Splatoon 3fans have spent months waiting for more news about the upcoming game, and Nintendo delivered during its latest Direct. Aside from affirming a summer 2022 release window forSplatoon 3, it showed offSplatoon 3’s take on the Salmon Run PvE mode. Salmon Run: Next Wave looks like a polished version ofSplatoon 2’s PvE, pitting fans against new Salmonid bosses while giving them an Egg Throw ability that ought to make securing the objective easier. Salmon Run was a beloved part ofSplatoon 2, so Nintendo is wise to include an enhanced version of the mode inSplatoon 3.
However, pitting players against Salmonids once again raises some questions about a central concept inSplatoon 3.Ever since the game was first revealed, players have known that they’ll be accompanied by a Smallfry Salmonid whose talents will be crucial inSplatoon 3’s story mode. Fighting Salmonids while traveling with a Smallfry seems strange, but it wouldn’t be the first time thatSplatoonturned enemies into friends.Splatoon 2’sOcto ExpansionDLCturned the tables on Octolings in theSplatoonworld, so it’s possible that Salmonids will get the same treatment by the end ofSplatoon 3.
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Splatoon 2’s Octoling Change
While Nintendo often emphasizesthe PvP side ofSplatoon,the franchise has always held story campaigns for players to progress through. As a general rule,Splatoon’s central antagonists are the Octarians, a group of tentacle-like cephalopods who try to conquer the Inklings' territory. They’ve also been assisted by Octolings over the years, who resemble Inklings more than Octarians do. While they seem wholly villainous in the originalSplatoon,Splatoon 2’sOcto Expansionreveals the majority of Octolings have been brainwashed into servitude by DJ Octavio.
After players beat theOcto Expansion, many Octolings escape the Octarian army and join Inkling society, but Octolings get more positive representation inSplatoon 2well before that. An Octoling called Agent 8 serves as the main protagonist ofOcto Expansion,andSplatoon 2’s Inkopolis News is presented in-part by an Octoling named Marina who also goes on to play a major part inOcto Expansion.Splatoon 2thoroughly flipped the notion of evil Octolings on its head. With that in mind, it’s entirely plausible that Nintendo wants to put Salmonids in a different light throughoutSplatoon 3just like it did for Octolings.
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Salmonids in Splatoon 3’s Story
While Nintendo hasn’t gone into specifics yet, it’s possible thatSplatoon 3’s plot will give Salmonids a central role rather than relegating them entirely to Salmon Run.Splatoon 3is all about Mammalians, but becausetheSplatoon 3protagonist’s Smallfrycan safely eat fuzz-inducing ooze, players might end up working together with other Salmonid characters to learn more about the rising Mammalians.Splatoon 3story trailers certainly suggest that Inklings and Octolings might struggle to deal with Mammalians without the Salmonids' unique skills.
With Salmon Run: Next Wave confirmed asa part ofSplatoon 3,it’s clear Salmonids won’t all become allies to Inklings, but that wasn’t to be expected. Not every Octoling decided to leave the Octarians afterOcto Expansion; just like the Octoling loyalists,Splatoon 3will feature plenty of Salmonids who would rather fight Inklings than work together with them. Still, by the end ofSplatoon 3, some Salmonids might find their way into Inkling and Octoling society. Odds are low that Salmonids will become playable since they’re far less humanoid than Octolings, butSplatoon 3players might still get some memorable Salmonid NPCs to interact with.
