This isn't a vague "promise". We know of 9 additional maps, additional weapons, additional gear and two additional modes, one of which has been detailed. While exact dates of content release are not known, we do know that this new content will be released every few weeks, so that isn't exactly as vague as "eventually"

Again, I am not saying that the reviewers should make a value judgement on this content. I am saying that if the complaint is "there is not enough content to maintain my interest for months", that complaint is disingenuous due to the continuous release model. I believe a statement about how content will continue to be released for months should be factored into any assumptions about longevity, and I see that as a much more realistic assessment of the games ability to maintain interest.

Many review sites understand that the current method of reviewing games is flawed due to the change in how content is released. This is not a new issue and it is one that many sites are trying to understand how to deal with and accomodate for. As Eurogamer said when they changed their scoring system "Scores are failing us, they're failing you, and perhaps most importantly, they are failing to fairly represent the games themselves".

This discussion is largely a discussion about how to handle this large flaw of review scores...their static nature. Some feel the best way to handle it would be for the the reviewer to give what they feel is the most realistic assessment of the game's longevity. Others feel that the best way is to give a review in a vacuum, which is irrelevant to most buyers at release and becomes even more irrelevant as more time passes.

As reviews are essentially buyer's guides, I feel that a realistic assessment serves that purpose more than an isolated "in a vacuum" assessment.

@Mr. Playstation:

-As I said above, we know at least 9 stages are coming, multiple weapons, new gear and two modes and we know that updates will be released every few weeks. We also have images of I believe 5 of the 9 stages and gameplay footage from 1 of the 2 modes as well as gameplay footage of at least one of the new weapons.

-If the concern is that they already got bored, that is a fair criticism (although problematic because Nintendo is releasing new content to coincide with consumers, not reviewers timelines), however, most reviews seem to not be expressing this criticism. It is more a statement about quantity than any negative experience...

Polygon: 8.5

I was afraid of this one

But they like it.

Dam, Metacritic is not updating anything.

http://m.au.ign.com/articles/2015/05/27/splatoon-heist-leads-to-canceled-pre-orders-in-uk - LOL!

That's a relief. Now the only one I'm wary of is GameSpot.

Not bad, expected 78 and got 81.

Content is something many reviewers take in count when doing a review.

And if they don't have to discount points, then reviewers should wait until all the content is released, free or not.

Call of Duty Advanced Warfare 2. Ships with half the maps and modes that AW1 had, but we have seen the others and Activision ensures they will arrive shortly after the new year. 9/10.

Done to ensure the games longevity, not because they were not completed in time.



Can't wait to get our half games. It's not like they're chopped up enough as it is.

Oh, plus this is very much how games are on mobile. Released in bits and pieces.

My prediction was also quite close. I thought 78-80 based on lack of content and voice chat, but never would I have expected a game to get inflated based on assumptions of what the game might be in 3+ months. That's definitely a first.

To think of what Broken Age Act 1 would have gotten if the reviewers factored in Act 2, which was given free to purchasers of Act 1. Higher than the 82 it got surely. Should have just rated the entire package in advance.

wait.waitwait wait wait..wIt WIAT,
so, this got lower scores due to "lack of content" and the defence for the lqck of content is that stuff are coming soon and points shouldnt be deducted for lack of content?

what a load of bull crap!

scorew should reflect what it is NOW and whT it will be inx number of months or in the future.

mich like how drive club is better now due to a shyet load of patches. scores should reflect its crapines when it released and not consider the patches.

its the devs/publishers fault for releasing a half baked game and scores should reflect what is there day one not some future promise crap.

lack of content? minus points. glitchy? minus points....bububububuuut we gonna fix it aoon with morw content and patchez.. screw u! reciews must reflect the NOW and not then THEN.

honestly this is he most stupid lame ass bull crap excuess ive heard ever!

I didn't really have an idea about what to expect review-wise. I don't think I expected it to meta in the 90s but I had no particular thoughts on where it would land exactly.

Low 80s is great! One cannot fault any game for averaging >8/10 among critics. But there is a but. I don't think low 80s is the kind of critical reception that is what can help Wii U move forward significantly. It doesn't match the crazy hype the internet fans have been giving it and the system seller tag some people have been trying to put on the game.

To be fair to the game, the hype the fans have been creating has probably been quite an unrealistic burden to place on this game. If this game doesn't get the sort of sales the hype train drivers have been hoping for then the game will come in for some undeserved counter criticism and the F word will get thrown around. I think I recall one person saying Splatoon will sell like MK8. Sure it could happen but it always seemed highly unlikely, and a completely unfair expectation to place on this game.

Many of the most commercially successful games of all time haven't been critical smashes.

Similarly, many critical smashes haven't set the charts on fire.

I think Splatoon will find a nice balance between the two. It's not going to save the Wii U (practically nothing can at this point), but I think it's going to move a decent amount of systems and it'll sell a good amount of copies. And of course, an 8/10 is a great score (I honestly can't believe people are saying it's just okay. I guess that means 9 is just good now).