Phantom, Agent 4 Phantom spent most of his life being raised by his brother Pluto. He looks up to his older brother and when Phantom witnessed Pluto's "death" he was distraught and having another friend in Python give his freedom up to save him only added to his guilt. Phantom lost vision in his right eye that day and even though he's always been left handed aiming any kind of weapon was challenging. He pickup the team Pluto had left behind and named it the Guardians. Their goal, to prevent any more inklings from disappearing in the underground and for Phantom to get revenge on DJ Octavio, his brother's murder. During this time Phantom found a strange inkling trying to get some kind of electric collar off their neck, knowing his way around tech he managed to disable the collar thus freeing this inkling. The inkling introduced themselves at Plat and was held prisoner by the octarians for months before returning to the surface recently. A noise set the inkling off and Phantom noticed his slit pupils, asking more about it Plat explained that was an effect from the various test they did on him in the underground and that the lab he was trapped in was destroyed by his now roommate. Phantom told Plat about the Guardians and gave him his number, in case he was interested. Phantom then went back to his home and dismantled the collar reveling that it was genuine octarian tech with the number 78 marked in the inside of it.   Phantom hadn't really expected to hear anything back from Plat, but lo and behold the inkling showed up in the same place again claiming he prefers to speak not call, and that his friend wanted to see him. Phantom tensed as a 6.5" tall octoling stood up from behind the short 4.6" inkling. Jackson, Phantom learned later, was the roommate and boyfriend? of Plat and was the one who destroyed the lab turning his back against his own kind. Phantom never thought he would ever befriend an octarian but the trio became fast friends and Jackson was one of Phantom's closest if not his closest friend. When Plat had told Phantom about the Agents one question kept nagging Phantom, was Pluto an Agent? No it couldn't be, Plat had just told him Agent 3 was alive, besides he didn't even know what 3 looked like and Plat refuses to say anymore. Plat then told him he was leaving to find Agent 3 and to not tell Jackson, just saying Plat was out with family.   Phantom had kept his word for the most part 3 months later Phantom went by himself to find Plat but ends up finding Marie instead, who had been following him? He was requited into the New Squid Beak Splatoon on a mission to find Plat, and avenge his brother's death. He was a natural and with the improved armor he could be a bit reckless, Marie made sure to comment on that. It was until Phantom saw Plat, hypnotized by glasses did his careless get the better of him. He toyed around with Plat knowing a bit of his behaviors but he underestimated him and Plat's speed, eventually being paralyzed by Plat's bite. Just when he thought he was a goner the zapfish he had saved had electrocuted Plat, before sniper fire knocked Plat onto the ground. Phantom then blacked out seeing Marie rushing toward them, her weapon, a charger at her side.   When he came round, a young inkling? named Bolto had treated them in the canyon with a side note about Plat's conditioning worsening and white marks appearing on his skin, that weren't there before. Maybe because it had been 3, no 4 months but he didn't remember Plat having white markings before. Plat explained the marks had appeared about a month ago and weren't from the octarians well not directly. It wasn't until about a week ago that the octarians had noticed and captured him, although he does remember following an inkling who had seemed to be working with the octarians but could never get a good look at her face but she seemed familiar. Marie then told them about Callie, how she had disappeared around 9 months ago, and also how she had Bolto and his brother Tanner following Phantom and Plat, who had matched the description Agent 3 had told them. Plat seemed saddened by this, but was assured Agent 3 was still alive but, different. Marie was Agent 2 of the NSBS and Callie was Agent 1 of which Plat had no idea and geeked out a bit of how much he loved their music (much to Marie's delight) but they had to get back to the topic at hand. Getting Callie back. Plat couldn't remember much, but after seeing the glasses that he wore his pupils slit and he growled, he knew what it was but wouldn't say, leading Phantom to question Jackson about them. Hypnoshades, he called them they where tested on Plat and nearly blinded him in the process. Jackson also revels although he's not sure how much Plat remembers about that time Plat did take the lives of some inklings and octarians while wearing those glasses. Phantom decides it best not to have these around Plat, but also keeps them to tinker around with later.        Plat then takes up new gear that is tailored to his size, surprisingly. The pair team up and aim to defeat Octavio together, until the octarians attacked the city. Plat, Phantom, along with the rest of the Guardians (Jackson, Sasha, Vixen, and Mickel) to prevent the octarians from getting the zapfish. Plat and Vixen had reached the power plant, and stopped a hypnotized Callie from taking any of the zapfish. While Jackson and Phantom dealt with an Octostamp terrorizing the other end of the city. Once that was done Marie had contacted Phantom saying an old boss weapon had emerged in the upper part of the city. Jackson and Phantom headed to that area with Plat being contacted to head over there as well. The trio find a distraught Marie talking down an aggressive Callie who tells her to join them, that they can be superstars again, that they would never be forgotten the DJ would make sure of it. The Octomaw jumped out, and attacked. The trio managed to defeat it easily and the octiaran army begun to retreat. Marie threatens Jackson who Plat then told her to back down and who Jackson was. Marie was on edge, and after the octarians attacked she begun to question if the Agents where really doing anything.    Either way Plat and Phantom begin planning, with Jackson's knowledge of the Hypnoshades low tide ink would work best and he could source that himself. Sheldon will be able to supply any weapons they need including modifying Plat's charger to shoot from two different tanks and Plat also asked Sheldon to made a new hero weapon for him, on commission of coarse. Phantom will never understand where Plat gets his wealth from, but he always had enough for something expensive. Although it won't be ready in time for them to fight DJ Octavio but that wasn't part of the plan anyways. Once they got everything together for the final kettle they couldn't find Marie anywhere. Plat suggested she might already be with Sheldon? Phantom shrugged it off and the two headed in.   They had expected Callie, but not Marie to be there too. The duo danced on the stage DJ Octavio provided the calamari inkantation blaring over the speakers. Phantom noticed Plat shaking, and reassured him, they can do this. Plat nodded and the two super jumped into the arena. Sheldon notified them Marie had never showed and now they had a reason as to why. Phantom tells them to stick to the plan and that they can do this, even if Marie won't help them. Plat stays back aiming mainly toward the Squid Sisters and destroying projectiles to help Phantom. Sheldon flies in and Plat hops on top managing to get a better view of of the Sisters and manages to shoot Callie, they fly closer with Plat pulling Callie onto the back of the van. Callie is geared up, and Plat manages to get another shot on Marie and pulling her up onto the back before sliding into the passenger seat. The duo begun singing together and Phantom is set up for the final shot. While riding the rails, Phantom is pulled backwards seeing the arm launching directly at him instead of at Plat. It was the same one that took his brothers life and the hint of hesitation, he's struck from behind falling to the ground and blacked out, he felt himself getting caught but he's back felt like it was on fire.    Phantom woke up and felt himself being pushed back down. Bolto informed him of Plat and Jackson leaving to find Agent 3, and that Phantom would have a permanent back scar, a small zapfish crawled onto Phantom's lap. She had followed them and was powering the NSBS base. Phantom named her Ghost as to her ghostly appearances. Phantom in the following weeks, leading into months helped out Bolto. Well more Bolto distracting Phantom so he doesn't hurt himself further. Watering the plants, harvesting crops, etc. Phantom found this work fun and as he got closer to Bolto feelings started to develop. They two cemented their relationship with two rings Marie gave him. Marie noticed them getting closer and had given the rings to Phantom, the rings are trackers partly so she can keep an eye on Phantom mostly. Phantom then asks about Agent 3, and his happiness fades away. Agent 3 WAS his brother, but something happened an accident Marie called it. When the other agents returned Phantom was going to have to deal with some... feelings. Until then Phantom pushes it aside and continues to have fun with Bolto who he later discovered was half octoling, he didn't mind but Bolto often did hiding his ears in public. Phantom assured him that no one would care even now since octolings lived in the city now.    When the agents returned, Plat was in a sorry state and Pluto wasn't fairing much better. Phantom left them alone and thought maybe Pluto would speak to him later... Or not. Pluto didn't speak to Phantom and was more worried about Plat, Marie later told him Pluto had lost his memory in the accident. Phantom wanted to talk to Pluto, or Plat no Emerald? Emerald also lost his memory at some point? Phantom had a lot to deal with, and for the future? Who knows what lies in store.

Splatoon 2 Octo Expansion Ramble

Spoilers for the Octo Expansion. Don't want them? Don't read.

I fucking love the Octo Expansion. I've wanted to buy it since it came out, but I never bought it until December of 2020. Bought it for myself as a Christmas gift. Beat every level with every one of the little squishy looking things in a day. Pure unadulterated boredom causes me to fixate on new stuff until I finish it, and maybe even after.

One of my favorite parts from the Octo Expansion (other than the fact you get to play as an Octoling and get some radical fucking gear) is the final escape and final boss fight. Spoilers below for both the Octo Expansion and other Splatoon sotry modes, as I will be comparing the two. Please avoid the spoilers if you don't want to see them!

Now I'm gonna rant about this stuff because I love this game so much. So the final escape has seven phases, a boss, and then you make your way to a cutscene and the final boss.

So, for some form of context, you play as Agent 8, an Octoling who has no memory of who they are. You are picked up by Cap'n Cuttlefish, and both of you are trapped in a place called the Deepsea Metro. Before you can get into any train car though, you are met with a ringing phone.

Now, right away, this shows how much darker the Octo Expansion is going to be compared to the other story mode in Splatoon 2. That one, you play as an Inkling and you need to be DJ Octavio again because the Great Zapfish was taken. There's also a little side plot about Callie missing, and you later find she was hypnotized to work with Octavio all along, all that jazz.

Within the first few minutes, after you go through the tutorial, you are met with a sort of dark hallway with a light shining down on a telephone, ringing ominously. No music. Just the telephone and your footsteps.

The telephone ends up actually being a character, called Telephone. Smart, I know. He tells you to get to the Promised Land, you need to collect four thangs. I'm not making that up, that's what they're called.

So you have to pass a series of tests and such, some of which are boss fights, others of which are harder tests. Each of the levels give you a particular weapon or some options of weapons to choose from. Sometimes they're real weapons, or they could be bombs, occasionally specials.

As you collect these four thangs, you may see that they end up being parts of a blender.

When the thing is all built up, you and Cap'n Cuttlefish are told to go in there. When your dumbass gets in, you almost get blended to bits when Agent 3 (from the first game) comes and saves your ass.

I believe 3 gets conked the fuck out, but I can't remember that perfectly.

Then you move onto the phases. Holy shit the phases of the escape. Listen, I'm gonna elaborate on the first phase in a minute, but here's the name of all of the phases.

Coccyx phase, Villi phase, Belly intestinal, Diaphragm phase, Peristalsis phase, and Spinal phase.

So, I'm going to skip over the Coccyx phase for now. I'll come back to that.

The Villi phase has the player collecting a weapon. So you go through part of the phase with no weapon. You collect bombs first, and then you collect your Octo Shot. Not that big of a deal.

Belly phase is up next. You have to go from falling platforms to another section where you jump between sideways platforms to reach the end. Beat up a missle shooting sanitized Octocopter, and you're off to the next phase.

Now, while these phases have been happening, we hear dialogue from Pearl, Marina, Cap'n Cuttlefish, and some random noises from Telephone, who we now know as our villain.

Intestinal phase has you dodging lasers. While this is going on, Telephone wakes up and wants Agent 8 to come back and help him with his plans. You, being the little bitch baby you are, say no. And now we don know where Cuttlefish and Agent 3 are.

Diaphragm phase has you stealing a power source. You need to go hit a bunch of different things while controlling your Inkjet and trying not to fall to your death or get killed. Unlock the power source and go to the next phase.

The Peristalsis phase has you on a platform you need to propel. While propelling the platform, you need to protect the power source from Octosnipers and missiles and 8-balls, etc. It's an absolute fucking pain, but when you finish, it's so relieving.

Last phase is the Spinal phase. You go into an elevator and youŕe going up. You're so damn close to the surface. You stop. Agent 3 has been hypnotized and you have to fight them. They've been a member of the New Squidbeak Splatoon for so damn long. They're an expert. You're fucked. When you finish them off though, it feels so damn awesome.

Then there's the final boss. It's terrifyingly fun. It gave me such an adrenaline rush, I fucking loved it. I won't give specifics, but damn. The hyperbombs made me lose my shit.