| Inklings | |
|---|---|
| Splatoon character | |
 A pair of Inklings in combat | |
| First Episode Appearance | Splatoon (2015) |
| Designed by | Keisuke Nishimori[1] |
| Character played by | Yuki Tsujii |
Inklings are a fictional species of humanoid cephalopods who are the primary playable characters in the Splatoon video game series by Nintendo. They have also made crossover appearances in other Nintendo games, such as being playable character in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Concept and design[]
The player characters of Splatoon were originally based on anthropomorphized tofu in a prototype called "Tofu Prototype."[2] Following this, the designers considered rabbits before their design were settled around squids, though they required that it be a squid-humanoid hybrid. This idea was worrisome to the designers, who were not sure whether it would sell.[3] Designers came up with the idea for Inklings to be able to hide and swim in ink.[4] The "missile-like" shape of their head was a good complement to the Inklings' movement according to the development team.[4] When designing the Inklings the designers centered around it being female at first, which they stated was because there were not many other female leads in Nintendo games at the time.[5] The Inklings were designed to be teenagers since the developers wanted to give the image of a strong, rebelling character, while having the attitude of being "cool".[1]
Inklings in Splatoon 3 expands upon their abilities by adding new main and special weapons to the game.[6] Inklings also have the ability to morph into squid creatures, which are used to climb ink-covered walls or swim through ink faster than the humanoid forms can walk.[7] Weapons have a finite amount of ink ammunition, and going into squid form replenishes it quicker than in humanoid form.
Abilities[]
Both of the Inklings' forms have abilities associated with them. Inklings could switch between humanoid and squid forms in order to be able to hold weapons as a humanoid while being able to hide or swim through ink as a squid.[8] In humanoid form, Inklings can splatter a special type of colored ink by using various weapons, including guns, rollers, buckets, and paintbrushes.[9]
Appearances[]
Inklings originally appeared as playable characters in Splatoon, later appearing in Splatoon 2 and Splatoon 3.[10][11][12] Inklings have also appeared as fighters in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and as drivers in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.[13][14] Inkling outfits appear in Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp.[15] A costume based on girl Inklings are featured in the Taiko no Tatsujin series.[16] Inkling-inspired clothing was also introduced to Miitomo.[17]
Reception[]
Cosplayers portraying Inklings at Montreal Comiccon 2015.
The Inklings' aesthetic design have received a positive critical reception from multiple video game publications following the release of the first Splatoon,[18][19] and have since become a popular subject for cosplay activities.[20] The integration of the Inklings' physiological characteristics into the gameplay mechanics of the Splatoon series have been praised, as it allowed players to explore a unique tactical concept.[21] The Inklings have appeared in multiple "top" character lists;[22] Polygon staff in particular ranked two notable Inkling characters, Callie and Marie as the "Squid Sisters", among the 70 best video game characters of the 2010s decade; they were described as an example of how Nintendo managed to elevate "anthropomorphized squids and made them into pop sensations".[23] The creative decision by Nintendo to remove the option to specify player character gender from Splatoon 3 onwards was met with praise.[24]
Before being announced for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Inkling was a popular choice for inclusion in the roster by multiple websites, including GamesRadar and Paste.[25][26] Mike Williams of US Gamer included Inkling Girl on his list of most-wanted characters, saying that her inclusion would be "free money."[27] Screen Rant ranked Inklings as 5th best character to use in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.[28] Jeremy Parish of Polygon ranked 73 fighters from Super Smash Bros. Ultimate "from garbage to glorious", placing the Inklings at 13th place.[29] In 2018, Paste magazine writer Holly Green rated the Inklings as her favorite of the new fighters in Smash Bros. Ultimate.[30] Gavin Jasper of Den of Geek ranked the Inklings 17th on his list of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate characters.[31]
The Inklings' crossover appearances in other media, such as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe have also been well received.[14] However, multiple journalists criticized one of the Inkling girl's taunt gestures for Mario Kart 8, as it was deemed to be offensive.[32][33][34]
Merchandise[]
An Amiibo set containing Inkling Girl, Inkling Boy, and Inkling Squid was released to accompany Splatoon, and recolors of the original Amiibos were released. A set of new Amiibos for Splatoon 2 were released.[35] A separate Inkling Girl Amiibo was released to accompany Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.[36] An Inkling figma was released by Good Smile.[37] A beanie designed to resemble an Inkling's hair was given away as a pre-order bonus for Splatoon by GAME.[38] Plush toys of the Inklings (and various other characters from the series) were released from a toy brand called Little Buddy.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Splatoon staff talk about the Inkling design, more on the Squid Sisters, and other topics". August 17, 2015.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ Sullivan, Lucas (March 21, 2018). "Splatoon could have starred rabbits, not squids, but Nintendo devs had questions". GamesRadar. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ Vogel, Mitch (April 9, 2015). "A Splash of New Details Emerge on Splatoon's Development and Inspiration". Nintendo Life. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ 4.0 4.1 Robinson, Martin (June 20, 2014). "How Nintendo is reinventing the shooter with Splatoon". Eurogamer. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ "Splatoon devs on Inkling girl design focus, Squid Sisters, and more". July 26, 2015.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ Grodt, Jill. "Mammals Are Reemerging In New Splatoon 3 Trailer" (in en). Game Informer. https://www.gameinformer.com/2021/09/23/mammals-are-reemerging-in-new-splatoon-3-trailer. Retrieved 2021-09-30.
- ↑ McFerren, Damien (February 18, 2021). "Nintendo Reveals Splatoon 3, Coming To Switch In 2021". Nintendo Life. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ "A Splash of New Details Emerge on Splatoon's Development and Inspiration". Nintendo Life. April 9, 2015.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ "Paintball turf war: With Nintendo's 'Splatoon,' slinging vivid paint means having a ball" (in en-US). Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2015/05/27/paintball-for-turf-with-all-ages-splatoon-slinging-vivid-paint-means-having-a-ball/.
- ↑ "Nintendo's Big New Multiplayer Shooter Is Very...Nintendo". July 17, 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-07-17.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ "Splatoon 2 "Squid Sister Stories" On How The Final Splatfest Changed Callie & Marie's Lives". April 28, 2017.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ Statt, Nick (February 17, 2021). "Splatoon 3 is coming to the Nintendo Switch in 2022". The Verge.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Character Profiles: Inkling". Shacknews.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ 14.0 14.1 Alexandra, Heather (May 2, 2017). "Mario Kart 8's Splatoon Inklings Must Be Protected At All Costs". Kotaku. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ Matthew, Lindsay (September 13, 2018). "'Splatoon' Invades 'Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp' Through Exclusive Events, Fortune Cookies". Touch Arcade. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ Frank, Allegra (April 20, 2017). "Breath of the Wild gets the crossover we never knew we wanted". Polygon. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ McWhertor, Michael (April 20, 2016). "Splatoon stuff is coming to Miitomo". Polygon.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ Oxford, Nadia (March 21, 2018). "Splatoon was Tested with Yoshi as a Main Character". US Gamer. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ Roberts, David (May 27, 2015). "Splatoon review". GamesRadar. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ "The Best Cosplay from Tokyo Game Show 2018".
{{cite web}}: - ↑ "With ARMS, Nintendo is smart to recognize that nostalgia isn't always best". Retronauts.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ "16 Female Video Game Characters Making A Huge Impact in 2017". CBR. April 7, 2017.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ "The 70 best video game characters of the decade". Polygon. November 27, 2019. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ Diaz, Ana (February 18, 2021). "Splatoon 3's post-apocalyptic world destroys the concept of gender". Polygon.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ "20 New Smash Bros. Characters We Want to See on Nintendo Switch". pastemagazine.com. January 28, 2017.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ "13 characters who need your vote in the Smash Bros. Fighter Ballot". GamesRadar. April 6, 2015. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ Williams, Mike (December 31, 2015). "12 Characters That Should Be in Super Smash Bros". US Gamer. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: The 10 Best Characters To Use". ScreenRant. April 1, 2021.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ Parish, Jeremy (2018-12-03). "We rank the Smash Bros. (and friends)". Polygon. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ Green, Holly (December 26, 2018). "Ranking Super Smash Bros Ultimate's New Fighters". Paste Magazine. Archived from the original on June 6, 2019. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ "Super Smash Bros. Characters Ranked". 7 March 2019.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ Frank, Allegra (May 18, 2017). "Mario Kart 8 Deluxe patch edits out obscene gesture". Polygon.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ "Random: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Patch Removes Offensive "Bras d'honneur" Gesture". Nintendo Life. May 18, 2017.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ "An Accidental Offensive Gesture Had To Be Removed From Mario Kart 8 Deluxe | MTV UK". www.mtv.co.uk.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ Prell, Sam (April 12, 2017). "Splatoon 2 will let you squirt your ink on the go starting July 21". GamesRadar. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ Carter, Chris (July 12, 2018). "Nintendo announces dates, prices for Ridley, Inkling and Wolf Smash Ultimate amiibo". Destructoid. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ Wong, Alistair (September 11, 2018). "The Splatoon Inkling Girl Figma Are Now Available For Pre-Order". Siliconera. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ Sheridan, Connor (April 30, 2015). "Splatoon GAME pre-orders get proper squid headgear". GamesRadar. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
{{cite web}}:
| Splatoon | ||
|---|---|---|
| Games | Splatoon • Splatoon 2 (Octo Expansion) • Splatoon 3 | |
| Universe | Inkling • Octoling • Inkopolis | |
| People | Hisashi Nogami • Toru Minegishi | |
| Related | Pearl and Marina • Super Smash Bros. Ultimate | |
.jpg){kind=link}
| This page uses Creative Commons Licensed content from Wikipedia (view authors). |
]