Analyzing The Darkness In Side Order - Splatoon 3 DLC
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 14 มิ.ย. 2024
- The Side Order DLC for Splatoon 3 is looking to be one of the darkest stories in the franchise. In this video I try to explore what we were shown, a little bit more in depth. And there was a TON shown in such a short teaser. From the Deca Tower being changed, to Agent 8 having her Team Order color, there was so much information to unpack here, and hopefully I did a good job in doing so.
I normally make videos about the graphic design in Splatoon, but I figured this was close enough to that to justify making this. Hopefully you enjoy the video!
Chapters
0:00 Intro
0:50 What the Story Could be About
1:13 White Inkopolis Square
2:22 How Team Order is Involved
2:33 Dreams and Fishes
3:39 Agent 8's New Outfit
5:00 Pearl's New Design
6:24 Elevators (there's a lot)
8:00 Inkling Companion?
8:24 Agent 8's Green Ink
8:38 World Building
9:43 New Weapon Image
10:29 Good and Bad Ink Colors
If you like Splatoon Analysis videos, consider checking out this playlist that both me and my friend JP Art have compiled over the span of months!
• Splatoon 3 Analysis
Footage used for the Final Fest results:
• Splatoon 2 Splatfest #...
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Honestly a lot of the location artwork gives off a liminal space vibe. While it doesn't follow all the "rules" of liminal space (usually an indoor location lacking furniture/people with a 'vibe' of something off) I can definitely see the inspiration. There's also a bit of dreamcore aesthetic, similar to Octo Expansion's vaporware one. Both liminal space and dreamcore can give off feelings of danger as well as calm, depending on context, and the context definitely seems to be one of danger. Off aesthetics alone, Side Order looks to be veeeeery interesting
That is very interesting! That comparison makes so much sense, and I think the idea of the story sticking to a theme like the octo expansion one is really solid. I really hope we get more dreamcore type levels. That would be so perfect, and with this games insane art direction, they could make something really special with it. It's interesting you bring up danger and calm under the same theme. That really gives me a new perspective on the aesthetics for sure. Dang, you just got me more hyped for this! Haha
I'm sorry, but dreamcore sounds stupid
I thought I was the only one who thought it gave off liminal space vibes !!!! omgg
Holy shit it’s the backrooms in splatoon!
I like this take and I’d like to add that even though octo expansion was a more dark take on splatoon this will be even darker as seen by the fact that there is almost no color in the trailer
Love how different of a take people have for Side Order.
Personally, I hope this isn't taking place in the mind.
Same! It's so cool to know everyone has there unique version of what they think could happen. I hope it's not entirely in her mind either, and it seems like it might not be! Many other commenters have brought to my attention the eshop description states inkopolis as the actual place.
My thoughts are that Side Order takes place in an alternate universe where Team Order won the final fest
same
Most theory’s have it that it’s in agent 8 mind and trying figure out it’s past memory’s
Yea taking place in just a character mind isn’t that big and side order seems so big and dark also I think it take places at actual square
I feel like there is a connection between the black sludge and the bleached coral. It reminds me of the oil/pollution in the ocean and the bleached coral as a result of it.
That's a fascinating comparison! It makes so much sense too. I think if they did treat the black sludge like they treated the fuzzy ooze, it would justify this correlation.
Yeah it could definitely be treated like the fuzzy ooze. I think it’s also fitting, since I see Order as being more industrial and machine-based, so oil could definitely be a part of the dlc in that aspect too…
@@navalextm8541 agreed i imagine with all the Cities and Production of Inkopolis itself might be polluting their own ocean
The "fossil" is a yokai called bake-kujira it's a spectral whale skeleton that haunts whaling villages
Thx :)
I did not know that. This is so cool! I wonder if that ties into the storytelling. Maybe even links to the Great Zapfish to some extent?
@@DekuGamer it might be a bit of a stretch , but it being a whale ties into the mammalian theme,there is also some salmon run maps with whale fall being documented and researched. It will probably just be a boss or something, but I love the idea of the zap fish being the symbiotic organism for this world. In a stretch it's like the magestic whales of our world , we see this theme to a certain Stretch in the new avatar theme , the zap fish literally it flies around in the sky like a giant whale in water so maybe there's a tie there . I'm not sure.
The schooling organisms in the sky may be evicted zooxanthellae, tiny dinoflagellates that live inside coral,but I think even that is a stretch but they do kinda look like dinoflagellate, single celled organisms. They slot into place and out very uniform which to me sounds orderly.
Which supports your clone idea because clones are gnetically identical.
I have a lot of interest in your 11 idea too , there's another 1 , two together and they're bother the same, almost like a twin.... 🤔
If Agent 4 doesn’t appear somewhere in this story, I’m gonna cry. I really want to see more of their personality and interactions with Agent 8.
Edit: ☹️
I really hope agent 4 is the mysterious inkling character
Ah. well. i'll cry with you
LoL
I'm pretty sure fish can fly in the Splatoon world, we can see the zapfish, Moe, and harmony's clown fish flying
Yeah that's a good point actually. The zapfish I assume can fly through it's powers? They're the only one that actually move freely so I don't really understand the physics of the flying fishes here tbh
Not to mention Salmonids. Some like the flipper flopper can just stay suspended in the air like a cartoon character
Don't forget fryes eels!
smallfry can also fly
the story does not take place in the octolings mind according to the eshop. It’s present day and it’s not a memory.
I also have a huge feeling something is up with Marina, and we will definitely see whats going on with lil’judd and salmon run.
If this is present day Inkopolis Square and if Inkopolis is right next to it and is completely fine, then did that mean that something happen post Return of the Mammalians that made Inkopolis get a comeback of sorts? Could it be because of Callie and Marie revamping it?
That's good to know! I was unaware while making this video that the eshop said that. The trailer alone just depicts everything as if it were a flashback of some sort, and that led me to believe that it would be in her mind to an extent at least.
I hope we get to see more of Salmon Run and lil judd for sure. We only know so little about both right now.
@@DekuGamer i personally hope we don't see lil judd playing a big role, it would be neat if the salmonid's religion played a part in the dlc but id really prefer lil judds role as an antagonist to be saved for 4, i think it'd have a bigger payoff
@@ssnsfronunder8234 i agree. Personally i would like to have a story mode focused on salmon for the 4th dlc
Something neat that I haven’t seen anyone talk about is that depending on the language side order is called something different, especially in Spanish where it’s called La cara de orden which means the face of order some other languages like I believe German The title is the tower of order
The tricky part about different languages saying different things is that we don't really know which is the most accurate. Splatoon NA is notorious for messing up the translations especially lol. Still, it's good to keep in mind. Thanks for mentioning it
In French it's "Tour de l'ordre" however depending on whether "tour" is masculine or feminine it means either turn or tower so it might be something the translators did on purpose
@@DekuGamer The NA name is the same as the JP name (because the JP name is in English)
Something to note is that according to promo art, Agent 8 was on Team Order, and Agent 4 was on Team Chaos. Considering that this part of the DLC seems to center around Inkopolis Square, the hub of Splatoon 2, and features Agent 8, I suspect that maybe Agent 4 will have something to do with it. Either we have to save them, or maybe even fight them.
Either that, or there's an alternate universe where Order won and the DLC features Agent 4 instead :p
Seeing Agent 4 again would be really cool, considering their established relationship with 8. I really hope the speculation is correct that you can interact with them like you could with cap n cuttlefish
Maybe Side Order will deal with the whole “everybody left Inkopolis because it wasn’t cool anymore” while Agent 8 was just getting used to it. I’m sure there will be a more concrete, literal plot about cloning or something but the underlying emotional story might be Agent 8’s resistance to change, realizing the inkling world is all about hopping from one trend to the next while all she wants is to be rooted down somewhere, to have some order in her life, for her world to just calm down and stay the same.
Maybe Marina will have this problem, too - with the whole world tour happening, she might be getting overwhelmed by it all. Maybe she wants to settle down somewhere but Pearl only wants to keep going. Maybe Off the Hook will have to split up as a band!! 😱 (they’ll still be friends though, I’m sure)
The truth is, as much as Octolings probably hated many things about octarian society, they were still raised with this sense of order. Maybe this DLC will reckon with the hard truth that not every dream is for everyone. It would take a lot of guts from Nintendo but if they committed to it, man would that be emotional.
I love the dlc but, being honest. I wish it was darker. It feels more light hearted snd silly snd it just feels contrasting
Sorry for the late reply. But I get that tbh. I was expecting one of the darkest stories in the franchise, though I do believe they kept a lot of those undertones in the final product. Splatoon just tends to be so subtle with what it conveys sometimes, and this one imo had too much of the darker themes in the exposition and not enough on the visual storytelling.
A thing I think should be pointed out is that pearl eating the apple and the branches of these could be a reference to Adam and Eve, which could be symbolism that 8's taking a bite into the forbidden apple causing chaos in a world of order and learning the truth that's wither her memories or something about the world of Spaltoon.
Or the "apple of discord"
wait this actually makes sense
- To fix what I stated eariler, Glen Fiddler is one of the few characters that has a model and is only shown in a sunken scroll. Along with the fact that the scroll points out his architecture design might mean something since not a lot of characters know how to build things this "orderly" and "perfect"
- To answer the IRL vs In 8's head questions, I do think it's actually not just in her head. What I think might happen is that 8 and Off the Hook were together during their tour (Answers the question as to why Agent 8 has Off the Hook styled clothing) and while in Inkopolis Square something attacked/changed the Square to be how it is (helps answer why marina is in her Tour getup while looking shocked). Pearl finds 8 but realizes that they don't have their memories and then the DLC goes from there. (I think the actual twist will be that the playable MC for Side Order IS a clone of 8 and just escaped halfway finished which is why they're memories are all wonky.)
- To counter this, since clones are also a motif this could just be a replica of the Square (Honestly fits the villian Lil Judd theory since this is where he got his start.
- Along with the Staff cloning, and just the normal Octolings/Agent 8 being cloned, I honestly think this DLC will be about someone trying to create the perfect world. TarTar maybe behind this again with Lil Judd helping out unknowingly because he just wants to replace Judd and stuff and help TarTar learn on how to clone people.
ALSO TO ADD ONE TO WHAT skylerheide5322 SAID, I think Pearl and Marina will be cloned as well with new snobbish, big headed celebrity" personalities, (the make up/microphone and why they look so different) i mean hey TarTar might hold a grudge against them.
- Honestly 11 being a key number is interesting since its the same upside down. To add more fuel to the fire, 8 is the same upside down AND 11 has 2 ones in it [Agent 8 and Clone 8]
- I think the unknown character will be Agent 4. For starters, they also live in Inkopolis Sqaure and had their start there. Agent 4 and 8 are also canonically friends and know each other which would be great since everyone loves Agent interactions. also Agent 4 still hasnt had their time in the spotlight.
Some of these points are pretty wild, but they all make so much sense! I'm not going to rule out anything because these things are actually very possible. The whole perfect world idea being used for the third time in a row is really not out of the question either. The clone theory seems to have the most leverage based on what we know so far, and while we have to assume a lot to come to a conclusive theory in the first place, it would seem odd for lil judd to not be involved. Anyway, lots of very interesting points you made here. Thanks for sharing!
in the image at 8:01 - it’s good to notice that the person is wearing a different lab(?) outfit then 8 is. also, i think it’s important to note that the tentacles seem to taper at the ends, which is a feature of octoling hair, but you can obviously see the lack of suction cups and rounded ears so… new species copium?
Yeah that lab outfit seems to be the same from the one where she's sitting too. The hair is the most puzzling part for sure. The sharp ears could just be a perspective thing, but that hair is just undeniably odd. The new species copium gets more and more real lol
Potential hybrid species? Maybe results of a cloning fusion of octolings and inklings?
Either that, or it’s agent 4 and the photo is so blurry that it’s easy to misinterpret a few traits of their physique
@@DekuGamer maybe its a cuttlefish
Doubt it. I think it’s 8’s personal struggle with her self-identity after the event of octo-expansion. It’s like a mixture of an inkling and an octoling, showing how she’s assimilating into inkling culture despite her ties to the militaristic world of the octolings.
honestly i thought the silhouette looked similar to agent 2 from splatoon 1, and iirc marie WAS on team order, but i heavily doubt it im probably thinking too much about this
10:08
I noticed that this object has the same colourscheme as the expansion pass. Blue, turquoise, yellow, and red.
Huh, that's an odd coincidence. Nice catch!
I noticed it looks a lot like the Simon Says toy as well, maybe it’s a way of communication from a higher up?
6:13 My theory for this one is that those characters are Pearl and Marina's clones that have different personalities and just look like them. "Pearl" seems to be holding a mirror and applying lipstick which feels very off her character. Her clothes are also different but still very similar to her original design. I can't tell too much about the "Marina" tho, she just seems to be holding a weapon (and wearing tram order outfit??)
Theres a lot of white & black and it reminds me of the Toni Kensa brand. I wonder if the brand will play a part kind of like Grizzco. It'd be interesting if Kensa was working with Marina like how Enperry works with Pearl, just a theory tho.
Marina being affiliated with Kensa would be really cool for sure. I believe Pearl actually owns Enperry, and we know Toni Kensa is Marie's cousin, so there's a very loose connection to an idol already at least.
In the mem cake poem for Toni 's kensa, I'm pretty sure agent 8 said she didn't like it because of its lack of color or something
@@DekuGamer wait, were and when was confirmed that Toni Kensa is Marie's cousin? I don't wanna sound rude I'm just a big fan of Toni and I need every piece of lore about him D:
@@bruuuuhzz you probably know now but it was on the official splatoon 2 page
That visual swap between Side Order and Splatoon 2 at 2:45 was REALLY well done! You had to find the exact place the Octoling was standing and everything!
Thank you! I was really proud of that edit. So happy you noticed!
OH NO im so sorry about my language!! but thank you for the VERY funny Shelly and Donny censors
i think you unpacked this very well! there's a lot of different interpretations people can have about the imagery we're shown, and it's going to be very fun to watch things piece together as we get more info. great work, and thank you for the shoutout!
Hahaha it's all good dude. Glad you liked the censors. It really will be interesting how we continue piecing this together as more information gets revealed. There's a lot that can be interpreted differently, and it seems to be that way by design. Anyway, glad you liked the video!
What
Did NOT expect this video so soon lol. Excited to see what’s in store in a couple hours
The grind to get this done was real lol. Hope you like it!
bro now im imagining a chaos DLC if Order won, Agent 8 is the captain with Pearl and Marina in the main story, and you go inside the head of Agent 3
☠️
When a time traveler kicks a rock and Marina wins lol. I really do wonder how different Splatsville would have looked. Maybe it would look like that meme with society having flying cars haha
I think that even if Order won, Captain 3 would still be, well. The Captain.
What I think the difference would be is that we'd be playing as Agent 4 in this DLC. After all, Eight was on Team Order and Four was on Team Chaos according to promo art. Not to mention they both represent Splatoon 2.
i so so so wish that we got this side order instead of the new side order
in this trailer, it feels like eight is alone in this new unfamiliar and disturbing world that would explore darker themes
in the newer trailers, it feels more lighter and techy, i feel like they announced it way too early and now have to stick with the same design concepts but want to do a completely different story
one way i think of it is that the first trailer has undertones of red while the newer trailers have undertones of blue
Yeah I completely agree. I'm very curious to see how much of that vibe was left in the final product though. It seems a little too different to the new stuff, but then again it has been an entire year.
So real. So so so real, especially with what we got as the final product. It seems they completely changed their route for the DLC and made it rougelite midway through development. It’s cool but a lot of that mystery and eeriness was lost. Also the story was very lackluster and even used another brainwashing trope.
Chaos vs Order seems to take a very serious turn. Marina seems to take order into her own hands with her own technology.
This isn't a DLC 8 just took her PTSD meds and is starting to see stuff
I just want Agent 8 to be happy man 😞
You and me both buddy
@@aguynamedluis9266 same
I personally think the bright blue thing at 10:12 is attached to her, and it could be useful in the campaign. If you looked carefully, you would have noticed that she had no belt before. It could possibly be some sort of item protecting her from the black goo?? I don't really know as we have only had one (very blurry) look at it. Love your videos, new sub
I am looking forward to Side Order. Return of the Mammalians was incredible and I don’t know how Side Order is gonna top. But I am sure it will be amazing. I am excited to see what it will bring
My thoughts exactly! I trust that this story could actually top Return of the Mammalians
Hero Mode already gave a bit of lore about the Alterna Crystals making peoples dreams projected. Maybe they'll use it more in the story other than old random objects floating in the background. They'll definitely add more color near the end of the story for a sense of progression.
saw someone mention how it gives of liminal space vibes and I want to add that the basic definition of liminal is transition, or the in-between. so including all this mental and abstract imagery makes me believe that is agents 8s battle with assimilating in a new environment and also having to deal with past traumas. I mean she did almost get blended. maybe that's why you see a lot of dead or empty scenery because that is the "what was" not the now. its exactly like moving out of a house or room and when you have everything packed up you look at the empty rooms and reminisce on all that has happened in those rooms. but now you look at it and its empty striped of the life that you gave it.
I think that green splotch with the blue could be a sanitized octarian at 9:49, I think it’s that octo trooper that uses tentamissile-like weapons, which also supports the idea that either it’s like the fallout of commander tartar or it has at least some relevance to the story of side order
it’s crazy to think it’s been a year of waiting, and here I am today on like floor f12 almost peeing my pants from this game
9:55, I think the little ink pouch attached to her belt IS the ink tank, could it be a rainbow ink to restore color in this blank world ?
This is a really good analysis. I enjoyed it! Also, I'm convinced Lil Judd has something to do with the Tower of Order. I cant wait for the DLC!
Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed. I can't wait to see how involved lil judd is. The ultimate curve ball would be that he has nothing to do with it. The DLC hype hasn't stopped!
the number 11 could be because 3+8=11, since Splatoon 3 has an obsession with the number 3, and Octo Expansion has an obsession with the number 8
some things I'd like to point out without presenting my full theory (will post it in a reply)
- The shop page for Side Order mentions "See what has become of Inkopolis Square"
- 8:17, look at the top left corner of the image and take a look at Marie's model
- Who's speaking in the later parts of the trailer?
- 8:30, look at who Agent 8 is next to during that splatfest
- Take a look a bit at Marina's dialogue in English for both of the possible results of the final fest
- 6:12, tentacle bow, relatively white skin, still cheery, long tentacles and a rectancle-looking eye mask, now take a look at Callie's new model (or the amiibo works as well I guess)
- In City of Colour, Inkopolis is described as a well, City of Colour and in Side Order it isn't one
- Who singlehandedly could've put together an elaborate regime based on order in a few months if not someone who put together completely new splatfest stages and was top of her class in the octoling army?
- Check some of the translations of the DLC into other langauges, might help explain the NA tweet better
If you got anymore questions, please do ask them I'm happy to respond and or clarify what I mean by asking some of these questions and/or presenting these things! And again I'll have my full theory more or less posted in a reply so check the one out too
The Deja Vu Theory
1. Characters
- You are Agent 8
- Marina will be the primary antagonist
- Pearl and Callie get captured by Marina and "bleached" after an unsuccessful attempt at stopping Marina first time around
- You'll be helped by Marie who saved you barely from being bleached again
- Deep Cut will not make an appearance
- Octavio will not make an appearance unless Marina does something to his Octarians
2. Prelude to the Story
- Off The Hook ends their touring of the World, Marina and Pearl return to a largely abandoned Inkopolis square which reinforces Marina's fears of the area being doomed after Chaos' victory and through her paranoia or something similar she establishes some kind of Order-based regime in the area through use of mass hysteria and brainwashing as usual
- Pearl escapes the whole thing as Marina couldn't bring herself to "bleach" her, meanwhile Agent 8 isn't as lucky because of them being a quite loyal citizen of Inkopolis square due to being the saviour of it during OE leading to 8 becoming bleached temporarily until Pearl later on goes on to free 8 in some way
- One day Pearl with the help of Callie manages to finally find agent 8, and frees them nearly making it to the top of the tower and beating Marina, yet the plan fails in the end
- With the disappearance of OTH and Callie, both Anarchy Splatcast and Inkopolis News have a special broadcast covering the event and the radio silence from Inkopolis square, while Deep Cut is mostly distanced from the events while reporting and nothing out of the ordinary happens there, Inkopolis News is of course quite more somber and serious as Marie is the only idol left from Inkopolis while next door in the same city it seems like some dystopia is trying to take over the city. This officially will mark the release of Wave 2 as well.
3. The Story
- You follow events of 8 who has been saved last second by Marie from getting bleached again by Marina
- You will be going up a Tower trying to figure out again how did this all happen and trying to avoid the pitfalls of when Pearl and Callie tried doing this whole thing
- As you continue going up the tower you eventually manage to free Pearl & Callie
- A final fight again Marina where the City of Colour is used as a finishing song with an OTH-inspired remix happens where she is somehow redeemed
- Everything eventually goes back to normal
THANK YOU NOBODY NOTICES THIS
Underrated
@@wavee5676 idk why people either think this is a dream, not actual inkopolis square or marina... like come on just dig for like 30 minutes and you won't have to create a 5-part long twitter thread about how thinking marina being the antagonist for the dlc is racist (real story)
@@polishraspberries i mean what we saw of marina’s personality makes her a candidate for being the antagonist
to me, that inkling-like cephalopod standing near the elevator could be the inkling companion, and that inkling companion could agent 4 with longer hair. like, they are roomates, and it would make sense if 8 dreams about 4, considering she sees 4 every day. so i think that inkling is a dream representation of agent 4
i love how unique splatoon's stories are compared to other nintendo titles, besides kirby, i havent seen another series get this existential and its really cool
9:43 haha, glad i wasn't the only one! i saw that and i was immediately thought of chell
also @7:38 -- finally, someone else who noticed!! i initially thought they were an Octoling before since they have the curly hair that Octarians typically sport, but the pointed ears and lack of suction cups lead me to think otherwise. as of now, I'm wondering if they're just a clone that needed more time to bake in the oven, so to speak.
haha that's one of my favorite games from valve. You have good taste ;)
Yeah that's pretty much what I thought too! Since it looks close enough to the octolings we know, but with some slight differences. My thought was that maybe it was a unique clone like you said, or that it's a younger version. Both is pretty much just speculation, but it's fun to theorize about it haha
Team Fortress 2 is better also it could just be an inkling 🤔
i think the ink tank shes holding is actually a fizzy bomb, although it is just hard to tell. and bleached coral actually isnt necessarily dead, its just sick and near death. thats how coral looks when it stops its symbiotic relationship with colorful algae. since bleaching is caused by environmental stress, maybe it could be symbolism of feelings of stress? lots of stuff in this analysis i havent heard of. really good video!
Maybe it is a Fizzy but it looks like it has a strap which is why I think it's an ink tank. Do bombs change cosmetically btw? It seems like the story mode and the multiplayer use the same models. Glad you mentioned the coral thing. I was aware of it which is why I said it's "essentially dead." I should have elaborated better though. Glad you liked the video!
Side order DLC- but it's Portal
-outfit is similar to the portal testing outfit
-Elevators are in portal all the time
-evil phone from the Octo Expansion gives off major GLaDOS vibes (could be haunting her memories)
-a Splattershot kind of being a place holder for the Portal Gun.
okay but the transition from something happy to dark and sad was amazing in the beginning. bravo 👏
6:57 i searched on the internet the meaning of the number 11, and it says "The number 11 can also symbolize a spiritual awakening - the name of this number is sometimes 'the illuminator' or 'the teacher'. It is here to encourage positive thinking, and the powers of manifestation, and to recognize and use your unique skills to give something back to the world." and it also says "The number 11 is a spiritual and intuitive number, representing idealism, perfectionism, collaboration and clairvoyance." , on my searching, so one more Team Order related thing to the list!
In splatoon colours are a huge things, and colours do have meaning. The colour white, usually represent innocence, balance, and self perfection while black represents Mystery, security, and is and intimidating colour.
I think we are going threw Agent 8 trama? Or is going threw some grief, as white and black represent Death and life. I believe the story will be about Agent 8 accepting her past and growing from it.
0:03 when the losing team of the final fest gets so mad they decide to destroy the entire city
I thought y’all were for team order 😂
Hahaha imagine what it would look like if chaos lost then
No doubt there’s cloning involved. Agent 8 is given her handle because she is literally number 10,008 in octo-expansion (I know it’s given by commander tartar because that’s how many test subjects there were, but why is it when you start Octo expansion agent 8 is encased in some sorta weird green goo in her mind when you select your character?). Not to mention that I remember seeing somewhere that octolings are formed from severed tentacles if I remember correctly.
This is really interesting analysis! I think perhaps some of the inconsistencies could be explained by these flashes possibly just being concept art FOR the DLC that they're showing briefly here as a teaser, but who knows, maybe all of this will show up in the final thing. But a lot of it feels like concept art to me.
Thank you! Yeah that's worth considering for sure. I just viewed it as content in the game because there hasn't been an instance before where they show something that's just concept art in the trailer. Then again, this is a rare exception because they used the 2D art style. Either way I do think you're right in that some of it will actually be in the DLC and some of it won't. I don't think that takes away from it though since concept art is always in theme still. Thanks for bringing that up!
The little blue, red and green charm on Agent 8’s hip reminds me of that sanitized Octoling music artist, Dedf1sh. Maybe she’ll have a bigger part in Side Order? It’d be really cool, Dedf1sh seems like an interesting character. This is 7 months late but that’s my input.
That was a great video! Dang I just am so excited for this dlc. I better not have any homework the weekend it releases
Thank you so much Nate! Hope it was worth the wait. Hopefully they release it in the summer. But knowing Nintendo's release schedule they will find a way to release it at the worst time lol
It looks like inkopolis was covered in dead corals due to marina's sadness and craziness lol
This is really shaping up to he one of the deepest stories nintendo has ever told.
Also if the language is set to dutch the dlc is actually called "Toren der orde" or something like that, wich translates to "Tower of order" so it seems the deca tower will be the main hub, similar to alterna in the regular story mode. (Just a theory :P)
I think I have a theory.
Since a lot of things resemble death, we might see the effects of the deaths in Octo Expansion, maybe even ghosts
10:53 this gives me the image of the inside of that room being full of black ink and some seeping beneath the door almost like blood beneath the entrance to a door in a horror game
Oh I can totally see that! Splatoon likes to play with imagery a lot too so this could be possible
10:21 sort of looks like a sanitized octobomber, octostriker or octocopter to me.
sanitized octobomber is the one I was thinking of since it has the bright blue. Very interested to see if it actually was an enemy in the distance
I love the feelings the trailer gives off to me. It sort of reminds me of an ancient temple, or something very important for some reason. It makes me feel nostalgic? I think it’s just amazing, it’s beautiful but threatening and confusing at the same time. I don’t know how to describe it 😭
This is the best analysis for the side order. You explored everything we have and a little bit more. Can't wait to see this dlc being as cool gameplay and lorewhise like octo expansion was
One theory:
Side Order happens after the Splatoon 2 statue fires on Inkopolis. Since most of the Inklings died when the laser unexpectedly fires, that explains why the place is so empty, and therefore all the "life" (color as well) drains from Inkopolis, or was taken out when the invaders entered and "sanitized" the area, thus removing the roundness of the Deca tower arch as well as the "personality".
I wanted to choose team chaos, but I wanted to be different for this watch fast and I chose order, and I never even played the splatfest
Well it seems like both teams got what they wanted in the end. I wasn't into Splatoon at the time yet, but I probably would have chosen Chaos
Your analysis videos are literally so good 😮💨
Thank you! Really happy you think so :)
This is seriously such a great video!! I can see all of these being major possibilities for the dlc!
Thank you so much! Looking forward to how more information unfolds for the story!
Most Splatoon 2 splatfest came off as domestic disputes they solve via public turf war( how do you like your OJ) Maybe a lot of side order is Agent 8 dealing with the two people she’s bonded to having a non serious disagreement because in the domes a friendly disagreement of superiors isn’t a thing she would end well
That's a very cool theory! The ending of the finalfest shows that Pearl and Marina were in very good terms though, and I feel like they've gotten even stronger as a pair because of that splatfest. Still, this is a very cool idea
It could be the fact that agent 8 is losing its mind (witch justifies the coral that means that she is internally dead) and the objective will be to help her regain sanity and sanity=order now you see where I'm going? Yeah this is because side order lost and now agent 8 is depressed and lost her identity because of that.
Imagine everyone in Inkapolis was like "hot shark octoling? Cute goofy inkling? AN ADORABLE STINGRAY?! let's all abandon this and head to Splatsville" and maybe it got abandoned and forgotten and caused the place to 'die out' either that or, it's old memories on what she remembers.
This over all reminds me of a twisted version of the deep sea metro. It's all bright and not colorful, only color I've noticed shown vibrantly is red, the white is also often green toned . Elevator could be related to going up out of the metro escaping to freedom
Also may i add, the darkness could be darkness creeping into agent 8s mind (?) long stretch in my opinion yes but id see it make sense.
Somebody has a theory about the “octoling” in 7:43. The theory was it being a hybrid of an octoling and inkling and I honestly see it. Order can be portrayed in many ways, including being synchronized to the point of being considered one being. And remembering the great turf war which caused the octolings to go underground is definitely the opposite of orderly since war is far from order. Maybe, to prevent another war from breaking out, somebody is trying to merge inklings and octolings to prevent another war like the great turf war from happening again and eliminating differences between them by merging the two together.
about the unkown inkling,
i think it might be agent 4 but thats just a wild guess
9:06 i have to say this several times but there is no black spikes, what people see as black spikes is actually the background, what’s in the image is actually a bunch of half submerged white pillars with vines on them
I reckon that cloning process is how octolings are made, because we don’t have much insight into that, apart from it being mentioned in splat 2 that they come from DJ Octavio’s tentacles, but that sounds inefficient. Maybe the enemy (I’m not saying it’s Octarians) figured out how to create octolings quicker.
Very cool theory! I definitely need to refresh on the lore, but the octoling story doesn't seem very complete (based on what we know right now). I do hope we get some answers on the cloning thing.
I don’t see people talk about the shot of Marina a lot but she looks like she’s glitching out or is a hologram of sorts since parts of her are moving in a sense. Maybe something happened to her and she’s gone? And Pearl found us similar to how she found Marina? Idunno there’s so much and I’m so eager to finally know what’s going on after the huge reveals in 3s story and how eerie it felt at times.
Marina when she loses the final splatfest:INKOPOLIS IS DOOMED!!!
Inkopolis:turns into coral
Something i think might be a posibility is that side order might just be a "what if side order won", maybe it takes place on a paralell universe, but im not sure
Maybe, though I don't think the devs would pass on creating something that explores the lore even further
i love the fact that splatoon lore just seems to be getting darker and darker, this is something we NEVER see from nintendo and it really cool to see happening, especially in a game thats as cartoony and "cutesy" as splatoon. i hope it stays like this.
what about kirby? that’s pretty chaotic with its lore, and zelda?
I actually had a dream that in the dlc we met a new agent named agent 7 that was an inkling with orange hair. I originally thought that there no way I could be right but after watching this and seeing the orange ink i’m like 😨
Sometimes, I do wonder,
What if team order won? I think it would make this orderly world that 8 is imagining MUCH different, assuming it would follow some sort of chaotic landscape. Instead of the blank white coral and all the squares to show order, I think it would be a dark and scary place, filled with chaotic energy.
For sure. I think about that all the time too. Chaos could have had a very interesting take too.
That fossil image is likely Horrorboros
I feel the story will have 8 after the events of octo expansion during final fest, 8 feels alone after octo expansion and while final fest begins 8 leans toward team order, but with conflicts of inklings and octolings in the square she feels broken. She wakes up in her subconscious and is afraid, she enters the tower and advances the floors making her ink brighter by resolving her conflicts and finding resolve after what she went through, as she advances she has to avoid the black ink and her demons who try to keep her broken. The landscape resembles the conflict between chaos and order. The other characters may be angels trying to help her to resolve, or they might be demons trying to bring her down to misery
As a person that love history and geography I can't unsee the nervous system shema as a map of Europe, especially Brittany, France, italy, spain and other thing, but deformed
I think the people with pointy ears are inklings it could be another agent or…a new character or maybe it could be the villain of side order
This BETTER have the most traumatizing plot
I think it will lmao
7:07 the number 11 means intuition, sensitivity and awareness.
also I feel like the entire change theme going on might mean that Eight was finally happy and is afraid and aware of change happening.
Awesome vid, btw suction cups on the outside means it's an octo but if its on the inside it's an inkling, so the person standing in front of the elevator is probably a completely new character
8:17 At this part in my eyes, Agent 8 seems to be in an elevator with the “inkling”.
What I still question is why the Octolings eyes have different pupils to Octolings such as Marina and Shiver (you can see hers if you look close enough).
I know people have said stuff about experiments, but given the recent introduction of Yoko & The Gold Bazookas there is proof of different kinds of Octolings. Agent 8 also has thinner hair/tentacles compared to Marina and the Octolings we see in Splatoon 1.
So my guess is either Agent 8 is a different species of Octoling or the experiment part is true because that seems quite dark for a plot.
That brings the bracelets/clothing thing with the QR code into play. Everything is controlled, there seems to be an order for it ALL.
(With Pearl's clothes it just keeps reminding me of Emperor from the splatoon manga; the whole enperry dualies thing and white and gold)
Side Order might be something that occurs both present and past, Agent 8 recovering their memories or something. We know Marina and Pearl show up, I hope it shows us how they met- it would be super interesting!
Another thing is Shiver is an Octoling but no hints have been made as to her coming from a world of living in kettles and being stuck in such a way of living like Marina and Octolings in general. And in an interview bmeith Deep Cut briefly tells us she went to highschool, with Frye and Big Man. Something tells me the Octolings we know probably didn't go to school due to issues with power, and certainly not alongside Inklings and other species!
Through the scrolls they've given us some info like Frye coming from the Onaga Clan, and while Shiver's clan isn't mentioned it's pretty much hinted that she does come from one regarding some form of partnerships with sharks.
So did Shiver come from an entirely separate place from Marina? My guess is yes.
DJ Octavio does have access to mind control, he could be so keen on having everything in ORDER that he still has them under some brain wash thing and wants control. His world when into chaos because they didn't have the power of the zapfish so he could've been desperate. Music is a HUGE key in Splatoon, playing important roles. Music is freeing and can be chaotic and is full of beautiful changes of melody- it wouldn't be seen as order. (But that theory kind of dies because Octavio loves music- but then again his is quite controlled with beats which brings us back to music playing an important role)
A little of topic but in Haikyuu, the Miya Twins have a song and in it you can hear it represent both: a stable beat, a constant throughout the song as though in order, and the other part is chaotic and random!
So Octavio could still want to keep the order, be in control with his music and his Octolings (octotroopers etc.) It makes sense in my brain but I can't get words out.
Of course I'm not saying my guesses are correct, but it's fun and interesting to think about the info they've given us so far!
The symbolism runs deep in this game
(With how dead everything looks in Side Order, one hell of a change is coming. lol 11 is my lucky number).
(Just random but we've seen a few simulation type things in octo valley and other storymodes so it wouldn't be completely farfetched to think they're under aind control- hence Agent 8's perspective we see- and they have to fight their way through this while uncovering those secrets of Agent 8 and Marina)
One of Chao's headgear was also a fossil, just like the ""side order antagonist"". Might be a total coincidence and might be a thing.
Huh, that is an odd coincidence. You have a keen eye. Thanks for mentioning this!
There appears to be a teaser for Side Order found in the Splatune 3 album booklet. When translated it reads, “Marina: As I realized the success of the world tour, I was overwhelmed with thoughts like "What is there beyond the end of the world?" Beyond this chaotic world, there may be a world of order that is beyond our comprehension. Gazing at the end of the world may be similar to being able to choose one's inner self....In any case, I feel like I am about to explode with such a thought, and I would like to construct a new frontier with the power of art.” This definitely strengthens the idea that Side Order has something to do with the mind. (The album booklet was translated by Fia Dot EXE.)
The description of the dlc description confirms that this is the real inkopolis square. It says something along the lines of “see what happened to the square” (I don’t remember exactly)
Splatoon but Psychonauts? An interesting concept, to be sure!
1:11 on the elevator may be floor 1 of 11. Also 11 is an "angel" number representing new opportunities and beginnings. Remember how Inklings thought Octolings were a new fad at first? They might think of 8 as an angel(in a savior sense).
Bonus: I am making rough english translations of the songs of Splatoon. I did 2 rough translations (on google translate)of the Into the Light song and it goes somewhat like this in the beginning:
(The start of the 2nd verse)
"Nidawa" --I'm sorry(Marina, possibly translating Octoling dialiect for Pearl?)
"Nirena"-- After a while(Pearl)
"Hanofiryasurime"--My life's nothing but (a lie in)a file
Translation 2:
Needed it to work,
Need you right now(see?),
But how'd you see right through me?
Theory: 8 is going through a process of battling what she was taught about inklings under Octavos rule vs what she is seeing and experiencing. Hence the term --- Side Order. Her world in her mind is blank because she wants the main dish-the truth- to be shown.
Hope this helps!
This is kinda off topic but i realized there was a lot of shape language here (def: to communicate meaning based on shapes we are familiar with, shapes can tell a story, show personality, and illicit an emotional response in the viewer without using any words.) Especially squares who usually used for something solid , inflexible, reliable,strong... Which could contradict the idea of the dream ( because your imagination isn't solid ) but it could also mean that (since squares "represent" side order) she relaying on order or on marina to maybe guide her
Also triangle are used for something unpredictable , dynamic and dangerous so perhaps the picture of the sharp things where the octoling is sitting happens before a bossfight or a plot twist
Regarding the school of fish, those are actually tickets or tags; if you look close enough, you'll see they're paper-thin. Them looking like a school of fish is likely to keep up with the nautical theme of the series.
I remember Marina saying she's gonna shape her ideal world, being Team Order, this could be her ideal world but hijacked by someone (in the recent poster teaser we see a mantis Professor, maybe this is THE professor in some way?) Also Pearl having Octoshades is so confusing since only sanitized Octolings wear those
7:45 thats an inkling, the ears are pointy and if theres no suction cups thats usually an inkling.
I believe the Octolings (Likely Agent 8) hairstyle is slightly different. Her front right “arm” does not have any suckers while the rest of her “arms” do have suckers. It’s kinda like the Inkling braid hairstyle. I must explain what I meant when I say “arms”. The arms, sometimes confused for tentacles are the common appendages in Many cephalopods. No clubs but has suckers throughout the appendage. Tentacles are appendages with clubs in the end, which in fact has suckers in the end, not throughout the appendage.
2:46 YO THAT'S ME
I'm binkling
No way, that's really COOL! Did you play S2 recently? Not sure how the game picks who to show
I did, actually!
When I often ponder about what order splatoon three would be like, I liked this idea I made in my mind. (Spoilers for previous splatoon games)
Commander Tartar survived the end of their boss fight. With the loss of their test subjects and testing facility, they stayed quiet and out of sight to slowly rebuild. After it was revealed that octoling and inkling society will embrace a new world order, they noticed the octoling who popularised the movement, and remembered her adeptness in technology being what brought NILS (the statue) down. With their small supply of sanitisation ink (or whatever it is called), they managed to kidnap Marina and mould her brain with sanitisation ink to serve Tartar’s goals. Marina being a technological genius and a celebrity icon, became the matriarch of Octopia (the new hub area. A squeaky clean, technologically advanced, super city where “nothing bad ever happens” and the certainty keeping everything together.), where she controlled and oversaw EVERYTHING. The fear of having her new life become just as chaotic and dangerous as her time in octarian society drove her to this dictatorship role, with her not realising that she is being puppeteered by the evil telephone that is Tartar.
The campaign will be about being a part of a secret organisation that resides in the shadow of Octopia. A band of chaotic warriors of Octarians, inklings, and salmonoids who want to abolish the suffocating order of Octopia. Lead by their warrioress leader, Pearl, they have established outposts beyond the veil of Octopia and seek to get to Marina’s headquarters to force her hand into submission. However, the world beyond is grey and lifeless with Marina’s reach, creating a constant feeling of an existential threat.
Throughout the game, blueprints are uncovered of the launch of an orbital research station, along with a large supply of inklings and octoling test subjects. Towards the final fight, the player can see the rocket getting ready to launch, along with crane arms docking the innocents in vats of goo (kind of like the character customisation screen in Octo expansion) into the rocket ship. During the fight, Pearl and the player get Marina to snap back in a sequence involving the calamari inkantation. With the plan falling apart, Tartar attempts to escape in the rocket. The player and Pearl got into the rocket to save the innocents and to get revenge for Tartar hurting Marina.
With the destruction of the rocket; it explodes in a firework-like pattern, causing the people in Octopia to notice it and to enjoy the light show, their one moment away from orderly life in a long while. Marina apologises for what she did while controlled by Tartar, and gives up her role of matriarch. With their goal achieved, Pearl disbands the society. Both Pearl and Marina get back together, and dedicate their time to helping the people in the now liberated Octopia, and making music like they used to. As the credits end, it shows Tartar’s destroyed remains, showing how they are gone, along with humanity’s knowledge bank in them.
Please let me know what you think! I will be happy to listen.
Perhaps it's a coincidence but in spirituality, the number 11 or 11:11 symbolizes change and new beginnings! Just thought there was a connection there
Wow! That's very interesting actually. All the symbolism in the trailer seems to be very intentional. Thanks for mentioning it!
Maybe the little orange speaker 8 holds is playing calamari inkantation, as a way to help other Octos snap out of the mind control like how she did at the start of Octo expansion
I have a theory that the dlc takes place in an alternate universe where tartar destroyed inkopolis with the sanitized ink (as we see in the death screen if you die during the nils statue battle in octo expansion) and the white stuff is dried sanitized ink because inkopolis square was left abandoned after years and agent 8, pearl and Marina are the only survivors
edit: we also saw that tartar was on team order along with agent 8 so that might mean something
That's a very interesting theory! I never noticed inkopolis turns white during the sanitization. That's so interesting! Pearl and Marina surviving makes sense too since they weren't at the square when it happened. Very cool theory. I personally hope it's not an alternate timeline for the sake of expanding on the current lore, but that doesn't mean it's out of the question
cloning is a pretty weak theory. and the bracelet on her ankle is a ticket, so the other octolings in the image have escaped from "the blender" or the underground. but thats just a theory a GAME theory, thanks for watching.
Maybe it's not cloning, but I personally think that it is. Question is where are they getting those tags in the first place? There's an interview with one of the developers explaining that if Agent 8 fails the escape sequence in octo expansion, when you try again it's still the same agent 8 but the time goes back to before she fails. An interesting tidbit that I think shakes up the clone theory too. That's my contribution to that GAME theory haha
@@DekuGamer Damn I didnt think about how she got the tag. Yeah so I just watched a few Splatoon 3 side order theory videos, and most of them was about cloning, and coral cloning and they supported the idea more. So I might dig a bit deeper and my opinion may change.
We know we will be feeling sad and in depth with the lore and then the funny splatoon music starts and we forget
I feel something that Marina is going to become the villain here, because she lost, and remember how she said she was going to design “her perfect world”? Well, I feel that she somehow used her knowledge of technology to turn everything to her liking, and the color and design shows hints toward Marina’s style. I feel something involved with her being the bad guy may come soon, and I can’t wait to find out if my theory is correct.
As much as I hate to say it, I think it’d be impossible for Marina to be linked to or maybe even BE the antagonist. Everything is redesigned to be orderly. Even though Pearl is seen in the Square, offering her hand to what I can assume is our protagonist, Marina is in a dark, unknown space with glitches, shocked by what I think might be the protagonist making progress. Also that was the only time we saw her in the trailer, in that blurry photo she might be the octoling next to Pearl but their face is too obscured, it looks like if it is Marina, it looks like she’s wearing the enemy octoling goggles from splatoon 1, which is, obviously, a bit worrying.