A few splats in Squad Splat Zones (4-1, Tri-slosher)

Time for some more Squad battles with Acethunder. I don't know who Craig is, sorry, he jumped on when Acethunder briefly disappeared, and I wasn't paying attention. It's a bit hit-and-miss as to the opposition, with some being around our rank, but there also often being S or S+ ranked inklings. Those aren't much fun, but there doesn't seem to be any way to avoid that in squad battles. You just have to try your best.

After some average but not disastrous battles with a Blaster, I pull out the Tri-slosher to try to make myself feel better about my skill level. I don't think it entirely works, but I pull out a couple of decent performances. I do quite well at the start of the battle, pressing at the Splat Zone without getting in to trouble. It's only when I get more confrontational that trouble finds me.

I try to stick near my squidmates, until an Echolocator hits, but perhaps hiding in the Splat Zone itself is not a great idea. It's bound to have ink thrown at it, and if I get hit my splatting with cover a bigger area with teal ink. It's probably good that the Echolocator forces me to move.

As the Echolocator drops, I spy a teal inkling coming my way. Instead of rushing in to his ink, I sensibly throw a Disruptor and manoeuvre around the side. I miss the Disrupted inkling, although it sounds like a squidmate doesn't, but I am brought in range of a couple more, even if one eludes me a bit easily to start with.

I run out of ink chasing the brush, and when sloshing down on inklings and the Splat Zones from above. By the time I'm close to recharged, the battle is won. Woomy!

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Tags: console, hammerhead bridge, splat zones, splatoon, tri-slosher, wii u

Keeping the Splat Zones blue (7-2, Tri-slosher)

Quick sloshing gets me above and to the flank of the yellow team nicely, all except for one yellow inkling who splats me back to base. At least I splat him too, so I don't feel my time was wasted, particularly as my squidmates capture the Splat Zones almost immediately afterwards.

The yellow team take control just as quickly, and we lose the lead as well. I return to help take some inky pressure off a squidmate, and skirt backwards to take pressure off myself. I ignore sloshing on to the Splat Zones for some unknown reason, but work my way through them soon enough.

I give the yellow team some blue pressure for a bit, forcing a Splash Wall and Kraken down on me, as it seems that three inklings are focussed on me. That's good, because even though I don't quite survive the Kraken, the distraction lets us capture the Splat Zones again.

A squidmate keeps the attention of an N-ZAP, letting me splat them from their flank, and from there we keep the pressure just above the Splat Zones to keep the colour a healthy blue, for the most part. A couple of yellow incursions are thwarted, before I decide to head up and around the back.

I don't so much catch a yellow inkling as he catches me, but I pop my Bubbler in good time. It's a bit of an embarrassment that I miss the Splatterscope with her back turned to be, but together with a Roller we get the splat.

And with that, the battle is won. Woomy!

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Tags: console, splat zones, splatoon, tri-slosher, urchin underpass, wii u

Can't stop me sloshing in Splat Zones (16-9, Tri-slosher)

It's just me in our Splat Zones, conscientiously capturing it. That's got to be a first. I even get a splat before I'm splatted. Not by much, but it's something. A good Disruptor throw hits something on my return, and upwards sloshing destroys a Sprinkler and catches a jumping inkling. So far so good!

Squidding up the block seems a sensible way to avoid the Carbon Roller, and it works too. If only he didn't have backup. A bit of caution seems sensible in the face of activity, but I know I can push forwards when I see the tell-tale Inkstrike missile poke up. I nearly miss the splat, but am not out-manoeuvred this time. I push past the Splat Zone and catch two more inklings with my sloshing. Nice!

Circling back, all the inklings are already coming back. It seems that Quick Respawn is in vogue, which is pointed out to me after the battle. That just lets me get a quad-splat on the back of the triple, and a bit more sloshing captures the Splat Zones for us, but the Quick Respawn lets the green team regroup very quickly, and the Zone is lost before much damage is done.

I try to keep our Splat Zone purple and free of green inklings, and when forced to flee by a Kraken do the same with the green Splat Zone. But the green inklings recover so quickly, and so much green ink fills the landscape. I barely have time to admire splatting the Inkzooka from behind before everything seems to be reset to green.

It's just inky mayhem. There seems to be twice as many green inklings as purple, and more green ink coming out of their guns than we can muster in the same time. If one green inkling is splatted, another splats you back. If we recover our Splat Zone, it is half-green before we blink.

I get a good number of splats by the end of the battle, and I think I did well in trying to keep the Splat Zones purple, but it just couldn't be enough.

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Tags: console, piranha pit, splat zones, splatoon, tri-slosher, wii u

Not quite finishing off the Splat Zones (12-7, Tri-slosher)

I see the E-litre 3K. Maybe if I'm fast enough I can sneak around the side of him. And I am fast enough, although the Range Blaster almost catches me. I try to get ahead, faltering a bit, but am not chased, so slink down and try to find the E-litre 3K. He's not on the perch, but is just below it, and oblivious to my presence. That's my first splat. The second is the Range Blaster. Nice!

I push forwards again, as we have the Splat Zones, and go past a Splattershot, but being hit with an Echolocator whilst the E-litre 3K is looking for me is not going to end well for me. I come back to help with the Splat Zones, which are purple briefly, and try to shoo away some pesky purple inklings. More Echolocators hit, which is uncomfortable, but I ride through them and head around the side when it's safe. One inkling gets in my way, before I run in to a Kraken.

I super-jump back and find out that this was a good option. The purple inklings are making pests of themselves, and a bit of bucket application is just what's required as they squid along walls. My Bubbler comes in useful when seeking the last of the four, the E-litre 3K sitting on a perch overlooking us all. Bubbler gets me close, Disruptor keeps him close, and I manage to get the splat.

I ink some turf, and as I see nowhere else that needs my immediate attention I loiter for returning inklings. I don't really expect the E-litre 3K to squid past me, or for me to miss him quite so easily, but I get the splat before I am overwhelmed by the others. A 'Nice!' as I recover is a little premature, but we have a significant lead, so it's still worthwhile.

A squidmate and I work together to splat the E-litre 3K, and although getting stuck in the ink makes me realise the Range Blaster is not a good target, by the time I turn away I've become a target for another inkling. The Echolocator is quite an inconvenience, hitting me as I try to sneak up on the purple inkling flank again. I think I've managed to ride it out, but am caught out from one direction when I'm looking in another.

I'm not convinced the Splattershot caught me, but what can you do. Get splatted legitimately by the Range Blaster, apparently. And as the battle enters extra time, there is an air of desperation, with the purple team's counter active and getting closer to our lead. I get myself to the Splat Zone directly and start inking, splatting one inkling out of my way. And with my bucket and an Inkstrike, we recapture the Splat Zones to end the battle. Woomy!

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Tags: console, splat zones, splatoon, tri-slosher, urchin underpass, wii u

Squidding around the Splat Zones (8-3, Tri-slosher)

I'm not sure I should always be the first to the Splat Zones. I like being quick, but I have to wonder if everyone else is purposely taking their time. Certainly, one the purple inklings is simply building up his Inkstrike to hit us as we approach, and I am lucky to avoid that without dropping on a Suction Bomb. My drop then puts me to the side of a Splash Wall, which I can slosh around for my first splat.

I carry on up and around. The only inkling on the ledge is behind me, giving, chase, but I see one ahead of me, trying to flank us, so I pop my Bubbler and, well, get nowhere. I push my luck and thankfully get the splat, and somehow get out of the ink pressure from behind too. Some indiscriminate sloshing bags me a splat, which I repay to my squidmates when squidding through a friendly Inkstrike gets me close to another inkling whose splatting is finished by someone else.

My Bubbler protects me from an Ink Mine, which is good, but won't outlast the other inkling's fresh Bubbler. I struggle to jump back to base, still not too familiar with using this function, and finally get to super-jump away. Only to a squidmate, but out of trouble all the same, and I can help refresh the Splat Zones. With continued application of ink, we manage to snatch the good, early lead away from the purple team.

I hate Rapid Blasters stacking Strength-up. They are so very cheesy. I try to avoid him as much as I can from then on, which helps keep me unsplatted, and the Splat Zones a healthy teal colour. I'm surprised and relieved to be able to back off quickly enough from the Rapid Blaster on the next couple of occasions too, even if I can't quite escape the .96 Gal in our own Inkstrike.

A little more attention to the Splat Zones keeps our score ticking over nicely, and I go for a merry jaunt around the side. No inklings up here, but I manage to sneak around the back of them to splat one, albeit with the security of my Bubbler, which is what it's there for, and my squidmates deal with the others.

Before too long, the battle is over, a knockout victory to us. That was nicely turned-around. Woomy!

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Tags: console, splat zones, splatoon, tri-slosher, urchin underpass, wii u

Getting a streak in Splat Zones (8-2, Carbon Roller Deco)

Four Wasabi Splattershots split across the two teams. I guess they're popular. One splats me near the start, but with a Splat Bomb on a conveyer belt that I simply can't get away from. I get close to being splatted by another, but a squidmate saves me, and I perhaps try my luck against the first for a bit too long, although he backs off instead of using his greater range against me.

The Splat Zones turn purple as I get a Seeker Rush, so I let loose across the purple Splat Zone, hoping to neutralise it. I manage that, but purple ink comes flying in immediately. I get one Seeker splat, and try jumping over the conveyer belt ramp to surprise another, but there's too much purple ink and no obvious inkling, so the surprise is turned on me.

After the two early splats, I decide to be a bit more cautious. I hold back at the far edge of our Splat Zone and keep the green ink flowing over the purple that hits it. My first foray beyond the Splat Zone almost goes badly, flicking loosely at a retreating target, but at least I survive. And we will need control of the other Splat Zone if we are to win this battle, so I keep pressing forwards.

My next jump over the ramp goes better, partly because I don't aim for the edge, mostly because I land in lots of green ink. Turf control is the key, as always. I don't know who my Seeker hits, and it doesn't really matter. We're controlling our Splat Zone and have the other neutralised. With a bit of time, another lucky Seeker splat, and turning back to ink over an Inkstrike, both Splat Zones are ours once again.

The Splat Zones mostly stay ours, with but brief pauses as an Inkstrike or Burst Bomb hits one Zone squarely. The purple team starts to feel the pressure and pushes to ink the turf, their increased desperation forcing them in to mistakes. They move to be surrounded by green ink, throw inklings forwards, and make themselves targets. This just makes it easier for us to retain control.

I notice we are one point away from winning the battle, and give the team a 'Nice!' in celebration. The purple Splat Zone has been neutralised, though, but the purple team are still in some disarray. One inkling is splatted out of the Splat Zone, and I roll around to re-capture it for us. The moment I do that, the battle is won. Woomy!

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Tags: carbon roller deco, console, piranha pit, splat zones, splatoon, wii u

Fierce fight over the Splat Zones (10-6, Carbon Roller Deco)

That's a good dive away from a chasing Burst Bomb, even if I end up rolling in to a block. The battle over our Splat Zone begins, the other team getting in to a stronger position early. I loiter near the ramp, hoping to splat an inkling and take the pressure off, but even a couple of indirect hits do nothing. I back off, and return to try to apply some pressure, but only succeed in avoiding a Kraken and Burst Bomb before running out of luck.

Our Splat Zone is lost. I try to head around to the other Splat Zone, to take the pressure off ours by either stopping the counter or drawing some teal inklings my way. I think I manage to do both, and keep the purple ink flowing across a cycle of both Splat Zones. Not that we capture both at any time. But a bit more fighting and the Splat Zones are ours. I don't even mind that I am pushed far out of the arena, and draw more inklings towards me, as during that time our score keeps ticking down.

One Splat Zone is neutralised, and I do my best to keep turf inked whilst keeping myself unsplatted, popping up at a good moment for a splat. I hear the Carbon Roller flick and pause to find out where he is, which happens just as my Seeker Rush charges. I start launching the Rush as I am simultaneously Burst Bombed and Disrupted, thankfully blocked by an Inkstrike as it happens, but I am in a good position to back off as the Rush finishes. I get a double-splat with my back turned too. Nice!

I go back to tending the Splat Zones and roaming for inklings, helping a squidmate with one but not being quick enough when the Carbon Roller finds me. That's okay, as he rolls my way almost as soon as I return, and my ninja squid gear keeps me unseen for a satisfying splat. I don't do well sneaking up on the next inkling, though, but my squidmate gets immediate revenge.

Trying to get the drop on an Inkzooka is rarely a good idea, but with time ticking down and the Splat Zones shared, it seems necessary. I don't quite manage to get the splat, the Splat Zones stay split, and the battle ends with the teams one point apart. Good battling, teal team.

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Tags: carbon roller deco, console, piranha pit, splat zones, splatoon, wii u

Good start to Splat Zones (12-5, Carbon Roller Deco)

I'm not convinced I meant to drop on to that grate, but I roll with it and continue my fall. My Seekers can be put to some use down there, at least. With little immediate threat, I head around the side, and with still no inklings around and plenty of ink, I send a Seeker ahead to get above the green Splat Zone.

Still nothing happening. Let's go higher! Okay, there are some inklings. A Seeker splats one, the Luna Blaster is more of a problem, the jumping bugger. I stutter on my return, but my opportunistic Seeker actually splats someone, long after I've forgotten about it. Nice!

Our Splat Zone seems okay for now, so I sneak around the side again, aided by a Seeker, and pop up above the green Splat Zone with a Seeker Rush ready. The inkling below me didn't know what hit him. I move around to make more turf blue, to hinder the green inklings, and even though we lose the Splat Zones briefly, it doesn't put much of a dent in our lead.

I squid here and there, trying to stay safe, relying on Seekers to ink turf in a hostile area. One hits a target, which is nice, and although I look to be good to catch another inkling, he decides his work is done and drops down from the ledge. Suits me, I cover over his work, and follow down to splat a super-jumper thinking they're safe. It's the Luna Blaster too. Nice!

I survive an encounter on the edge of the Splat Zone, and another as the inkling perhaps tries to find a safer spot for an incoming super-jumper. That just gives me time to get a better position, splat that inkling, and the super-jumper too. It's the Luna Blaster again. Maybe they'll take the long route to the Splat Zone next time. They do, behind one inkling that a Kraken squidmate and I tag-team, and alongside another that my squidmate splats. The Luna Blaster gets her revenge on me, but the splatting is mutual.

It's been a solid couple of minutes for me in this battle, and now it's my turn to super-jump in to trouble. A bit more caution the next time, but I still make a mistake by staying directly in the path of the advancing Luna Blaster. I'm really lucky to make that splat mutual. A bit more care of our Splat Zone helps us, and a squidmate splats the Luna Blaster looming above me.

I get a nice Seeker splat and look to flank the active Inkzooka. I don't manage it, and get caught between that inkling and an impending super-jumper, which gets me splatted. But I somehow also splat the super-jumper before I succumb to green ink. As it is the Luna Blaster again, I think it's just fate balancing out all the times Lunas have got me frustrated. Thanks, fate, this has been fun!

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Tags: carbon roller deco, console, moray towers, splat zones, splatoon, wii u

Ninja Squiding the Splat Zones (4-1, Carbon Roller Deco)

Inking the Splat Zones, inking some turf. Building some charge, launching Seekers, fleeing green ink. It's a pretty standard start to the battle, except perhaps with my being more conscientious about keeping the Splat Zones inked.

I get a splat from take care of the Splat Zones too. I launch a Seeker and let it do its thing, turning back to cover over some green ink. When I go back to the Seeker's trail, my ninja squidding takes me right up to a Hydra Splatling winding up. He never saw what hit him.

I follow-up with a decent splat in the Splat Zone, even if it takes me two flicks to get, and even squid away from, and not directly in to, a Suction Bomb. But my Seeker Rush goes a bit awry, perhaps distracted by a ghostly trail of green ink passing underneath me. It was a premonition of the near future.

I come back and sneak around the Splat Zones, where I catch the Hydra Splatling unawares again. He should probably be on higher turf. More turf coverage, and I head back to catch the Carbon Roller in the ink. Nice! A bit more rolling and the battle ends abruptly in our favour. Woomy!

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Tags: carbon roller deco, console, splat zones, splatoon, walleye warehouse, wii u

ARMS Test Punch with only a little bit of button mashing!

I played Min Min from the start, and didn't really change my weapons. I think I found what I liked early, and I can experiment when ARMS is released.

In the first Test Punch session I was completely rubbish and had no idea what I was doing. In the second Test Punch session I ignored motion controls and started to get a better idea of what's going on.

This is the fourth Test Punch session, and I still wouldn't say I am any good, but I mostly know what the buttons do, and feel mildly competitive.

These are just a few of the battles, where I don't look like I'm button mashing too much. I might upload a few more when I get more time to review them.

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Tags: arms, min min, switch, test punch