Were INVINCIBILITY Specials Overhyped? [Splatoon 1 Special Design]

[@lucas-fu9yn]

I hope that they'll make some zip caster singleplayer levels in which the stage is completely composed of the floating objects that you can see in the background. Imagine fighting the octo missile rocket things and suction cup enemies anchored on the objects, maybe even a flying boss like the octo shower, the flyfish or the mother ship, it would be awesome and I can't stop dreaming about it

[@JakoBpyroTech]

imagine there are also crab tank levels, though.

[@lucas-fu9yn]

@@JakoBpyroTech I'd like to use a crab tank against shielded octo troopers, imagine having to fight a lot of them while also being targeted by snipers and tenta missiles, you'd need to use both your crab form to clear out shielded enemies and the ball form to dodge missiles and shield charger shots

[@KS-sj9ve]

Spider-Man, Spider-Man! Does whatever a spider can!

[@Lorenzovd]

@@JakoBpyroTech oh my god yesss gimme

[@teakyuuu]

good thing the new direct showed the zip caster and crab special

[@leolucam78luis87]

See my problem with specials in both games is that in Splatoon 2, specials felt like special subs, not that much reward for using them, but spammed OH BOY, now in Splatoon 1 specials actually felt like a special, problem being THEY ARE TOO SPECIAL with almost no counter play but has the benefits of not being able to spam, they both have the same problem in reverse

[@PrincePoison]

In splatoon 1, the specials feel broken and unbalanced. In splatoon 2, the specials feel more like an ability in valorant than a special. In splatoon 3, the specials feel more balanced, but harder to use to their full ability.

[@TheLaXandro]

The counterplay to Kraken is map control and non-engagement. It's a melee-range special with relatively short active time and no application other than splatting, if it can't do its job then it's just a lost bar and 5 seconds of wasted uptime at best, a ticket to spawn at worst. It is, dare I say it, more like Splashdown than anything else in 2, it's very locked in, and it only really hurts small guns because many big guns get it and just go ham in places they realistically should not be able to do much. Distribution being limited to small guns would've made it much less of an annoyance, because who cares if it's Sploosh or super-Sploosh, the counterplay's the same. Bubbler is also fairly well-designed in a vaccuum, but distribution, man, distribution. The initial batch was actually really well-picked, Jr and Inkbrush Nouveau are non-combatants and exist as pure support, while Cydra, Squiffer, CB and Rapid are slow and can't go ham by themselves, it's a potentially very strong special, but it also requires right setup, since it's only as strong as your main is otherwise. Then came Zimi and Tri and turns out that halfway competent mains make Bubbler borderline broken. And the Cherry on top- the unbreakable wall, the overlord of defense, the immortal, the perfect Bubbler weapon and the single most degenerate kit to ever grace Splatoon, CH3 is a goddamn crime and it got away with everything too.

[@TheCosmicCloud]

Never knew about the superjump inkzooka thing, that looked sick lol I actually hope we’re able to do that with trizooka in 3 (assuming it would be possible to react to it due to the shots being slower)

[@kat2002]

I never played splatoon 1 but I really enjoyed watching these!

[@Angel..L]

I hated inkzooka as a charger player . Especially when using a scoped version and you get splatted suddenly. Used to always scare me. I’m better at positioning now but inkzooka was always my number 1 fear.

[@Yugilein]

Agree, it was especially hard since you couldn't see if someone had their special ready in Spl1.

[@ZGlove.]

Getting splat out of the blue is honestly very startling.

[@gimme_eliter4k720]

As a close ranged player inkzooka is my favorite special, i see it as tenta missiles but interactive, fun and skill based especially with how much range chargers had

[@LuddyFish_]

Hearing the Mario Party DS ost again feels so nostalgic. I want to play it again.

[@zanderenzo]

You can superjump shoot the INKZOOKA? WHAT? How did I not know this

[@coachcookie_]

Mario Party DS music kicked in my nostalgia sensors immediately

[@Keizer0724]

I really like the Kraken. I was kinda disappointed when the special isn’t in Splatoon 2 and 3, but I can get over it since I mainly use the Kensa Octobrush with suction bomb and Ultra Stamp and oh boy I love to use the Ultra Stamp. It’s a big war hammer that is well balanced in the game. I’m also looking forward for Zipcaster. It would look cool with the Squinja Outfit. The Zipcaster is like a fusion between a Inkling/Octoling and Greninja, and Greninja is my favorite Pokémon.

[@Keizer0724]

Update: as of 11/9/2022, I now main the Inkbrush.

[@sylvie_on]

@@Keizer0724 good news for you, it’s back

[@jasonzervos]

Babbler allowing you to use your main and sub weapon with refilled inktank on top of being completely invisible with almost not existing knock-backs was really really broken! I still prefer it from ink armor, but that special could be somewhat fixed. Using ink armor should reduce the mobility of the players, since you are wearing extra armor, and the range of it should absolutely not be unlimited. You should be able to pass it only on teammate that are in somewhat close proximity to you. And one more think. Not stackable with other specials. I actually love your way of seeing the Splatoon's stage and for every point you make you have a reason to believe it based on concrete arguments. I don't completely agree with your views on some parts but, over all, I respect you opinions. Keep improving the community with your videos!

[@GigisAnimation]

Hey Chara, here is a special weapon idea called Ink Dash. I would love to hear your thoughts on it and how you would balance this Short description: This special upon activation will give you a short dash forward dealing 35 damage to all enemies it hits and knocks them back, at the end of the dash there is a small explosion dealing 35 damage. Pts for special: 70 More in depth: The ink dash’s dash is = to the range of 2 splat duelie rolls. The time going from point A, to point B is 40 frames. The special will paint the ground underneath you when using it. Also the knock back distance is 92% the distance of spawn point knock back. The explosion radios is 95% the size of a burst bomb. A few weaknesses are that the Ink Dash cannot charge automatically in ranked or holding a power clam, It can’t climb walls (only less than 45 degree slopes) Also you can’t use main OR sub while using this special. Also after using this special you have 20 frames of end lag. (similar to duelies) Your hit box is also slightly larger when using this special. Special scenarios: If 2 Ink dashes are used and collide with each other, the knock back will cancel the special and it will end early NOT DEALING ANY DAMAGE OR EXPLOSION. (This also applies to anything in the game that does knock back). Also, if the DASH form the special contacts a bomb then the bomb will not explode and will be destroyed. If this special is used in the air then you falling speed will be at 80% only during the special. Also, you can only take 1 tick of damage either from the explosion or the dash, but you can be knocked back more than once if angled right. Finally, if the Ink Dash hits a wall then the special does not end early you are stuck at the wall until it ends + end lag, and if someone bumps into you they still will take 35 dmage + knock back. Special power up: Increases dash speed (caps at 28 frames) Whoa that was a lot, but thanks for reading it!

[@ProChara]

Its a cool concept a cheaper but weaker special could be interesting hard to give super specific thoughts. Also please keep in mind I can not see every comment I just happened to see this one.

[@GigisAnimation]

Alright, fair enough

[@ZGlove.]

I like this.

[@zerovking7629]

You basically made reefslider so you had an idea a entire game industry would sue nice (minus the dash startup doing damage)

[@alphi.2053]

I kinda always hoped they added more instead of taking them away, i never played splatoon 1 so seeing the kraken I feel like I missed something ☹️

[@MysticdestructionAJ]

Really, invincibility isn't the issue, it's the fact that it's paired with instant activation because that allows for panic buttons. If you made it so that bubbler/kraken had slight lags to activation to prevent panic buttoning in the middle of fire, they would be perfect.

[@F1areon]

Honestly Kraken is the one special I REALLY REALLY want back, even if it was broken; it was just... cool

[@Wei_Radula_Regiment]

Dodging the Kraken doesn't solely rely on having map control. If you play a weapon that can "Raijin-Step"/"Splatter-Dash" (with the exception of Blasters and the Nozzelnoses, everything in the Shooter class and also Splatlings can Raijin-Step), you can be in what is essentially enemy territory and still maneuver around quickly. Krakens have a glaring weakness: they cannot momentum-cancel in any meaningful way. The Kraken cannot change form, so the only way to "quickly" stop is to jump, which takes long enough that it doesn't really work as momentum-canceling. I've actually Raijin-Stepped around an S+ opponent Kraken on the smaller square upper portion of Saltspray Rig _while_ an S Ranked opponent was shooting at me and survived the Kraken's duration with no back-up during the enemy's Kraken to take out one of the two (I've forgotten which, though I think I also died in slowing down to attack). I checked how much that S+ used his weapon after the match and found he was experienced with his .96 Gal Deco, having 925,513 points inked, so he wasn't just floundering around with a weapon he didn't know how to use. I've also Raijin-Stepped around an S Rank Tri-Slosher in Splatoon 1's narrow Arowana Mall side paths for the entire duration of her Bubbler, which was boosted by the Special Duration Ability, to KO her after it ended, despite me not having any Run Speed, Swim Speed, Ink Resistance, Ink Saver Main, or Ink Recovery Abilities (I was grinding points for equipment). I've also Raijin-Stepped around a Cherry who threw up a Splash Wall to (unsuccessfully) try to trap me in one of the top corners of Saltspray and panicked Bubbler'ed due to me being too close to him. I dodged him for the whole Bubbler duration and used his Wall to quick-detonate my bomb to take him out when his Bubbler ended, but I could tell this guy was a lot more flustered, so it's not as impressive. I've had an overly generous teammate retreat to pass his Bubbler to me, which took him enough time to essentially waste his Bubbler. I don't understand the people who say that the Bubbler lasts too long. When people complain about Inkzookas being over-powered, I like to point out what you did in this video, as well as some other points: they're slow, don't shoot downwards well, are easy to spot if popped in the open and can get cut-off by looming obstacles. There are some maps that Inkzookas' usage is quite limited, due to only really being useful in a few locations. Museum d'Alfonsino in particular has a lot of obstacles that cut off 'Zooka, and some parts of Mahi Mahi Resort and surprisingly Arowana Mall (those side signs and roof overhangs!), Camp Triggerfish and Ranked Kelp Dome also have obstructions that can limit the 'Zooka. I have what is apparently an unpopular opinion of "no Special in Splatoon 1 is over-powered/broken". I don't mind going up against Inkzookas, Krakens, or Bubblers, for the most part. I think almost all of my encounters result in one of two things: feeling like the opponent got me in a fair way, or feeling good about myself for out-performing the opponent's Special activation attack. There are very few times in which I felt cheated by an opponent getting me (unless a hacker was involved). I have tried to push back Krakens and Bubblers with weapons that can do so, such as the N-Zap and Splash-o-matic, but failed, which I think was due to lag (some of the Bubbler instances were confirmed, with them taking big knock-back after a delay) and in those instances I felt cheated, but that's not really the Special's fault; it's all lag. Side note: I think you didn't mention in your other video that the Ink Strike is an anti-sniper tool. Dropping an Ink Strike on a sniper's perch, especially if you skew it a bit behind the sniper, can cause problems for them, either catching them, or forcing them forward, off of their perch and into the fray within range of your main weapon.

[@ProChara]

Do agree and am aware of the shooter tech, but this really only helps shooters, every weapon in the game needs effective ways of stopping it, which means stuff like charger or blaster directs need more knockback and HP to be shredable. There is some level of counterplay which is why I wasn't as harsh on it but again it had aspects that need to be toned back. Similar thoughts for bubbler. I did Splat 1 competitively and fought some of the best western players so I totally get those moments but its not enough to make the special even close to balanced. Fair points for first paragraph on zooka. Splat 1 specials all have some form of counterplay, but a small amount does not equal balanced to me, they are far too extreme and many weapons have almost no options to deal with them. What Splat 1 does have is better overall concepts, it's easy to tone back these specials and make them fair and so far that's what s3 is doing. Instant activation is a good example of one of these as netcode side this can mean they pop a special after you hit then especially notable for 1 shot weapons. Invincibility means they can always survive a set duration. This is more guaranteed value that you can't stop and that is the core issue. Strike as a displacement option would apply to snipers or really any long range weapon yes.

[@Wei_Radula_Regiment]

@@ProChara (Thank you for reading my comment, considering it and replying!) All Splatlings can also Raijin-Step, but I think since most of the maps in Splatoon 1 favor long-range weapons (just trying to cross mid in Triggerfish and Arowana, and to a lesser extent Museum, Bluefin and Hammerhead can be a nightmare for short range weapons since re-aiming will always be potentially faster than moving (the revamped Moray is actually fairly accommodating and no longer lives up to its reputation, in my experience)), I feel that the shorter ranged weapons, like the Shooter class, needs that extra bit of something, like being more maneuverable. So many people already complain about Blasters and Chargers being very good in other ways and they do knock back Bubblers a lot, so I'm satisfied with the tradeoff. Every weapon being able to deal with Kraken when they don't have map control feels to me like asking all types of Pokemon to have tools to deal with every other type of Pokemon (I guess the Splatoon equivalent would be asking all weapons to have Charger range, or something). Isn't that what teammates and team composition are for in asymmetric gameplay? I agree that the balancing in Splatoon 1 could be better, but not with the idea that every weapon should be able to deal with every challenge. I feel like Brushes (which I don't play) should be buffed due to not having the maneuverability of the Shooter class, despite being so short-ranged. I like what Splatoon 2 did with the map redesign and ink spread, but I don't like a lot of the re-kitting. Yeah, I've experienced situations of getting five shots, on my end, onto an enemy with a four-shot-splat Shooter, complete with the hit-sound effect, but the opponent survived and activated his Bubbler. In that situation, I just dodged him until his Bubbler ran out to get him. Anyway, thank you for this analysis and promoting the idea that Spla1 Specials aren't quite as bad as their reputation suggests to the community.

[@archflamingo9156]

@@ProChara chara!!! when are you going to make your drizzle season impressions videoooooooo

[@blairt2200]

As a filthy Splatoon1 Krak-on roller main; I don't agree 😭!! There's nothing wrong with panic-button specials IMO. Splatoon's extremely low time-to-kill rate, peer-to-peer connections and frequent matchmaking with foreign players makes startup on defensive specials like baller a BAD IDEA (I died enough DURING KRAKEN in S1 to Japanese players! Fuck startup!). It's a special, why shouldn't it get you out of a sticky situation?? The problems come when you ALSO get a ton of extra value from your panic-button (IE Kraken's kill potential). You could alternatively lean more on preemptive defensive specials (like armor), but the problem with simply giving extra HP is that it wouldn't really benefit close-ranged weapons like rollers (because even if you can tank more damage; your weapon-class is still mostly screwed if you get caught out of position...plus when playing as an opportunist; "setting up" is kinda dumb when you're not sure when a good attack window will open). I miss being able to take risks with close-ranged weapons and having escape tools. Escape tools are a staple for flankers (think tracer/genji/doomfist from overwatch) and the fact that Splatoon2 has so few reliable escape tools makes the meta feel very bland and extremely shooter-biased (splash-down WAS good at lower ranks, but since they tried to balance counter-play into it's startup, it ultimately just sucks once you get into higher skill brackets).

[@Ghoulhouse]

Loved kraken in Splatoon 1. Always played kraken roller.

[@adminanimates4714]

yknow when i was a kid playing splatoon 1 i had no idea you COULD give bubbler to your teammates

[@catsinwonderland7473]

Yes. Yes, they are a bit op. You can complain about it, but they’re specials. It’s in the name. And I like it that way. Specials have the sheer power to turn around the match in S1, even if your team has bad chemistry. Making specials “balanced” defeats the entire purpose and in S2 they just feel like upgraded subs

[@variouspie8264]

Completely agree

[@goldie7255]

@@variouspie8264 100%

[@lucas-fu9yn]

What if you were able to launch tenta missiles forward for a high risk high reward option, that would basically be an inkzooka

[@JakoBpyroTech]

Like the Mako Missiles idea from Project Splatoon 3?

[@lucas-fu9yn]

@@JakoBpyroTech I imagine it more like just firing them forwards, they'd lose their ability to locate people but would serve as a more aggressive alternative to make them a bit more complex

[@comitstar9088]

Always nice to watch your videos.

[@bradybourgeois9819]

Love the Mario party Ds music :)

[@Teh-Dee-bear]

Pretty cool channel banner you got there ProChara!

[@silikeez9641]

Prochara: talks about the versatility of what walls kraken can climb Also Prochara fifteen seconds later: “One of krakens strength is being able to climb up walls.”

[@mikedrxp]

01:05 WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK

[@yinyangyt8749]

They might be broken but boy were they ever fun

[@vatali2364]

splatoon needs a mode where absolutely everything is stupidly broken, like giving a sprinkler 500% better paint with e-liter range. Idk how they would pull it off, but it would be a fun thing to do every now and then

[@theblackcat7205]

Tbh I feel like splatoon 1s specials were better because they were overpowered, they actually felt like special weapons and not just a sub they were fun to use and while it was tough to play against them it made the game more fun because you could still win matches even if you didn’t have a high skill level everyone had a relatively equal chance of winning or loosing games because of the specials sure being better skilled will help in matches but other less skilled players had a chance I miss that in splatoon 2 and 3 the specials aren’t bad but they’re less game changing casual players don’t get much of a chance against skilled players and on top of that the maps are terrible in splatoon 3 it’s literally spawn camping on every map there was spawn camping in the other games but it wasn’t nearly as bad and because the specials in 2 and 3 are so much more nerfed it’s harder to break out of spawn camping using specials I have thousands of hours on splatoon games so I’m lucky enough to play the game pretty well but for casual players the game might not be as fun because they barely get a chance in newer games

[@ClangVe3ms]

I'm worried that in splat 3, big bubbler will just be a giant invincible and impenetrable shield that you can't paint inside because then people will just run 4 off them and spam them on zones, tower, ect.

[@OctoSquid503]

Broken or not, Kraken is still a fun special to use, and I hope it returns in Splat 3^^ (with some reworks of course. Like HP instead of invinciblity or something)

[@BabyGhast4]

Can you just imagine if it lasted longer but the downsides would be the fact that an animation would play out before you transform and a large health pool instead of invincibility. Imagine your character getting out a can of “colossal squid ink” (W.I.P name), opening it and glugging down the contents. An ink with a darker shade of your character’s team colour starts to consume them and as it does, they let out a primal roar until they have transformed into the kraken. You have become a terrifying beast of the past along with those primal urges to splat anything that isn’t your team colour. Not to mention, it’s pretty fitting with the chaos theme.

[@ED-gw9rg]

@@BabyGhast4 With the start up, you could remove knockback taken or keep it fully invincible - no knockback, high-HP sounds like a better deal to me, but there's still worth in the invuln version, even with it's knockback.

[@controltheendyt3104]

For a Direct that may happen in Febuary, Feb 16 might be the release date for spoon 3

[@VaniSpl]

S1 zooka looks so fun holy crap

[@Sqwivig]

OMG MARIO PARTY DS MUSIC!! AAAHHH!! I played the FUCK outta that game when I was a kid and I 100% it entirely! Thanks for that rush of nostalgia I would spend hours just listening to the music of that game and even more hours getting every achievement. Mario Party DS is hands down the best one of the series imo and no one ever talks about it or even uses music from it. As for the video itself, I like these special analysis ones I was hoping we would get another one! I have to disagree with bubbler tho. Invincibility in Splatoon is just too broken. Ink armor was just as bad in my opinion. I like the shield idea they are going with in Splatoon 3 much more

[@ro-q7621]

Music from the best Mario Party ^^ imo Amazing vid and stay awsome

[@spacegrapez]

totally unrelated question, but was stingray ever allowed to be used in spawn? i swear there was a time where it could but i don’t remember

[@ProChara]

yes

[@spacegrapez]

@@ProChara ok i figured thank u

[@christinedelire3974]

Something that you didn't cover i that the hitbox of the kraken jumps is insane. Because of that, you can kill people by just having an idea about where are your teamates...

[@KenKnowsIt]

Broken? Yes! But were they fun! Yes! Tbh I only felt like zimi was the true overpowered weapon because of it's kit. Yeah CRB could be annoying and Cherry was god like, but I didn't feel like it was that bad until QR SJ.

[@lieutenantpepper3421]

I instantly recognized Toadette's Music Room's music.

[@adamgetty5562]

More mario party ds music this is what i subscribed for

[@mountainteavii7]

These three are still broken to this day especially when hackers hack them and use their hacked versions of those specials

[@hiotos8373]

Splat 1 had mote fun specials

[@eeveemaster243]

I honestly liked the Kraken special in my time playing the first splatoon, and while I admit that yes it was clearly broken, I feel like making it so that the activation takes a little while (with a cool animation to play before the special is properly active) and reducing the damage of its jump attacks would be some good changes to fix it up, as well as maybe increasing how long it's active for. P.S. I tried the baller in splatoon 2 once and it just wasn't the same... :

[@loading...948]

I'm scared of even thinking about bubbler spam in clam blitz

[@leviathanthetallone8299]

I just want me kraken back remove its Invincibility and make it stealthy and you get a cool fun special

[@demonicdude1328]

Please bring back kraken Nintendo, I want to see the Octolings kraken design

[@Bizinxis.]

I hope that the kraken returns to splatoon3

[@legoboy7107]

Is Chara IGN now? Rating both a 7/10 lol.

[@tovreee]

Mario party ds ost?nut

[@Sapple498]

The final song is from Mario Party DS?

[@tovreee]

Yes,it's a slowed down version of the title screen or maybe a similar music from i don't know where in the game

[@funper779]

I never played splatoon 1 so I couldn't tell

[@waady4099]

make a tier list for all maps from 1 and 2

[@gabrielboudjema4076]

I love bubbler and Kraken :3

[@dontlookfo2763]

I personally prefer splatoon 1's specials just because as a soloq player ive always thought splatoon 2's specials had an over reliance on teamplay but i do definitely think splatoon 2's specials make more sense in competitive settings

[@flxffy_bxnzq]

Long story short: yes (to me)

[@derp7osoup]

more mario party ds ost

[@everydaysniper9390]

in my opinion I love splatoon 1 specials a lot more. Half of Splatoon 2s specials feel like toned down versions of specials from 1.

[@jj2059]

There’s no such thing as something being broken when everyone has access to it. If you think it’s op then just use it

[@j-rex229]

That's how you kill a game's competitive scene. It's boring when everyone runs kraken and 1v1's become sub optimal because you can just press a button and instantly kill you enemy.

[@ixpetus]

Hi Chara do you still play splatoon 1 and do you prefer 1 than 2?

[@ProChara]

Yes and as a game to have fun with yes

[@djbrucebanner2674]

i like it

[@hector_jom9799]

Splatoon 1 was better for the specials, end of the chat

[@redwolf705]

Bro forgot Inkstrike

[@Tentaporce77]

That doesn’t give invincibility

[@supersylveonplushgaming]

Listen Chara I don't agree with what you said about how since Splatoon 1 specials are more individually empowering and generally overpowered it makes them less fun to play against, because guess what? You have one too, and I don't know about you but I find bubbler kraken and zooka a whole lot more fun to play against than missiles armor and ray. I personally find Splatoon 1 specials fun to use and feel fair to die to. As broken as instant invincibility is there's still counterplay as in seeing their hair glowing, and remember if you ever suffer a cheap death you respawn so fast you don't even have time to be mad about it

[@ProChara]

QR was not factored into this ranking as its an outside factor that doesn't have to do with the specials themselves.

[@TheLaXandro]

I really don't like Armor, but I don't mind fighting Missiles (unless they are spammed) or Ray. Missiles just force you to act- it's entirely your choice what you do, and Stingray, just like Inkjet (probably the best-designed special), is less of a win button and more of an option that you may or may not have checked- a somewhat broken option, but nonetheless. Invincibility specials and Armor force you to specifically disengage, and Inkzooka is such a hard advantage state in many cases that there genuinely is no counterplay unless you're on Museum and hide under the stupid thing, you're dead before you realise it. I don't like losing agency unless it's my or at worst my team's fault, I enjoy being in control, and overly strong specials can wrestle that control away way too easily.

[@CM-kb5le]

The short answer yes. They were panic buttons that activated frame 1. This video didn’t need to be 8 mins.

[@zammich3649]

except Chara didn't just say "they were panic buttons that activated frame 1" repeatedly for 8 min. he discussed each special from multiple angles and showed various uses for each of them, hence 8 min.

[@CM-kb5le]

@@zammich3649 ofc he’s not gonna say that repeatedly for 8 mins lmao. Splatubers are running out of ideas so they’re just blabbing into the mic to get that ad revenue

[@zammich3649]

@@CM-kb5le A fair point, but it doesn't change the fact that you saw the video title, decided in your mind what the takeaway was (which was not the conclusion made by Chara in this video), clicked anyway, and then scrolled down to complain about something Chara didn't do in the creation of this video.

[@GamesAndAnimes]

I like Splatoon 1 specials more, they are fun to use. In Splatoon 2 using most specials is boring.