Splatoon 3 Fans Notice Clever Back to the Future References

gamerant.com:

Eagle-eyed fans of Splatoon 3 have discovered what certainly seems to be a reference to the film Back to the Future 2. The movie, which takes viewers to the past and the future, seems to have inspired the development team.

The Splatoon series has been full of pop culture references from the start. Prior examples include things like replicas of Nintendo consoles appearing in story mode or Marina and Pearl's Octo Expansion gear resembling outfits worn by Tupac and the Notorious B.I.G., respectively, and now the series is showing some love for a classic sci-fi film.

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In Splatoon 3, players have the option of playing Salmon Run, a PvE mode that pits four players against an onslaught of Salmonoid enemies. Completing runs rewards players with points that are exchanged for things like food tickets, ability chunks, or brand new gear that's exclusive to Grizzco. This is where the references originate from. In the first month of Splatoon 3's launch, a holographic baseball cap was available via Salmon Run, strongly resembling the one Marty wears in Back to the Future 2. However, it's this month's reward that made it clear it was a reference.

For October, the Salmon Run Grizzco equipment award is the Lo-Vis Visor, a pair of 80s retro-futuristic silver sunglasses. They look just like those that Doc Brown wears in the same film, but it's the way that they're worn that nails the reference: the Inklings and Octolings wear it above their eyes, resting against the forehead, just as Doc frequently did in the movie.

There's no telling why the development team honed in on this particular film as inspiration, but it's a charming tribute to the popular movie. While time travel hasn't