Urchin Underpass

“

Callie: Woah! That's a big ol' underpass! Marie: But don't stop to stare at it! There's battling to do!

”

Urchin Underpass is an online multiplayer stage in Splatoon. It is also used in Octo Valley mission #21, Unwelcome Flying Object, as well as the Battle Dojo.

Layout

The map of Urchin Underpass at Turf War.

Urchin Underpass consists of two large L-shaped areas of land that are joined together by a rectangular piece of land between them.

Notable Locations

• Center Plaza – A large, open area in the center of the map. This area includes railings, ramps, grated platforms, and two trees.
• "Secret" Alleys – On either side of the map are two passages that extend from the teams' bases to the Center Plaza. These passages act as alternate routes to get into the middle of the map, as both alleys have two exits that lead into the Center Plaza. Much of the floor is un-inkable glass.
• Exit Ramps – At the end of either teams' bases are a set of multi-level ramps that lead from the base into the Center Plaza. The layout of these ramps allows for multiple exit options, making bottlenecking a challenge.

Ranked Battle

Splat Zones

The Splat Zone in Urchin Underpass is located at the very center of the map. It is the smallest singular Splat Zone in Splatoon so gaining and staying in control requires lots of attention to it. Boxes have been added near both ends of the Splat Zone to provide protection from enemy fire and a vantage point to attack the Splat Zone.

Tower Control

In Tower Control, the tower starts in the Center Plaza. It moves straight back towards the enemy territory and climbs up. Then, it moves to the rider's left, climbs back down, and reaches the goal.

Rainmaker

The Rainmaker in Urchin Underpass is located in the center of the map, just below the two ramps in the center. The goal is at the end of the small strip of land with 4 stripes in front of the opposing team's base. Two stacks of blocks have been added to help both teams get to the center of the map faster. Template:-

• 

  Splat Zones

• 

  Tower Control

• 

  Rainmaker

Tips

• The trees in the Center Plaza can provide shelter from Inkzookas, as well as clever places for placing Sprinklers and Suction Bombs.
• Directly above the middle of the Center Plaza are low hanging rafters that extend from one wall to the other, perpendicular to the Secret Alleys. This is a good place to put Sprinklers, as they're hard to notice and many short ranged weapons can't reach that high.

Urchin Underpass (1.3.0)

This is the version of Urchin Underpass still currently in use for Octo Valley and the Battle Dojo.

Layout

A map of the old Urchin Underpass.

Urchin Underpass features two identical sides that are shaped like large Ls

Notable Locations

One of the "Secret" Alleys.

• Center Plaza – A large, open area in the center of the map.
• "Secret" Alleys – There are two alleys located near the Center Plaza. They are long, narrow, hidden-away strips of turf that are difficult to access which have two Glass panels.

Splat Zones

The Splat Zone for Urchin Underpass is located in the Center Plaza, specifically encompassing the rectangular lower area covered in grass.

In this game mode, two boxes have been added to the main entryways of the Center Plaza on either side.

Tower Control

In Tower Control, the tower starts in the Center Plaza and is medium sized. It moves straight back towards the enemy territory and climbs up. Then, it moves to the rider's left, climbs back down, and reaches the goal.

Tips

• There is a large amount of turf behind the spawn point on either side. Be sure to claim it.
• While the most obvious entrance to the secret alleys is through the grated ramp, it's also possible to paint the walls at the exits in the center plaza and swim up to the platform there. This is useful for sneakily getting into enemy territory or taking out bothersome snipers in these locations.
• Above the main exit of each team's spawn, there are low rafters. This is a good place to put a sprinkler, as it covers a sizable area from above and many players will not think to look up there.

Development

Urchin Underpass underwent a series of changes between its development period and release. The pre-release version included many differences, such as:

• A water tank guarded by a fence could be found in the corner of teams' bases.
• The raised platform opposite the Spawn Points in teams' bases was accessed by one smaller ramp, included a wooden plank used to swim up through a grated platform, and did not provide access to the Center Plaza.
• The lowest area in teams' bases was much larger.
• When leaving a team's Spawn Point and heading left, the first ramp encountered was not present. Instead, players could go around the raised portion on either side. This raised portion was split into three differently-sized platforms, and a window was not present in this location.
• The walls of the Secret Alleys were concrete, not glass.
• When entering the Center Plaza from the main entrance, a small fence acting as a grated barrier was present on players' immediate left.
• The ramped platforms allowing players to jump to the other side of the Center Plaza were directly opposite each other.
• The middle area in the Center Plaza was slightly smaller.
• The grated walkways outside the Secret Alleys in the Center Plaza were extended.

• 

  A team's base.

• 

  The Center Plaza.

• The three platforms near teams' bases.

  The three platforms near teams' bases.

• 

  The water tower and smaller raised area.

See also: Urchin Underpass/Development

August Update

The image released by Squid Research Lab announcing changes to Urchin Underpass.

On July 27th, 2015, the official Splatoon Tumblr announced that Urchin Underpass would be undergoing maintenance between August 2nd and 5th. They released an image showing the original map scribbled on, allowing fans to see what about the stage would be changed. Many features were altered, including:

• The trees near each team's base were moved to the center of the stage.
• The secret alleys were extended and pushed further away from the central area. They were also widened, and given another access point to the center area.
• The grated walkways protruding from the secret alleys were removed.
• The ramps leading into the central area were made so that they only took up half of the available space. The other half became flat turf.

Squid Sisters quotes

English quotes

Callie's Dialogue	Marie's Dialogue	Region
Callie “Awwww! Some of these signs have pictures of us on them!”	Marie “Only some of them? Why not all of them?!”	NOE
Callie “Awwww! Some of these signs are pictures of us!”	Marie “Only some of them? Why not all of them?!”	NOA
Callie “Daah... I think securing the central area here is key.”	Marie “I'd stage my attack from some of those side alleys...”	NOE
Callie “Daah... I think securing the central area here is key?”	Marie “I'd stage my attack from some of those side alleys...”	NOA
Callie “Hey, do you have change for the vending machine?”	Marie “Could you try asking when we're NOT on the air?”	NOE
Callie “Hey, do you have change for the vending machine?”	Marie “Maybe try asking when we're NOT on the air...”	NOA
Callie “I just saw the raddest car! I wanna take it for a drive!”	Marie “Didn't you just fail your driving test last week?”	NOE
Callie “I just saw a SUPER fresh car drive by! I want it!”	Marie “Didn't you just fail your driving test last week?”	NOA
Callie “I wanna take a road trip! ...Does anyone have a car?”	Marie “Let's use the airwaves responsibly, Callie!”	NOE
Callie “Road trip! Any cuties out there wanna go for a ride?”	Marie “Let's use the airwaves responsibly, Callie!”	NOA
Callie “I... So... Right. Um... Yeah.”	Marie “Can somebody get the cue cards please?!”	NOE
Callie “I... Um... Uh... Stay fresh?”	Marie “Can somebody please fix the teleprompter?!”	NOA
Callie “Judd is great at his job, but...man he sleeps a lot.”	Marie “I hear he's way more active at night!”	NOE
Callie “Judd is great at his job, but...man, he sleeps a lot.”	Marie “I hear he's way more active at night!”	NOA
Callie “OK, Marie. What's your favourite strategy here?”	Marie “My strategy is to not give away my strategy.”	NOE
Callie “OK, Marie. What's your favorite strategy here?”	Marie “My strategy is to not give away my strategy.”	NOA
Callie “Omigosh, that shop near here has the best sundaes!”	Marie “Are there any restaurants you DON'T know, Callie?”	NOE
Callie “The ice-cream shop near here has the best sundaes!”	Marie “Are there any restaurants you HAVEN'T been to?”	NOA
Callie “The birds here are so cute!”	Marie “You're a real bird fan, huh?”	NOE
Callie “The birds here are totes adorbs!”	Marie “So you're...Team Bird, then?”	NOA
Callie “Wait, didn't we come here for a news story, once?”	Marie “We did?! I only remember coming here for sundaes...”	NOE
Callie “Didn't we do an undercover news story here once?”	Marie “Don't remind me...”	NOA
Callie “Whoa! Thats a pretty big underpass!”	Marie “But don't stop to gawp at it! There's battling to do!”	NOE
Callie “Woah! That's a big ol' underpass!”	Marie “But don't stop to stare at it! There's battling to do!”	NOA

Japanese quotes

アオリ's Dialogue	ホタル's Dialogue	Region
アオリ 「あー…、えーと、ここは……」 (Ah...umm... This is...)	ホタル 「カンペまだ？」 (Anyone got the cue cards?)	NOJ
アオリ 「あー、今カッコイイ車が見えたかも！　運転したいなー」 (Aah, I just saw a really cool car! I wanna drive it.)	ホタル 「こないだ仮免落ちてたっしょ…」 (You just failed your driving test the other day...)	NOJ
アオリ 「いつ見ても　デカい道だよねー！」 (Woah, look at that huge road!)	ホタル 「そこはバトル、関係無いっしょ」 (I guess the battle's irrelevant.)	NOJ
アオリ 「ここのスズメ、チョーカワイイ！　いやされるゥ！」 (These sparrows are super cute!)	ホタル 「アオリちゃん、トリ派なんだ」 (Callie's joined the bird club.)	NOJ
アオリ 「ここの電光ボードのイラストは　ウチらへの　ファンレターなんだよー！」 (Some of these signs are like fan letters to us!)	ホタル 「全部そうだったら　いいけどな～」 (It'd be nice if it was all of them~)	NOJ
アオリ 「ここは、中央広場を制することが　勝利への近道！」 (Controlling the center area is the key to winning!)	ホタル 「アタシなら、裏道から　攻めるかな～」 (I'd attack from the side alleys~)	NOJ
アオリ 「この近くの店のメガホイップチョコチップ　ダブルワッフル食べたいなー」 (I wanna get a Mega-Whip-Choco-Chip-Double-Waffle from that one store near here.)	ホタル 「よく噛まんね…」 (How you can say that without messing up...)	NOJ
アオリ 「そういえば昔、　ここに取材に来たことあるよね？」 (Say, didn't we come here for a news story once?)	ホタル 「……そうだっけ？」 (...Did we?)	NOJ
アオリ 「ねぇねぇ　ホタルちゃん、ここの必勝法　教えてー！」 (Hey hey, Marie, tell me a surefire way to win here!)	ホタル 「え～、言えるワケ無いじゃん」 (Huh? I'm not telling.)	NOJ
アオリ 「ドライブに連れてってくれる　イケメン君！　れんらく、ヨロシクー！」 (Any hot guys wanna go for a drive? Hit me up!)	ホタル 「公共の電波は　正しく使いましょ～」 (Let's use public airwaves properly~)	NOJ
アオリ 「バトルの最後に出て来るジャッジくんって　昼間よく寝てるよねー」 (Judd never fails to show up after a battle, but he sure sleeps a lot during the day.)	ホタル 「夜型らしいから、夜なら　起きてるとこ見れるかもな～」 (I heard he's nocturnal, maybe he's awake more at night~)	NOJ
アオリ 「疲れたらいつも　ここの自販機で　ジュース買って飲むんだよー！」 (I always get juice from the vending machine whenever I get worn out here!)	ホタル 「わざわざニュースで　アピールする内容じゃないっしょ…」 (That's hardly news-worthy...)	NOJ

German quotes

Aioli's Dialogue	Limone's Dialogue	Region
Aioli “Da war eben ein tolles Auto! Ich will es fahren!”	Limone “Dein Fahrlehrer wird graue Tentakel bekommen...”	NOE

French quotes

Ayo's Dialogue	Oly's Dialogue	Region
Ayo «Alors... oui... donc... euh...» (So... yes... so... uh...)	Oly «Un petit souci avec le prompteur, on dirait...» (It seems the teleprompter has a small problem...)	NOE
Ayo «Tu trouves pas ça super dur de garer une voiture ?» (Don't you think it's super hard to park a car?)	Oly «Je trouve ça super dur de croire que t'as ton permis.» (I find it super hard to believe that you have your license.)	NOE

Italian quotes

Stella's Dialogue	Marina's Dialogue	Region
Stella «Che carini i passerotti! Mi danno serenità!» (The sparrows are so cute! They are so calming!)	Marina «Stella, quindi ti piacciono i pennuti?» (Callie, does that mean you like birds?)	NOE
Stella «Giudigatto è un grande arbitro, ma quanto dorme!» (Judd is a great judge, but he sleeps so much!)	Marina «È un tipo notturno. Magari di sera lo trovi sveglio.» (He's nocturnal. Maybe you'll find him awake in the evening.)	NOE
Stella «Guarda! Ci sono anche pannelli dedicati a noi!» (Look! There are even some panels dedicated to us!)	Marina «Come "anche"? Dovrebbero essere SOLO dedicati a noi!» ("Even"? They should be all dedicated EXCLUSIVELY to us!)	NOE
Stella «Hai qualche spicciolo per il distributore automatico?» (You got any change for the vending machine?)	Marina «Almeno chiedimelo quando non siamo in diretta...» (Please, don't ask that while we are on air...)	NOE
Stella «OK, Marina, che strategia proponi ora?» (OK, Marie, what strategy will you suggest this time?)	Marina «La mia strategia è... non rivelare la mia strategia!» (My strategy is... to not reveal my strategy!)	NOE
Stella «Quel bar fa un'ottima cioccopanna biscottata!» (That bar makes a great rusk chocovanilla!)	Marina «Stella, sei sempre affamata...» (Callie, you are always hungry...)	NOE
Stella «Qui non ci siamo già venute per lavoro?» (Haven't we been here for work?)	Marina «Dici?!» (You say?!)	NOE
Stella «Qui è meglio conquistare la zona centrale.» (Here it's better to get the central zone.)	Marina «Io preparerei un agguato da uno di quei vicoli là...» (I'd set up an ambush in one of those alleys...)	NOE
Stella «Uao! Questo sì che è un cavalcavia!» (Wow! Now this is one overpass!)	Marina «Concentrati, Stella! C'è una battaglia in corso!» (Focus, Callie! There's a fight going on!)	NOE
Stella «Uhm... ehm... questo è... Uhm... siamo...» (Um... uh ... that's ... Uh ... we...)	Marina «Presto! Qualcuno le suggerisca cosa dire!» (Quick! Someone suggest her what to say!)	NOE
Stella «Voglio fare un giretto! Qualcuno ha la patente?» (I want a ride! Does anyone have a driver's license?)	Marina «Usi la TV per cose private? Chi ti credi di essere?» (Using the TV for private things? Who do you think you are?)	NOE
Stella «Ho appena visto un bolide... Come vorrei farci un giro!» (I just saw the raddest car! I'd love to take a ride!)	Marina «Non ti avevano appena bocciata alla scuola guida?» (Haven't you just failed at drive school?)	NOE

Spanish quotes

Mar's Dialogue	Tina's Dialogue	Region
Mar	Tina	NOE
Mar "¡Nos hicieron retratos en algunos de los paneles!" (They did portraits of us on some of the boards!)	Tina "Pero... ¿solo algunos?" (But... only some?)	NOA
Mar	Tina	NOE
Mar "Aquí lo más importante es controlar el área central." (Here, controlling the center area is the most important.)	Tina "Yo lo intentaría entrando desde los pasillos laterales." (I would try entering from the side corridors...)	NOA
Mar	Tina	NOE
Mar "Oye, ¡dame unas monedas para la máquina!" (Hey, gimme some coins for the [vending] machine!)	Tina "¡Paciencia, Mar! ¡Estamos en directo!" (Patience, Callie! We're live!)	NOA
Mar	Tina	NOE
Mar "Has visto las placas en las entradas a los pasillos?" (Have you seen the signs at the entrances of the side corridors?)	Tina "¡Sí! Qué curiosas..." (Yes! How weird...)	NOA
Mar	Tina	NOE
Mar "Vamos a hablar en serio, ¿quién me invita a cenar?" (Let's get serious, who's taking me out to dinner?)	Tina "¡Estamos en la tele, Mar! ¡Un poco de seriedad!" (We're on TV, Callie! Be a little considerate!)	NOA
Mar	Tina	NOE
Mar	Tina	NOE
Mar "Justino es un gran juez... cuando está despierto." (Judd is a great judge... when he's awake.)	Tina "Según dicen, en las noches siempre está muy activo." (They say at night he's always very active.)	NOA
Mar	Tina	NOE
Mar "¿Cuál estrategia te gusta más en este escenario?" (Which strategy do you like best on this stage?)	Tina "¡La mejor estrategia es la que no se comparte!" (The best strategy is one not to share!)	NOA
Mar "¡Cerca del parque hay un restaurante buenísimo!" (There's a great restaurant near the park!)	Tina "¿Es que no piensas en otra cosa que no sea comer?" (Can't you think in other thing beside eating?)	NOE
Mar "Este escenario es igual que los demás, pero differente." (This stage is like the rest, but different!)	Tina "Qué perspicaz..." (That's one way to look at it...)	NOA
Mar	Tina	NOE
Mar "¡Aqui hay unos pajaritos de lo más bonitos!" (Here, there are some of the most beautiful birds!)	Tina "Entonces... ¿Le vas a ese equipo?" (So... you're going on that team?)	NOA
Mar "¿No vinimos aquí una vez a hacer un reportaje?" (Didn't we go here to do a report once time ago?)	Tina "¡No me acuerdo!" (I don't remember it!)	NOE
Mar "Lo bueno de este escenario es la máquina de refrescos." (The good thing about this stage is the vending machine.)	Tina "¡¿Hay una máquina de refrescos?!" (There's a vending machine?!)	NOA
Mar "¡Guau! ¿Has visto qué puente tan enorme?" (Whoa! Have you seen a bridge so big?)	Tina "¡No te distraigas! Estamos hablando de los combates." (Don't get distracted! We're talking about battles.)	NOE
Mar "¡Mira qué puente más grande!" (Look at this largest bridge!)	Tina "Sí... ¡pero le falta tinta!" (Yeah... but it's missing ink!)	NOA

The L-shaped space which Sub Weapons simply pass right through.

Trivia

• An early version of this stage was first revealed at E3 2014 and was the only playable map at the time.
• Urchin Underpass is the only map in Splatoon that has been changed almost completely after being released.
• Near the center area is an inaccessible, L-shaped space, which can be seen by standing on the vending machine in the corner. The floor and walls are fully textured to match the rest of the stage, but the floor is not solid; Sub Weapons thrown in will never be heard landing.
• The utility poles featured in the teams' bases are decorated with various license plates, many adorned with the Splash Mob and Forge logos. It is unknown what purpose these license plates serve.
  • Before Version 2.0.0, two utility poles in the center of the stage featured the same license plates, but with Shrimp Kicks and Krak-On advertising instead. They were removed in the update.
• Its design and Japanese name are based on Jūjō-dōri (十条通, lit. Tenth Road) in Kyoto, near which Nintendo's headquarters is located.
• There is a battle course named Urchin Underpass, similar to its Splatoon version, in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for the Nintendo Switch.

Gallery

• 

  The stage map shows the layout of the old Urchin Underpass.

• 

  A promo image of two Inklings, with Urchin Underpass shown in the background.

• 

  A screenshot of the E3 build of Splatoon, showing the only stage (Urchin Underpass) and the only weapon (Splattershot) at the time.

• 

  Old Urchin Underpass during Splatfest.

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  Old Urchin Underpass during Splatfest, showing graffiti and the former alleyway.

• 

  Old Urchin Underpass during Splatfest, showing graffiti at the center.

• 

  Old Urchin Underpass during Splatfest, showing the night sky.

• 

  Old Urchin Underpass during Splatfest, showing some Cat graffiti.

• 

  Old Urchin Underpass during Splatfest, from mid-Super Jump.

• 

  A sparrow on a power line above Urchin Underpass.

• 

  The sparrow's underside.

• 

  Concept art of various objects at Urchin Underpass.

• 

  Concept art of different locations. "Highway" is an early sketch of Urchin Underpass, and "Suburb" may be as well.