Rollers together in Splat Zones (10-5, Carbon Roller Deco)

Two Rollers per team. Nice! Throwing my first Seeker two inches in to a barrier is a bit less interesting. Ignore that bit. You could probably ignore my running in to a Splattershot too, but that would make you miss my Seeker making the splat mutual.

I go around the side for some perspective, and sensibly don't press to hard until it's a bit safer. I get a good window of opportunity and move up, and my Seeker Rush charges to let me loose ink towards the teal team's base. One inkling makes a break for it, and I give mild chase, mostly thinking that I'm rolling in to trouble. But they've gone. Fair enough.

That battle looks almost won when some chaos breaks loose. Our E-litre 3K is jumped by a brush, who I splat in return, and ink flies from every direction. The Roller is thankfully thrown upwards and away from me by fans, but the Kraken stays on my level. The Splat Zones change hands, but at least our lead should be difficult to beat.

I head around the side again, and although everything looks clear, it is also covered in teal ink, in which squids could be hiding. I do well to get some orange ink across the Splat Zones, but I don't quite neutralise them before being distracted by inklings. I manage to get a couple of splats and stay unsplatted myself, and the Splat Zones are turned orange once more.

I manoeuvre to the side of the teal team, where my previous ink has been covered, and once again hit an obstruction with my Seeker. I ponder my aim, and whether I'm in the wrong place, turning towards the Splat Zones to make sure they are still orange, and get blindsided by a Splat Roller, who then neutralises the Splat Zones. Thankfully, my squidmates are on the ball.

I come back to help keep the Splat Zones orange, or, at least, not teal. Some decent awareness gets me a couple of splats, and looks to guide me to a third, but my awareness doesn't extend to seeing the brush's hair glowing, and the Kraken is more of a surprise than it could have been. The teal team once again stops our counter at a critical point.

That's a lot of flicks the Splattershot endures, and that's not even the splat I get. I come back to keep control of the moving platform, enticing the teal team to engage me, which they do, and with them coming for me I have a good advantage to get the splats. I avoid the temptation to return the favour to the Splattershot, retreating instead, which turns out to be a good move.

Before I get back in to position, we finally bag the knockout victory. I wonder how much we owe to the fishy level 34 E-litre 3K.

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Tags: ancho-v games, carbon roller deco, console, splat zones, splatoon, wii u

Quite a splatty Splat Zones (12-6, Carbon Roller Deco)

I would say that my Seeker work at the start of the battle isn't as good as the other team's, but give it another second and there we go, the splat was sought after all. And as that inkling is trying to come up our flank, I head that way to repel him. He's not there, but a different inkling has his back to me, which is handy.

I hide from a Seeker Rush, quite well, I think, and send my own Seeker to clear the Splat Zones ahead of me. That lets me ink the Splat Zones to neutralise them, and with a bit of help from my own Seeker Rush and a peripheral Inkstrike, capture the Splat Zones. I'm prematurely stopped by a Squiffer catching sight of me around a corner.

That's a lot of yellow ink on the platform, which will give the other team lots of freedom of movement above us. I head up to ink over it in purple, and take the opportunity to flick ink on the Splat Zones, and a couple of passing inklings. The Carbon Roller rolls away, but the other inkling isn't so lucky.

My Seeker Rush charges just in time to deter an attacker from getting too close, and as he drops down I drop down. A Seeker still catches the Carbon Roller, which is good, and one last Seeker takes me just past the Squiffer looking for targets. I don't think my turn splats her, but I seem to do just enough, and manage to evade the Suction Bomb panic-planted.

A messy encounter ended by an Ink Mine lets me return to some turf control, before my Ninja-squidding finds more opportunity behind our Slosher. The Squiffer wasn't expecting me to appear there, and although I don't get quite close enough to the next inkling, and am forced away by a Bomb Rush, I spot a better opportunity from the corner of my eye. The wall lets me approach safely, and I surprise the other Bomb Rusher nicely.

Another Seeker Rush splats one inkling close by, and a squid-jink lets me ink the Splat Zones, whilst aiming for the Carbon Roller all the way across them. I approach under cover of an Inkstrike to see her jump one Seeker, but not the next. Once more, that Splat Zones are ours. I try to stay out of trouble, but don't do very well, daring to get close to the Squiffer, and then searching for the inkling I accidentally hit with a glancing flick. As I am standing in the ink, she finds me first.

A cautious approach nearly backfires, but being pushed back lets me hit the Carbon Roller behind our lines. The Inkstrike and some extra ink captures the Splat Zones again, but my aggressive push for splats is once again my downfall. It's a nice attempt to use the environment to avoid splats, and my Seeker Rush to lay down some ink, but the yellow team are nicely in control now. They are also in the lead. When did that happen?

A bit of decent manoeuvring gets me to the Splat Zones, and behind the Carbon Roller. The Squiffer is splatted by a squidmate, and we seize control of the Splat Zones again, but they are immediately contested by a Suction Bomb Rush. With not much time left, I don't do the team any favours by floundering on a wall, but the inky pressure is unrelenting as the battle comes to a close.

We did well, but the yellow team got themselves well-coordinated in the last minute.

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Tags: carbon roller deco, console, hammerhead bridge, splat zones, splatoon, wii u

Just about keeping the Splat Zones (9-6, Carbon Roller Deco)

That looks like some Rapid Blasting coming from around the corner. I shouldn't run in to it, but I don't always do what's good for me. I get a couple of half-decent flicks at the inkling, but they stay standing. I hope it's not going to be one of those kinds of battles. At least we capture and hold the Splat Zones for a little while.

As the battle for the Splat Zones heats up, a friendly Echolocator shows a purple inkling behind our lines. I double-back to see what I can do about them, and I think I splat them, having given away my position, kinda intentionally, with a Seeker Rush, but getting splatted in the process. Maybe I shouldn't have given away my position.

We lose the lead, and the purple score keeps counting for a while longer, but we regroup successfully. I catch one inkling coming over the top, before dropping down and making the Seeker Rush work for us. I look for more targets, but my squidmates suppress them efficiently. All I can do for now is get a bit flustered as a purple inkling squids past me and drops a Sprinkler.

The Splat Zones are being fought for fiercely as I loiter above, looking to take some long-range pressure off us. One Seeker is vaulted by a Hyrda Splatling, and he pops his Bubbler as he gets closer, forcing me to disengage. But only briefly. I pop back up as the Hydra Splatling gets closer, with no Bubbler protecting him. One down. I splat the Splatterscope from above too, but although I look to be in a good position to surprise the Inkstriker, I instead fall in to the crossifre of theirs and the Rapid Blaster's.

I try to surprise the Rapid Blaster again, but he squids past me too quickly for my feeble reflexes, and pops his Bubbler again. At least I get a splat out this poor position. I come back sending Seekers ahead of me. It may be too obvious to follow their line, but sometimes it works. The Rapid Blaster doesn't expect me, I bump in to the Hydra Splatling before flicking, and splat the Splatterscope from behind. I turn expecting to see the Aerospray RG, but she comes from the side instead. Nice triple, though!

There is a tricky balance between inking the Splat Zones and not being in them when splatted. I half help our team keep some kind of control, and half hand control back to the other team when I am splatted in to a purple blotch of ink. I hope to make up for my mistake on my return, and I think I do. A bit of flicking almost helps, but it also charges my Seeker Rush, and I send Seekers right across the width of the Splat Zones, helping to turn them around. It's even easy to see a purple inkling looking to get behind me.

I try to find more inklings to splat, but only find myself in unfavourable positions. At least I evade the purple ink coming my way on both occasions, and although I nearly get a final splat, the battle ends before the ink lands properly. That's fine, as we just about hold the Splat Zones to win by a single point. Woomy!

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Tags: carbon roller deco, console, hammerhead bridge, splat zones, splatoon, wii u

Putting the Grim in the Range Blaster in Splat Zones (9-1, Grim Range Blaster)

The Grim Range Blaster is quite good fun. I think it's because I don't need to get quite so close to other inklings to be just as bad with a Blaster, which helps me survive more. But I do actually enjoy it. I have a bit of fun at the start of this battle. No one is coming up to the grating at the side, but there are inklings ahead of me. A bit of manoeuvring helps me stay unsplatted, and the blast effect lets me catch them trying to get clear.

My Killer Wail could be tilted a little lower, but a squidmate adds his to the mix. No inklings look to be splatted, but it keeps them away from the Splat Zones. Or it should, but Suction Bombs come flying in and they capture them anyway. I try to ink them blue again, and squid forwards when the E-litre 3K reappears. If only I could aim better, as a direct hit would have kept me unsplatted.

I make sure no inklings are hiding near our base, and move up to ink the Splat Zones. Some Suction Bomb pressure forces me to move, but positively, and I splat the threat, and place a better positioned Killer Wail. After we recapture the Splat Zones, I remember my Burst Bombs. Not that I do much with them, and I really need practice.

The E-litre 3K gives us the runaround, and even though a Killer Wail doesn't splat him, it moves him to a predictable position. A couple of inklings coming from the side are dealt with smoothly, and another Killer Wail removes one perch's availability to the green team, again pushing them to a more predictable position.

One inkling can't retreat quickly enough to avoid the second blast, and another lands the super-jump simultaneously as a blast gets a direct hit and the battle ends. Nice!

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Tags: ancho-v games, console, grim range blaster, splat zones, splatoon, wii u

Trying the Grim Range Blaster in Splat Zones (10-5, Grim Range Blaster)

I've used the Grim Range Blaster before, admittedly, but that was before I had practiced much with the Blaster itself. Now with that practice under my belt, I think I could get some use out of the extra range, and I definitely would like to learn how to use Burst Bombs.

I use the Grim's range to ink the Splat Zones from above, before dropping in to the danger area itself. I seem a bit cautious, but it's a weapon I'm not familiar with yet, and I also want to use its range to my benefit. A lucky splat certainly is to my benefit, but being squeezed in to a corner as an Inkstrike hits isn't.

I think I can splat the Splatterscope from the ledge, with a nicely thrown Burst Bomb and a follow-up Blaster shot. Maybe I can, but not this time. I return along the other direction, and look for opportunity. I see it in the opposite corner, catching the Splatterscope off-guard, but before I can get to the Inkzooka another inkling passes in front of me. I catch them just enough to get another splat.

My first Killer Wail catches one inkling, but placing it gets me caught out too. I'm okay with that trade, particularly as a squidmate avenges me moments later. Another sortie down the side doesn't quite catch anyone, but so it goes. I remember my Burst Bombs as I come back, both for inking turf and to hit inklings. I don't quite get the Burst-blast splat, but a direct hit is satisfying. I'm sure it is for the Splatterscope too.

I so nearly get a decent double splat on two inklings on a perch, as my platform takes me higher, but they both get out of the way. My Killer Wail doesn't catch the Splatterscope either, but I both get away from trouble and spot the patch of purple ink another inkling is hiding in. When I finally make it up to the other side of the studio, I don't quite get the splat on the Splatterscope, but I contribute.

As we control the Splat Zones, I am comfortable watching and waiting. My patience pays off, as does watching my range, and chasing the Splatterscope around the corner, who my squidmate splats, gives me an opportunity on the way back again. The Killer Wail is cheesy and a bit unfair, so I turn away to stop hassling the purple team directly, but it's a bit late.

The Splat Zones aren't contested again, and our counter simply ticks down to completion. Sorry about the Killer Wail, purple team.

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Tags: ancho-v games, console, grim range blaster, splat zones, splatoon, wii u

Helping with the push in Rainmaker (10-5, Kelp Splat Charger)

Mmm, a double-splat from bursting the Rainmaker's Shield. That's a sweet start to the battle. Even better, my untimely Killer Wail actually works out. We have to burst the shield again, but we grab the Rainmaker with a relatively clear run, and make a small push forwards. The Echolocator doesn't help, though, and by the time I'm splatted, none of us are left standing.

If only the yellow team realised they had wiped us, maybe they would have pushed a bit harder a bit quicker. As it is, they take the lead, but perhaps not as convincingly as they could have. Still, it's not much better with us. We tip the balance in our favour and burst the Rainmaker out of its shield, but no one wants to pick it up. In my defence, I can ink long straight lines, and push ahead to do that. But I suppose my squidmates thought along the same lines.

It's a bit embarrassing to squid backwards in to a Splat Bomb, but so it goes. And as I return, a squidmate grabs the Rainmaker and squids forwards to give us the lead again. I look to ink some turf, and spy an inkling coming my way. I don't get flustered and squid backwards in to the Splat Bomb this time, but my charge keeps me still long enough for that not to matter.

I deal with some pressure near to our podium quite well, holding the line nicely. My Killer Wail is poorly timed, though. The Rainmaker isn't being carried, so all I do is burst the shield for the yellow team to recover the Rainmaker again. Never mind, I plat the Rainmaker nicely on its approach. My next Killer Wail is better, creating a path for the Rainmaker to stay safe in, splatting one yellow inkling directly, and having a rather absent-minded inkling wander in to its dying noise to save me having to aim.

With some good coordination, we move the Rainmaker up the Port effectively, albeit in two pushes. We run out of steam quite close to the podium, and I am forced to retreat. Not in to a Splat Roller, that's just coincidence. The yellow team gets the Rainmaker back, but not for long, and when it's back in our tentacles we show good coordination again.

The obvious yellow ink is avoided, blue ink is laid down, and the Rainmaker moves steadily forwards. I find myself at the podium and get my Splat Charger spitting out blue ink on the ramp to help with the push. I am splatted for being there, but my ink helps, and my squidmate dunks the Rainmaker. Woomy!

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Tags: console, kelp splat charger, port mackerel, rainmaker, splatoon, wii u

Some good aiming in Rainmaker (9-9, Kelp Splat Charger)

I may have burst the Rainmaker's Shield in our favour, and kept it out of teal tentacles, but I clearly wasn't paying attention to my flanks. So it goes. I make up for it, and more, with some supernatural timing. Whoever picked up the Rainmaker must have been wondering how I did that. Yeah, so am I.

My Killer Wail cancels the Inkstrike, and a bit more ink bursts the shield. I see my opportunity and run with it, pushing the Rainmaker to the other half of the map. I ran ahead of any support, and was bound to be splatted, but the Rainmaker is much further from our podium. My squidmates catch up quickly, and I super-jump back as they take the lead. Don't ask me why I don't see the Seeker, though.

My squidmates take a bigger lead, and all I can do is super-jump back in to trouble. The next super-jump is safer, to a beacon on a perch, and that looks like a good place to be. Indeed it is. I push the Rainmaker sideways, and hold the defensive line, getting a quad-splat in the process. Not bad for a Splat Charger!

I even bust open the Rainmaker again, and with the teal team out of the way for now, it seems like a good time to push it forwards quickly. The teal team are a bit quicker at returning than I had anticipated, though. But I come back quickly, super-jumping, and retreat to hold a more supportive line. That lets me ink some turf and watch over the Rainmaker, as well as getting another very nicely timed splat, this time on a teal super-jumper.

I somehow keep myself safe from a teal push, and get a lucky splat against and agile side-stepper, but get on the wrong side of the Rainmaker to stay safe for long. Much the same happens a second time, but as the teal team try to press higher, my squidmates have sneaked behind them and are nicely on their way to the podium.

Our good position doesn't last long. A vanguard for the teal team puts too much pressure on me as a charger, and inks all the way to the podium before I get some help. Thankfully, we stop their Rainmaker push whilst we still have the lead, and a Killer Wail bursts the Rainmaker's Shield quickly enough for us to push straight back. This time, I don't mind taking the Seeker, as it keeps the Rainmaker safe. For a moment.

I miss the Rainmaker by a hair as the battle enters extra time, the Rainmaker's blast not needing to be quite as accurate, but a squidmate has us covered, splatting the Rainmaker and ending the battle with us victorious. Woomy!

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Tags: console, kelp splat charger, port mackerel, rainmaker, splatoon, wii u

Splatty fun in Rainmaker (8-4, Kelp Splat Charger)

I'm going unscoped again. My first challenge, though, is remembering which button is jump. After adjusting my camera a couple of times, it all comes back to me. It's been a whole two days since I last battled, this isn't easy. My first shot doesn't go so well either, and using what I like to call the Prometheus Manoeuvre to dodge a Rainmaker blast goes about as well as you can expect.

Killer Wail on top of Killer Wail is a bit wasteful, but I didn't notice until it was too late. At least my squidmates make good progress behind them. Another squidmate's Killer Wail comes at just the right time, keeping us pushed forwards, and I try to help by applying some pressure with, well, Sprinklers. But they charge my Killer Wail, which gives me that bit of extra range just when I need it. Thankfully, my range, and aim, is just right when my getting distracted lets the purple inklings grab the Rainmaker.

I have no idea who impales themselves on my Sprinkler. It's not the Roller, who successfully destroys it. But it's hilarious either way! I keep with my strange plan of refreshing my Sprinkler for a moment before inking turf to frustrate the purple team, as my squidmates have another good push around the side with the Rainmaker. I'm pushed back, and forget I'm not wearing ink-resistance shoes for once, but still manage to get clear for now.

I get a bit lost, and wonder where the Rainmaker is, so I can aim my Killer Wail. I find it, and although my Killer Wail lags my squidmates in splatting the Rainmaker carrier, it helps a little with bursting the fresh shield. I support the Rainmaker from above, and as he moves I move, watching our flank as much as anything. I wonder if a Sprinkler hitting the Rainmaker's Shield does anything. Nope. A Killer Wail, though, I know that does something.

My aim lets me down a bit, although maybe I pressure one inkling to go for a dip, and again I'm caught out with my shoes sticking in ink. So it goes. As does super-jumping deep in to opponent territory. I do some tidying up on my return, thankfully remembering quickly about my Sprinkler, such that my lackadaisical return to the centre finds the purple team have dunked the Rainmaker. Nice! I pop the shield and run with it. I don't get too far, thwarted by an Inkstrike, but with under thirty seconds to go and the Rainmaker so far away, we're looking pretty solid for the victory.

I come back and resume a defensive position on a decent perch. There's no need to push and risk getting splatted for nothing, as the situation is far from desperate. Indeed, the purple team are the ones under pressure. I hold back and wait for my moment. Ah, there it is, as my Killer Wail charges the Rainmaker appears ahead of me. A sweet, sweet triple ends the battle. Woomy!

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Tags: camp triggerfish, console, kelp splat charger, rainmaker, splatoon, wii u

Often avenged in Squad Splat Zones (10-7, Carbon Roller Deco)

This battle looks interesting. Two Rollers, a Slosher, and an E-litre 3K Scope on our side, two Carbon Rollers, and two shooters on the other side. I would give the blue team the edge in terms of inking capability, but I am interested to see how it plays out. I run straight in to a Splat Bomb as I get to the Splat Zones first, and as I probably can't evade it I try to take one of them with me.

I notice a blue patch on my return, and it looks like someone has taken over our perch. I see what I can do about that, but, of course, the blue inkling is watching for this, and as I try to avoid the Splat Bomb I am hit by Splattershot ink. So it goes. At least our Slosher avenges me immediately.

Heading up the side looks curiously clear, and untouched by the blue team on their side, and as I move up I find myself with an opportunity I cannot turn down. That lets me touch up the Splat Zones a bit, and although I don't quite trade splats with a Carbon Roller, my Slosher pal has my back again.

The side route has the attention of the blue team, but I will not be forced in to an encounter I'm not comfortable with. Thankfully, I appear to be comfortable with getting splatted as long as a squidmate is there a second later. Maybe I should go the other way, particularly as it has been covered with blue ink, but that presents its own dangers. I take care not to run in to a hiding squid, even at the expense of the Splat Zones, and make my way up when it seems safe.

It seems safe to be inside our own Killer Wail, and my Seeker Rush adds ink to the Wail, as well as seeking out a Carbon Roller. This doesn't sit well with the blue team, who throw Sub-weapons at me, and pull out an Inkzooka. But a bit of manoeuvring and a flick stops the Inkzooka very nicely, and although that puts me in slightly the wrong place, I soon correct myself.

I loiter in the Splat Zones for a bit, helping keep them green whilst blue ink explodes around us, heading up the side when it seems appropriate. There is a lot of blue here too, and I am cautious not to get caught again. I miss my aim with a Seeker against a straight corridor, which is embarrassing, but I manage to fire off a Seeker Rush nicely enough.

All looks to be going well enough until I meet a more skilled Carbon Roller than me, who knows what he's doing with a Burst Bomb-flick combination. But we have the Splat Zones, which is more important right now, particularly as it gives us the lead!

I head around the side and send a couple of Seekers forwards, moving across the grate when the Splat Zones are green again. I loiter for a bit, or maybe more than a bit, and although we lose the Splat Zones it seems I pick my moment to pounce quite well. One splat in front of the Splat Zones, and a Seeker Rush neutralises the Splat Zones, catches one inkling, and I interrupt the Rush for a well-timed flick to splat a third inkling. Nice!

I don't quite manage to capture the Splat Zones, and although green help arrives soon it it swamped by the returning blue inklings. They got back quickly. The Splat Zones turn blue, and although I reject caution for speed, I don't manage to make a difference. I squid past a spot of bother, but don't turn in time to deal with it until more bother turns up.

The Splat Zones stay blue, the lead is lost, and the battle ends. It was close, and a good fight.

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Tags: arowana mall, carbon roller deco, console, splat zones, splatoon, wii u

Controlling the Squad Splat Zones (5-1, Tri-slosher)

It's a neat race to the centre of Arowana Mall, and the yellow team win. That's us! I slosh over the ridge, trying to catch an inkling but getting none, and squid up the side to steal a splat from in front of a Splash Wall.

Heading around the side has the E-litre 3K expecting me, but maybe not quite so soon. Her indecision gives my Tri-slosher time to press through her, onwards and upwards! It's a lame Disruptor that I throw, and I was probably safe from that Killer Wail, but at least I get the splat from my dive.

The Splat Zones stay safe by the time I get back, and so do I when I forget to jump, thanks to the extra ledge. I just about catch the Roller jumping from the perch, and I think the Inkstrike finishes him off. Another slosh on to the perch just catches the edge, just enough to get that last bit of ink for another splat.

I look to disrupt the returning E-litre 3K, and I don't think I get it, but at least I stay safe as, for a second time, I'm saved from the water by additional brickwork. The E-litre 3K ink is covered over easily enough, and I move across the Splat Zones to start flanking the long way around.

I have to pause to avoid a Suction Bomb, and to splat the returning Roller, but it matters not. The Splat Zones remain safe, our score counts down, and the battle is won remarkably comfortably. Woomy!

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Tags: arowana mall, console, splat zones, splatoon, tri-slosher, wii u