Log in member
We've gone hands-on with the upcoming single-player-oriented take on the Splatoon formula, seeing how this refresh challenges and changes what we know and expect from Nintendo's popular modern series.
"When a group of journalists gathered the other day to play Splatoon Raiders on Nintendo Switch 2 for the first time, there was some confusion and a mixed bag of expectations.
What is this really about?
Can single player or co-op multiplayer maintain the trademark friendship of the mainline competitive experience?
And is the franchise's core mechanic strong enough to sustain a different kind of gameplay?
Well, I don't have full answers to all of that just yet."
"Those will come with full review, once we've explored the full map of the Spiralite Islands and played cooperatively, something that wasn't available during this first look.
But I do have a much clearer idea now.
And so far, Splatoon Raiders felt to me rather addictive."
"And welcoming, too.
Nintendo pitches it as perfect for newcomers, and it's good to see a Splatoon game where you can take your time and take it easy at first.
Even if, beneath that friendlier surface, it hides both twitch-based fancy moves and, as we discovered during a preview session, a surprising amount of depth."
"After all, it has been more than a decade and three main entries, and Splatoon's PvP has become more technical.
More hardcore, if you will.
So the 35-minute tutorial here actually helps."
"The premise of Splatoon Raiders is admittedly based on Splatoon 3's Salmon Run co-op mode, but expanded into something much bigger.
You're the mechanic, a heavily customizable Inkling joining the returning Deep Cat band.
Octoling Shiver, Inkling Fry, and Manta Ray Big Man."
"But instead of playing music, as the name literally implies, this is all about the raids.
Once you arrive at the newly surfaced archipelago and establish your headquarters at the hideout ship, you will upgrade your weapons, equip your latest gear, select your next destination on one of those islands, and go on a treasure hunt."
"The experience within the levels combines an interesting blend of systems and genres.
First and foremost, there are the well-known Splatoon mechanics.
You use the accurate motion controls to cover your surroundings with ink, shooting all around you, avoiding the water, and turning enemy ink into your own color so you can swiftly squid-swim through it."
"Then there is some added platforming, with hovering plants and a few other traversal ideas.
Other than surfing around on a board, we can't say yet if movement will evolve much, but for now, it's nothing too different from what you've seen in the previous games."
"You leak through grids, jump between crates, and move around in that familiar Splatoon way.
There's also an exploration side to your raids.
At first, it's pretty clear where to find the treasure chests, as your mechanical body, the exploration bot, marks them with easy-to-spot beacons."
"Shortly after, you'll need to dig more or tackle the different drilling spots in the right order.
And in between the platforming, the exploration, and the drilling, there is, of course, combat.
Raids in the first few missions were pretty standard, with waves of zombie-like Salmonids coming our way, giving us a chance to put everything to the test."
"Quick ink navigation, precise shooting, and above all, the weapons and gadgets equipped for the occasion.
And this is where Splatoon Raiders starts showing its full loop.
There are 100 weapon varieties, whether you prefer something faster, like a machine gun, or something that makes a bigger splash, like a shotgun, and you can level them up."
"Then you can buy gadgets with Spiralite Shards.
These are sub-weapons you attach to one of three tactical ink tank types, depending on your playstyle, power, tactics, or speed.
They allow you to equip specific attacks, such as a spinning wheel or an assist turret."
"Then you can upgrade the exploration board for additional actions by collecting red caviar from defeated Salmonids.
Then there are Salmonid Relics, one type of treasure you can equip in one of five unlockable slots to gain extra moves, such as a double jump."
"And if that still isn't enough, you can unleash your Deep Cat Companion's secret caviar field technique for more devastating power, as a special attack.
So see where we are going?
Besides the satisfying nature of the core mechanics, the Collect, Unlock, Equip loop is central here, and it will probably make or break the success of the full game."
"Although the similarities with previous Splatoon games are easy to draw, two other Nintendo titles came to mind while I was playing.
One was Masahiro Sakurai's Kid Icarus Upraising, or Kirby A Riders for that matter, because the whole hook relies on collecting more and better weapons, items and gadgets on the map, then using them to upgrade your gear even further."
"So far, that loop feels quite addictive.
The other comparison was Stranger, but it was Pikmin.
You are sent to a specific area to collect all the treasures, the clock is ticking and some destinations are layered like several level underground caves, where you have to defeat a number of enemies to proceed."
"And finally, even if my first impressions remain positive, because I did have fun, there was one thing I expected more from… the presentation.
I have always loved how Splatoon was created by a new generation of young Japanese artists and developers, establishing its own stylistic identity and spawning a cult following."
"And yes, customization will seemingly be amazing here, but with this being so focused on single player, I think it's a missed opportunity not to add voice acting for such quirky characters.
Besides, the environments look rough in long shots, while close-ups reveal low-resolution textures on both characters and ground surfaces."
"Perhaps it becomes more complex and pleasing to the eye after a while, but for now, only the ink itself and the characters, whether good guys or bad guys, fully convinced me visually.
However, gameplay is king here, and the very engaging, mechanically deep, treasure-hunting loop Splatoon Raiders offers could very well catch me and hook me for the whole summer and beyond."
"We'll see in a few weeks, as it releases already on July 23rd."
