Splatoon 3’s Grand Festival: Idol Group Battle

Debates over the best Splatoon idol group are dime-a-dozen but never have the stakes been higher than in Splatoon 3’s upcoming second anniversary celebration: Grand Festival.

Starting on September 13th and ending on the 16th of the same month, this three-day event is not only a Splatfest that pits each group’s fans against one another but it’s also a music festival where the pop stars don fresh ‘fits to perform on stages both big and small.

That means that Splatoon’s Squid Sisters, Splatoon 2’s Off The Hook, and the most recent group in Splatoon 3’s Deep Cut will be duking it out both on the stage and in your hearts. But don’t take the decision on who to back lightly as the Splatfest results might just decide what shape Splatoon 4 takes, much like the final Splatfests of the first two games did for their subsequent entries.

The Final Splatfest, or just Grand?

While Nintendo hasn’t specifically labeled Grand Festival as the finale of Splatoon 3, the grandeur of the event led many to jump to that conclusion. However, it also bears out in the facts.

First off, the title of the press release announcing Grand Festival states “Splatoon 3 Splatfests Reach a Crescendo,” which is to say that Grand Festival is probably the most bedazzling spectacle we’ll ever see in this entry. Given that the previous games framed their future-deciding Splatfests within large-scale events celebrating their second anniversary, logic would follow that Grand Festival will similarly decide Splatoon 4’s fate.

The “Past vs. Present vs. Future” theme also feels very similar to Splatoon 2’s “Chaos vs. Order,” the results of which dictated Splatoon 3’s base game and expansion. Themes like these naturally lend themselves to broad palettes that developers can craft their next game upon. There’s only been one other Splatfest in Splatoon 3 that similarly used broad themes, and that was the Zelda crossover, which was something of an exception. Thus, this trio of choices stands out.

Past – Squid Sisters

There’s one thing nobody will deny during this Splatfest: Callie & Marie are the quintessential squid idols. They’re the figureheads of the franchise who defined the concept of “fresh” way back in 2015. Not only were they the hosts of the inaugural game but they’ve played starring roles in the campaigns of both follow-ups. Some may call the duo overplayed but we don’t think that’s fair. They’re simultaneously vintage while consistently sporting some of the trendiest outfits in Inkadia.

For Grand Festival, the duo is sporting an urchin theme. Their outfits may make you think they’re taking a purely classy approach, but one detail shows their competitive spirit: the ring on Marie’s middle finger. This bold accessory may pay off as there’s no doubt this team will attract many series veterans who’ve been stanning this unit for nearly a decade.

Present – Off the Hook

Pearl & Marina are the most representative idols of the modern day. They’re the most synonymous unit with modern music trends, particularly in hip-hop and electronic. Plus, Pearl is a byproduct of the social media era as the most meme-ready Splatoon character this side of Big Man.

This competition is no joke for Pearl, though. She’s ditched her iconic crown for evocative military commander attire. Meanwhile, Marina is meshing these soldier stylings with club-ready garb, and spiky earrings that give her an X factor. She’s ditched her signature headphones and is instead busting out her keytar for this performance.

Future – Deep Cut

Finally, we arrive at the Splatoon 3 idols, the trio we’ve spent the last two years splatting in the name of. Every Grand Festival attendee will be familiar with them, giving the trio a home-team advantage. This doesn’t mean they’re resting on their laurels in the face of fierce competition, though; they’ve brought outfits that push fashion boundaries.

Shiver has 20/20 vision now that she’s parted her tentacle hair away from her eye; she’s even gone the extra mile and got the Deep Cut logo tattooed on her stomach. Frye follows suit with a forward-looking hair bun that takes the shape of tiny horns. But let’s be honest: we’re really here to talk about Big Man. He’s big, he’s floppy, he’s got an emoji smile. His spike-ridden overalls and eye shadow give him a Big Punk vibe that says he’s Big Ready for the battle at hand.

But Who Will You Pick?

Are you in it to rep your favorite unit, to potentially pave the way for Splatoon 4, or is there something else you’re looking for in a team? Let us know by voting in our poll and dropping a comment. Make sure to enjoy Grand Festival from September 12th to 15th as it’s shaping up to be Splatoon’s greatest spectacle yet.