Octo Expansion

From Inkipedia, the Splatoon wiki

Octo Expansion
Octo Expansion key art horizontal.jpg
Type Single-player campaign
Players 1
Ranked
Weapons Various
Controllers Nintendo Switch Joy-Con with grip.png Joy-Con, Nintendo Switch Pro Controller.png Nintendo Switch Pro Controller
Release Date 14 June 2018
8 October 2021 (Japan, with full game)

Pale summer moonlight shimmers on the seafloor.
An octopus, unaware that dawn will bring capture,
Rests within a trap, dreaming fleeting dreams...

— The opening poem of the Octo Expansion.

Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion is a single-player campaign mode comprising paid downloadable content for Splatoon 2.[1][2] It was revealed during the 8 March 2018 Nintendo Direct and was released on 14 June 2018 at 01:00 UTC with Version 3.1.0.

The mode is located at the subway entrance in the alleyway to the upper right of the map, next to Deca Tower. It is also referred to as the Deepsea Metro on the drop-down map.

Release History

The Octo Expansion was initially revealed with a teaser trailer as part of the March 2018 Nintendo Direct, without a release date.

The full version of the teaser trailer's song, revealed to be called Nasty Majesty, was performed during Off the Hook's live concert at NicoNico Chokaigi 2018.[3]

On 12 June 2018, during Nintendo's presentation during E3 2018, Octo Expansion was labelled as a "Summer 2018" release. Later in the same event, a new launch trailer was shown after the conclusion of the final round of the Splatoon 2 World Championship 2018 Finals, where the mode was revealed to release the following day. The Octoling Girl, Octoling Boy and Octopus amiibo were also revealed to release at a later date.[4]

A physical version of Splatoon 2 with the Octo Expansion built in was exclusively released in Japan on 8 October 2021.[5]

On 22 April 2022, the Octo Expansion was added to the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription.

Teaser

The Octo Expansion was revealed through a teaser trailer that was originally shown in the 8 March 2018 Nintendo Direct. At the time of release, the teaser offered little to no explanation for the identities of the new characters nor the events shown in it, but cryptically confirmed the long-speculated upcoming inclusion of playable Octoling characters.

Nasty Majesty by Off the Hook plays throughout the teaser trailer. Initially presented as surveillance footage, the teaser features Agent 8 awaking within the Abandoned Station, then boarding a subway car; as they dramatically walk from one car to the next, the characters encountered throughout the mode are revealed one by one. In one train car, an assortment of denizens of the deep is suddenly replaced with Sanitized Octolings.

The Player Settings screen used in the mode is shown, followed by cutscene footage of the Abandoned Station, then the Turnstyle mechanic. Gameplay footage of Fake Plastic Station, Brute Rollup Station, Abracadabra Station, Maverick Station, Ballercise Station, Wack 8-Ball Station, Righteous Rails Station and one of the Thang Stations is then shown in quick succession. One of the cutscenes from the Escape missions is then shown, followed by footage of Octoling players in Inkopolis Square then the Reef, revealing that the mode unlocks playable Octolings in Splatoon 2.

The trailer ends with Marina singing without instrumentation, as Agent 8 sleeps on the same station floor seen in the beginning of the teaser. The surveillance screen footage presentation returns, and the DLC's title is revealed.

The teaser is edited to reveal new elements and characters in time with the emphatic record scratch parts of Nasty Majesty.

Story

The player takes the role of Agent 8, an Octoling with amnesia who finds themself in a strange subway station connected to a series of research facilities deep underground. As the game starts, the Octoling sees Cap'n Cuttlefish ready to attack them before stopping, seeing that they do not have a weapon with them. Cuttlefish then informs the Octoling that they and Agent 3 fought in Octo Valley before "someone" attacked them and caused the Octoling to lose all of their memories in the process. He then asks if they remember anything, which prompts the customization of the player's Octoling. After finding a way through the beginning of the subway, Agent 8 and Cap'n Cuttlefish come across an empty platform with a telephone ringing. As the Octoling answers the Telephone, it identifies them as Applicant No. 10008; deeming the name too long, Cap'n Cuttlefish decides to give them the name "Agent 8" for short. The Telephone tells Agent 8 that they would want to go to the "Promised Land" so they can be free, but to do so, they must collect four "thangs". As the call ends, a train pulls up towards Agent 8 and Cap'n Cuttlefish and stops for them. They then meet C.Q. Cumber, the conductor of the train, who explains the functions of the CQ-80 and the CQ Points system. Shortly afterwards, Pearl and Marina make contact with the two of them and offer their help in escaping.

After collecting all four "thangs", the telephone cryptically asks whether Agent 8 is "ready to ascend to a higher plane of existence" and "willing to become something greater than yourself", before using the thangs to seemingly open a door out of the Metro. It is soon revealed to be a trap, however; Pearl and Marina realize the thangs were parts for a giant blender that the Telephone planned to use to render them into raw material.

Before the blender can turn on, Marina activates a distress signal from Agent 8's CQ-80, prompting Agent 3 to smash through the ceiling and destroy the blender. Agent 3 is knocked out, but Agent 8 uses their employee-model CQ-80 to activate an elevator to the surface. After a lengthy escape, Agent 8 is forced to defeat a partially sanitized Agent 3, who had been attacked while they were escaping. Once on the surface, Pearl and Marina prepare to airlift Cap'n Cuttlefish and Agent 8 to safety, but the above-ground section of the facility proceeds to rise from the ground, now revealed to be part of a human statue. The Telephone introduces itself as Commander Tartar, an AI created 12,000 years ago to pass on human knowledge to any species worthy enough. It reveals that it has judged both Inklings and Octarians as unworthy of receiving its knowledge and begins activating a weapon to destroy and recreate life on Earth, fueled by the raw material of the successful test subjects that it seeks to use to create "perfect" life. Marina, Pearl, and Agent 8 hurriedly put a stop to the statue, using Marina's prototype hyperbombs and the Princess Cannon, powered by Pearl's loud voice. With the world saved and Tartar presumably destroyed, Pearl and Marina hug, Cap'n Cuttlefish celebrates, and Agent 3 wakes up. Agent 8 watches and smiles at them, finally able to be free. The group then looks out to Inkopolis, Cap'n Cuttlefish presses the CQ-80 and the staff credits play. After the credits begin to finish, Agent 8 looks back at the player and smiles at them. With the world saved, Off the Hook returns to Inkopolis Square, dropping off Agent 8 there as well.

When Agent 8 returns to the Deepsea Metro, C.Q. Cumber tells them that they can now transfer credits into items as well as find mem medals in different Stations that can be used to exchange items in the Vending Machine. Cap'n Cuttlefish informs Agent 8 that Agent 3 went out on patrol, and he wished to check on the denizens of the deep for a while longer.

After Agent 8 completes all the tests, a locker in the Central Station will open and Agent 8 will have a battle with their "Inner Agent 3" using the classic ink colors of blue and orange respectively. Defeating them will reward the player with the Golden Toothpick, a headgear item equipable in multiplayer battles.

Gameplay

The Octo Expansion adds a new single-player campaign consisting of 80 levels. Off the Hook supports Agent 8 from above ground and their help can be used to skip missions that are too difficult.

The first station has the Telephone, where Agent 8 learns the details on how to escape the Deepsea Metro. The Telephone also provides Agent 8 with the CQ-80 device (a flat controller shaped like a submarine), used to navigate the underground; and a CQ Card, which is used to store CQ Points. C.Q. Cumber will issue an initial 1000 CQ Points to start.

Entering each mission costs a set amount of points, for either one, three, or five lives. The player can then choose between multiple challenges, each with a different weapon set. Depending on the weapon set chosen, a different amount of points is awarded (harder sets provide bigger rewards). Players enter the actual level by pressing at the turnstyle.

Lives are lost not only from being splatted but also by failing to comply with certain test conditions. If the player fails to complete the test's conditions to pass, an inflatable balloon of ink attached to Agent 8's ink tank will explode and splat them in the process.

If the player loses all of their lives, they may continue from the last checkpoint with all lives returned by paying more points, return to the station for free (but still having to pay to re-enter the level), abandon the level and return to the subway, or ask for help from Off the Hook to skip the level. Off the Hook can only help Agent 8 skip a level if they fail at least twice. When prompted to ask for help, it requires the regular fee to auto-pass the level, wherein Marina hacks into Kamabo's mainframe to trick it into thinking Agent 8 passed. The resulting mem cake will be gray, with only the quote "Your guess is as good as mine." However, if pressed to ask for help, the player can press X to "Tough it Out" and continue to play the level as normal. If skipped, the mem cake of that level will not be collected, barring players from certain rewards until they have completed the station properly.

If a player finds themselves with less than 100 CQ Points after losing all of their lives, a game over screen will appear instead of a continue screen. The player will then return to the Metro, where Pearl will take money from her father and Marina will convert it into CQ points, transferring 3000 CQ Points to Agent 8. However, the player will be in debt, which can be repaid through Cap'n Cuttlefish. Players cannot access the secret boss fight if they have debt.

The normal Octarians from Octo Canyon are replaced with Sanitized Octarians, which are a distinctive shade of sickly green. Enemy Octolings can use more main weapons and special weapons, previously only seen in online multiplayer modes. For example, in the first test, an enemy Octoling can use an Inkjet. A select number of levels are also special only, meaning Agent 8's special bar never goes down.

Some tests have Agent 8 go against a team of four Sanitized Octolings, in the style of ranked modes. The time limit is always five minutes and Agent 8 has unlimited lives until the time limit ends.

After completing the story, players can play as a male or female Octoling in multiplayer gameplay and customize them just like Inklings. Gear and weapons will be shared between the characters in the same account.

A short gameplay video of one of the missions was published on 30 April 2018. It shows a female Agent 8 on a mission requiring her to defeat a set of Sanitized Octotroopers, Octosnipers and Octocommanders within two minutes. This video also marks the first appearance of canisters similar to the special weapon canisters from Octo Canyon, as well as metallic briefcases. Both are marked with the same logo as the CQ-80 and the CQ Card, unlike the Octo Canyon canisters that show the Ammo Knights logo.

The objectives of the missions were revealed in a short gameplay video of Stamped-Up Station. It is a set of three floating pieces of a goal that must be covered in ink to be activated and be touched for the level to be completed. There are also smaller posts that emit red beacons that function the same as Mini Zapfish.

After three of the thangs are found, Cap'n Cuttlefish will decide to make a "missing" poster for Agent 3, asking Agent 8 what they look like. This determines Agent 3's gender, skin color, and eye color.

During the escape, if Agent 8 dies five times in a phase, their "Skip Charge" will be filled and will be allowed to skip the phase. If so, the sounds of a Splashdown and a Sting Ray can be heard and there will be a simple transitional phrase on the screen, stating that Agent 8 got past the phase. In the final boss, it will be instantly filled after one failed attempt.

When Agent 8 returns to the Deepsea Metro, they will be able to use the vending machine in Central Station to exchange 15,000 credits for an item and go around other stations to claim mem medals to be exchanged for the vending machine. The vending machine has more variety than the Ammo Knights Enhancifier, having the chance of getting more than one drink ticket, upgraded food tickets, cash, ability chunks, and credits. The items range from getting every type of drink ticket to even getting tens of thousands in cash.

Completing all missions with each challenge cleared and defeating the secret boss will change the background of the CQ-80 to one featuring the Kamabo Corporation logo and a stamp with the Inkling text saying "COMPLETE" on the bottom of the map.

Stations

There is a mandatory tutorial station, Abandoned Station.

If a station has dual IDs, the later letter in alphabetical order takes precedence, as inferred by the cost of its test fee and the way two lines overlap each other. Stations with double circles denote where thangs are. Line A is the only line that has a station with 00 as its number, the Central Station.

Sweet Ride StationShooter McStationInk It StationBreak & Bounce StationCool Your Jets StationBrute Rollup StationPhat Splatz StationBreakdance StationBallercise StationMatchmaster StationTubular 8-Ball StationInk from Above StationOne-Shot StationSlap Bracelet StationMad Props StationAll That 8-Ball StationRadical Rails StationTargetbuster StationGirl Power StationGoose StationToastmaster StationHasta La Vista StationHouse Party StationInk 'n' Slide StationBustalicious StationPop Rock StationShrinky Ink StationFootloose StationLabyrinth StationDinky Ink StationGrab & Go StationGnarly Rails StationFar-Out StationWassup 8-Ball StationRoll Out StationFake Plastic StationBounce with Me StationMaverick StationBumpin' 8-Ball StationStick 'n' Move StationInk & Watch StationOutrageous StationWhack-Fu StationNo Whammy StationCan't Touch This StationRighteous Rails StationAll Eyez StationRide with Me StationRadio StationPoppin' Fresh StationCentral StationMove It Move It StationSmash & Dash StationCubular StationBust & Run StationFly 8-Ball StationFreakazoid StationSpin Docto StationPop Star StationStamped-Up StationPopalicious StationDuh-Oh StationMatchmaker StationJump StationBring It StationDon't Ralph StationNotorious StationWack 8-Ball StationRad Ride StationSlow Ride StationBust 'n' Move StationAbracadabra StationHeinous 8-Ball StationHypercolor StationSwass 8-Ball StationIceman StationDa Bomb StationSquee-G Funk StationCratebuster StationBodacious Rotation StationDrop the Bass StationTotally 8-Ball StationMcFly StationRight Round StationBodacious 8-Ball Station
Deepsea Metro map (click a station to open its article)

Line A

Line B

Line C

Line D

Line E

Line F

Line G

Line H

Line I

Line J

Escape

Enemies

Regular enemies

This table is sorted by order of appearance, moving through stations line-by-line alphabetically. Enemies marked with * are newly introduced in the Octo Expansion.

Image Name Description Debut
Sanitized Octotrooper.jpg Sanitized Octotrooper The basic grunts of the Octarian army, Octotroopers stand on small machines that allow them to shoot single, very slow ink globules. They have very little health and mobility and so are easily defeated, but may pose a threat in numbers. A04 Roll Out Station
Sanitized Octoling Standby.jpg Sanitized Octoling Octarian variants of Inklings that defend targets, now capable of also using brushes, dualies, brellas, and special weapons on top of their previous attacks. Dark-haired Elite Octolings are much harder to defeat and act similarly to human opponents in multiplayer modes. A05 Fake Plastic Station
Sanitized Octosniper.jpg Sanitized Octosniper Elite enemies that shoot long, thin, and very powerful shots of ink, similar to chargers, while stationed on unmoving platforms. Like charger users, they have an extremely long line of sight but are mostly incapable of close-quarters fighting, while their shots require some time to charge and are marked with a laser line. A06 Bounce with Me Station
Sanitized Octocopter.jpg Sanitized Octocopter Flying enemies propelled by their helmets. They hover above the ground and shoot at Agent 8 on sight, but their projectiles and general flying speed are slow, like Octotroopers. A07 Maverick Station
Sanitized Octomissile.jpg Sanitized Octomissile Little explosive missiles with a tentacle in the middle. They spawn infinitely and burst with ink on contact, but can be defeated simply by being attacked. A07 Maverick Station
Sanitized Octozeppelin.jpg Sanitized Octozeppelin Giant airships themed after Octarians with a single tentacle sticking out the top. They spawn infinitely, using their propellers to spray ink behind them, and are invulnerable apart from their tentacle. A07 Maverick Station
New Sanitized Octotrooper.jpg Sanitized Blobby Octotrooper Octotroopers that ride a different machine resembling a gumball machine. They act and look almost identically to their regular versions but shoot a duo of shots that bounce along the ground. These can deal a lot of damage in numbers but are also susceptible to gravity. B03 Spin Docto Station
Moving Octowasher.png Sanitized Octowasher* Indestructible spinning torrents of ink that often appear on ride rails. They deal fatal damage on contact and knock the player off the ride rail, meaning they can only be avoided. B06 Notorious Station
Sanitized Shield.jpg Sanitized Shielded Octotrooper Octotroopers with shields in front of their machines. The shield can be destroyed after taking a lot of damage, but their exposed backsides are their weak spots, easily hit after being distracted. Also appears in Octodiver and Twintacle Octotrooper forms. B11 Tubular 8-Ball Station
Sanitized Twintacle.jpg Sanitized Twintacle Octotrooper Stronger Octotroopers with two tentacles. These enemies have better mobility than the normal Octotrooper and greater ink-firing capability, similar to a splatling, but are still easy targets. B11 Tubular 8-Ball Station
Sanitized Octocommander.jpg Sanitized Octocommander Large stationary enemies that are very similar to Octosnipers. They can only rotate in place and use giant splatlings to attack quickly over a large range. However, they take a while to recharge, leaving them wide open. B12 Brute Rollup Station
Sanitized Octostamp.jpg Sanitized Octostamp Cuboid, machine-like creatures with inky faces. Although they are not fast, they can leap into the air and face-plant the ground, dealing fatal damage. They can only be defeated from behind, which is exposed by their method of attack. B13 Phat Splatz Station
Sanitized Deluxe Octobomber.jpg Sanitized Rocket Octobomber More powerful variants of Octobombers that can use the rocket thrusters on their helmets to quickly dodge to the side when being attacked. Their attack pattern has not changed, however. B13 Phat Splatz Station
Sanitized Deluxe Twin.jpg Sanitized Rocket Twintacle Octotrooper More powerful Twintacle Octotroopers. They have the same capabilities as normal Twintacle Octotroopers but with jet thrusters on their machines, making them capable of fast dodges. B13 Phat Splatz Station
Sanitized Tentakook.jpg Sanitized Tentakook Extremely rare little Octarians that hide important items and give chase on sight. They use their ink-powered rollerskates to cover their tracks and can drop Splat Bombs behind them. They are very fast and can only be caught by swimming in ink. B13 Phat Splatz Station
Sanitized Deluxe Octocopter.jpg Sanitized Rocket Octocopter More powerful versions of Octocopters that have thrusters attached to their helmets. Although they are no stronger than normal, they can quickly dodge left and right, making them a nuisance to defeat. B14 Breakdance Station
Squee-G Splatoon 2.jpg Squee-G Although incapable of dealing damage, these very rare small robots serve as nuisances, attaching to walls and automatically sucking up Agent 8's ink. They can sometimes carry items and slow down upon being attacked. C02 Shrinky Ink Station
Sanitized Octopod.jpg Sanitized Octopod Small metallic creatures that run around wearing sneakers. Octopods jump to attention upon seeing the player. Upon reaching them, they explode in Octarian ink, dealing some damage. They can be attacked to be defused. They appear to be Octorpedoes on legs. C03A08 Bumpin' 8-Ball Station
Sanitized Octoballer.jpg Sanitized Octoballer Inky bowling balls populated by Octotroopers that spawn infinitely and leave a trail of ink behind them. They can only be destroyed by attacking the Octotrooper. Can also appear in tall stacks that are harder to defeat. C10 McFly Station
Sanitized Missile Octocopter* Variants of Octobombers that attack from a distance with Tenta Missiles, similar to Octostrikers. They move slowly and are large targets but attack continuously. D01B15 Ink from Above Station
Sanitized Flooder.jpg Sanitized Flooder Huge machines on stilts that rain down Octarian ink from under them and move in set patterns. They charge at Agent 8 on sight and can defeat them instantly, but their tops also act as platforms that can hold items and other mechanics. Big Flooders are even taller and harder to scale. E05 Hypercolor Station
Sanitized Octostamp DX.jpg Sanitized Octostamp DX Very rare tank-like robotic Octostamps that are indestructible, unlike their smaller counterparts. They are equally dangerous and often need to be scaled to collect items. E05 Hypercolor Station
Industrial Squee-G.jpg Industrial Squee-G Enormous Squee-Gs that act very similarly to their small versions, except that they can deal fatal damage to both Agent 8 and Octarian enemies on touch. They carry important items on top of them and are often necessary to use as platforms, as they can be directed towards the player's shots. E09 Squee-G Funk Station
Sanitized Octobomber.jpg Sanitized Octobomber Large flying Octarians similar to Octocopters. They hover around and shoot Splat Bombs out of their helmets which detonate fatally one second after landing. However, they are large, slow, and unwieldy, making them obvious targets. E09 Squee-G Funk Station
Sanitized Octohurler.jpg Sanitized Octohurler Large, very rare Octarians with goggles that spit up bundles of Rolonium to attack the player. They are immobile and therefore vulnerable to attack, but the Rolonium can be deflected back at them to defeat them in one hit. H02 Ballercise Station
OE Sanitized Octorpedo.jpg Sanitized Octorpedo Missiles filled with Octarian ink fired by the Octo Shower Supreme. Acting like flying Octopods, they home in on Agent 8 and explode, but can be easily shot down. However, amongst the rest of the boss battle, they can serve as major distractions. J01H07 Cool Your Jets Station
Sanitized Speedy Missile Octocopter* Faster Missile Octocopters that have the same attack pattern but can dodge similarly to Rocket Octocopters. They dodge very frequently, making them difficult enemies to defeat. J04 Footloose Station
Sanitized Octoseeker.jpg Sanitized Octoseeker Extremely rare large flying machines piloted by Twintacle Octotroopers. They use their propellers to rain ink below them and use their searchlights to seek out Agent 8. If they do so, they will slam down fatally like the Octostomp they are modeled after, leaving ink behind and allowing Agent 8 to climb on their backs. Escape 02 Villi Phase
Sanitized Octodiver.jpg Sanitized Octodiver Octotroopers wearing snorkels, which allow them to breathe under their ink. They pop out without warning to attack and can dive to hide like Agent 8. Also appears in Shielded Octotrooper and Twintacle Octotrooper forms.
Sanitized Twintacle Octodiver Octotroopers wearing snorkels, which allow them to breathe under their ink. They pop out without warning to attack and can dive to hide like Agent 8. Also appears in Shielded Octotrooper and Twintacle Octotrooper forms.

Bosses

Image Name Description Debut
Octostomp Redux Intro.jpg Octostomp Redux A giant robot with an ink-covered face. Like in his previous appearances, he attempts to attack Agent 8 by face-slamming them, leaving ink behind but revealing his weak tentacle on his back. His sides are inkable and must be climbed to reach the tentacle. His attacks are much faster and he gains extra shielding buckles and a Bubble Blower attack to make accessing his sides more difficult. F01E12 Drop the Bass Station
Octo Oven XXL Phase 3.jpg Octo Oven XXL A massive bread oven on wheels full of Octarian loaves. It rotates around a puddle of ink, attempting to use its loaves to damage Agent 8. After missing a few times, it shoots all its loaves out at once and rests, allowing time to scale its sides and attack the weak tentacle on top. Its tentacle is now protected by multiple other Octarians, Sprinklers, and Splash Walls. I01G01 Toastmaster Station
Octo Shower Supreme Phase 1.jpg Octo Shower Supreme A robotic creature kept aloft by a fleet of Octocopters that attacks with showers of ink. It is usually invincible and far out of range, forcing Agent 8 to use the battlefield to shoot down its Octocopters while avoiding its ink attacks and Octorpedoes. When all the Octocopters are splatted, it falls to the ground with its tentacle exposed. Its attacks are now much faster and it must be defeated using only the Inkjet. J01H07 Cool Your Jets Station
Sanitized Octo Samurai Phase 1.jpg Revenge of Octo Samurai A large humanoid Octarian who rides on a motorcycle-like roller. He attacks with the Octocycle both traditionally and by driving it at Agent 8, meaning he simply needs to be inked like a normal enemy to be weakened. After taking enough damage, he gets splatted, revealing his Octocycle's tentacle. His attacks are now much faster and he must be defeated using only the Baller. J08F11 Whack-Fu Station
Octo Expansion Sanitized Agent 3 introduction.jpg Sanitized Agent 3 The hero of Octo Valley and Cap'n Cuttlefish's protégé, whose mind has been hijacked by the Telephone. They fight like a regular player in online modes, using the Hero Shot and Splat Bombs, but can use as many as four different special weapons. They must be damaged enough to break their armor in each of the four phases, after which they radically change their battle strategy. Escape 07 Spinal Phase
CommanderTarTar.png Commander Tartar and the NILS Statue An enormous humanoid statue being used by the Telephone to gather enough energy to destroy Inkopolis. Unlike regular boss battles, Agent 8 must simply use their abilities to scale the NILS Statue and detonate all thirty of Marina's hyperbombs to coat it in ink within three minutes before the statue activates, utilising ride rails and a 3D map to do so. Escape Boss Turf War
Octo Expansion Inner Agent 3 ready.jpg Inner Agent 3 Agent 8's mental version of Agent 3. As a bonus boss, they are significantly faster and tougher than in their regular fight and utilise many more attacks in quicker succession. They are much more aggressive than any other boss and use different attacks and strategies in all five phases of the battle, making them a challenge to defeat. Inner Agent 3

Rewards

Upon completing the Octo Expansion, the player is rewarded with playable Octolings and an Octo Shot Replica to use in online battles.

Gear

Purchasing the Octo Expansion unlocks the Studio Octophones and the Octo Layered LS. As soon as the player enters the game and finishes Inkopolis News, a box containing both pieces of gear will be in the center of the Square.

Fourteen gear items are obtainable through the Octo Expansion. All players will see the items in-game, but only players who purchase the Octo Expansion will be able to obtain the items for themselves.

Of all the items listed here, only the Golden Toothpick requires the player to pass all stages without help from Off the Hook.

Gear Type Brand Ability Star power Unlock
Studio Octophones Headgear Cuttlegear Cuttlegear S2 Ability Ink Recovery Up.png Ink Recovery Up Star-full.pngStar-full.pngStar-full.png Purchase Octo Expansion
Octo Layered LS Clothing Cuttlegear Cuttlegear S2 Ability Ink Saver (Main).png Ink Saver (Main) Star-full.pngStar-full.pngStar-full.png Purchase Octo Expansion
Fresh Octo Tee Clothing Cuttlegear Cuttlegear S2 Ability Ink Saver (Sub).png Ink Saver (Sub) Star-full.pngStar-empty.pngStar-empty.png Escape to Inkopolis
Octoling Shades Headgear Cuttlegear Cuttlegear S2 Ability Last-Ditch Effort.png Last-Ditch Effort Star-full.pngStar-full.pngStar-empty.png Complete one set of mem cakes
Neo Octoling Armor Clothing Cuttlegear Cuttlegear S2 Ability Haunt.png Haunt Star-full.pngStar-full.pngStar-empty.png Complete two sets of mem cakes
Neo Octoling Boots Shoes Cuttlegear Cuttlegear S2 Ability Object Shredder.png Object Shredder Star-full.pngStar-full.pngStar-empty.png Complete three sets of mem cakes
Null Visor Replica Headgear Cuttlegear Cuttlegear S2 Ability Special Power Up.png Special Power Up Star-full.pngStar-full.pngStar-empty.png Complete four sets of mem cakes
Null Armor Replica Clothing Cuttlegear Cuttlegear S2 Ability Ink Resistance Up.png Ink Resistance Up Star-full.pngStar-full.pngStar-empty.png Complete five sets of mem cakes
Null Boots Replica Shoes Cuttlegear Cuttlegear S2 Ability Drop Roller.png Drop Roller Star-full.pngStar-full.pngStar-empty.png Complete six sets of mem cakes
Old-Timey Hat Headgear Cuttlegear Cuttlegear S2 Ability Comeback.png Comeback Star-full.pngStar-full.pngStar-empty.png Complete seven sets of mem cakes
Old-Timey Clothes Clothing Cuttlegear Cuttlegear S2 Ability Thermal Ink.png Thermal Ink Star-full.pngStar-full.pngStar-empty.png Complete eight sets of mem cakes
Old-Timey Shoes Shoes Cuttlegear Cuttlegear S2 Ability Run Speed Up.png Run Speed Up Star-full.pngStar-full.pngStar-empty.png Complete nine sets of mem cakes
Conductor Cap Headgear Cuttlegear Cuttlegear S2 Ability Sub Power Up.png Sub Power Up Star-full.pngStar-full.pngStar-empty.png Complete all sets of mem cakes
Golden Toothpick Headgear Cuttlegear Cuttlegear S2 Ability Special Charge Up.png Special Charge Up Star-full.pngStar-full.pngStar-full.png Defeat the secret boss

Music

The full version of the Octo Expansion trailer song, called Nasty Majesty, was performed during Off the Hook's live concert at NicoNico Chokaigi 2018.[6]

On 21 May 2018, a new character was revealed, a Sanitized Octoling DJ called Dedf1sh. According to Nintendo, Dedf1sh was a DJ with a promising future in the music world. During their search for inspiration, they came across a deep-sea testing facility and became sanitized. Despite this, they kept up their career as a DJ, and their music is heard throughout the facility.

Image Fictional Band Song Name Audio
OE Icon Cap'n Cuttlefish.png
N/A Cap'n Cuttlefish's Theme (Octo)
Player Editor
Kamabo Corporation Logo.png
N/A
Introduction
Abandoned Station
Deepsea Metro Central Station
Telephone's Theme
Inside the Deepsea Metro Subway Car
TEST PASSED!
Thang Jingle
Escape!
S2 Band Off the Hook.png
Off the Hook Nasty Majesty
Shark Bytes
The Plan
Fly Octo Fly ~ Ebb & Flow (Octo)
Into the Light
S2 Band Dedf1sh.jpg
Dedf1sh Splattack! (Octo)
#0 shell
#1 progress
#2 ripped
#4 dunno
#5 thirsty
#6 frisk
#8 regret
#9 party
#11 above
#12 awake
#13 shade
#14 crush
#16 salty
#19 bless
OE Icon Pearl.png
Pearl #$@%* Dudes Be #$@%* Sleepin
OE Icon Marina.png
Marina Ebb & Flow (Demo)

Quotes

Click to view the quotes for Octo Expansion. View the quotation page.

Significance of the number 8

The number 8 is a recurring theme in the Octo Expansion, referencing the number of limbs an octopus has.

  • Agent 8 (subject No. 10008) is the main protagonist.
  • The CQ-80 device is used to navigate the Deepsea Metro.
  • The Octo Expansion has eighty levels. Additionally, there are eight escape phases; if these are counted, the total number of levels is 88.
  • The tubes on the sides of the checkpoints resemble the number eight.
  • Each line of the mem cake poems has exactly eight syllables.
  • Some levels require the player to push an 8-ball to a goal.
    • The song #8 regret plays during these levels.
  • Some levels require the player to collect eight data points.
  • If the player goes through the lines in alphabetical order, the last thang is on the eighth line.
  • After the final boss fight, when Pearl uses the Princess Cannon against the NILS Statue, the turf covered for the "Good Guys" goes up to 888.8%.
  • The five music tracks rewarded for completion of the Octo Expansion are numbered from 80 to 84 in Squid Beatz 2 (these numberings do not follow linearly from the songs immediately before, as the other songs only number up to 57).
  • The locker in Central Station that has Agent 8's memories in it, which is used to enter the Inner Agent 3 battle, is locker 8.
  • In the Diaphragm Phase of the escape, eight locks need to be unlocked to get to the energy core.
  • The Squid Bumpers that appear at the entrances to the missions have eight stubs at the base, as opposed to those in the test range which have ten.
  • In Marina's chat room, the file for #$@%* Dudes Be #$@%* Sleepin is named "rec_bow_down_ball_gig08.mp8" ("mp8" being a reference to mp3).
  • There are eight main characters: Agent 8, Cap'n Cuttlefish, Pearl, Marina, Agent 3, C.Q. Cumber, Iso Padre, and Commander Tartar.
  • When the player completes eight mem cake sets, Iso Padre mentions that eight is "an important number".
  • The DLC was announced on 8 March 2018, and released in 2018. Additionally, the Japan-exclusive physical version of Splatoon 2 featuring the Octo Expansion was released on 8 October 2021.
  • In Dedf1sh's album art, they use a series of turntables that each have the number 8 on them and eight buttons.
  • Several numbers are skipped in the numbering of Dedf1sh's songs, namely 3, 7, 10, 15, 17, and 18. When adding the numbers from the title of each song and then dividing the total by the number of Dedf1sh songs in the Octo Expansion (in other words, taking the average of the numbers used plus an extra 0 to represent Splattack! (Octo)), the result is eight.

Manga adaptations

The Splatoon manga adapted the Octo Expansion into the Octo arc. It lasted from chapters 24 to 28.

In the Octo arc, Goggles wakes up in the Deepsea Metro, after being washed away during his "part-time job". He is greeted by Eight, who saves him from some Sanitized Octarians. He meets up with Cap'n Cuttlefish.

Gallery

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Trivia

  • Most of the game is a reference to '80s and '90s pop culture (station names and subtitles) and the vaporwave style (visuals and audio).
  • The Expansion costs $19.99 (Excluding tax) in the US, €19.99 in the EU, £17.99 (Including VAT) in the UK, and ¥1800 (Excluding tax) in Japan. It is the first paid downloadable content announced for any game in the Splatoon series.
  • The Studio Octophones and Octo Layered LS were available early by pre-purchasing the Octo Expansion. This is a throwback to the initial Splatoon Global Testfire, where players who pre-purchased Splatoon during the event were given the Studio Headphones and a special squid-themed layered shirt.
  • Outside the café Spyke is located in (near the Deepsea Metro's entrance), an employee model CQ-80 and two CQ cards can be seen.
  • Only 14 levels are strictly required to reach the end of the Octo Expansion (the four thang stations, the eight phases of the escape sequence, and Abandoned Station and Fake Plastic Station), but all routes that the player can take to reach the four thangs require at least two additional levels to be completed, so the minimum number of levels that must be completed to reach the ending is 16.
  • This is the only single-player campaign in the Splatoon series where the credits theme (Into the Light) is not introduced by that game's idol group before or after the credits roll.

Names in other languages

Octo Expansion
Language Name Meaning
Japan Japanese スプラトゥーン2 オクト・エキスパンション
Supuratūn 2 Okuto Ekisupanshon
Splatoon 2 Octo Expansion
Netherlands Dutch Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion Same as English
CanadaFrance French Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion Same as English
Germany German Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion Same as English
Italy Italian Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion Same as English
Russia Russian Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion
(Осьмодополнение)

Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion
(Os'modopolneniye)
Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion
(Octoaddition)
SpainMexico Spanish Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion Same as English


RotM clean room label 1.png
Translation needed
Translate Russian localizations. edit
Opening poem
Language Name Meaning
Japan Japanese 蛸壺や はかなき夢を 夏の月
Takotsubo ya - Hakanaki yume wo - Natsu no tsuki
An octopus pot - And the ephemeral dreams - Of a summer moon[Note 1]
Netherlands Dutch Een octopusfuik
Vanbinnen kort een droomhuis
Bij de zomermaan
An octopus fyke
From within briefly a dream house
By the summer moon
CanadaFrance French Dans le piège la pieuvre
Espoir futile la grise
Sous la lune.
In the trap the octopus
Futile hope inebriates her[Note 2]
Under the moon.
Germany German Fahles Mondlicht auf dem Meeresboden
Ein Oktopus, nicht der Gefahr gewahr,
Ruht in einer Falle, träumend...
Pale moonlight on the seafloor
An octopus, unaware of danger,
Rests within a trap, dreaming...
Italy Italian Molle illusione
Veder luce ancorati
In fondo al mar
Soft illusion
To see light while anchored
At the bottom of the sea[Note 3]
Russia Russian В глубокой тьме морских пучин
Моллюски мнят себя царями.
Хорош улов!
Mexico Spanish (NOA) La luna sobre el agua
los sueños fugaces del pulpo
que ignora su captura
The moon over the water
the fleeting dreams of an octopus
that ignores their capture
Spain Spanish (NOE) Érase un pulpo atrapado
en una ilusión fugaz
bajo la luna de verano.
There once was an octopus trapped[Note 4]
in a fleeting illusion
under the summer moon.

Translation notes

  1. The poem is a haiku written by Matsuo Bashō, a famous Edo period Japanese poet. It follows the 5-7-5 syllable format and contains a kigo, a seasonal word or phrase. The kigo in question is natsu, "summer", most likely in reference to the Octo Expansion being released a week away from the summer.
  2. Whether "la" refers to "pieuvre" (feminine word for octopus) or Agent 8 (who is presented as female more often than male) is ambiguous. If the former is true, "her" would be translated as "it" instead.
  3. As in "Seeing the surface like an illusion
    To see light trapped in the underground
    At the Deepsea Metro.
  4. Érase comes from the phrase "érase una vez" which means "once upon a time".

References