completed all palettes but have not obtained all hacks or collected all chips. i personally wasn't expecting much [gameplay-wise] but had a lot of fun. it seems i've been enjoying the roguelite genre more and more without noticing, though side order is still beholden to the flaws of such titles; repetition, little to no expansion on systems, get lucky or die. i tolerate these things for love of the splatoon universe and narrative told through its single player campaigns and expansions, and how such a vivid picture can be painted of its main cast through such little dialogue. as an octarian and Octavio fan i really appreciated even further windows into their society and locales as well, even if subtle.

otherwise a wonderful finale for Off The Hook and capstone on their moral as a couple, a beautiful reflection on welcoming change for the better or worse with open arms (Marina's defection, Acht's sanitisation). to spin into a tangent, the nature of splatoon's final splatfests is mystifying in its inviting discussion of "what if?" scenarios and its very permanent decision to deliver on its consequences in favour to the winning team, seamlessly marrying story events directly to gameplay in a predominantly online title. in contrast to that upheld value, side order's decision to reframe and spotlight splatoon 2's order vs chaos was to be inevitably expected having had the most tangible effect on the world reflected in the splatlands and its "chaos" of diversity.

i have a love for the franchise and its chosen vehicle of worldbuilding and storytelling, and i'm grateful a very good friend of mine took the time to share his own love with me. side order is no octoexpansion, but will anything ever be again?