Splatoon Cross

Splatoon Cross is an upcoming third-person action game for the Nintendo Switch, it is the fourth major entry in the Splatoon series although is not a numbered entry like prior entries. The game shifts focus from prior games to a more close-combat style of play with less emphasis on weapons and more so on a pseudo-fighting game style of gameplay.
==Setting==
Suction-Cup Street, the main location of interest in Splatoon Cross, overlooked by the Slumbering Machine
Splatoon Cross is set primarily in New Ceph a true urban jungle in every sense of the word, built upon the ruins of an ancient city from the past, New Ceph is a popular gathering ground for all creatures of the new world. The winding streets lay host to many Inklings, Octolings, Jellyfish and alike. Unlike many settlements across the planet, New Ceph is defined by its blending of cultures with influences from both the deep below and surface dwellers where it is only a matter of one's drive that can determine whether they can make it in the city.
For many a young Inkling and Octoling, the city presents an opportunity to make a start for yourself, quite the number of musicians have begun here, working the streets and building up their reputation, and legendary fighters of Turf Wars often are known to hail from New Ceph due to its unique and more aggressive style of turf war, known as Surf'n'Turf Blitz.
==Gameplay==
Unlike the previous games in the series, Splatoon Cross heavily diverges focusing less on a third-person shooter approach to gameplay and more on a third-person action approach. While Inklings and Octolings still wield weaponry that allows them to ink a location their equipment is much more suited for close combat and emphasizes defeating opponents to increase your territory rather than simply covering the terrain manually.
===Movement Controls===
====Humanoid Controls====
Like previous games the player controls an Inkling or Octoling and is able to shift between a humanoid and cephalopodic form at will, with the former being more suited for land traversal while the latter is more suited for ink traversal. Movement mechanics have been expanded with the dodge-roll making a return from prior games. In addition, while in their humanoid form, Inklings can perform back-flips, long jumps and wall jumps allowing for easier traversal, even in areas lacking in ink.
A major gameplay inclusion in Shed a simple manoeuvre that allows the player to expend some of their health to create a pool of ink, useful when the player runs out of Ink which is more common due to the reduced tank capacity in the game.
====Cephalopod Controls====
While in their cephalopod form, Inklings and Octolings are able to swim through ink much faster although have many new techniques giving this form a much greater degree of versatility. In this form, the player is able to perform sweeping strikes which spread ink out in a long straight line, this deals low damage to opponents but is effective at increasing ground coverage and doesn't risk exposure in humanoid form. In addition while in the Cephalopod form, Inklings and Octolings can perform a new technique, Parrying which allows the player to deflect a projectile back converting it to their ink colour in the process, during Surf'n'Turf Blitz this can be done multiple times allowing for a parry stand-off, each consecutive parry increases the power of the projectile and its ink radius when it impacts.
===Weapons===
Unlike previous games, the weaponry for players is completely changed, Main Weapons are now solely close quarters and much more focused on quick interactions and defeating opponents as opposed to spreading Ink whereas Sub-Weapons feature longer range weapons with much lower damage output, they're also generally more rudimentary than the Main Weapons seen in prior games discouraging overuse due to low fire rates. Specials also return although have again been revamped with some new ones added to replace the Specials that did not fit the gameplay style.
==Characters==
===Greenhorn===
The player character for Splatoon Cross, in general this character is able to be entirely customized by the player. Not much is known about the history of the character, they're known to reside in New Ceph as evidenced by the player's apartment and it is suggested they've lived there for some time due to some of the items the player has at the start.
There is no canonical species for the player, they can be an Inkling, Octoling or hybrid depending on the character features chosen at the start of the game (and able to be modified at Big Shell Aesthetics in-game). They can keep pets of various small marine life and have a good friendship with a jellyfish neighbour in the apartments called Jellbrite who comments on the player's eagerness to tackle Surf'n'Turf Blitz games when they've played several in one session.
===BATZ===
The four members of BATZ; Brea, Apollo, Toto & Zeher
BATZ are the main idol group in New Ceph, they combine music and combat in a wholly unique way using their large group of followers and fans to assert control over the city. In-game dialogue suggests the city is ensured safety through the collective trust in the group and used to stamp out bands attempting to push in on their territory.
The leader of BATZ is Brea, the tactician of the quartet she is rarely seen competing in Surf'n'Turf Blitz games and instead tends to rally others to help her team or new tactics for the other members of the group to use. Her primary instrument is the Drums which she can often be heard practicing when the player approaches the BATZ crib in New Ceph. Often when addressing the public through their announcements, Brea is the main one speaking and attempts to keep the others on topic who will usually ramble about their own opinions on the topic of discussion.
Apollo is the lead guitarist of BATZ and the most active of the quartet in Surf'n'Turf Blitz, he was the one who brought the idea of holding Splatfests in New Ceph after seeing how successful they'd been in other areas. Although he is a skilled musician his interests tend to lie more so in combat and he will often rally large groups of marine life to participate. Outside of his music and competitive streak, Apollo also provides a training class for marine life looking to start Surf'n'Turf Blitz, Apollo's dojo can help newer players and those inexperienced with Surf'n'Turf Blitz gameplay to get into the feel of things.
Toto is the lead singer for BATZ, she can be the most elusive of the quartet although not out of shyness but rather playfulness. She seems to take great delight in catching others off-guard and will often speak through her plush toys when addressing new people. Talking to Toto reveals that she actually comes from a long lineage of fighters who specialize in Squid form combat. Aside from singing, Toto also plays a Bass Guitar.
Zeher is the youngest of the quartet, he grew up listening to many musicians and is the most knowledgeable when it comes to the group's opponents both in the music scene and on the battlefield, often relaying this information to Brea to formulate plans. He has a huge catalogue of musical records he keeps in his room of their crib which he offers those he's acquainted to give a listen. Zeher himself plays several instruments but specializes in the Saxophone and is known to do the mixing for the group.
===Shopkeepers===
There are several NPCs in New Ceph that the player can visit to interact with trading goods with. Several are found on New Ceph's market street while others are found on the side streets.
====Lucinda====
Owner of Quills 'n Skillz, Lucinda is the main weapon vendor in New Ceph, a large Lionfish, she is known to intimidate some of her customers due to her elaborate pattern and threatening personality. Over time as the player buys weapons from her she'll become more friendly to them although will often make jokes about paralyzing her customers whenever they try to short-change her.
Lucinda also runs the side business Spiked Support located right next to her main shop which allows the player to alter the bonus effects on their weapons.
====Don====
To most in New Ceph, Don just appears as the friendly, Dunkleosteus shop owner of Scale Guardians who sells armour pieces to Inklings, Octolings and alike giving them a defensive edge in Surf'n'Turf Blitz matches. However to those in the know, Don is a ruthless businessman whose longevity has given him an edge over his competition and effectively controls the entire commercial side of New Ceph even using his economical power to pressure BATZ.
====Bruxton====
The travelling food vendor of New Ceph, Bruxton has a knack for turning up anywhere in New Ceph. A Cleaner Shrimp by nature, Bruxton serves on the go meals with special traditional medicine passed down through the Cleaner Shrimp clans that can give an Inkling or Octoling an edge during a game. The type of food varies based on the time of day and also day of the week although Bruxton always provides a menu informing customers of what's available and what'll be available in the next 8-hour timeslot.
Bruxton's food effects last up to 24 hours although are overridden by whatever the most recent food item eaten at one of his stores is. Talking to Bruxton reveals that he actually has an intricate network of pneumatic pipes that allow him to travel between favourable locations and allows the player to use them if they want.
====Amora====
Amora is the shopkeeper for Dorsal Decals a chain of shops specializing in headgear for the denizens of New Ceph. Amora herself seems to only be in the job for money, having no real passion for her line of work she makes this quite clear to the player through their interactions. Amora's appearance even heavily clashes with that of the chain's more corporate appearance compared to her more punk-ish look.
Amora can however be found operating a make-shift shop in the back alley behind her store called Amora's Aesthetics which sells decorations for the player's headgear and shoes in the form of stickers and paint jobs. When talking to Amora here she takes a much more laid-back and agreeable personality appearing to be much more comfortable in this role and often expressing how she personally makes many of the stickers and paint sprays herself.
====Kai & Mai====
A pair of Wrasses, Kai and Mai run Thread 'n Needle the main clothing shop in the market street of New Ceph. Kai operates the main shop front, selling the main brand names generally with a slower turnover between products. Mai meanwhile specializes in the off-brand clothing which has a shorter lifespan often coming and going very quickly encouraging players to buy quickly rather than putting it off.
Kai is a Flame Wrasse and seems to be rather highly opinionated, often keeping up with trends and pointing out when a brand's line is expected to go on sale soon. Mai by contrast is a Rose-fin Fairy Wrasse and is quite a bit more relaxed and has a lot of know-how on the rising popularity of off-brand clothing. While Mai's appearance never changes, Kai will periodically change his appearance based on which brands are the most popular at the time. Mai is also stated to know Brea personally as the two were childhood friends while Kai seems to have inside knowledge on the state of affairs when it comes to which groups are in control of New Ceph.
====Gram====
Owner of Groove Shoes, a reclusive individual, finding Gram in his own store can be a bit of a challenge as this Leaf Slug likes to take naps and camouflage with his surroundings. Fortunately once found Gram is all too happy to do business. Gram seems to be one of the only shop owners in the Market Street not under the influence of Don, reportedly getting his goods from out of town and due to his soft malleable body, isn't affected by Don's more physical threats.
Gram has a strangely excellent sense of smell and will often comment on wherever the player was before coming into his store even regaling stories from when the Iron Gate to the Wilds used to be open suggesting that he has lived for quite a long time.
====Hank====
Hank is the Hermit Crab owner of Hank's Homely Emporium the largest of the shops in Market Street that sells decorations and furniture for the player's apartment. Hank along with the Barnacles that work as the shop's moving men, are known all-around New Ceph as Hank often hand-crafts the furniture giving it a unique touch often influenced by whatever Hank finds appealing that day. This can often be seen by his shell which changes periodically reflecting his fashion interest.
====Cutha====
Cutha is a Cuttleling, a cousin species to Inklings and Octolings. Although most of her kin live far away, Cutha decided to set-up shop in New Ceph. Cutha runs Frizzies an accessory shop selling a variety of cosmetic gear for Inklings and Octolings ranging from rings and bands to piercings and even tattoos. Cutha herself is covered in numerous decorative accessories including a luminous full-body tattoo which shifts between shades of Yellow and Pink.
Cutha will often mention details about her hometown where Cuttlelings are more numerous and how they have their own flavour of Turf War and Surf'n'Turf Blitz games. She also makes mention of other humanoid species although never specifies, simply referring to them as cousins.
====Mr. Grand'Saut====
Mr. Grand'Saut, first name unknown is the owner of Camo Fashion a store that allows the player to alter the colouration on their weapons and cosmetics. Mr. Grand'Saut is barely seen in-game as he speaks from behind a veil which according to him is due to needing to protect his business' secrets from would-be competitors. He is known to be a foreigner from a distant land where a great tower with dazzling lights is said to shine like a beacon even into the night.
Mr. Grand'Saut seems to take great pride in his work and can come off offended if the player immediately asks to change the colour scheme on an item they just had him change.
More TBA
==Game Modes==
===Story Mode===
Asplenden, last guard of the Wilds
The story mode of Splatoon Cross is focused on the events in the surrounding areas of New Ceph known collectively as the Wilds. The player character, known as the Greenhorn is taken under the wing of Asplenden, the last of an old lineage of guardians who protected New Ceph from the dangers of the Wilds. Though many believed the dangers of the Wilds had subsided when the Iron Gate was closed, Asplenden believes otherwise.
Asplenden requests the player to investigate the goings on within the Wilds. The mode is similar to prior story modes where the player must complete more platforming and combat focused levels as opposed to the more arena-style approach of multiplayer. Unlike the prior games however, the Story mode doesn't contain a series of disconnected levels but rather a large set of explorable labyrinthine areas with a central hub with multiple paths branching off, allowing for more open exploration and a greater degree of hidden objects.
As the player explores the first of the Wilds' main domes, known as the Sapphire Dome they'll meet two more characters who end up helping Greenhorn in investigating the goings on;
Doc, New Ceph Research Captain | Eindolf, the White Wolf Octoling
Doc, a head researcher in New Ceph who's in part responsible for several of the weapons seen in Surf'n'Turf Blitz competitions as well as various oddities across the city that help it function. She provides back-up to the player in the form of special tools which give the player additional effects during gameplay although can have unintended side effects. Despite her meek appearance, Doc knows a lot more than she lets on, having knowledge of the Wilds' original function.
Eindolf was much like the player one sent to investigate the Wilds although quite a long time ago, having spent a good deal of his life living in the Wilds, Eindolf has a hard time trusting others and can prove quite the vicious and cold-hearted individual. He does provide back-up to the player in the form of specialized melee weapons which are enhanced in unique ways and even makes the odd appearance to help the player during particularly difficult combat encounters.
As the player completes more of the different areas they'll come across strange creatures, predominantly sea life of varying forms that attack like wild animals. However amongst the wild creatures is a more organized group indicated by several insects that attack with more advanced weaponry similar to that the Octolings used in prior games. Evidence points to these insects being a coordinated group that are attacking the support structures of the iron gate to bring it down with several of the bosses attempting to target key locations.
After braving the Ruby, Emerald, Topaz, Onyx, Opal and Aquamarine Domes, the player and their band of allies manage to gain access to the Amber Dome. It is at this point that Doc reveals that her research into the Wilds revealed its original role back when the humans ruled the planet, being a sort of ark for species they believed were vulnerable most especially plants and animals. Evidence also begins to point to the insects not really being in control as several insects are found avoiding the player rather than confronting them while within the Amber Dome as well as strange plant-like growths all around the dome.
Eventually the player and Eindolf manage to besiege the inner ring finding a gigantic tree which had long since pierced the dome's outer shell covered in strange fungi. Within, Eindolf gets taken over by the fungi, which manages to speak through him to the player, revealing itself to be an intelligent organism referred to as Cepsis. After a confrontation with the mind-controlled Eindolf, the player and Eindolf manage to escape however Eindolf reveals while under Cepsis' control he could see the fungi's plan, using the giant tree to spread spores out, targeting all of New Ceph in the process.
Resolute to preventing this outcome, Asplenden hatches a plan, using the internal systems of the domes to immolate Cepsis before it can release its spores. Doc manages to use her knowledge of the ancient human technology to open up sealed areas where the player manages to initiate the emergency fail-safe system in the domes, having one final confrontation with Cepsis who attempts to prevent the player from activating the switch in the Amber Dome, however is defeated in two separate boss battles, one against the mind-controlled Insect Queen and another against Cepsis' true form in the midst of the immolation process.
Managing to escape from the domes thanks to Doc's inventions, the quartet watch as the Amber Dome goes up in flames burning away the old tree. Inspecting the interior of the Sapphire Dome, the group find that the insects managed to break free from the mind control after Cepsis' main body was destroyed. Managing to reach a peace, Asplenden and the Insect Queen agree to keep the iron gate closed with the marine creatures staying out of the Wilds giving them over to the insects fully.
===Surf'n'Turf Blitz===
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===Stormfront Surge===
Stormfront Surge is a new game mode introduced in Splatoon Cross, it is similar in ways to the previous Salmon Run game mode in Splatoon 2 and Splatoon 3 in that players must deal with hordes of enemies. Unlike that game mode however, Stormfront Surge's goal is for players to get to the safe zone at the center of the map, starting out in randomly placed locations across the outer ring, working their way inwards fighting off Nymphoids a creature that becomes more active in the presence of a Stormfront.
Unlike Salmon Run, the players are not on the same team although are able to work together to get to the safe zone. Defeating enemies will reward players with Crystal Tears a special currency this game mode uses which can be converted into more conventional money, however the player will lose a percentage of their Crystal Tears if they die during the match. In addition players are able to attack other players and steal their Crystal Tears as a result.
Like Salmon Run there are also boss monsters that can periodically appear, these creatures tend to appear towards the end of the round and at least one must be defeated to open the safe zone. Damage dealt to a boss monster contributes to the amount of Crystal Tears the player will receive upon that monster's defeat. Boss Monsters also encourage players to participate by using a hierarchy system that targets nearby players that haven't damaged the boss monster.
Enemies 	Description
Droplet Nymphoid 	The youngest of the Nymphoids, they're roughly of similar age to Inklings and Octolings and normally dwell in bodies of water. Because of this, they carry around a droplet of water on their backs which they will fling in an attempt to take out the player for capture. They have small but sharp claws that they can also use to attack at close range but are fairly slow and so rely on numbers to pose a threat.
Trapjaw Nymphoid 	These Nymphoids have long jaws with which they use as a trap, they bury most of their body underground laying in wait so the player must be observant to avoid getting bit. When their trap is sprung, if unsuccessful they'll attempt to follow-up by charging, however they have poor turning control and so can easily be corralled.
Sand-Scuttle Nymphoid	Nymphoids that can shoot globules of sticky mud, they ensnare the player slowing them down as a result. Attacking them while they're attacking can however knock them off-guard leading to them being left vulnerable or even causing them to hit themselves immobilizing them for a period of time.
Bristleback Nymphoid 	Nymphoids that are covered in hairs along their back, they're a more defensive Nymphoid and use their large frames to try to deflect oncoming attacks, they're best attacked quickly from the front where they're weak, they can protect other Nymphoids letting those enemies attack more easily.
Phalanx Nymphoid 	Nymphoids which carry around rudimentary spears, they're a bit inaccurate with their attacks and once they run out will attempt to charge at the player and explode on impact. They prefer to keep their distance while attacking so can be tricky to reach.
Li'l Bouncer Nymphoid	The smallest of the Nymphoids, these smaller variants will bounce around with their springy legs, they tend to move in packs and so can be troublesome although their low health makes them easier to take down than most.
Armoclast Nymphoid 	These Nymphoids are close to reaching the adult stage in their life cycle, their bodies are covered in hard armour reducing the amount of damage they receive, the large plates that protrude from their backs are their undeveloped wings, damaging these will cause them to have more trouble moving. They are strictly melee attackers charging and chasing the player with their powerful jaws, taking one down can be troublesome but valuable if the player is successful.
==Items==
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