Nintendo has shared an official image that provides a look at the Splatoon world map, which shows just how far away Splatsville in Splatoon 3 is compared to the settings of the previous two titles.
The image was posted today as part of an interview with the game’s developers. Series producer Hisashi Nogami, director / art director Seita Inoue, director Shintaro Sato, and head of sound Toru Minegishi participated in the discussion.
Inoue noted that “Inkopolis Plaza in the first title and Inkopolis Square in the second title are both located in the heart of the city, and they are only about as far apart as Shibuya Station and Harajuku Station on the train in Tokyo.” Splatsville, which is where Splatoon 3 takes place, is set further away to allow for some distance “with a completely different climate.”
In the Japanese version, I recall that the setting was called “Haikara City” (Inkopolis Plaza in English versions) in the first title, and it was called “Haikara Square” (Inkopolis Square in English versions) in the second title. So, you created a setting named “Bankara Town” in the Japanese version (Splatsville in English versions) which counters the previous settings?
Sato: Yes. We created a tentative document that gives us a sense of distance between the three cities and discussed the positioning and background of the three titles.
Inoue: As you can see, Inkopolis Plaza in the first title and Inkopolis Square in the second title are both located in the heart of the city, and they are only about as far apart as Shibuya Station and Harajuku Station on the train in Tokyo. In terms of distance, it is about 1.2 kilometers (approx. 0.75 miles). However, we were discussing how we wanted Splatsville to be set in a region far away from the locations in the previous two titles and with a completely different climate. We prepared a map like this so that we could develop the game with an understanding of the geographical distances.
Sato: Splatsville is barely accessible from Inkopolis Plaza and Inkopolis Square by taking a single local train line. The distance is similar to that from Tokyo to Atami or thereabouts in Japan. It is in a rural area that would take a few hours to drive to on the highway. For people in the United States, it may be like driving to Las Vegas from Los Angeles. Although geographically quite distant, highways that opened up in the five years between the second and third titles allow convenient access to the area.
Inoue: The Splatlands developed rapidly because the construction of the bridge across the sea made it more accessible from the city center.
Sato: While Inkopolis, the setting of the previous titles, was a fashionable and youthful area, the Splatlands, where Splatsville is located, is much more spacious, open, and full of nature. A place like this, far from the urban center, became popular after the final Splatfest and developed rapidly. For example, Scorch Gorge is a stage in a national park with strangely shaped stone pillars lined up.
You can see a spectacular view if you look around from the air with the new action, Squid Spawn. Also, Undertow Spillway is a huge spillway that used to be in operation but has been neglected and dilapidated over the years. The place has recently been renovated as a battle stage and is starting to catch on.
Splatoon 3 launches for Switch on September 9, 2022.
