Fans of Splatoon 3 and its upcoming Big Run mode have been surprised by the discovery that Big Run was teased long ago, in Splatoon 2. Careful analysis of the recent Splatoon 3 Chill Season teaser revealed a connection to Splatoon 2's story mode that many likely overlooked.
Splatoon 3 brought back the second entry's Salmon Run mode, which pits four players against NPC enemies in timed battles. In addition to adding new enemies and gameplay mechanics to the standard Salmon Run Next Wave mode, the game is also introducing Big Run, which is a limited event that will see the Salmonids invade the city itself.
Splatoon 3 players have been extremely eager for Big Run information, and the recent teaser for the upcoming Chill Season revealed that it's finally happening. However, eagle-eyed fans noticed a connection during the Big Run part of the teaser to something that was in Splatoon 2. Specifically, it seems that a Sunken Sea Scroll in Splatoon 2 effectively foretold the events of Splatoon 3's Big Run.
In the teaser, a brief shot of a crimson sky can be seen with light emanating from a series of rings in the clouds. These same rings can be seen on Sunken Sea Scroll 17, from Splatoon 2's base story mode. Sunken Sea Scrolls tend to be historical or prophetical, with this being the latter, as it also contains the following prediction:
"When smoke rises from the seven rings, The[sic] pinkfish will emerge from the sea, devouring all the creatures of the land." -The Book of Madai, chapter 10, verse 10"
While Salmon Run was available from the start in Splatoon 2, there weren't any special twists on the game mode, and nothing occurred that resembled this particular piece of in-game scripture. Although the developers of Splatoon 3 have noted that Splatoon 2's final Splatfest helped to steer the direction of Splatoon 3, it seems that there were already ideas in the works for a Salmnoid invasion years ago. It's not clear if the team had originally hoped to include it in Splatoon 2 as an update or expansion, or if they looked to existing material to help come up with ideas to set Splatoon 3 apart from its predecessors.
Although fans are excited to play Big Run, there's still a lot of unanswered questions. Some have expressed concerns that it looks like it's just standard Salmon Run on a different map, as no new enemies or weapons have been shown. Players will have to wait and see if it can live up to the hype that's been building since its original reveal, but they won't have to wait all too long, as Splatoon 3's Big Run will land before the end of the year.
Splatoon 3 is available now for Nintendo Switch.
