A thought on "Agents" in the Splatoon series.
While the induction of the player into the Squidbeak Splatoon is a narrative device deployed to get the audience invested in the single player's storyline, it does seem there's broader implications about who has that title in the series. If we take Agent 3, (the player character from the first game) as the example one could assume that 1 (Callie) and 2 (Marie) are similarly capable, though little is shown of them taking an active role beyond their performances of the Calamari Inkantion throughout the series or one cutscene in the second. The player's character as the new Agent displays similar attributes given what is accomplished in the narrative of the 3 games.
There are also some implied attributes that the game seems to suggest with their weapon selection, like 2 making a seemingly extremely difficult shot in a cutscene in Splatoon 2 showing perhaps a perception and control that exceeds what a "normal" inkling is capable of, or, to a lesser extent, 1 shaking off shots from the player's weapon. Similarly, their weapon's preferences in Side Order could also point towards their conduct as agents with Power and Support being highly biased for chip selection.
You could read these small pieces of evidence as pointing towards the following:
An "Agent-level" roller user, with high strength and endurance.
An "Agent-level" charger user, capable of extreme precision and control.
Agent 3 (Captain):
An above "Agent-level" inkling apparently possessing super powers but not as durable as one might expect. Splatoon 3's showing continues the tribute to the players of the first game that Octo Expansion started with its boss and super-boss featuring them.
While these conclusions have certainly been reached before, it is interesting the restraint shown towards 1 and 2. I think the reasons behind this are two-fold, the first being the most evident which is:
1. The game wants to center the player and their abilities, too many super competent characters detracts from that vision.
2. In the same vein this would probably skew players' perception of the Squid Sisters away from being performers which is an integral part of both their identity and also how they stand with the other performers of the game. A character with tangible abilities similar to what theirs is hinted at being is often the protagonist because of how they can be incorporated into mechanics, rather than things that drive the narrative as seen in their final boss performances, or Octo Expansion and Side Order's resolutions.
It doesn't seem likely this will be expounded upon further in the series given the reticence to so far, but Raiders is on the horizon... somewhere...
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