Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Release Date: 9th September 2022
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Reviewed on: Nintendo Switch
▫️ Code provided by the publisher ▫️
Loading up Splatoon 3 you should feel instantly familiar with its splattering of bright saturated colours and its cute squid-like character design if you have played the previous two games. Splatoon has a unique style that feels completely at home on Nintendo’s platform and the aesthetic absolutely helps it appeal to all ages.
This third outing comes with many new features, one of which is a fully-fledged campaign, mixing both obstacle courses and challenges as you fight off spawning enemies. Splatoon 2’s Octo expansion was a welcome addition to the previous entry but there is no denying that it felt like a bit of an afterthought, so to see a campaign mode implemented so well at launch was a sign of the team’s commitment to delivering the best experience possible.
Jumping into the game’s hub you’ll be greeted with the new Splatlands district, complete with a mix of old and new shops in a distinctly Japanese style. Here you’ll be shopping for clothing, weapons and collectables. Then once geared up you head out to the main area and show off your new threads. Go exploring around the maze-like alleys and you’ll find the new card mini-game called Table Turf Wars which is pretty addictive once you get the hang of it.
There is plenty to see and do before you even get into the main selling point of Splatoon 3… the Turf War! This mode returns bigger and better than ever, with a load more paint to throw around the larger levels. The graphics and art-style are a joy, although as great as it looks, the main game here goes largely unchanged from its predecessors, which may disappoint some. However, there is no denying that it is polished to near perfection.
Splashing a new coat of paint around these levels is as fun as it ever was, with the traversal of these little characters as they run, jump and swim through a sea of paint in Squid form just extremely satisfying to control. Not enough shooters these days embrace the fun factor, and that is something that Splatoon delivers in droves.
There are also lots of clever design choices that improve the experience as well. Like the online lobby, where you queue up a match in the menu and then either wait for it to begin or continue having fun in free roam, getting some last-minute practising in and generally messing around. It sounds like a small touch, but Splatoon 3 does an excellent job of keeping the fun going at all times.
At the time of writing this, the game continues to have a few disconnection issues, which is unfortunate as you are punished for quitting/leaving a game. Hopefully Nintendo is able to fix this soon otherwise it may put players off sticking with the game long term. An overhaul in Nintendo’s online infrastructure is something I’m sure most gamers would love to see.
We are in a position to be writing this review post-launch and to see the game sell so well in its opening week is a really good sign for the longevity of the franchise. Incredibly, Splatoon 3 is now the fastest-selling video game in Japanese history! Selling an eye-watering 3.45 million copies in the first three days on the market.
Overall, Splatoon 3 is an absolute joy to play. It manages to refine and fix many of the problems found in the previous two games, leading to a highly polished third entry. With continued support and new content, the series looks set to reach new heights, so long as Nintendo are able to fix the connection issues holding it back a little. This is a wonderful game that should keep you coming back for more. At least til Splatoon 4.
-James