Nintendo released their first new intellectual
property in years this past month. But how does it stack up against their other
multitudes of games? It turns out, yes - very well actually. With this new IP
came several new hurdles. First and foremost, Nintendo had to enter a genre of
games that they had never explored before. That’s right, shooters. If that
weren’t enough, this is Nintendo’s first video game where online games are
really the main attraction.
But Splatoon is not a
traditional take on shooters. In the
game players take control of an Inkling. Inklings are kid/squid hybrids that
are able to change from one form and back again. These Inklings are equipped
with guns that shoot not bullets, but rather ink. Changing into a squid allows
the Inklings to swim through their own ink at a much faster speed than in their
human form, which becomes very important as mobility is an essential part of
Splatoon.
Players are paired up
into teams of four and proceed into battle. In the games main mode, called
“Turf War”, the two teams compete to see who can cover the most area on the map
in their own color ink. The game’s second mode is dubbed “Splat Zones”. In this
mode, players are tasked to keep control over a certain zone for a certain
period of time by covering it in their own ink. Both of these modes put less of
a focus on killing your opponents, although it can be helpful, and stress
strategy and careful planning more so. It’s a refreshing change of pace
compared to that of typical shooters.
Splatoon also has a single
player campaign. It’s short, but enjoyable. There are 27 different missions
with several boss battles. Missions have a heavier focus on platforming than
either of the two game modes, which isn’t a bad thing. There is also a two
player local multiplayer mode, but it just falls flat when compared to the
insanely addictive online multiplayer. It is a nice addition, but most will
find it forgetful after a few rounds.
And what would a shooter
be without an array of weapons? Luckily, Splatoon is packed with them. There
are a huge amount of weapon classes, each with their own sub-weapon and special
weapon. You cannot mix and match these sub-weapons, but that makes the game
feel more strategic. Each class has its own advantages and disadvantages. In
addition to weapons, there is gear that you can buy for your Inkling. When
equipped, this gear will give your Inkling special abilities. Mixing and
matching gear to get the perfect combination for your combat style is strategic
and addictive.
Finally, one of the Splatoon’s
strongest points is its DLC support. Nintendo has promised new maps, weapons,
and game modes to be released up through this August at the very least, for
free. As this is written, the game has already seen two new weapons and two new
maps in it’s very first few weeks of release.
Splatoon is a huge
success with fun online modes, engaging customizability and unique charm and
art-style. With it being the first new franchise Nintendo has created in over a
decade, it is sure to leave its footprint, even if it does not get the
recognition it deserves. I think I can speak for myself and so many other fans
when I say I hope we see a sequel to Splatoon next year.
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