Nintendo’s Treehouse live stream and Squid Research Lab tumblr have come bearing additional information about Splatoon 2, the Nintendo Switch sequel to Splatoon. Set two years after the previous installment, the live stream took us to The Reef, one of the maps new to this installment, to see the Splat Dualies, Splattershot, Splat Roller, and Splat Charger in action.
The Splat Dualies are an entirely new weapon for Splatoon 2. When someone has these equipped, they will have two reticles on the screen, allowing for a bit of a spread to their shots. When people jump while shooting, they’ll perform a dodge roll. It is also possible to slide, if someone presses B while shooting. The weapon variation shown in the Treehouse live stream had a Jet Pack special, which would let you temporarily take flight, firing blobs of ink down on people in the field. However, you land where you took off when the special expires, which could allow for camping.
The moments spent with the Splat Charger, Splattershot, and Splat Roller showed alterations to the formula of each weapon. The Splat Charger, for example, now allows you to hold a charge. When you press the ZL trigger after charging, it will save it up, allowing you to move and use that shot whenever you’d like. It also had a Hyper Presser special that sent ink toward enemies, even passing through walls. The Splat Roller now has a two different sorts of swings. If you’re on the ground and swing, a horizontal line of paint is sent out, but jumping and swinging sends out a vertical line of paint. It’s special in the stream was a Super Landing, which allowed the user to do a Super Jump to an ally, trigger the special in the air, and basically ground pound with a wave of ink. The Splattershot didn’t seem too different, what with its continuous fire, but did have a new Multi-Missile special that could send four homing missiles at a target.
A new hub area will be available in Splatoon 2. Instead of Inkopolis Plaza, people will gather in Inkopolis Square. It is “two subway stations” from Inkopolis Plaza. New stores will be available in the hub. Also, the stream mentioned that some returning characters may appear in the area.
Splatoon 2 will come to the Nintendo Switch in summer 2017.
