Inkoming!
Inkoming! is a song performed by Wet Floor.
Description
Inkoming! is a rock song, featuring many electronic elements to complement the instruments. It also features a large emphasis on the vocals of the song and throughout, prominent shouts of what appears to be "Splatoon!" can be heard. It can also be heard in Squid Beatz 2, with a maximum score of 155 and 325 in Normal and Hard modes, respectively. It was also featured in the eponymous Inkoming! EP, released by Tower Records.
See also: Inkoming!
The song is also featured in the soundtrack for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and by default, it has a chance of playing on Moray Towers. It can also be heard in the Sounds section in the Vault menu.
The song also appears in Ring Fit Adventure as part of the Splatoon 2 Medley in the game's Rhythm Mode, added in the Version 1.2.0 update.
Remixes and covers
Inkoming! (Cloud Demo)
Similar to Splattack! (Jam Session), a lower percussion remix is used in the Tutorial for Splatoon 2. However, ten different audio files of slightly different versions are used in the tutorial (see below), rather than having one combined song; therefore, the actual song cannot be heard in-game. It does not appear in Squid Beatz 2 but does appear in Splatune 2.
Inkoming! (Splatoon 2 Global Testfire Tutorial)
A very early version of the Cloud Demo, retaining the same basic structure, however the instrumentation is completely different. Unlike the final version, it doesn't switch between different versions, it just loops the single track.
Other versions
Inkoming! (Splatoon 2 Global Testfire)
Quite similar to the final song, this early version used in the Splatoon 2 Global Testfire had different drum patterns, less filtered vocals and additional background chants at certain points, unlike the final product.
Inkoming! (Splatoon 2 reveal trailer)
The then-unnamed song was first heard during the initial reveal trailer of Splatoon 2 at the Nintendo Switch Presentation. Made specifically for the trailer, it remains nearly identical to the Testfire version. However, near the end of the trailer, a series of notes that make up the melody of Splattack! can be heard as a callback to the previous game's theme. This outro is not heard in any other version of Inkoming!. This version was included in Splatune, although unlike other trailer exclusive songs, such as Splattack! (E3 2014), it retains the sound effects.
Inkoming! (Live)
Also heard at the Nintendo Switch Presentation was a live performance of Inkoming! Other than the slightly different instrumentation due to the live band, it also contained a synthesizer solo, immediately followed up by a guitar solo. It also contained an extended guitar solo outro.
A second live version of the song was performed as part of a medley of Splatoon 2 battle tracks at Tentalive at Tokaigi 2019. Following the battle introduction theme, this version plays the main loop once before the synthesizer and guitar solo transitions into Blitz It!.
Inkoming! (Tutorial Phase 1)
A very stripped back version of the instrumental, this version begins with the intro, unchanged, before looping the same seventeen-second-long part of the instrumental. It only consists of the guitar track, backing drum track and the same vocals repeating. It plays at the beginning of the tutorial.
Inkoming! (Tutorial Phase 2)
The second time the track loops, a guitar riff is added whenever the vocals come in. From the third loop, a new guitar track is added. This version appears to be used to help segue between Phase 1 and 3.
Inkoming! (Tutorial Phase 3)
This version is mostly the same as Phase 3 but now adds a new drum track from the third loop. It plays as soon as the player is asked to move with the 
.
Inkoming! (Tutorial Phase 4)
From the third loop, an additional rapid drum track is added, alongside new background guitar riffs. Between loops, the song goes slightly offbeat for a split second before returning to the normal pace. This version appears to be used to help segue between Phase 3 and 6.
Inkoming! (Tutorial Phase 5)
From the third loop, the offbeat sections and vocals are removed and are replaced by a repeating section from the regular version of Inkoming!. This version appears to be used to help segue between Phase 3 and 6.
Inkoming! (Tutorial Phase 6)
The vocals that were removed in Phase 5 return after the third loop for this version. It plays as soon as the player is asked to reset the camera with 
.
Inkoming! (Tutorial Phase 7)
From the fifth loop, the vocals and the repeating section from the regular version are removed. This version appears to be used to help segue between Phase 6 and 8.
Inkoming! (Tutorial Phase 8)
From the fifth loop, a new guitar melody is added, and the vocals return. Symbol crashes are now added to the track. It plays as soon as the player is told to swim through the grates, or alternatively, once the player drops down after skipping half the tutorial by jumping on some boxes.
Inkoming! (Tutorial Phase 9)
From the sixth loop, another rapid-fire drum beat is added to segue into the quieter segment heard at the end of the original Cloud Demo, with most of the instruments removed, although it quickly alternates between these sections and the part before. This version appears to be used to help segue between Phase 8 and 10.
Inkoming! (Tutorial Phase 10)
The only Tutorial phase version where the start is different, it is a looped version of the quieter, sparser section of Phase 9, the outro of the original Cloud Demo. It plays as soon as the player gets close to the Launchpad to Inkopolis Square.
Inkoming! (CD)
This version of the song is mostly the same as the in-game version, but loops differently, with a new bridge consisting of part of instrumental without any vocals. It also has a proper outro, completely different from the Splatoon 2 reveal trailer version. It was originally released as part of the Inkoming! EP from Tower Records before being part of the Splatune 2 soundtrack. It was also used in a promotional video for the Splatoon 2 World Championship 2019.
Trivia
- Inkoming! is considered the theme tune of Splatoon 2, with its prominent appearance in the reveal trailer and track listing positions in Squid Beatz 2 and Splatune 2.
- It shares a few similarities with Splattack!, both being the theme tunes of their respective games, both containing an exclamation mark in the title, and both games having a remix of the main theme as the Tutorial music.
Etymology
Inkoming! is a pun of the term incoming and ink, a prominent gameplay mechanic of the Splatoon series.
