Forward pressure in Rainmaker (4-1, Tri-slosher)

Okay, I said it's easier to move from the Carbon Roller to the Tri-slosher, but the evening starts with Rainmaker on Moray Towers and Arowana Mall. This calls for the bucket! Once again, it seems like all the cool kids come out to play on a Monday night, so the battles get quite tough, but I can still hold my own most of the time.

I choose a different route to the centre at the start of this battle. The right-hand corridor feels quicker, but you can't see a thing about what's happening, particularly if there is a charger just over the other side. At least this way I can see what's happening and decide what to do from there. Charge in, apparently.

Of course I try to sneak around the back. Why not? Mostly because the perch has been cleared by excellent squidmates by the time I get there. But I have inked a path, am in a good position, and the Rainmaker is available. I can make this work, particularly with an Echolocator active.

My squidmates make it work better than me, although perhaps my already inked path has paid off. The Rainmaker speeds to the final and most dangerous ridge, right before the podium, as quickly as I can get there. I try to shield the Rainmaker, but the ink coming over the top can be relentless. Still, we've got this far!

I see a gap, squid for it, and am stopped in mid-air. I'm not even mad. And I can always super-jump back, as can my squidmates, to keep the pressure as relentless as the green ink. I take the opportunity to squeeze through a gap to gain an advantage, and I clear the area. If only I had more ink!

A squidmate is coming to my position. It may not be the best position, though, so I move out to make it safer. Up the top looks to be good, it's where the green inklings are. And from there I can slosh, splat, and ink, not quite in time to help my squidmate dunk the Rainmaker, but everything is coming up purple.

My Bubbler is charged, my ink tank is full, and there are no green inklings around. I empty my tank on the Rainmaker's Shield, grab the Rainmaker, and make the short dash up a remaining patch of purple on the podium. Dunking woomy!

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

Stealing the glory in Rainmaker (3-3, Tri-slosher)

I rush to the centre of Arowana Mall, as I tend to,but with the intention of sneaking around the back. I am stalled by a similar inkling from the other team, and have a squidmate to thank for my not getting splatted so soon. I don't last too much longer, mind you, but that's par for the course.

I make it up the side route easily the next time, but exercise a little caution in case the Roller is waiting again. I'm sure she likes this route too, judging by the Beakon she's left. But I'm okay, and come out looking to slosh the Rainmaker from above.

I hear the Kraken transformation and take evasive manoeuvres, escaping nicely. I need to move back anyway, as the Rainmaker is going that way. My sloshing is a little weak, but I get my splat in the end, our good lead barely under threat.

Avoiding the Suction Bomb was good, and once again the Rainmaker is deep in purple territory. An Inkzooka discourages me from pursuing it directly, so I take the newly coated side route again, turning it teal once more. But I only go so far, as it's clear the Rainmaker is going in another direction to the middle.

It's a bold leap in to purple ink, but I have my Bubbler ready so it's pretty safe, at least to start with. I retreat when it seems like a good idea, and head around the side again, where two inklings are grouped nice and close together. There's no way I can miss both, right?

I think I do well to avoid the Splatling, but clearly I wasn't paying enough attention to the Kraken just behind me, who transforms back in to the Roller in time to splat me. I return to face the Roller almost head on, and am perhaps a little to cautious in my approach. But I remain unsplatted, and my squidmates are very much in control of the Rainmaker again.

The purple team take the Rainmaker out of bounds to save them some time, which isn't a bad ploy, but with so much turf being our colour it means we grab the Rainmaker again easily, whilst the purple team are trying to regain some turf control. I push a higher still this time, feeling like the knockout victory is close, and ink the podium, but the Roller is ready and waiting.

I super-jump back to the action with impeccable timing. I drop down just as the Rainmaker shield is burst, and manage to grab it and squid on to the podium in one fluid movement. That was the first time I touched the Rainmaker too. But it was my squidmates who made the victory possible. Woomy!

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

So much splatting in Tower Control (19-7, Tri-slosher)

A bit of aggression mixed with caution at the start of this battle. It's a pretty good mix, getting me a splat and keeping me safe. If it weren't for the Splattershot Jr's Bubbler, I probably would have kept going longer. But such is the Bubbler, and I know how useful it is.

I use my own Bubbler shortly after. It is a bit shortly too, or maybe I just don't react and turn quickly enough, particularly as an Echolocator highlights the inkling I'm after effectively. A Disruptor marks inklings pretty well too, as does their jumping around.

The conveyer belts work really well to get you out of trouble. They speed up your movement, and throw you out of a one-way system. Pretty handy. That sets me on a happy streak of Echolocated targets with a Bubbler ready. So many splats so early in the battle.

I am a bit cautious when Echolocated myself, and manage to stay out of harm's way pretty well. Once the effect drops off, I'm hit with a Point Locator, and I use the conveyer belt to escape again. In the wrong direction, admittedly, but it works out for the best. And with a Bubbler ready again, I think I can ride the Tower a bit past the purple team.

Seven splats before I'm splatted. That's a good streak! As I return, I go the long way around, finding again that it often pays to approach from an unexpected direction. And sometimes you just want to get there quickly. I'd have preferred to splat that inkling whilst he was jumping, to rain ink everywhere, but we can't have everything.

My only regret about splatting the Sloshing Machine so much is their damned Haunt kit. It doesn't matter so much when my Bubbler is ready, but even that doesn't stop me being knocked off the Tower when we're just a few points from the knockout victory, and an opposition Bubbler stops us getting back on the Tower quite effectively.

The purple team get a decent push finally, but our defence holds out pretty well. I manage to hold off a Blaster that Disrupts me, and squid away from what looks like a Ninja Squid. I can't quite survive until the end of the battle, but the Tower is cleared before we hit extra time. Victory is ours, woomy!

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Tags: console, piranha pit, splatoon, tower control, tri-slosher, wii u

Inky support in Tower Control (9-1, Tri-slosher)

The purple team are off to a flying start! Or one inkling is, which isn't quite enough to do much with the Tower, and we chase her off pretty quickly. I wonder where the other purple inklings are. Just slightly behind their first, it seems.

I climb up the Heights again to slosh ink from above, probably the best position for me to be, and try to relieve the pressure up here, and on to the Tower when my little bucket can reach.

Not many splats for me for a while, but I'm sure my ink from above is helping my squidmates. Both with stopping the Tower, and with moving it in the right direction too, which simply means swapping sides.

A bit further and I need to be more direct. The Disruptor discourages inklings from engaging the Tower, and to push even further I have my Bubbler ready. Sadly, we don't keep the Tower just as I jump down to strike.

My optimism for us keeping the Tower, and defending it when we don't, is just a little misplaced. I should perhaps be retreating to cover the Tower, but there seems to be enough turf to cover and inklings to splat up here. Never the less, we lose the lead.

But when we retake control of the Tower, there is enough turf turned yellow to make progress quick and easy. It even looks like we'll go back in to the lead, particularly as I am pushed off the Heights with Bubbler active, but at the crucial moment two of us squid off the Tower to push ahead. One of us should have stayed behind.

Jonny seems pretty happy with splatting me. That same celebration comes back to splat him in the arse a little later. Still, it doesn't stop him from being on the winning team, so celebrate away, Jonny.

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Tags: console, flounder heights, splatoon, tower control, tri-slosher, wii u

Finally taking control in Tower Control (9-5, Carbon Roller Deco)

I'm not sure I approve of the trade at the start of this battle. I am trying to be cautious, inking some turf, and not getting in to trouble. But the number of times I am splatted by falling ink is getting on my nerves a bit. Still, at least my Seekers splats someone in exchange. That will have to do for now.

It's a bold move to go around and try to go up the side of Flounder Heights with a Carbon Roller, Cotton. Let's see how it pays off. Well, it's not so much the manoeuvre as getting surrounded by a Suction Bomb Rush that's the problem. It's still a problem, though.

I wait for the Tower to come to surprise-splat the rider, but a squidmate does it sooner. Cool, let's move on. Nope, a green inkling gets back on, so let's wait for the Tower. I jump and try to surprise-splat, but the column on the Tower still confuses my Roller instincts, and a Suction Bomb is not a welcoming sight. I clear the Tower, though, and, well, not quite jump on.

Fourth time lucky getting up the wall, and that's thanks to a squidmate, but it lets me use my Seeker Rush, and that lets me close with an inkling. Okay, that's better. I get the Tower back by avoiding another Suction Bomb Rush, but don't stick on it. I'm probably not the best inkling to do that for our team.

I wait for a good moment to jump the Tower. This isn't it, but seeing the Killer Wail being adjusted below me is a good enough target. Now I can move on to the Tower. Maybe I am the best inkling to ride the Tower. I don't think the Carbon Roller is best suited for the task, but a well-timed Seeker Rush comes in handy.

I ride the Tower quite a distance, obviously thanks to some good support from my squidmates. I am splatted off a short distance from the goal, but my squidmates are there to keep the Tower moving. Woomy!

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Tags: carbon roller deco, console, flounder heights, splatoon, tower control, wii u

Turning the tables in Splat Zones (6-3, Carbon Roller Deco)

Phew, what I think is a defensive start goes poorly, as a Splattershot Pro blasts me from a rising platform. It can't get much worse, right? Maybe the side route offers a better launch point for my Seekers. Nope, blocks or platforms in the way. Fair enough.

I know that ramp goes nowhere, I'm just building up charge for my Seeker Rush. And there she blows! I just need to find a good place to use it. The platform will do, where a Splash Wall presents no problem for a rush of Seekers.

I don't quite jump on to the purple side of the map at the end of the Rush, but maybe that's for the best, as the Splat Zones are entirely the wrong colour. It's nice to see another Roller with aiming difficulties too. But before I get too comfortable, I am reminded of the importance of turf control. You can't hide in the other team's ink.

I then try to work out how to cancel a Sub-weapon launch, and don't quite manage it. Maybe squidding would have done it, maybe I tried that, I dunno. I got confused and just had to release. But it looks like we have a trouble inkling outside our base. I probably shouldn't engage him, but the lure is strong.

Okay, he's not actually hiding there. And my Seeker Rush gives me the opportunity to press on, after which I spy an inkling lying in wait and get a good splat. That lets me ink the Splat Zones a bit, and my squidmates are right alongside me.

A sneaker Seeker clears the way for a purple turf incursion, keeping the Splat Zones yellow for a bit longer, and opening the possibility of turning the battle around. A short patrol, and maybe I can go around the back this time. A Seeker Rush makes that a good idea, and I somehow launch a Seeker on a massive curve to get quite the improbably splat. Nice! I still don't quite see what I did.

We turned turf control around, and our counter just keeps ticking down. Not even a mutual splat on an inkling fresh from setting a Killer Wail can dampen my spirits, as we take the lead. Our counter isn't stopped either, and I only have time for a short celebration dance when I reappear back at the base. Woomy!

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

Some good splats in the Splat Zones (11-5, Carbon Roller Deco)

Camp Triggerfish Splat Zones has been going well for me with the Carbon Roller Deco tonight, so I start this battle as I have the others. I would say it works even better than usual, but I don't think I really had a hand in it.

Even so, I keep the good start going, launching the occasional Seeker towards the green base, lurking for surprise splats, and retreating when it seems like a good idea. This keeps me unsplatted for a surprising length of time.

Nothing lasts forever, particularly when water is involved, and I manage to break my streak by diving off the platform like an uncoordinated drunk. Still, we have a huge lead, that mistake probably won't matter.

Seeing green up ahead, I take the direct route and return our Splat Zone to a nice shade of blue, before heading around the side, across the bridge, to return to the other Splat Zone. I think I do well in splatting the Kraken, but a green inkling has other ideas. We agree to disagree.

Echolocators are really annoying with the Carbon Roller, more so when enjoying Ninja Squid normally. I have to do my best to hide in other ways and be unpredictable whilst its on me. I must be doing okay, as I close with the Splatterscope effectively.

My Seeker Rush turns the Splatterscopes splatting in to a triple splat, but my timing between the Suction Bombs is not up to scratch. And I think I'm on for another mutit-splat when I return, but my flick catches just the one of the pair of inklings, and I am quickly overwhelmed by the survivor and his friend. So it goes.

I think I've got the drop on a Gal, but he squids quicker than I expect. At least I am sensible and keep myself in our own ink, which results in a rather good Seeker splat on the Gal's return. I even stay safe and unsplatted when forced in to cover behind a block. Usually, I jump ahead in to inevitable doom. This is progress.

My doom comes anyway, but it is by a bit of bad luck with the timing, and I get two more splats out of it, so that's pretty good. As the clock runs down, the Splat Zones need a little bit of attention. I stay behind the much better suited Dynamo Roller to start with, then apply my own kind of pressure, and we end the battle victorious.

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Tags: camp triggerfish, carbon roller deco, console, splat zones, splatoon, wii u

Keeping it teal in Splat Zones (9-4, Carbon Roller Deco)

I'm starting with the Carbon Roller Deco tonight, if only because it seems easier for me to go from this to the Tri-slosher than the other way around, and I'd like the option of both weapons. Splat Zones works well for the Carbon Roller, although Ancho-V Games is a little less open than Camp Triggerfish, the alternative map.

I've not quite worked out how to get the best out of my Seekers, but I imagine not launching them in to an obstacle would be a good first step. At least I have learnt not to keep approaching an inkling backing out of range, which lets me move on to get a splat elsewhere.

The Roller is great for covering the Splat Zones quickly, but it does leave me vulnerable, more so the Carbon variant because it takes two attempts to squish anyone. Flicking is the way to go, and that doesn't cover nearly as much turf.

I spot an Inkstrike being launched in the corner, and squid over there as quickly and subtly as I can. With purple patches in the way, the brush sees me coming, but my flick is quick and I get two splats instead of one. I have a bit of a purple patch, meeting a Kraken in a tight spot, and advancing when I shouldn't, but it's short.

The next Kraken I meet swims past me, which suits me fine, but he has the brush for back-up and I'm an ink blotch anyway. But I'm perked up with an accidental Seeker splat, followed by keeping the Splat Zones clear of purple threats.

Concentrating on turf coverage allows all of us free movement, and me the ability to pop up out of nowhere for a surprise splat here and there. But my squidmates are keeping the purple team busy enough, and I just patrol as the timer ticks down to a knockout victory. Woomy!

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

Splatting around the Splat Zones (19-4, Carbon Roller Deco)

After revisiting the Splatterscope and Tri-slosher, it's taken me a few battles to remember how to best use the Carbon Roller Deco, but I think it's coming back to me. I take my time inking some turf at the start of the battle, as turf control is vital for the Carbon Roller, and help splat an inkling trying to sneak behind us, and get a lucky Seeker splat too. Nice!

The Splatterscope has seen me! I've seen him too, and duck behind some art to avoid his immediate attention as I finish my Seeker Rush. I use that ink to get close to the Splatterscope and get the splat, but am splat from behind as soon as I do. So it goes!

I falter a little trying to get to the yellow side of the museum, but my second attempt is better, and I spot an inkling dropping in to their ink. That's an easy splat. I try not to stay vulnerable there, and see a better opportunity below me. A Seeker Rush inks some turf, as does a squidmate's Inkstrike, and we're back in control.

I pause to take stock, and strike when the opportunity presents itself. Splatting the Gal from behind his Splash Wall isn't as smooth as I'd like, but I get the splat and don't succumb to the Carbon Roller Deco that drops on top of me. The sound of an Inkzooka makes me retreat, but a friendly Killer Wail lets me move forwards again.

Backwards once more, as I'm not sticking around that close to the yellow base with an Echolocator on me, but that's okay, as it finds me a couple more inklings a bit too close to each other for their own good. That's a nice triple for me.

I keep my streak going, somehow dodging Seekers and getting the jump on the Carbon Roller rolling towards me. But my focus drifts, and I don't realise that the .52 Gal is not on my team, not until he splats me, anyway. Straight back in to the action, and a double splat with brilliant echo awaits. That's a keeper.

I muck up harassing the Splatterscope, and although a friendly Killer Wail splats the Splatterscope when I find him next, at least I make it over the yellow Killer Wail, and splat its owner soon after. Back around and up to the other side, and my ink sense tingles. I find the source and splat it.

I somehow avoid another Seeker Rush and splat its owner, before throwing out a 'Nice!' for a squidmate splatting an Inkzooka. Back to the Splat Zones and the Carbon Roller goes under my Carbon Roller, before I Ninja Squid my way towards the Splatterscope.

The Carbon Roller is back, and rolling fast around the Zones. I miss him twice on his way around, and decide just to wait for his next past. I turn my attention back to the Splatterscope, but a nicely thrown Splat Bomb gets him to squid back a bit. I should let him go, but I am feeling lucky.

Okay, I'm not that lucky. But that last splat lets me check the counter, and throw out a well-earned 'Nice!' for the team, as we complete the knockout victory a second later. Woomy!

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Tags: carbon roller deco, console, game of fame, museum d'alfonsino, splat zones, splatoon, wii u

Hard-fought Splat Zones (9-9, Carbon Roller Deco)

Splat Zones aren't going well for me so far this evening. Arguably, they still aren't. I'm trying to use my Carbon Roller Deco more to its advantages now, as the switch from the Tri-slosher made me a little aggressive in its use.

I can't do much without inked turf, so I try to keep the turf inked and hold back a bit more, but it's difficult when the other team manages to push so high. I can't even roll turf effectively without being vulnerable. It can be a tricky balance.

After the first splat, I head down the right-hand ledge. Un unusual route, I have to admit, as it doesn't take me near our Splat Zone and can look to be mostly useless. But what it does do is give me line-of-sight to our Splat Zone, not so bad for Seekers, and the potential to drop down behind yellow inklings not expecting someone to come from this direction.

It's a bold move to squid up to an Inkzooka, but it pays off this time. If only I had managed to jump on to the block when I pop my Seeker Rush, as I intended to, maybe the Rush would have gone better. Never mind, I get my inkling too.

I try to sit back and provide some inky support, rather than racing forwards, but it seems like we've got some good turf control. I move up, and practice a bit of caution slightly further forwards instead. I think my Seeker Rush is ready when it isn't, but only by a second, but that second pushes an Echolocator on me, so it's backwards I go.

I think I'm a bit unlucky at the tentacles of that Wasabi Splattershot, to be honest. But so it goes. And I am certainly an uncoordinated mess when I get to the top of the map and try to make my Seeker Rush count. It doesn't. The same happens when I think I have the drop on a Blaster. I don't. The battle is not going too well for me.

My timing improves, and a Seeker lets me get to the yellow Splat Zone, and my Roller lets me ink it quickly. Then back again to keep the turf blue, and a nicely used Seeker Rush gets me right back to the yellow Splat Zone, where more good timing splats some more inklings. This is better.

We take the lead! The yellow team won't take this sitting down, and they press for turf coverage on their way to our Splat Zone. I try to balance caution with aggression, pushing for splats but not pursuing out of my range. But it's all a bit hectic in the middle.

My Inkzooka approach goes poorly the second time, about as well as squidding away from our base afterwards. I'm heading for the path I made earlier, which I hope will be very useful now. As suspected, the yellow inklings are looking the other way, and an Echolocator lets me get a really easy splat, before I use a Seeker to sneak my way to their Splat Zone.

I stop their counter, capture the Splat Zone, and throw out a 'Nice!' because it makes me happy. The yellow team are hot on my heels, and although I am splatted for one last time, I have done enough to help end the battle in our favour. Woomy!

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Tags: carbon roller deco, console, port mackerel, splat zones, splatoon, wii u