Splatoon review: Nintendo’s ink-spraying shooter is refreshing and different
National Post Tech Desk - Fri, 05/29/2015 - 11:20
Nintendo has a lot riding on Splatoon’s success. With Zelda Wii U pushed back to a release date likely sometime next year, and with very few other big games coming out on the console over the next few months (other than Star Fox and Yoshi’s Woolly World), Splatoon sits alone as one of the only upcoming announced Wii U titles that looks promising.
Refreshingly, Splatoon is also one of the only Nintendo games released in the last 15 years to feature original characters. And it’s a third-person shooter — albeit not a traditional one — which is completely new territory for the company. The game is the answer to what Nintendo naysayers have been complaining about on Internet forums for years: “Why doesn’t Nintendo do something different?” and “Nintendo needs to evolve.”
So will Nintendo’s ink-filled shooter satisfy the unquenchable thirst of angry former Nintendo fans and hardcore fanatics? It just might. The game hits a similar level of perfection as some of the company’s other first-party developed titles, such as Super Mario 3D World. But underneath the colourful paint of Splatoon’s charms, the game is also rife with significant issues, some that might be game-ruining for shooter fans.
With this said though, Splatoon is different, inventive, and the most fun I’ve had with a Nintendo-developed title since the Wii U launched. If you’re a Wii U owner there is very little reason not to buy this game.
Perhaps the most interesting thing about Splatoon is that it isn’t about racking up kills. Instead, it’s focused on pitting two teams of four against one another as they try to spray as much paint as possible across the game’s various multiplayer arenas. The premise really is as simple as that. Whatever team has covered a higher percentage of the level at the end of the match is the victor. In an industry full of shooting games that copy each others’ gametypes, a new way to play that isn’t focused on killing your opponents is a nice change of pace.
Players are also awarded an individual score at the end of each game that’s added to their overall point statistics, which then levels up their online profile and unlocks new weapons and clothing for their character. This is all standard shooter fare, but there’s a level of simplicity to Splatoon’s progression system that isn’t present in other shooting games such as the Call of Duty series. Splatoon might be a shooter, but it’s very much the kind of shooter only Nintendo could create.
NintendoThe objective in Splatoon, even in the games singleplayer, is to spray everything in sight with ink.Specific weapons perform better in different situations, and depending on your play-style, you’ll likely find some guns relatively useless.
The Splat Roller also feels overpowered at first, since it plasters a level with paint relatively easily. But after spending a few hours with the game I realized this wasn’t actually the case. Inventive players will quickly find ways to take down opponents who gravitate towards the close quarters-focussed Roller.
But as someone who’s fond of the Splat Roller, there are also obvious strategies to take down players using projectile weapons like the Splattershot, long-range Splat Charger or Jet Squelcher. The moment I saw anyone from the opposing team, I’d instantly dive down into the ink and swim to an area my enemy might not think I would be. I’d then pop out of the ink and smash the Splat Roller on top of my foe. The weapon also shoots out a small amount of ink when it’s smashed to the ground, taking out any enemies directly in front of you.
NintendoEmo octopus really are an enemy in Splatoon (that's even what Nintendo calls them)Additionally, each weapon has its own special power-ups. For example, the Killer Wail can take out multiple enemies at once with its tornado of paint. While I’m still getting the hang of timing when to appropriately use power-ups, I’ve seen a number of high-level players turn the tide of a match with only seconds remaining on the clock by busting out an Inkzooka at the right time.
In short, Splatoon is an expertly balanced game and it’s easy to tell Nintendo painstakingly play-tested the experience to ensure the finished product was as balanced as possible. Matches often boil down to wars of attrition, with each team pushing forward slightly with their brightly coloured paint until one squad eventually breaks through the barrier of colour, opening the floodgates.
This brings me to perhaps Splatoon’s most unique mechanic beyond the wall-covering ink-spraying. Your “kid” character has the ability to turn into a squid and can dive into surrounding ink. This allows you to hide from your enemies and move around the map much quicker than when in kid mode. The ability to dive over objects while playing as a squid, and the visceral speed that comes from the transformation, makes Splatoon’s combat feel extremely fluid and, in some ways, almost rhythmic.
There are downsides to Splatoon’s multiplayer, though. For a game where teamwork is so integral to its core experience, it’s a shame Splatoon doesn’t feature voice chat. Since this is a Nintendo title, I expected this issue ahead of time considering there are only a handful of Wii U titles that support the feature, but this doesn’t excuse voice chat’s absence.
Having the ability to communicate with your team would add a lot to Splatoon. For some players, the game’s lack of voice communication will be a deal breaker, especially those who have played other shooter games or even online multiplayer titles in general.
Splatoon is also different, inventive, and the most fun I’ve had with a Nintendo-developed game since the Wii U launched
While Splatoon’s matchmaking system is great and does a commendable job of putting together two teams of similarly levelled players relatively quickly, there is no simple way to play with friends. The only way to join someone on your friends list is to select “join a friend” and then wait until there is space in their game for you to jump in.
The lobby or party systems many online console players will be familiar with from other titles are not part of Splatoon. Nintendo has stated they have plans to add custom game lobbies as well as a party system via an update set to release in August, but as the game stands right now, it’s a chore to play with even just one other friend.
NintendoSplatoon's overall look is very reminiscent of early 2000s games like Jet Grind Radio.Map selection and gametypes are also limited, although Nintendo has plans to add additional free maps and new gametypes over the course of the summer. Competitive ranked lobbies unlock once you reach level 10 (which will take quite a bit of time), giving players access to a surprisingly fun king of the hill-style gametype called Splat Zone. Splatoon’s standard ink-spraying gametype is called Turf Wars.
Offline multiplayer is also confined to just two players, and while this game mode is fun, Splatoon’s lack of four player offline mode seems like a missed opportunity.
On the bright side, while Splatoon is a decidedly multiplayer-focused experience, the game does offer an extensive singleplayer mode clocking in at approximately five to six hours. Players traverse through a variety of Mario-esque levels, painting platforms, exploding balloons, and taking on emo octopus enemies. Yes, you read that correctly.
NintendoWhile there are only a few multiplayer maps available right now, the ones you can play on are balanced expertly thought out.What’s unfortunate about Splatoon’s singleplayer is parts of it don’t feel fleshed out enough. The game slowly introduces a great concept such as bouncing between guisers, only to have it disappear in the following level. Mechanics that are part of Splatoon’s singleplayer early on in the game are also rarely brought back again later.
Another drawback are Splatoon’s graphics. While the game’s look is interesting and reminiscent of Dreamcast classic Jet Grind Radio, its bright and inventive visuals don’t feature the same level of polish as other internally developed Wii U titles. Characters and objects often feature distracting jagged edges. On the plus side, plastering a level with colourful ink looks great and the game’s frame rate is solid.
RelatedDespite its shortcomings, Splatoon is one of the best Wii U titles and is exactly the kind of game Nintendo needs to release right – a game that’s different, unique and, most importantly, features the charm people have come to expect from the company’s titles.
I saw something special in Splatoon last year when I played the game at E3 and it seems I was right.
