have gone a bit awry behind me. Two squidmates are splatted, a third quickly follows, and the head of the splatted Steel Eel is coming for me from one side, a Scrapper from another, a wall blocks a third side, and Maws is underneath me. And we just need this one Golden Egg to make quota!

Thankfully, I realise my squidmates are down and that I simply can't take unnecessary risks, so back off and make sure I keep to a nice inked route, keeping myself out of harm's way until I can safely revive a squidmate or two. My squidmates are coming to me too, and my path takes me back to two of them, where a Splat Bomb revives them both.

I bounce off a Scrapper as I continue on to the basket, a revived squidmate beating me to making quota, and then start worrying about all the boss salmonids around. It's no big deal. Avoid a Maws, get booped by the Scrapper, move away from the Flyfish rockets, and revive another squidmate just as I get splatted.

I think surviving that run is worth a little celebrating. Woomy!

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Tags: console, salmon run, spawning grounds, splatoon 2, switch

Stealing the dunk in Rainmaker [4(2)-2, Sploosh-o-matic]

I like that right-hand route on the Manta Maria, mostly for its smooth squidding. It doesn't really put me in a good position for much though, particularly with a short-range weapon like the Sploosh-o-matic. Still, I get one splat by repositioning, although my squidmates are doing the real work.

Super-jumping back was a mistake, as it often is in such open turf, but I splat the other half of the apparently inseparable Octobrush/Dualie Squelchers. And whilst they are there, my squidmate with the Rainmaker is making an excellent dash around the side towards the podium.

I consider super-jumping again, to the Rainmaker close to the podium. Normally, this will mean my squidmate dunks the Rainmaker before I can land, or they'll get splatted by an inkling who then waits for me to land. This time, they get splatted, and I brace for impact.

I launch a Curling Bomb just in case I can bounce it off the Rainmaker's shield to inksplode and splat my waiting assailant, but it seems that they have been mutually splatted by another of my squidmates. That very handily leaves the Rainmaker next to the podium, nicely shielded from the teal team by the ledge.

There's not much left for me to do. Free the Rainmaker and dunk it. Can I get a woomy!

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Tags: console, manta maria, rainmaker, splatoon 2, sploosh-o-matic, switch

Blasting the Grizzco way in Salmon Run [21-21-22, 22/564]

Mystery weapon time! Luna Blaster isn't so bad, I suppose, but I feel dirty wielding it. My inexpertise clearly shows too against the early Drizzlers, but I finally find a boss I can help with, and eventually even start collecting Golden Eggs. And, as it turns out, the bosses are all either fairly benign, fit nicely with some close-range blasting, or don't aim for me. Everything works out in the first wave quite nicely.

Dapple Dualies next, which is okay, and better than the Dynamo Roller I can see a squidmate got. It's low tide too, which is good, but the sky is darkening, which is rarely good. The cannons pop out of the ground, so we have Cohocks heading our way. I like using the cannons, but a squidmate gets to one first, so I trust him to do the blasting and I start looking for Golden Eggs.

In fact, all three of my squidmates are in cannons. That's a lot of firepower, but it rather limits our egg-collecting ability. Still, I'm okay with squidding backwards and forwards, with all this rockets protecting me. One squidmate realises the imbalance and comes out of the cannon to help with the collecting, and we pretty much just need to collect all the Golden Eggs now lying around.

Thanks to a lack of Flyfish to start with, and some good cannon shooting, the Cohock wave is completed very smoothly indeed. Some Cohocks get close near the end, but a bit of teamwork ensures everything works out nicely. And with the third wave, I get the Grizzco Blaster. It feels pretty sweet, and makes the Rapid Blaster look like an E-litre 4K. I can only imagine each blast is pretty weak, but this is the kind of weapon I really enjoy.

Low tide again, this time with clear skies, so I can just run around blasting at anything that moves. I don't hit a great deal to start with, partly down to range issues, but bosses are being splatted, so that's okay. And I use my first Splashdown on the bastard double-headed Steel Eel coming my way, just to be sure.

It takes three attempts to hit the Steelhead, and it's a squidmate more comfortable with the Grizzco Blaster who gets the splat. But at least we're managing, for the most part. I head out to splat a Scrapper, then stay for a Steelhead, but I run low on ink and surrounded by exploding ink when heading back to try to help two splatted squidmates. Thankfully, they are revived by our fourth.

We easily make quota, and the Specials are brought out for a bit of fun and a touch of survival at the end of the wave. I like that Blaster. I hope I get to use it again.

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Tags: console, salmon run, spawning grounds, splatoon 2, switch