Markatana (Stariken) (Copy Clone)
-Tap shoot to swing the blade
-Hold shoot and run to sprint and ink a path for you to run on
-Hold jump and shoot to charge a Power Slash
-Charge while standing still to release a radial slash attack that hits in a circle.
-Charge and move the L stick to release up to two dashing slashes in a row.
-Charge and push the Special button to start a parry.
Crafted from a tool that humans used for highlighting what’s truly important and designed to stand out itself by being a blade rather than a gun in the modern turf wars of inkopolis. Inspired by the way markers always turned into make-believe swords in classrooms, the Markatana is the first of its kind making its mark by slashing its way through the turf. While it plays similar to the Inkbrush on the surface, it’s much more complex.
For comparison, the Markatana is lighter and thinner than the Inkbrush, which allows it to have more handling while swinging. While the Markatana releases ink the same way the Inkbrush does the Markatana has less turfing range than the Inkbrush but it turfs a wider, “C” shaped area which benefits it for higher mobility.
If you try to jump while slashing, you’ll trigger a stance change in the Markatana that’ll start to charge up a Power Slash. A Power Slash charges at the same speed as a squiffer charge.
Successful Power Slashing has three uses:
-Standing still and fully charging it will release a powerful spinning attack that has a radius similar to the size of a circle that a sprinkler will leave around itself on turf. While spinning, the player can slightly drift in any direction and even cancel it by swimming. It has the power to splat opponents in one hit so it’s best to run out of its visual danger zone. Spinning too often will trigger the dizziness effect and the player is vulnerable during the spin attack at their head and leg areas. (Incoming bullets to the torso area are nullified by the attack) Halfway charging this version of the slash will release a singular circle slash with half the power.
-Directing a fully charged power slash will release a dashing slash, allowing the player to move in one direction at a time in the blink of an eye which can be followed up with a second slash of equal power. This slash can travel the same distance that splat dualies can in 3 rolls / a little bit shorter than a sauiffer shot for reference. Slashing straight through enemies lands a critical hit that can splat them in one hit. Halfway charging this version of the slash will release a half distanced dashing slash with half the power.
-Pushing the special button while a power slash fully charged will prepare your character to automatically parry any incoming bullets, bombs, and other damaging weapons or attacks. Parrying is the markatana’s “special skill” which is a new mechanic that allows you to burn some of your special to do an extra move. Parrying is a strong move, able to highlight attacks and reflect them in your ink color. Players can do all movement and attacks as normally during a parry except for when you’re running and slashing which will momentarily pause the auto parrying. Parrying lasts on average about 5 seconds. Players will be able to notice you’re parrying by your flaming tentacles and by the light trail effects left by the Markatana from any power slash. Parrying only works if you’re facing the incoming attack. The player is vulnerable from every other angle.
The Stariken are a set of 3 starfish shuriken that are thrown in succession. Landing all 3 Stariken won’t result in a splat, it’s very similar to how the Nozzlenose shoots. The Stariken can be aimed in different directions if you move fast enough, the same way a Nozzlenose can change its bullet directions.
The Copy Clone is a special that puts the player through a copy machine and prints a copy that follows your every move. Similar to the cherry power up from the Mario series. Your Copy Clone can be splatted independently but the remaining character will take over as the “original” and gameplay goes back to normal. The clone can survive as long as it has health and if the special is triggered while a clone already exits all characters will go in the copy machine and only one extra will come out but the max health continues to diminish for all. (Having a clone reduces 20% of max health to split it between entities and continues to multiply in the case of more clones.) Copy Clones will have a future design blog that shares more information on it.
Players are noted to play this weapon very boldly. They will catch your attention and be right in your face as soon a you look in their direction, much like highlighted text. Players won’t hesitate to burn their special in order to run towards you leaving you with no option but to run away since trying to shoot them head on will backfire. Special saver can increase the time a parry lasts / decrease how much special it takes to activate. Main power up decreases charge time on power slashes. If attacks with attributes such as thermal ink is reflected and lands, the markatana player will get the benefits of it. The markatana is even strong enough to reflect a full powered rainmaker shot. It can’t reflect explosions that already detonated or low force / indirect hits such as a blaster explosion or ink brush swipes.
Super long design blog, hope you all like it. The Markatana is my favorite weapon creation so far. Thnx for reading !
