Tutorial

The in-game tutorial in the Splatoon series introduces players to the basic controls and techniques used in the various game modes. Upon starting the game for the first time, the tutorial begins after the player has customized their character.

Walkthrough


"Hey, you. Yeah, you! Wanna be the freshest squid on the block? We'll teach you some funky-fresh moves on the way to !"
 * Introduction

- Tutorial

Upon beginning the tutorial, players will encounter two sets of instructions. The first includes an image of four Inklings and states, "Hey, you. Yeah, you! Wanna be the freshest squid on the block?" This window can be bypassed by pressing.

The second set of instructions displays an image of various Inklings performing tasks such as swimming through grates and Super Jumping and reads, "We'll teach you some funky-fresh moves on the way to !" Like the first message, this window can be bypassed by pressing.


 * Audio
 * Splattack! (Jam Session) by Squid Squad, a less intense version of Splattack!.
 * This is the only area in the entire game that plays this song in particular. An even less intense looped version can be heard in the Shooting Range.

Gameplay
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cie8QxM3c8

Trivia

 * A downed UFO can be found in the area with Octarian ink surrounding it. This is the same UFO the Squid Sisters mention at the beginning of the game.
 * A slightly altered version of the map can be found in the Octo Valley Mission Unidentified Flying Object.
 * When the game asks the player to shoot a balloon before moving, pressing every button repeatedly can be used to move without popping the balloon.
 * The player ink color changes depending on the chosen gender, orange for girls and blue for boys respectively.

Splatoon 2
The in-game tutorial helps new players learn the basic controls and techniques of Splatoon 2 for other modes. Upon starting up the game for the first time, players can access the tutorial after customizing their Inkling's gender, skin tone, eye color, hairstyle, and choice of legwear. The tutorial takes place in the back alleys of Inkopolis around a construction site.

Walkthrough
"Think you're too cool for school? Well, it's time to prove it in battle!

You're looking a little green, though... Let's start with the basics!"

- Splatoon 2 tutorial splash screen

Throughout the tutorial, balloons spawn with a guiding arrow pointing at them. Players are encouraged to pop them and learn the controls, though they are not required to do so (except for at the beginning until they are given control to move around). Balloons only spawn after the previous one is popped, or the player enters a new area. A button map is kept on the bottom left corner at all times, and labels for each button are added to the map as they are introduced to the player.

The tutorial starts with the player holding their aim on a balloon directly in front of them. They then are introduced to which they can use to reset their motion controls. Next, they are instructed to hold down to shoot down the balloon. Another balloon spawns to their right after the first one is popped, and then another one further to the left after popping the second one. This one is too far for the player to shoot down, and after a moment they are allowed to move towards it with.

Players can then move towards the balloon and pop it. The next one spawns further ahead down the ramps. After popping it, the player meets a zebra crossing across, with a stack of crates to the right and the next two balloons in front. After popping them, the next one spawns around the corner of the right wall. Players are hinted to use to look around the corner. The next one is located on the other side of the wall. After that, the player has to take a left turn to walk across a short bridge to the next balloon.

Players are then introduced to a closed area with girders and uninkable cloth. After dropping down a ledge, they are introduced to which allows them to enter squid form. They can then swim up to the concrete structure ahead already painted with their ink. The first balloon is on top of the structure, the next one to the left of it, and the one after that on top of a vertical inkable wooded board with upward arrows marked on it. The player is hinted to ink the board and swim up it.

They are then introduced to a passageway surrounded by tall walls. After dropping down a ledge, they are introduced to which allows them to jump. Ahead is a balloon on top of a two-step uninkable staircase. The player has to jump onto the stairs to get over it. The next balloon hovers over a left turn. There is a vertical short grate wall ahead, which the player cannot jump over but have to swim through with the ink laid down on both sides of the grate. After that, there is another grate wall on top of a short uninkable ledge. Players have to swim in the ink to gain momentum and then jump in front of it to pass the ledge and the grate onto enemy ink.

Players are then informed that ink of opposite colour of their own hurts them and is hinted to ink their path with. The next balloon is in front and the one after that around a left turn. Players are then introduced to which allows them to throw their Splat Bombs, as well as to submerge in ink with  to regain ink. Ahead is a wall split vertically into three parts: the one in the middle taking up half the wall, being uninkable with two large crates side by side on the ground and a grated wall on top; and the two on the side taking up a quarter each, being inkable with a stack of three large crates each. Players can throw a bomb at the crate to blow them up or take down the crates one by one. The player is then told they can press repeatedly to swim up walls faster. They can then ink up one side of the wall and climb up it. The next and final three balloons sit on top of the wall, ahead up the ramp, and ahead up another ramp on the left. After popping the last balloon, an arrow guides the player to a launchpad in front. When on it, the player is hinted to press, and this allows the Inkling to Super Jump to Inkopolis Square, taking them to the initial news section.

Audio
Inkoming! (Cloud Demo) by Wet Floor, a less intense version of Inkoming! by the same band. This version has ten separate audios that play as the player progresses; see the Cloud Demo section for details.

Gameplay
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INiPN8VNFXs

Trivia

 * It is possible to skip a section of the tutorial by jumping onto the top of the stack of crates between the third and fourth balloon (see above), enabling the player to jump over the wall leading to a later section.
 * The player and enemy ink colors change depending on the chosen gender. While playing as a girl, the player ink is pink while the enemy ink is green, whereas the opposite is true if playing as a boy.
 * The player can only play as an Inkling in the tutorial, even if they own Octo Expansion. This is because they have to finish the tutorial before accessing the DLC, which grants them to play as an Octoling after beating it.
 * This stage later returns for the Octo Expansion mission Labyrinth Station, but in reverse. Pearl and Marina also comment on this.

Splatoon 3
Similar to the previous games, the Tutorial is used to teach players the mechanics of the game. Players will be sent to the Tutorial after customizing their Inkling or Octoling for the first time; they will not proceed to the tutorial if they customize their character with the Customization Menu. The site for the tutorial seems to be the ruins of an abandoned worksite; out in the desert.

Walkthrough
"Think you're fresh? Start splattin', and we'll see! Before you hit the Crater... we'll hit you with the basics!"

- Splatoon 3's version of the tutorial splash screen

At the beginning of the tutorial, the player is told to hold their camera on Smallfry, after doing so, they are taught how to reset their camera with. They are then taught how to move, with to follow their Smallfry.

Upon reaching the ink, the player is encouraged to use to turn into their swim form and swim through the ink, though they can also walk.



"Looks like your buddy found something. Jump down and check it out!"

- quote before cut scene introducing Splashtags and the Splattershot Jr. weapon

Upon reaching the end of the ink trail; Smallfry will jump down a hole, to continue on with the tutorial, the player must follow Smallfry. After jumping down, a cut scene will play, introducing the player's starter weapon, the Splattershot Jr. and Splashtags.

The player will then be faced with their first balloon; to continue with the tutorial, the player must pop the balloon with their weapon. After shooting the first one, another will appear on the left side, after shooting that one, another balloon will appear on the right side, the player will be encouraged to move to pop the right side balloon.

After popping all three balloons and reaching the ledge, the player will be taught how to swim up walls with their ink, as well being taught that their ink refills while they swim. The player must swim up the ledges to reach the balloons at the top.

Once at the top, the player will be taught that they can look around with, the player will be led through a maze and be encouraged to pop the balloons, at the end of the maze, the player is reminded that they can reset their camera with.

The player will then be met with a set of stairs, the player is taught how to jump with and will need to jump up the stairs to reach the next balloon. Then, the game teaches the player how to swim through grates with swim form to reach the next balloon. After passing through the grates; the game tells the player that they can use to shoot their own ink, as well as noting that moving through enemy ink slows the player down. The player is led through another maze, at the end of the maze, the player is met with a stack of boxes. The game encourages the player to throw a Splat Bomb with and reminds them that entering swim form refills their ink.

After destroying the boxes, the player is told to ink the wall and swim up, the game also tells the player how to Squid Surge with. Upon reaching the gates of the site, a cut scene plays with the player waiting for a train, and with the player on the train while Anarchy Rainbow plays in the background.

Audio

 * Clickbait (Splash Sessions Demo), a less intense version of Clickbait by C-Side.
 * The song is split up into three parts for the tutorial, as the player progresses more instruments are added to the song.

Trivia

 * Similar to Splatoon 2, it is possible to skip a majority of the tutorial. By inking the panels on the wall behind the player, use a Squid Surge to reach the higher panel, then Squid Roll backwards, the player can directly arrive at the final wall before the end of the tutorial.
 * The player ink is yellow and the enemy ink is purple, regardless of the player character's chosen style.
 * Although instructions for Squid Rolling was never shown in tutorial, players still can get advice about Squid Rolls from Judd.
 * Bombs can land out of bounds, if they land on solid ground, they will still explode.