Mem cake



Mem cakes are collectables in the Octo Expansion.

Mem cakes are small items modeled after objects and characters from the world of Splatoon. They are formed by compressing one’s memories into physical form.

They are said to be physical manifestations of Agent 8's lost memories and are obtained as rewards for completing stages. They are categorized by the stations that dwell in the lines. The mem cakes and their descriptions can be viewed from the CQ-80.

Gameplay
Collecting all the mem cakes of a particular set will net players gear from Iso Padre to use in multiplayer after clearing the Octo Expansion. Collecting them all will get 30,000 CQ Points.

Using the "Ask for Help" option if a test proves too difficult rewards the player a mem cake, but it is grayed out. The text appears in Marina's ink color, its name becomes "Hazy Memory" with Marina's symbol beside the name, and the poem is replaced with "Your guess is as good as mine." It remains this way until the player clears the test properly. Grayscale mem cakes do not count toward unlocking the battle against Inner Agent 3, but count toward getting gear from Iso Padre, Marina's chat room logs, and getting 30,000 CQ points, and do not prevent unlocking playable Octolings.

Trivia

 * The mem cakes resemble erasers, specifically the kind that are shaped to look like certain things. This could be a reference to the fact that Agent 8's memories have been "erased" (whether or not they were deliberately erased is unknown).
 * The mem cakes also resemble kamaboko, a Japanese fish cake consisting of pureed fish that can be shaped into looking like various things. When mem cakes are viewed from a certain angle, some white speckles can be seen reflecting off of it, where the same effect is also present on kamaboko. Kamabo Co.'s name is derived from this as well.
 * In the English version, all mem cake descriptions are written in poems, following an A-BB-A rhyme scheme. They also follow an 8-8-8 syllabic format.
 * In the Japanese version, the poems follow the 5-7-5-7-7 syllable format of tanka poems.
 * When viewing a mem cake, it is possible to flick it by holding down and tilting  towards a direction and then releasing it, causing the mem cake to spin in the opposite direction.
 * A Splatoon 2 anniversary Famitsu interview with the developers revealed some info about the mem cakes:
 * The reason that test subjects such as Agent 8 get mem cakes from the facility is that it supposed to give them proof that the "promised land" is real and that they existed in it before.
 * The mem cakes are Agent 8's thoughts; some of them are based on experience and memory while others are thoughts about how Agent 8 imagines Inkopolis looks like, inspired by the Inkopolis magazine seen in the metro. Therefore, the things that Agent 8 has not experienced yet, but still have mem cakes for, are inspired by the magazine.
 * Agent 8's mem cake for Marina are memories, but they do not personally know each other; Marina was known as a famous elite Octarian engineer.
 * When the developers were asked whether the mem cakes are kamaboko or erasers, the developers said it was OK to think of them as erasers.
 * The Callie and Marie mem cakes are references to their respective solo songs, Bomb Rush Blush and Tide Goes Out.
 * The 'mem' in mem cake is a reference to the word 'memory'.
 * The Inkling Boy and Girl mem cakes that make up the line A set are designed after the Inkling Girl (Splatoon 2), Inkling Girl, Inkling Boy (Splatoon 2) and Inkling Boy amiibo, respectively, having the same ink color and hairstyles (though with different outfits). The amiibo themselves are the characters on the packaging artwork of Splatoon and Splatoon 2.
 * The color of the Inkling Squid mem cake does not match any of the Inkling Squid amiibo and instead matches Agent 8's default ink color or the main color used in promotional material for Splatoon 2, being pink.
 * In the opening dialogue for the Squid vs. Octopus Splatfest, there is a message about how the player's in-battle appearance will match their team. When Marina wonders what it means, Pearl replies "your guess is as good as mine." This could be a reference to the description of the "Hazy memory" mem cakes.
 * The Splat Bomb mem cake ends with "a pillow stained with ink - or tears." This may be a reference to Octo Valley's seventh mission, Spreader Splatfest, where the description reads "Ink Stains & Teardrops".
 * The description for the Tentakook mem cake might be a reference to Octo Canyon's eleventh mission, The Floating Garden, where the description reads "Chasing Heartache".