During a Nintendo Direct presentation, Nintendo detailed how gear and special abilities work in Splatoon.
Shopkeepers sell three types of gear: hats, clothing, or shoes. Each one can equip special abilities that buff or aid the player. Some examples include Quick Respawn, Ink Saver, or Quick Super Jump Up just are a few examples.
The number of abilities a piece of gear can equip are based on its star count. In order to increase the number of gear slots, players must use it in online multiplayer battles. Each piece of gear come with primary ability, and sub abilities are assigned randomly over time. Up to four abilities can be equipped per piece of gear.
Inklings will wander into a player’s game via Miiverse and wander around Inkopolis. Any gear the Inklings have equipped can be special ordered via Spyke. This in-game vendor can re-roll abilities for acquired gear or open up an additional ability slot via trading in a Super Sea Snail. Nintendo said that every piece of gear can be optimized using this system.
Splatoon is an action shooter for Wii U announced at E3 2014. It will be available at retailers and the eShop on May 29. Jose Otero is an Editor at IGN and host of Nintendo Voice Chat. You can follow him on Twitter.