Splatoon 3 Review – Multicolored Mayhem

Splatoon has been an innovative, vibrant series that debuted in 2015. It was limited by launch content and disappointed time limitations for some modes. While post-launch content greatly bolstered both games to this point, I’ve always been disappointed by how little was initially on offer. Now on its third entry, the series may feel a bit less fresh, but Splatoon 3 remedies the series’ long-standing launch content woes while retaining all the fun that made the series such a success.

Stepping back into the stylish shoes of your custom Inkling feels great; splattering your brightly colored ink looks, feels, and sounds satisfyingly messy, particularly when you’re splatting an enemy. Splatoon’s fluid, effortless mobility allows you to glide through maps while being submerged. Splatoon 3 offers more gameplay modes than ever before, but the core gameplay principles remain unchanged regardless of what version you choose.

Splatoon’s competitive multiplayer, where two opposing teams battle to cover the map (and each other) with their color ink, is the destination for most, and that is where the added content feels most impactful. Although maps still rotate on a schedule, the pool of content that they draw from is deeper than in previous launches. The 12 Turf War Maps, which include both new and old stages, almost match the total launch of the two first games.

Splatoon 3 brings back weapons from previous games and introduces fun new arsenal items like the multi-target bow that can explode once fully charged, as well as the Splatana which will make you feel like an ink-slinging Ninja. Splatoon 3 also offers high-skill players new tools such as Squid Surge which is a wall-climbing burst and Squid Roll that allows for swimming on the fly. Squid Surge is less valuable unless you’re climbing a tall wall, but Squid Roll, with its ability to chain together multiple moves in rapid succession, can alter the outcome of nearly any encounter if used effectively.

Much like previous games, the frantic pace of these three-minute matches makes them ideal for bite-sized gaming sessions while also appealing to those who fall into a “just one more match” mindset. Ink-splashing is a thrilling race for more than one team’s ink. The music amps up in the final minutes. The adrenaline rush is amplified by the new Splatfests which include three different teams. The experience is largely unchanged. However, the Tricolor Turf Wars where four players are required to defend their center position against two teams of two will shake things up. These intense matches require new strategies for everyone involved since the groups converge from opposite sides of the map.

The series’ competitive multiplayer is its main feature, but the two other modes of play are equally important. Splatoon 3’s Salmon Run evolves the exciting wave-based cooperative PvE multiplayer experience by adding more bosses (all of whom require unique strategies to defeat) and the ability to throw the eggs you retrieve from them into the goal basket. The excitement of working together to eliminate minions and get enough eggs to move on to the next round is never ending. This mode has one major advantage: it no longer needs to be restricted by time.

This iteration also continues the series’ tradition of providing enjoyable single-player missions that take advantage of the various mechanics of the franchise. Splatoon 3’s single-player Hero mode is a great way to familiarize yourself with the game’s controls, strategies, and weapons, but it’s far more than a glamorized tutorial. The story is inconsequential, but thanks to various gimmicks introduced at a rapid clip and puzzles involving your new companion, Smallfry, Hero mode’s levels present largely satisfying explorations of how the developers can stretch the core gameplay in surprising and exciting ways.

One mission where I sprinted on rails, while taking part in a rapid-paced shooting gallery was my favourite. The other where I had to navigate through an enemy-filled maze that ended with a twist at the conclusion was one I enjoyed. Although I enjoyed Hero Mode almost every moment of it, I did have some issues with certain missions. Some missions were more frustrating than enjoyable, while others reminded me too much of Splatoon 2’s missions. Although they are a mix of good and bad, the boss battles were a favorite part of previous games. The few that are successful, however, are the most memorable in the series’ history.

Splatoon 3 doesn’t reinvent the wheel, nor does it need to. It improves almost every aspect of the franchise, sometimes in small but significant ways. With an already-robust set of content available at launch and at least two years of free and premium content on the horizon, Splatoon 3 is simultaneously the series’ best entry to date and its most promising.