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Delving into Pearl and Marina’s relationship

After seeing the new trailer for Splatoon 3’s DLC, Side Order, which seems to focus on Off the Hook, I wanted to make a quick recap of their relationship up until now.

The idol duo Off the Hook consists of its two members, Pearl and Marina. Pearl being the more outgoing inkling rapper of the group and Marina being a clever octoling DJ.

Firstly, their base designs make it clear that they are supposed to be opposites. Marina being tall and having big ears and Pearl being shorter than the average inkling and having small ears, would be one example of this. Another would be their clothing. Whereas Pearl wears a white dress with golden accents, Marina mainly wears black clothing with silver details. Unlike the Squid Sisters, Off the Hook’s idol outfits only match in certain aspects, like their boots and zippers, yet they still look like a cohesive duo despite that. The most prominent opposite would be the fact that Pearl is an inkling and Marina is an octoling, however. Also keep in mind that Marina was one of the first octolings coming to the surface after she heard the Calamari Inkantation.

You first encounter Off the Hook in game during their stage announcements*, where you learn small bits about their personality. Here you see how they mock each other in a playful way, but are still supportive of one another as friends. It also highlights how close they are, as they know a lot about each other and seem to spend a lot of time together.

Though Off the Hook doesn’t play a major role in the base game, they really have a chance to shine in the Octo Expansion DLC. Most of their characterization here is done through chat rooms* that add a lot of personality as well as some more information regarding their relationship. While still joking and mocking each other, they also frequently compliment and show admiration for the other. For instance, when Marina calls Pearl “srsly the coolest” (Session 3), as well as Pearl considering Marina “one of the best people [she knows]” (Session 6). On some occasions, their close bond is even displayed through pictures, like when Pearl shares a photo of Marina napping on a Pearl pillow. But even in more serious moments like when Pearl learns of Marina’s past, she still decides to trust her and even goes as far as to threaten Craig Cuttlefish. Marina is also incredibly grateful to Pearl and thanks her when she assures Marina that she will still be accepted in Inkopolis.

Off the Hooks’ admiration for each other is also clearly displayed in their backstory. Though Pearl probably was the first inkling she encountered on the surface, Marina had a “feeling about [her]” (session 8) and asked her to form a band after only meeting a few times prior on Mount Nantai. She even went as far as to go to the Mountain for a whole week in hopes of seeing Pearl again. Later on, Pearl taught Marina “everything [she] needed to know” (Session 8) and is still extremely thankful to her.

By the time the player reaches the final boss of Octo Expansion, they finally meet Off the Hook in person. Though the player’s time with them is cut short due to the looming battle, their characteristics still shine through. Marina clearly idolizes Pearl, as seen in her drawing during the explanation of the fight. After defeating the NILS statue, Marina immediately rushes to hug Pearl, which clearly indicates how important Pearl is to her.

Furthermore, the Final Splatfest really illustrates their bond well. The new special shifty station “MC. Princess Diaries” or also known as “Dear Senpai” in the Japanese version depicts Marina’s admiration for Pearl again. Senpai describes an upperclassman mentoring an underclassman in Japan. As Pearl taught Marina everything about Inkopolis, she can be considered an upperclassman to Marina. Additionally, Marina is the one responsible for building the shifty station, which in this case is in the image of the Octo Expansions final boss, so we can assume the title reflects her standpoint. Marina clearly has a deep affection towards Pearl and cherishes her. I’d also like to add that the title almost sounds like the beginning of a letter, like Marina having learned everything there is to know and now saying farewell, which might have something to do with Side Order (I might be reading too much into this, though). Perhaps it could also reflect a love letter written for Pearl. In addition, Pearl could also consider Marina an upperclassman to her, as she taught Pearl a lot about music, such as meter and rhythm.

During the Final Splatfests announcement, Marina voices her concerns about Off the Hook breaking apart. Lines such as “Off the Hook means everything to me! It's all I have in this world...” show clearly how grateful she is to have met Pearl. Yet, Pearl also reassures her by stating that Marina has “WAAAY more going for [her] than just Off the Hook.”, displaying Pearl’s trust in her.

After the Final Fest reached its conclusion, the results were announced. Pearl begins by describing the time she has spent with Marina as “the best years of [her] life” which worries Marina, as she believes Off the Hook is going to break up. But to everyone’s relieve, Pearl just wants the duo to break into new genres of music as they “take over the world” together. After promising that they are going to stay together, Pearl reassures Marina, that she loves her, really conveying the close bond they have. This part of the dialogue wouldn’t have changed if Team Order had won, highlighting its importance. Besides, we can still see them making music together with the band Damp Socks in Splatoon 3.

Lastly, I want to talk about some media outside the games. In an Octotune interview with Pearl, she states that meeting Marina is the best gift she has ever received, signaling how she cherishes Marina and how much the time they have spent together means to her. Furthermore, the Splatoon manga includes a short shōjo manga (a type of manga targeted towards teen girls) addressed to Pearl called “Dear Pearl” where Pearl is drawn in a very idolized style, similar to shōjo love interests, as well. The last panel of the manga depicts a love letter addressed to Pearl. In the Japanese version, the manga ends with Marina dreaming about shouting out "these feelings [for Pearl]" through a megaphone. Similarly, the relationship between Pearl and Marina is described as ”Marina, let's make the whole world ours!" - "Yes, Pearl-senpai!”  in the official Splatoon 2 character chart. In another official relationship chart, Marina is described as a “maiden in love” with Pearl’s description stating “it is me”, implying Marina has romantic feelings for Pearl.

Whether you ship them or not, you cannot deny that they don’t have a lot of respect and adoration for each other. Their relationship is really sweet, and I can’t wait to see how Side Order will develop it further. Their ink colors really became something special after being mixed together.

Stay fresh and thank you for reading!

“It's you and me against the universe, 'Rina!”

(Also, I tried to keep this as neutral as possible, but those two are definitely in a relationship)

*Here’s some stage announcements as examples:

Port Mackerel:

   Pearl : Marina! What's the appeal of using a brella on this stage?

   Marina : Protecting my precious Pearlie at all costs!

Wahoo World:

   Pearl : Remember when we rode the roller coaster for six hours straight?

   Marina : That was nothing compared to the eight hours we spent on the Death Drop!

   Pearl : Yo, at night, the Ferris wheel's all... like...sparkly and junk.

   Marina : You're so adorable, Pearl.

The Reef:

   Pearl : Look at me! I'm Marina! BLAH BLAH BLAH!

   Marina : Ahaha! Yeah, that's so me!

   Pearl : My best friend took me to this amazing cake shop in The Reef the other day!

   Marina : But I don't remember going to a cake shop...

Snapper Canal:

   Pearl : I've been here before. A boy from school brought me when I was a kid...

   Marina : REALLY?! Was it a date? A battle? Spill it, Pearlie!

Kelp Dome:

   Pearl : I bet you looooove all the weird machinery here, don't you, Marina?

   Marina : Is it that obvious?!

   Pearl : Yo, I'll splat a dude with attitude, I don't carrot all like rabbit food!

   Marina : OHHHHHHHHHHHH! Best rapper alive.

New Albacore Hotel:

   Pearl : Remember that time you tried to drown me here? Good times.

   Marina : For the last time, I was trying to help you get to the floating stage!

Manta Maria:

   Pearl : Let's sail across the seas and make our debut in the new world!

   Marina : OK, but only if you learn how to at least say hi in another language first.

   Pearl : The ocean is breathtaking, yo... I wonder if there are any little fishies around.

   Marina : Fishies? Aww! Pearl, you're so cute...

Moray Towers:

   Pearl : Hey! How come I always have to talk first when we announce the stages?

   Marina : To set up the punch line, of course! How else am I supposed to poke fun at you?

Arowana Mall:

   Pearl : The shops here sell different stuff than the ones in The Reef. I love it!

   Marina : I know! It's so cool you found a place that carries XXXS-size shirts!

*Some examples from the chat rooms:

Session 3:

MC.Princess > Yo how do I make the chat window full screen? DJ_Hyperfresh > Alt-F4 ■Webmaster■ > MC.Princess has left the chatroom. DJ_Hyperfresh > Can't believe that actually worked...

DJ_Hyperfresh > Don't tell her I said this, but Pearl is srsly the coolest.

Session 6:

MC.Princess > So you probably can't tell but just between you and me, Marina's kind of a weirdo. She's like freakishly tall and way to smart for her own good MC.Princess > just the other day she built an entire battle stage all by herself. It had huge floating rocks and everything. Crazy right?

MC.Princess > WHAT. Nah, Marina would never design something like that CraigCuttlefish > its right there in the file MC.Princess > now that you mention it, Marina IS totally obsessed with machines. And she's definitely the hardest working person i know

MC.Princess > Right?! She might have some skeletons in her closet, but who doesn't am i right? Marina is one of the best people i know. CraigCuttlefish > i guess shes okay for an octo MC.Princess > I swear, cuttlefish. If you try to splat Marina I WILL CUT A FISH. U GOT THAT?

Session 7:

DJ_Hyperfresh > Do you think I'll still be welcome in Inkopolis? Once everyone knows I'm an Octoling? MC.Princess > ARE YOU KIDDING? Of course you will! everyone loves you! DJ_Hyperfresh > Thanks, Pearlie. ;__;

Session 8:

DJ_Hyperfresh > That makes sense. You've got a knack for teaching. ♪

DJ_Hyperfresh > Haha, remember when we first met, Pearl? I had just come to the surface, and I didn't understand Inkopolis at all. You taught me everything I needed to know.

DJ_Hyperfresh > I went to Mount Nantai every day for a week, just hoping you would show up again.

MC.Princess > LOL Marina I just remembered you made that entire demo using that half-busted keyboard you had. But somehow the hook was still dope

DJ_Hyperfresh > I was shocked the first time I heard you rap. I thought for sure you were gonna be wack tbh, but once you started spittin I was like, "dang, this munchkin got bars."

DJ_Hyperfresh > Anyway, I know we talk a lot of smack on the show and all, but I just wanted to say thanks. For everything.

Octotune interview:

Q17: What is the best gift you have ever received? Pearl: The chance to meet Marina.

Sources:

#splatoon #splatoon2 #splatoon octo expansion #off the hook #pearlina #pearl houzuki #marina ida #side order

[fruitysewerrat]

Are Splatfests rigged?

Last week another Splatfest reached its conclusion. However, instead of celebrating the winner, Shiver, many voiced their disappointment and began doubting the validity of Splatfests.

A big surprise for all players was that Shiver had over 50% of the votes despite many people facing Frye’s and Big Man’s teams an equal amount. Her popularity and recent win streak, named Shiversweep, made many people start questioning whether or not the results are rigged.

To put things into perspective, Splatoon 2 had 31 overall Splatfests with Pearl winning 16 in the USA and Europe (15 in Japan) and Marina winning 15 (16 in Japan). Something important to note here is that Pearl won 5 earlier Splatfests and Marina won 7 later ones in a row in Europe. So win streaks are nothing unusual for Splatoon. During Splatoon 2’s first year (2017-07-15 to 2018-07-21) Pearl won 9 Splatfests in the USA (11 in Europe, 6 in Japan) and Marina won 6 (4 in Europe, 9 in Japan). Both of them had a won multiple Fests in succession: Pearl won 5 in Europe and Marina won 6 in Japan. Now compare this to Splatoon 3’s 9 Splatfests (excluding the world premiere), Shiver has won 6 (5 in a row), Frye won 1 and Big Man 2.

Splatoon 2’s Splatfest runtime went from 2017 to 2019 (excluding the 4 Fests from 2020-2021). If Splatoon 3 will have a similar runtime of around 2 years, it means that Shiver has won the majority of Splatfests already. It is also important so mention that Splatoon 3 could possibly have less Splatfests than its predecessor due to Big Run taking up 3 to 4 months of the year.

I believe the cause for outrage in Splatoon 3 is the fact that Shiver has won the majority of Fests despite there being 2 other options to choose from. Most times Shiver seems to have the most normal and logical answers in comparison to Big Man and especially Frye. A good example of this would be the ice cream Fest. Whereas Big Man and Frye had more unique and less popular flavors, Shiver’s team was vanilla, a very basic and common ice cream flavor. Something similar was the case during the latest Splatfest. For a majority of players Shiver takes on the role of the leader, as she is in charge of beginning and ending the Anarchy Splatcast and she announces each Splatfest. However, Frye and Big Man are leaders in their own way, as Frye takes on the role of the leader during the story mode and Big Man is Deep Cut’s lyricist and producer. These things are not as prominent as the Splatcast announcements every two hours though and thus make her a more obvious leader.

On top of this, many consider the asked questions faulty or unclear. Instead of asking a subjective question the dialogue implies that the player should choose more objectively. An example would be the Money vs. Fame vs. Love Splatfest, where instead of questioning “What’s more important to you?” the game simply asked “What's most important in life?”, which, for most, is money. Other times players picked their team because of the ink color or other factors, like a higher chance of winning and because they prefer one idol over the other, which, in most cases, is Shiver. The Nessie vs. Aliens vs. Bigfoot and the Power vs. Wisdom vs. Courage Splatfests come to mind. In relation to the latest fest, a lot of people interpreted the question based on the anarchy poisons and voted with this information in mind whereas others simply voted for their favorite idol.

The most important reason for Shiver’s latest win streak is due to Splatfests not being regional anymore. Instead of Japan, Europe and the USA voting for their favorite option separately, all player votes and battle results are combined, which means that some regions have an advantage. It comes to no surprise that most players are Japanese, as the game sold 3.45 million units* in the first three days of release in Japan, which makes it the fastest-selling Switch game in Japan. Keep in mind that Splatoon 3 sold 10.67 million units* worldwide as of March 31, 2023, making the Japanese player base at least one third of all players. As a majority of the player base is Japanese, it means that their choices make up a big part of the overall votes. This is reflected in the chocolate Splatfest results, as the Japanese holiday, White Day, usually involves giving gifts like white chocolate to women and thus a big part of the community voted for white chocolate. This also explains Shivers winning streak, as she is very popular in Japan due to her representing Japanese culture and as previously established, many just vote based on their favorite idol.

Though, Shiver’s popularity explains why she won by a landslide in the popularity voting, she also received a lot of clout, due to skilled players being on her team. So, Shiver didn’t just win by sheer numbers, as team Big Man won in the pro matches category, which requires some good players.

An easy way to fix the voting issue in the latest Splatfest would have been to have the idols vote for each other (Shiver votes for Frye, Frye for Big Man and Big Man for Shiver for example), which would not only have made the Fest a lot fairer, but it would have also shown the bond between the members of Deep Cut. I have also seen someone propose the idea that instead of making Splatfests regional again, the game could conceal which idol picked which team until halftime so that players pick their team based on their own beliefs instead of the idols.

Regardless of whether or not the results have are rigged, I had a lot of fun playing this Splatfest. The number of mirror matches has decreased significantly and Tricolor matches were really enjoyable. I even got into and won my first 100x match. Each team did their best and I can understand why this is upsetting to so many players, but this last year with Splatoon 3 has been wonderful and I hope it will only improve over the next few years. Happy one year anniversary to Splatoon 3 and Deep Cut! I can’t wait to see what Splatfests will await us in the next year of this game.  

Stay fresh and thank you for reading!

Also a quick side note: It seems spawn camping was particularly bad this months Splatfest. I know everyone wants their team to win, but please don’t ruin other people’s fun.

Sources:

* https://www.nintendolife.com/features/why-is-splatoon-so-popular-in-japan#:~:text=And%20now%20with%20Splatoon%203,a%20generation%20of%20Japanese%20gamers.

* https://www.statista.com/statistics/1332331/splatoon-3-units-sold/

#splatoon #splatoon 3 #splatfest #splatoon 3 anniversary