Twice the splats in Rainmaker (14-7, Carbon Roller Deco)

Will a Seeker drive over the podium? I give it a go, because the launch routes from the base are limited, and it does. That's handy. Otherwise pushing forwards with a Seeker at the start of this battle goes a bit awry, and an Echolocator discourages me from going far on my return. At least I practice some caution as some green ink flies my way, and pop up with some good timing.

The green team takes a moderate lead early on, but with that lead comes a lot of green ink, pretty much covering all the turf up to the Rainmaker. We really need to do something about that, and I do what I can, which includes a nice splat against an inkling trying to sneak around our side. Pushing forwards whilst Echolocated is risky, but works when the other team isn't paying attention, and my Seekers seek the Carbon Roller from behind.

I try to keep as much turf purple as possible, which makes it look like I'm just running laps, but I also need to avoid green ink coming my way. I squid up to support the Rainmaker with a Seeker Rush, and drop down to try to make more Seekers count. I think my run is over when I end up next to a Suction Bomb, but it's okay, as it doesn't splat me. Another inkling has that covered.

I am perhaps a little too keen to cover green ink near our base, but the intent is good. And although inking walls does nothing in Turf War, stopping easy vertical routes for the other team is always a good idea in Ranked battles. My squidmates take the lead with a decent Rainmaker push, and I win the little battle of Seekers through the open Rainmaker, before dropping down to help my squidmates chase an inkling.

I think about heading around the side of the green team, but they pick up the Rainmaker, and I decide to head back to help more directly. I get splatted instead, as do my squidmates, but so it goes. Now the green team can push relatively freely, and our lead looks to be in danger. I do some nifty manoeuvring up and down to avoid a Rainmaker blast and green ink, popping up to get a couple of good splats. Sadly, neither is on the Rainmaker, who sends another blast that splats me before walking in to a more commanding lead.

We get the Rainmaker back easily enough, and push forwards as a team quite effectively. Again my Seekers come in handy, and we get the Rainmaker a good distance forwards. We lose it a couple of times but recover and keep pushing, and I am there to help until I squid up on to a ledge that has a waiting Suction Bomb.

A nicely timed Killer Wail looks like it will help keep our push alive, and I super-jump back to try to provide support, but as the seconds tick down the Rainmaker is lost, and we don't have time to recover it. Never mind, it was a pretty fun battle!

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

Rushing to the goal in Rainmaker (3-2, Carbon Roller Deco)

Okay, some stuff happens in this battle, but I'm less interested in that than the results. We have a level 18 inkling go 11-2 with a Splattershot Jr, when the rest of the team doesn't get more than 3 splats. That can only be a smurf, an experienced player starting again with a new inkling. I want to talk about the effect of smurfing.

My general understanding of smurfing is to see how quickly you can get back to your previous ranking, which is normally S+, either just out of general curiosity, to make a change from the norm, or to stream the quick progress. The low level and relatively high ranking is normally a giveaway for a smurf, and I'm seeing more and more of them lately.

The ranking system, however, is not in place as a measure of your skill. That is a contingent thing. The ranking system is in place to help match similarly skilled players against each other, which is made more transparent by showing every player's rank.

The ranking system breaks down when players start new inklings, because the skill of the player, built up over an extended period of time gaining experience specific to the game, is not also reset. What we have in this battle is literally an S+ player in our A- battle.

The results of this discrepancy in skill are marked and obvious. Sure, we won, and gained ranking points, but what I thought was a good battle for the team was nothing of the sort. We were carried. And the other team gets stomped by a player who is objectively better than them, and would never be in a matched battle with them under normal conditions.

Neither side wins. I would argue the smurf doesn't win either. I've been in a battle with newbies, and it wasn't fun for me, and it sure wasn't fun for them. And the smurf has to play dozens of battles before getting close to the rank where they start to be challenged. That's a lot of players the smurf is frustrating on their way back to the top.

Encountering the occasional smurf is irritating but tolerable. But when you start encountering them in what feels like every other battle, it can get very annoying, particularly when I am trying to improve and know I need the practice. The ranking system is meant to help me with this, but smurfs break the ranking system.

Maybe the smurfs don't really notice their effect on the other players. But it can be obvious. And, for me, when I'm already struggling with trying to improve and occasional latency issues, a smurf is yet another frustration, one that could actually be fixed with a bit of consideration.

But we won the battle, I suppose. Woomy.

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

Doing just enough in Rainmaker (13-6, Carbon Roller Deco)

I'm not sure why I have trouble finding puddles of my own ink, but I still do. That's okay, as it's obvious and just a little adjustment is needed so that I can recharge my ink tank and launch a Seeker. The first is a bit of a dud, seeking an inkling not on a straight path. The second gets a nice splat.

I am having to catch up to the Rainmaker a bit too early in the battle for my liking, but doing so lets me be behind the yellow team, which lets me a get a splat. A quickly launched Seeker gets instant revenge, though. I come back launching more Seekers, letting them do the work of inking turf where the yellow team are, and hopefully stopping their advance. But they can't stop a Kraken.

There's a bit of a brouhaha on our side of the map as the yellow inklings try to clear a path before bursting the Rainmaker's Shield, and just when I think I've splatted the main culprit, the Carbon Roller Deco pops up from the puddles and shows me I haven't. And a pesky N-ZAP appears in the background too. This isn't looking good.

The yellow turf looks dangerous, but I can't stay out of it for too long. Thankfully, a squidmate made a quick move with the Rainmaker, dropping it from our mezzanine to the lower level, and the yellow inklings follow. One still tries to blaze a trail, but I spot his squidding and flick the quickest.

I try to use my Seeker Rush to its potential, but have the good sense to interrupt it to flick at a pair of yellow inklings squidding up the wall. I get one splat, keep myself unsplatted, and still manage to get a Seeker splat behind the Rainmaker, even if it's not quite in time to prevent us losing the Rainmaker.

A lucky guess splats who I suppose is the Carbon Roller behind a Seeker, and an exchange of Inkstrikes bursts the Rainmaker's Shield but keeps the Rainmaker our of yellow tentacles. And although it looks like one yellow inkling is gone, given the puff of yellow dust, four squids reappear at the top of the screen soon enough. I guess he went for a swim.

Going in to yellow territory nearly has my timing going wrong, but I survive and launch a Seeker Rush, which works well on this level but can't really compete with Seekers launched from above. I see a yellow Instrike, and the yellow team have the Rainmaker. I see the carrier jinking and do the same, managing to intercept him for the splat. I also remember that trying to squid past the Rainmaker's Shield over water is a bit too hazardous, and don't attempt it.

An inkling behind a Seeker becomes a Kraken. Pausing to let it past looks like an opportunity to stop the Rainmaker again, but a well-timed and position Inkstrike forces me to go the long way around. I splat a squidding inkling, but can't get to the Rainmaker in time to stop us losing the lead by a point.

We burst the Shield, grab the Rainmaker, but for some reason I think heading around the back is a better idea than direct support, even though we only need to get the Rainmaker just over the ledge to get the lead back. Naturally, we lose the Rainmaker early, and I am nowhere near being helpful. Then again, as I turn the corner, I splat the Carbon Roller just as the Rainmaker's Shield bursts, which feels like an advantage.

I drop down to keep on splatting, but something's wrong. Ah, I've picked up the Rainmaker by mistake. I roll with it, and manage to direct a full-power blast out to splat the immediate threat, and decide to follow the ink. Now that was a good idea. Just getting to the top of the other ledge gives us back the lead. Going the long way around and falling on the Rainmaker worked out after all!

I don't keep the Rainmaker for long, but my squidmates are there to apply a bit of pressure, enough for me to squid back as the yellow team retake possession. I think I'm positioned well to stop their advance, even with an Inkstrike coming down, until a Seeker from behind surprises me. But with little time left, and my squidmates returning, the battle is won. Only just, but enough. Woomy!

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Tags: bluefin depot, carbon roller deco, console, rainmaker, splatoon, wii u

Some splats in Rainmaker (13-6, Tri-slosher)

I wasn't taking a look around as the battle starts, my cat had just brought in a mouse and I managed to get it isolated and safe before rushing back to my Gamepad. I didn't miss much, and I don't get splatted by the Rainmaker's Shield.

A little to-and-fro with Point Sensors and Disruptors gets both teams nowhere, and the first head-on encounter has a Kraken head towards me with a Bubbler prepared. I push through the Kraken to where the rest of the inklings are, and splat two, with a third splatted by a squidmate.

That squidmate grabs the Rainmaker and takes the lead nicely. I follow a bit behind, and take my time to try to stop the next push. My stealthy approach works pretty well. I just about squid out of the way of a Splat Bomb, and push forwards to find the thrower. And I keep going. I don't have a Disruptor to make it easier, but my Bubbler is ready again, making me safe.

We're not getting the Rainmaker to the podium this time, and my little sprint is pretty much a wasted endeavour. The saving grace is that, on my way back, I splat the Rainmaker easily from behind, and two of the support inklings as well. With no support of my own around, I ink turf instead of bursting the shield, and dodge the brush's Splat Bombs again. There's no dodging an Inkzooka from that range, though.

A nice bit of sloshing stops the Rainmaker again, but not too effectively. I am caught by the Rainmaker's blast and in the crossfire of two support inklings, and they stick around the grab the Rainmaker again and push for the lead, which the yellow team gets. I suppose a little desperation sets in early as I try to stem the expansion of the Rainmaker's Shield, when I should have just hung back. Silly me.

Our Carbon Roller's on his game, at least. He splats the yellow team, bursts the Rainmaker open, and makes a break for the other side of the map. I join in support, along with our other squidmates, splatting a couple of yellow inklings on our way to re-take the lead. And we go further. My Bubbler charges and I pop it, trying to keep the Rainmaker safe, but I am pushed back, exposing the Rainmaker to yellow ink. Still, we have a good lead!

We have to keep a determined yellow team from re-taking the lead for themselves. They push back quickly and hard, and get further than they did before. But we manage to hold them back. For now, at least. There's a whole lot of yellow ink around that makes it easy for them to move around. I start inking over the yellow with blue, when I spy a tell-tale shadow. I squid up, missing the passing inkling but helping splat a super-jumper, popping my Bubbler just in time to defuse a Splat Bomb under my feet.

All that's left to do is keep the Rainmaker safe for a few more seconds. With most of the yellow team currently out of action, it's pretty simple task. A win for the blue team, woomy!

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

Bombs be my downfall in Splat Zones (10-2, Carbon Roller Deco)

Coming up against a a .52 Gal that splats me reliably with one hit, a Carbon Roller that splats me after I splat him, and a Splattershot Jr, of all weapons, that splats me a second after I splat him, I have a stint down in B+. I come straight back up, but it's only to A- again. I'm not having a good run really.

I try to concentrate on my battling rather than try too hard to get splats, so that I will actually improve. I'm pretty sure I've said this before, but somehow I keep forgetting. Or running in to latency-transcending inklings. But I definitely have to take responsibility for how I play.

My first good decision is to see the Splatterscope on the other team and, although I note her appearance, I don't make it my mission to splat her. I take a more sensible route for a Carbon Roller down the side, to open up the Splat Zone whilst remaining on cover. My second good decision is when my Seeker hits a wall early. I don't launch another to keep going along the side, just in case a yellow inkling is coming over the ramp. Nope, look to the Splat Zones.

A nice bit of movement and timing, helped by checking the gamepad, bags me a couple of decent splats early, and my Ninja Squid probably saves me from the Splatterscope. I move in when our own charger lays down some ink, but she's moved, so I retreat. I see a cluster of inklings, but there is too much ink for me to move in safely, so I look for another way. A squidmate splats them first, which suits me just fine.

The Splatterscope appears again, but a squidmate with a blaster is on top of it. I move forwards when it looks clear, but realise that I'm in the middle of a Splat Bomb Rush and try to turn around. I should have kept going forwards, though. That was kinda funny and disappointing at the same time.

I go back to the Splat Zone and miss a super-jumper, lose her trail, but still get a splat. Maybe it wasn't the same inkling. I move forwards to look for the other one, wondering if she's behind the inflatable, but a flick says no, and a Suction Bomb and Splat Bomb say retreat. But I have a Seeker Rush that should counter their ink, at least.

The Rush gets a splat, inks some turf, and lets me mostly get to the Splatterscope's perch stealthily. She must be scoping, as I get two flicks to splat her, before rolling around to ink the Splat Zone. All looks good for the moment, and we take the lead. Nice! I spy some trouble, though, and run to help, realising that a Seeker would be better. I don't get the splat, and the trouble becomes a Kraken. My Ninja Squid shirt should keep me safe, as long as I don't back myself in to a Suction Bomb.

That's a lot of ink around our base. That makes it difficult for us to move in, and easy for yellow inklings to hide in. I'm not having that, so I take care of the problem, right at the source. I move around the back to interrupt the Splatterscope's Splat Bomb Rush, and find the N-ZAP where I want her to be. Thanks for the 'Nice!', squidmate!

Hey, look, I avoid a Suction Bomb! That's progress. And I may not quite anticipate an inkling coming around a corner well enough, but at least I don't stick around where I would get in to trouble. Close by, though, but we have the turf to help with that.

A squidmate and I splat the Splatterscope again, and share another 'Nice!', just in time for the knockout victory to be declared in our favour. That was a good battle. Woomy!

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

Still going down in Rainmaker (14-4, Carbon Roller Deco)

My rank continues to drop, so I swap out away from practicing with different weapons and head for my favourites. It doesn't really help. That is, my battling gets more reliable personally, but I can only do so much. Still, I love the Carbon Roller Deco, and I love Moray Towers, and as long as I remain having fun all is well.

An indirect route to the bottom of Moray Towers seems appropriate. Heading along the side stops me getting splatted early for silly reasons, and lets me see what's happening, so that I can drop down on to an inkling. The central area is ours to start with, and the Rainmaker is moved forwards.

I retreat away from a Killer Wail and head up and around the side, getting the drop on an inkling on the perch, and another I had no idea was there. I have to move down to try to recover the now-lost Rainmaker, but running out of ink is a problem. At least I can get away, and don't jump in to the Killer Wail.

As I can't dive after the Rainmaker, I wait for an inkling to come to me instead. Here comes one now, heralded by a Suction Bomb. It's a shame he's not the one to reach me first, really. But I come back soon enough, and head the same way as before. Again, the height advantage pays off, as does being sneaky and spotting some new purple ink behind me.

A Seeker Rush inks some turf and provides me a nice path to move through, which puts me in just the right place to stop a Suction Bomb Rush, but it is a shame that I completely lose track of the Rainmaker. Maybe I should have looked at the gauge at the top of the screen sooner.

I catch up with the Rainmaker, the hard way with a Carbon Roller, and help with the next push, until I'm disrupted. I look for a different way to help, but why I roll behind the Seeker, I'm not sure. And I miss the tell-tale sign of a squid until it's too late. At least I keep track of the Rainmaker on the next purple push, and stop them convincingly. Nice!

I manage not to pick up the Rainmaker whilst in the middle of a Seeker Rush, but I'm not sure the squidmate next to me realises why. A Killer Wail helps clear the way ahead, but it's the Suction Bombs from the side that we could do without. I stop them coming. I take the natural route forwards and am happy to see an inkling reveal herself in a puddle, and even being Disrupted doesn't crimp my splatting.

My squidmates look to be heading the route the purple inklings took to take the lead, which seems like a good idea, but a Killer Wail stops their progress. I get splatty revenge for them. We recover the Rainmaker, and I look to provide support, but deciding to launch a Seeker when a flick would do goes badly when I don't have the ink for a Seeker. Oops.

I suppose inking over the purple ink to help prevent an easy knockout push is a bit pointless this late in the battle, and I should concentrate on the Rainmaker itself. I should remember this. I get to the Rainmaker and take it off the purple team as time runs out, and we get some extra time to try win the battle.

It is a tall order to do in extra time what we didn't in normal time. At least we got relatively close at points, but with the Rainmaker where it is, where purple inklings can drop down on us from above, it is no surprise that the battle ends with no more movement. So it goes, and I drop a little closer to B+.

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

Splatty Rainmaker goes nowhere (14-5, Tri-slosher)

I see that Hyrda Splatling, and stupidly think it's a good idea to find and splat them immediately. So it goes that I run in to a Nozzlenose. Dunno how that happened. I see how my next splatting happens, though. I have a great idea to ambush an Inkzooka from behind, but don't want to jump in front of it, so instead I drop behind it. As it turns out, that's not a good option either.

I go back the same way again, rarely learning my lessons, but pause to consider my options. My best option, apparently, is to squid in to the Hydra Splatling with a charged Bubbler. But somehow I come out of the encounter unsplatted, and with a splat under my belt of the Nozzlenose, and continue to chase the Splatling with my own Bubbler charged! I don't think I realise it's charged, though.

Teal ink everywhere, and a Rainmaker amongst it! The only good thing about most of the team being splatted is that we are where we need to be, and press forwards at the same time to ink the turf, splat the teal team, and recover the Rainmaker. And when I push forwards to help our advance, I remember my Bubbler! Yay?

I remember the spot behind the wall where I'm safe even if the Rainmaker's Shield spreads ink everywhere, which really helps. And I finally splat the Hydra Splatling. A trip around the back goes much better than before, as does using my Bubbler, as does sloshing for the Hydra Splatling. Now we just need to make a decent push with the Rainmaker.

A sneak around the back, hoping my squidmates are taking care of the Rainmaker situation, frustrates the Nozzlenose again, which leads me back to supporting the team more directly. I even end up in front of the Rainmaker. If only I could have reacted slightly quicker to the Carbon Roller, maybe we could have pushed for the lead.

A nice bit of patience gets me a couple of splats, a third missed out on my my aim only slightly lacking. I like to think I make up for this by splatting the Rainmaker, and using a block to my advantage against the unexpecting Carbon Roller. More splats are coming, which pleases me, but I lose track of the Rainmaker, which doesn't.

Trying to get my bearings doesn't really help, mostly because I'm distracted by the Carbon Roller, and by the time I realise what we need to do, time has run out. It was a fun battle, I got a bunch of splats, but we couldn't quite get the Rainmaker where it needed to go.

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Tags: console, mahi-mahi resort, rainmaker, splatoon, tri-slosher, wii u

Doing what we can with an inkling down in Rainmaker (12-5, Tri-slosher)

Look at me go! I do enjoy my bucket. It also lets me slosh the Rainmaker's Shield from safely behind a wall. Not that it matters this time, as our green ink overwhelms the purple, and it is a purple inkling who feels the splat as a result. I'm so buoyed by this that I hop over to grab the Rainmaker, and keep on going as a Splat Bomb rolls my way.

Keeping going is fine, and normally what I do anyway, so I remain in my comfort zone as I splat a Splatterscope that's ahead of me. So far so good! But looking back sees purple everywhere, and the Rainmaker lost. I return to help out, smartly Disrupting an inkling and getting the splat, before retreating from the dangerously purple Rainmaker's Shield.

All looks okay, though, and I move back to get a splat. I get the splat, but another inkling a Splat Bomb at the Rainmaker's Shield, both exploding on contact. Well, plus me. I come back to ink some turf, and find a squidmate pondering his life choices. I try to push back against the purple advance all the same, and plan to pop my Bubbler just as I crest the ramp, but the Rainmaker, coming from an unanticipated direction, has other ideas.

The little guy in the corner is found and splatted, and my timing to engage the advance puts me the wrong side of a Splash Wall. I try to slosh from above, skirt an Inkstrike, slosh from behind, but being distracted by a super-jumper proves my undoing.

I miss splatting an inkling climbing a block to get behind us, so retreat to get him more directly, which puts me in a position to slosh on the again-advancing Rainmaker. Amusingly enough, he squids up in to my bucket, and squidding back down won't help. But there are purple inklings all around, and it gets a bit chaotic keeping track of them. Thankfully, a squidmate takes the Rainmaker away from our podium, giving me a chance to cover some turf with green ink.

It's a decent push, and the purple team are maybe in a little disarray, but get themselves nicely organised behind a Splash Wall that blocks my options, as it is designed to. But the Splash Wall is pointing in the wrong direction! My squidmate is coming from the alternative route, and gets far enough to take the lead! Nice!

The purple team push back, naturally, and our absent squidmate is definitely absent now. Once again, I try to stop the Rainmaker's advance by dropping in front of two inklings without the Rainmaker. I splat one, but the Nozzlenose pops her Bubbler. A bit of nifty manoeuvring gets me off the hook, and gets my Bubbler charged, letting me activate it as the Nozzlenose's is wearing off. Now she gives me the runaround, and I decide it best to move on.

The ramp is a better shield than I could hope for, and lets me be there to splat the Rainmaker. I squid around the back to see if I can poke some inklings, and back up to the Rainmaker to hopefully surprise some instead. I manage to find one, but unfortunately there are more on the other side of the Rainmaker's Shield, who grab the Rainmaker and make a bee-line for our podium. This time there's no one around to stop them.

Oh well. We put up a good fight for being an inkling down, and it was an excellent push from a squidmate that must have been felt by the purple team. I think we did well.

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Tags: console, mahi-mahi resort, rainmaker, splatoon, tri-slosher, wii u

Inking the way for the Rainmaker (7-4, Tri-slosher)

It's always good to get close to the Rainmaker as soon as possible, but rarely good to get next to it as soon as possible. So I get close and decide what's going on first. Bumping in to a rolling squidmate makes me think the way ahead can't be too hazardous, and I see that the Rainmaker's Shield is green-ish, so I push ahead and help burst it.

It's probably not safe to grab the Rainmaker right now, as I can't see any support nearby. Instead, I act as support, and move towards trouble. Thankfully, I avoid the trouble and get one splat, as the Rainmaker squids past me. He takes the trouble, though, and all I can do is avenge him.

An Echolocator and charger bearing down on me doesn't make me feel safe, and it's soon shown that I'm not safe. I am hit by another Echolocator on my return, which is annoying, and I'm not sure what my options are. Start again, it seems.

I see the Inkstrike before it happens, but from too far away to prevent it. I try to catch the inkling who launched the strike, but he squids backwards unexpectedly, and I am a bit lucky to get away myself. Another Echolocator hits me, but thankfully the only inkling around to hit me is the Splat Charger at close range, and my bucket keeps me going.

I search for the Rainmaker, and find it half-way up a wall. A minor diversion with a Tri-slosher uses up my Bubbler, and I'm up the wall and grabbing the Rainmaker. Well, not quite up the wall, and I struggle more than I should to get up to the top, but I'm determined to make it.

I get us a decent lead by reaching the top of the wall. If only I had got up there sooner it would be greater, but never mind. The Rainmaker is still where I dropped it, and it looks safe to super-jump to a squidmate. I don't quite protect our charger, but clear the area anyway, and as squdimates are coming behind me I leave the Rainmaker to them and start inking the path to the podium.

I catch the Inkstriker before he can regain his bearings, and ink right up to the podium. The Splat Charger is back, but I get his attention and splat him as another blue inkling drops down. I'm happy to take the ink, because a squidmate with the Rainmaker squids up behind me, to the top of the podium, dunking the Rainmaker! Woomy!

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Tags: console, moray towers, rainmaker, splatoon, tri-slosher, wii u

Being a bit better in Tower Control (13-4, Carbon Roller Deco)

I've had another run of mediocre battles. I am simply losing my chill, forgetting what I'm trying to learn. I realise this and resolve to do better. I think I achieve that here. I lay down some ink and pause to assess the situation. I get a bit lucky getting a mid-air splat, but I suppose it helps to hide when my squidmate doesn't, and double it up with some quick flicking.

Another pause, and it looks clear to push the Tower a bit. It doesn't stay clear, of course, but getting the Seeker Rush working at the right moment, and knowing not to stubbornly stay on the Tower, helps keep me unsplatted a little longer. Even getting bumped off the Tower by a Burst Bomb is a blessing in disguise, what with an angled Killer Wail engulfing the Tower moments later.

The green inklings defend in force, and the inky pressure with little purple ink around me has my finally succumbing. Not a bad start, though. I come back still trying to be cautious but assertive, aiming for the Carbon Roller when it looks plausible, squidding over the Tower when the moment's gone, and inking some turf as a contingency. And when the dust settles, we are back in control.

I try to jump off the Tower across to the green team's ledge, but misjudge it to the point of not actually jumping. Not a problem. I squid ahead in some ink handily rolled earlier to see what I can do instead. Not much, really, just watch as we lose the Tower, and mis-time a chase on the Splattershot. Oh well.

I get a nice jump on the Carbon Roller, but the Splattershot disappears for a bit. I sensibly don't give chase to an inkling I can't see, but ink some turf. The Splattershot reappears with the Burst Bomb Rush, which I avoid until it's over, dropping down afterwards to defend the Tower. Once down there, I press forwards and around the side, pretty much inking turf, but having an idea what to do with my charged Seeker Rush.

Nifty footwork doesn't save the Carbon Roller from my Seekers rushing towards her, and although the Splattershot tries to use some nifty footwork I think it just makes her look a bit silly. I am splatted more from my own folly of being surrounded by green ink, which I really shouldn't have got myself in to.

Hanging on the wall lets me time a flick on the Tower nicely, and although I pause perhaps a second too long, the Inkzooka is a fat target for my Carbon Roller too. The Tower isn't quite clear, and dropping down in front of it lets me get a good flick to get one more inkling off. But a super-jumper is incoming, who I also splat. Does it count as a quad-splat if the first and fourth splats are the same inkling? I don't suppose so. At least the Tower is clear!

Another smart move is turning myself to see the inked wall below me, giving me a prime view of a green inkling coming my way. This lets me time my splat to perfection. This is the smarter thinking I would like to do more often. I don't know if it's smart to celebrate with a 'Nice!' just as a Luna Blaster starts hitting you on the Tower, but apart from getting me splatted one last time, it doesn't seem to affect the battle. A victory! And a decent battle for me! Woomy!

Posted in Gaming | Comments Off on Being a bit better in Tower Control (13-4, Carbon Roller Deco)
Tags: carbon roller deco, console, flounder heights, splatoon, tower control, wii u