WithSplatoon 3’sfirst wave of DLC comes a second hub area in the form of the firstSplatoon’sInkopolis Square. DespiteSplatoon 2technically taking place in Inkopolis, it has been a while since fans of the series have gotten to lay eyes on the old, more open version of this hub.
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Even so, you’re bound to see the differences in the new version if you enjoyed Nintendo’s first foray into ink-blasting fun– a lot has changed in Inkopolis Square since the days of the Squid Sisters, and so many new gameplay features need access points to keep parity between the two available hubs. Regardless, everything new that has been added is sure to impress.
10The Battle Dojo Has Been Replaced
The Battle Dojo is a relic of the original Splatoon, representing just how new its concept was when it first hit the scene. The developers are wise enough now to know that one on one gameplay is not conducive to the role-based nature of Splatoon’s weaponry, choosing to nix the Dojo in both Splatoon 2 and 3.
Replacing the Dojo is the Shoal, which is a much better use of the space – being able to play normal matches with groups of people over LAN is an infrequent but enjoyable pleasure. Still, you might miss the sweet sign that used to hang over the Dojo – its style was fantastic at making you ready for a battle.
9There Are New Shopkeepers
While new shopkeepers are an inevitability in every Splatoon title, it’s still surprising to see new characters lining the old shops of Inkopolis Square. Shelly, Donny, and Fred Crumbs are new additions who are visually similar to the previous owners (Sheldon and Crusty Sean), while still making a mark and separating themselves from their old-hat counterparts.
What’s most interesting is that Shelly and Donny are the first shopkeeper replacements for Sheldon in the entire series – up to this point, Sheldon has been wherever the player needs weapons, making this an exciting opportunity to hear new perspectives on your ink-blasting weaponry.
8Jelonzo and Annie Have New Fits
Splatoon 3’s Inkopolis isn’t all new faces, though – Jelonzo and Annie are back, manning their stores with pride. But if you thought they’d back be in their old duds, you’ve got another thing coming.
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These old friends are wearing brand-new outfits that manage to be fresh without taking away any of the iconic elements in their character designs. Annie is sporting a new leather hat and black zip-up hoodie, in addition to a change in hair color. Jelonzo, on the other hand, just changed into a dark shirt and a slightly different hat. It’s good that he changed at all, at least.
7A Salmon Run Door Has Been Added
Behold, all Salmon Run lovers! Mr. Grizz has been keeping busy – his business has become so legitimate that it stands proudly across from where the Squid Sisters film their show, and right next to where all the squid kids do their shopping.
Salmon Run is such a fun and refined modethat if you didn’t play the first Splatoon, it would be hard to believe that it wasn’t around from the start. Thankfully, you now get to enjoy the luxury of splatting Salmonids while only a hop, skip, and jump away from the Squid Sisters.
6Table Turf Has Hit Inkopolis
Unsurprisingly,the hit in-universe game Table Turfhas made its way to Inkopolis, setting up the iconic table and backdrop for you to find. Now, you’re able to experience the ruthless crucible that is Table Turf near the famous Squid Sisters' set – hopefully you’ll have time to catch the show between intense mental battles.
The inclusion of Table Turf reflects just how far we’ve come from the original Splatoon – what used to be a game focused on fast-paced player-versus-player shootouts now has a card gameabout taking your time and tricking your opponent purely with wits.
5Spyke Is Older
Murch’s glow-up between Splatoon 2 and 3 makes sense, given that he was a child in the former title, but no one was expecting Spyke to grow long in the tooth as well. Now sporting glasses and a little bit of chin hair, Spyke looks wiser, but no less sketchyas he upgrades your gear.
He also decided to switch to a less visually complex outfit, with simple lines decorating his poncho and some sleek black shoes to replace his comfy loafers. It’s nice attention to detail that he changed not only physically but mentally since the last we saw him.
4The Splatfest Performance Stages Are Different
Splatfests have always been the most visually interesting times in all the Splatoon titles, getting rid of the sun and allowing neon lights to illuminate the performances of each game’s idols. But in this revamp of the Squid Sisters' performance, a few things have changed.
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The most obvious change is that the metal bars behind Marie and Callie are now vibrantly colored to match the idols' palettes, in contrast to the flatter greys that used to stand behind them. Additionally, if you’re particularly eagle-eyed, you may notice that the Sisters' megaphones have switched sides on their stages – it isn’t a staggering change, but it’s a change nonetheless.
3The Squid Jump Arcade Machine Is Out Of Order
Since Splatoon 3 has a lobby that allows you to practice while queuing for games, the beloved Squid Jump minigame has no reason to stick around – it used to be a way to pass time as you waited for a match to fill up, but now you may further hone your skills.
So what happened to the Squid Jump arcade machine that was in the original Splatoon hub? Sadly, it has fallen to disrepair, having been scooted out of the way so that Salmon Run could occupy the building that it sat in front of. While it would have been cool to see the revival of this classic game, it’s great that the developers are at least acknowledging the series' past.
2Judd Isn’t Chilling Outside Anymore
With Splatoon 3’s new active lobby, Judd has found in the lobby couch a new place to chill between judging Turf Wars and Anarchy Battles. But if Judd is in Splatsville, you might wonder what happened to his old spot in Inkopolis.
Sadly, Judd’s iconic pillow and blue crate are nowhere to be seen in this remastered hub. Instead, a mailbox has been placed where he used to laze about – it’s not like he was planning to sleep there any time soon, so it makes sense they would use the free space.
1They Built A Brand New Metro
While Splatoon 3’s rendition of Inkopolis Square could have simply added an NPC to take you back to Splatsville, a new metro station has been added to the back part of the Square instead, giving the world a stronger sense of time.
The presence of a new station implies a lot about what’s been going on with Inkopolis Square since the first game – in the first Splatoon, the train was routed to pass by the square like any other street, but it’s now so popular that even people from Splatsville want a way to travel to it.
