EP 7: Splatoon (Wii U)
Pros:
Gameplay - The gameplay in Splatoon is fairly nontraditional in comparison to other games in the genre. Rather than your focus being to kill as many players as possible, you must cover the the ground with your ink and whichever team covers the most turf by the end of the match wins. It's simple, snappy and most of all, addicting. Each match is only 3 minutes, so each game is a whirlwind of activity and different scenarios, even when you play on the same map multiple times in a row with the same people. There is also Ranked Battle, which as of the time of this review, consists only of Splat Zones, which demands that your team capture a certain area of the map and maintain it for a certain period of time. This mode is very, very competitive and intense in comparison to Turf War, and it demands a high skill level. Oh yeah, and did I mention that you can turn into a squid? This works to your advantage, as you are less vulnerable in squid mode and can move faster through your own ink. Be careful though, walk in someone else's ink and you'll take damage as well as move significantly slower.
Campaign - Most shooters that I've played in recent years have a throwaway campaign that just feels very similar overall to the online. With Splatoon, that is far from the case. The single-player mode feels very much like a new-age 3D platformer with shooting elements, and in a way, it is a sort of spiritual successor to Super Mario Galaxy in the way the levels are structured. Each of the 27 levels is basically a mission in order to save the Zap Fish at the end. Some levels just have you traverse the terrain, others have you face battle with the Octarian menace, and others are more about stealth. There's a good variety here, and although some levels feel too similar to each other, they're short enough that it's not much of a bother. There are also 5 total boss battles in the game, including the final boss, and they're short, fun battles. With the exception of the final boss, which is a culmination of everything you learned in the game, and out of fear of spoiling the pinnacle of the campaign, I will only say this: it is the best final boss I've encountered in years.
Graphics - Splatoon is not a technical showcase for the Wii U's potential. It is, however, very bright, poppy and engaging in its visuals. The online maps burst with color as you shoot your ink against opponents, while the campaign has more of an elegant and polished appeal that, as I said before, harkens back to Super Mario Galaxy. Everything is very refined, polished and vivid in Splatoon, with the exception of occasional aliasing issues. The art style, while simple, is very 90s in tone. The vibes of Nickelodeon and Jet Set Radio are indeed real, and Splatoon feels like it would fit right in with the DreamCast era.
Music - It is not an exaggeration when I say that Splatoon may very well have my favorite OST of 2015. Its sound is unmistakably quirky, as well as varied. While the tracks of the online modes can get a bit repetitive at times, the campaign is where the game's soundtrack truly shines in its retro 90s glory. Or you could just wait in the lobby of the online and get a taste of the unique beats. Also, dat final boss music. And the credits. Gah, I need to move on now, this is getting to be too much.
Amiibo - Yes, Splatoon has its own amiibo line, which consists of the Inkling Girl, the Inkling Boy and an Inkling Squid. Each of them gives you missions based off of the single-player campaign, and completing them gives you rewards such as extra gear, weapons, additional 2D arcade games or in-game currency. The amiibo I picked up was the Inkling Boy, and my missions consisted of replaying the campaign levels with the roller weapon. In return I got all of the aforementioned rewards. The good thing about these rewards is that the stats of the gear and weapons aren't something you can't get just by playing the base game, so it's all a cosmetic thing. The arcade game is the only thing fully locked to the amiibo as far as I'm aware, and really, that's not a big deal.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Cons:
Online Issues - This isn't a significant problem that I've faced, however I do believe it is worth mentioning. At times in online matches, I ink the ground and it doesn't show up until 10-15 seconds later. It's happened several times out of the many, many matches I've played in, so I'm not too upset, but I do hope that Nintendo patches this in the future. There have also been rare instances of lag in Splat Zones, but again, it wasn't too common.
Content - As an online shooter, Splatoon needs more modes. Thankfully, the game will be updated throughout the summer to add in new modes, weapons and gear. Again, to me this isn't a huge issue. I've already logged in more than 40 hours in the game and I'm not even close to mastering the Ranked Battle mode. However, objectively Splatoon should have more in this area.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Verdict:
Shooters have been a genre that I've found myself avoiding in recent years. I just felt that they were stale and I couldn't bring myself to get into them again. With Splatoon, that fear has been dissolved. It's unlike anything I've played before, and despite the game lacking some content, I wouldn't trade this unique, quirky game for anything. Never before have I enjoyed being a kid and a squid simultaneously.
Graphics: 9/10
Control: 10/10
Sound: 9/10
Gameplay: 9/10
Content: 8/10
Overall: 9/10
