Splatoon 3

is a third-person shooter video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. Like its predecessors in the ''Splatoon'' series, the game consists of online multiplayer ( PvP and PvE) alongside a story-driven single-player mode.

The game was released on 9 September 2022 and received generally favorable reviews from critics. As of 30 September 2022, ''Splatoon 3'' has sold 7.90 million copies worldwide, making it the fastest selling game in the franchise and one of the best-selling Switch games.

Gameplay

Like its predecessors, ''Splatoon 3'' is a third-person shooter. Players choose to be either an " Inkling" or "Octoling" as their player character. Both wield weaponry that shoots colored ink. Weapons are diverse in ability and imagery, with most resembling household objects. For example, Rollers are large paint rollers that can cover large amounts of area in ink but are generally limited to close-range combat. At the same time, Chargers are sniper rifle-like weapons with a long range for sniping opponents but are less effective at painting the ground. ''Splatoon 3'' expands upon this by adding new main and special weapons to the game. Inklings and Octolings also have the ability to morph into a squid or octopus form respectively. This form is referred to as the "swim form", and can be used to climb ink-covered walls or swim through ink faster than the humanoid forms can walk. Weapons have a finite amount of ink ammunition, and submerging in ink via the swim form replenishes it quicker than in humanoid form. All basic weapons from the prior ''Splatoon'' games return in ''Splatoon 3''.

Modes

Competitive

Returning from its predecessor as a playable online multiplayer game mode is Regular Battle, known as Turf War. In Regular Battles, two teams of four players compete to cover the most amount of the map's area in their respective ink color. Each team can cover over an area covered by the opponents ink with their own color. The opposing team's ink slows movement, gradually deals damage and prevents the use of the player's swim form if the player is in the opponents ink. Each player is equipped with a weapon set, chosen before each match, and each set comes with additional secondary and special weapons in addition to its main weapon. Secondary weapons provide alternate forms of attacking the other team and inking the ground; for example, Splat Bombs that explode a second after contact with a surface and Burst Bombs that explode upon impact. When enough ground is covered in a player's ink, they may use a special weapon, which are primarily used to attack the opposing team. Weapons and other forms of attack can deal damage to opposing players; when enough damage is given, they will "splat" their opponent, forcing them to restart from their starting location. Matches last three minutes, and whichever team covers a higher percentage of the field at the end of the match is declared the winner.

Once a player gains enough experience points to reach level 10, or by transferring save data from ''Splatoon 2'', they gain access to a ranked mode called "Anarchy Battles", featuring several different battle types. Clam Blitz sees players collect golden clams and deposit them in the opponent's goals, with the team who deposited the most clams by the end of the match declared the winner. In Splat Zones, two teams aim to control "splat zones" for a set amount of time. The splat zones are considered "controlled" when they are 70% covered in a single team's ink. Similarly, Tower Control requires a team to control a moving tower. When the tower is controlled by one team, it moves toward that team's goal line, passing checkpoints along the way, with a team winning when the tower reaches their goal line. In Rainmaker, players attempt to carry the rainmaker item from the center of the map to a pedestal on the opponent's side of the map.

The game also features monthly "Splatfests", where players choose to join one of three teams (compared to two in the previous games) over a particular theme and over two days engage in matches to gain the most points for victory. In ''Splatoon 3'', a "Tricolor Turf War" can occur during the second half of a Splatfest, where the team currently in the lead plays a defensive role, in which they aim to prevent two players from each of the other teams from taking control of the Ultra Signal located at the center of the map.

Salmon Run

The co-op PvE mode Salmon Run also returns, titled "''Salmon Run Next Wave''". ''Salmon Run Next Wave'' follows the same basic gameplay as it does in ''Splatoon 2'', where the player, employed by Grizzco Industries, teams up with three other players to fight waves of enemies known as "Salmonids". The main goal is to collect Golden Eggs, obtained by splatting special enemies known as "Boss Salmonids", and carry them to a basket. Each "shift" typically lasts three waves, though, in ''Next Wave'', a fourth "Xtrawave" sometimes occurs, where players team up to fight a King Salmonid. By successfully meeting the quota of golden eggs for all waves in a shift, the player can increase their rank within Grizzco. ''Next Wave'' adds the ability to throw golden eggs along with new enemies and new "Known Occurrence" events. Salmon Run is also no longer limited to certain times of day; players are able to access Salmon Run 24/7, even during Splatfests. A new addition to ''Splatoon 3'' is "Big Run", an event where Salmonids invade the city of Splatsville. The salmonids will invade the online multiplayer stages and the community has to defend Splatsville. After a few days, the event ends and the players that participated will get a prize. This event is set to occur every few months.

Tableturf Battle

A new mode present in ''Splatoon 3'' is Tableturf Battle, a digital collectible card game in which players build a deck composed of collected trading cards. In Tableturf Battle, each card can be used to apply a pattern to a grid, and after a "special attack" is charged, it can be used to place a pattern that overwrites the opponent's patterns.

Setting

The ''Splatoon'' games take place on a version of Earth set far in the future after the extinction of humanity, where much of ocean life has evolved to live on land. ''Splatoon 3'' takes place five years after the events of ''Splatoon 2'' (specifically, the events of ''Splatoon 3'' actually take place parallel to the real world, similar to real time) in the Splatlands, a sun-scorched desert inhabited by battle-hardened Inklings and Octolings, and Splatsville, a city of chaos that seems to have developed rapidly since the last Splatfest, Chaos vs. Order. The main hub world of ''Splatoon 3'' is known as "Splatsville", nicknamed "the city of chaos", and is located in a different region from the previous two games' hub of "Inkopolis" known as "the Splatlands". The story mode of ''Splatoon 3'', titled ''Return of the Mammalians'', is set in a new location called "Alterna". It focuses on the reappearance of mammals, which have been long-extinct.

Plot

Upon following the elderly squid Craig Cuttlefish down a sewer, the player and their Smallfry friend, known as "Little Buddy", find themselves in a crater covered with a lethal, fuzzy ooze and must fight Octarians covered in fur; Smallfry is able to eat and destroy some of the ooze. Cuttlefish enlists the player as Agent 3 of the New Squidbeak Splatoon and tasks them with recovering the once-again-missing Great Zapfish, which powers Splatsville. As they travel down the crater, they attempt to contact Agents 1 and 2, Callie and Marie of the Squid Sisters, to pick them up. However, their conversation is wiretapped by Octarian leader DJ Octavio, who accuses Cuttlefish of taking his Octarian warriors and denies taking the Zapfish. After defeating DJ Octavio, the ground breaks open, sending Agent 3 and Smallfry falling into the remains of an underground city known as "Alterna", also covered with the fuzzy ooze and containing a massive rocket at the center. They meet Callie, Marie, and the Captain (the player protagonist of the first game and the original Agent 3), who ask them to explore the city and find Cuttlefish. Aided by an artificial intelligence called O.R.C.A, they explore the city, which the fuzzy Octarians have turned into a base. They are forced at times to fight the Splatlands idols, Deep Cut (composed of Frye, Shiver, and Big Man), who claim the city contains valuable treasure (which appears to be nothing but piles of junk) and want it for themselves. As Agent 3 explores, they discover that Cuttlefish has been captured by Grizzco CEO Mr. Grizz, who has also stolen the Zapfish and the Octarian army.

The New Squidbeak Splatoon deduces that Cuttlefish must be on the rocket and constructs a lawnmower using the treasures, which they use to cut the fuzzy ooze around the rocket. Deep Cut, who had been searching for the treasure to help out the citizens of Splatsville, are given the treasure without a fight as the New Squidbeak Splatoon no longer needs it. They form an alliance with the New Squidbeak Splatoon and become the Squid Sisters' employees. Agent 3 climbs the rocket, reaching a dehydrated and seemingly dead Cuttlefish and Mr. Grizz, who is revealed to be a massive bear and one of the only remaining mammals left. Grizz explains that, powered by the Great Zapfish and golden salmon eggs, the rocket is rigged to explode and cover the entire Earth in fuzzy ooze, reviving mammal life at the expense of all marine life. While Cuttlefish is revived in primitive squid form by the Captain's tears, Grizz launches the rocket, but Deep Cut provides Agent 3 a lift onto it with help from their tamed eels and shark. Agent 3 and Smallfry defeat Mr. Grizz, who attempts to crash into the planet as a last-ditch effort. However, DJ Octavio arrives in an upgraded mech and assists Agent 3 in vacuuming up the fuzzy ooze, while Smallfry, powered by a new rendition of the "heavenly melody" Calamari Inkantation, transforms into "Hugefry" and battles Mr. Grizz atop the rocket. Agent 3 ultimately defeats Grizz and destroys the rocket with a massive blast of Grizz's own fuzzy ooze, leaving him to come to terms with his defeat before the rocket explodes. Agent 3, Smallfry, and Octavio return to Earth with the Great Zapfish, and Deep Cut continues working with the Squid Sisters and premiers their latest single. During the credits, Grizz is shown to have survived and is seen floating in space.

Development

''Splatoon 3'' was developed by Nintendo EPD, with additional work done by Monolith Soft, who also assisted in the development of previous ''Splatoon'' games. The game makes use of NLPN, Nintendo's in-house server system, which supports expanded lobby features and better matchmaking.

At E3 2019, after the announcement of ''Splatoon 2'''s final Splatfest, "Chaos vs. Order", ''Splatoon'' producer Hisashi Nogami stated that a third entry in the series was not currently in development. In an "Ask the Developer" interview on Nintendo's website, it was revealed that the direction of ''Splatoon 3'''s world was decided after Team Chaos won ''Splatoon 2'''s final Splatfest, with the developers planning for both outcomes before the Splatfest winner was decided.

Marketing and release

''Splatoon 3'' was first announced with a teaser trailer in a Nintendo Direct on 17 February 2021. The trailer revealed new items, weapons, abilities, and a new apocalyptic design. More details were revealed later that year in September, including the name of ''Splatoon 3'' single-player mode, ''Return of the Mammalians''.

A trailer for ''Splatoon 3'' co-op mode "Salmon Run" premiered at a Nintendo Direct on 9 February 2022. On 22 April 2022, Nintendo uploaded a video to YouTube showing gameplay of the "Turf War" game mode, as well as providing an exact release date. Additionally, ''Splatoon 2'''s ''Octo Expansion'' was announced to be included with the Expansion Pack tier of Nintendo Switch Online. In July 2022, Nintendo announced a special edition Nintendo Switch OLED model themed on the game, with a release date of 26 August 2022. In addition, the company also announced a ''Splatoon 3''-themed Pro Controller and carrying case, which released alongside the game.

On 10 August 2022, Nintendo broadcast a ''Splatoon 3''-focused Nintendo Direct, revealing the date for the game's Splatfest World Premiere. Nintendo also announced that the game would have amiibo support, with several new figurines that can be used to take photos with the characters in-game and receive special gear items, similar to past ''Splatoon'' titles. It also introduced 3 new "idol" characters known Big Man, Shiver, and Frye, collectively referred to as "Deep Cut". On 25 August 2022, a Nintendo Treehouse Presentation was broadcast which showcased the single-player story mode, the multiplayer lobby, alongside weapons, and multiplayer maps.

The pre-launch Splatfest World Premiere event was held on 27 & 28 August 2022 with a rock-paper-scissors theme, with Team Rock being the winner in all regions.

The game was released worldwide on 9 September 2022. In a trailer on 11 October 2022, it was announced that the ''Splatoon 3'' amiibo would launch on November 11. Announced in the ''Splatoon 3'' Nintendo Direct, the game is set to receive both large-scale paid DLC and two years of support via free software updates.

During Nintendo Live 2022 on 9 October, a ''Splatoon 3'' concert was held starring Deep Cut.

Reception

Critical reception

''Splatoon 3'' received "generally favorable" reviews according to review aggregator Metacritic. ''IGN'' reviewer Brendan Graeber called ''3'''s multiplayer "more than just a simple upgrade", citing its additional maps, weapons, bosses, and customization, as well as its revamped lobby system. However, he criticized the game's lack of a "huge addition" similar to ''Splatoon 2'''s Salmon Run. Reviewing the game's single-player mode, he appreciated the new take on the series' hub world, as well as the returning ideas from ''Splatoon 2'''s ''Octo Expansion''. He praised the story mode's lore, as well as its characters, while lamenting the reuse of enemies from previous games. He also reviewed Tableturf Battle, calling it a "lackluster card game" that "consistently ends with a whimper instead of a bang".

''Destructoids Chris Carter praised how ''Return of the Mammalians'' interacted with the game's multiplayer modes, by both teaching the player important mechanics and rewarding them with useful items, as well as appreciating how the story mode was tailored for speedrunning.

Martin Robinson of ''Eurogamer'' criticized the lack of significant new content, saying that even the largest new additions are not something "that can be applauded too enthusiastically", and other features "basic nesyou'd expect of a contemporary online multiplayer game". However, he called the ''Splatoon'' series "one of the most polished, playable and impeccably executed series" from Nintendo. He also compared the game's story mode to the ''Mario'' franchise, saying that while it evoked some of the best parts of ''Super Mario Sunshine'', the abstract nature of the levels failed to meet the best ''Mario'' levels.

''Kotaku'''s Patricia Hernandez lamented the amount of disconnections while playing online, saying that it is "inexcusable".

Brian Shea of ''Game Informer'' praised the larger amount of content available at launch compares to previous entries in the series, as well as how the game blended new and returning content, calling it the series's "best entry to date". He also praised the game's movement, saying that "few games match the smooth, intuitive mobility Splatoon gives you while submerged and cruising through a map".

''Wired'''s Reid McCarter praised ''Splatoon 3'''s praised the game's original, cartoony characters rather than brand crossovers and realistic graphics.

Sinsogumi livestream incident

On 8 October 2022, reports emerged that the Japanese VTuber group Sinsogumi were broadcasting pornography by chroma keying ink in ''Splatoon 3'' in a competition to not be banned from YouTube. In response, Nintendo issued copyright strikes to the videos, and the channels were subsequently terminated, as well as reiterating their policy of the use of screenshots or videos of Nintendo games on their corporate Twitter account. Members of Sinsogumi later apologized, with the group's leader, Ikinone Tomeru, doing so in a dinosaur costume.

Sales

On 12 September 2022, Nintendo reported that ''Splatoon 3'' sold 3.45 million copies domestically within the first three days of launch, making it the second fastest-selling video game of all time in Japan (surpassing the previous record holder ''Pokémon Black and White''), as well as one of the best-selling games on the Nintendo Switch. Shares of Nintendo were noted to have increased by 5.5% on the Tuesday following the announcement, the largest increase since December 2020. ''Splatoon 3'' debuted at the top spot on the UK boxed charts, where it remained for three weeks until being pushed to second place by ''FIFA 23''. As of 18 October 2022, ''Splatoon 3'' was reported to be the highest-selling video game of 2022 in Japan, just over one month after its release.

Accolades

Notes

References

External links

*

{{Splatoon

Splatoon
Multiplayer and single-player video games
Nintendo Entertainment Planning & Development games
Nintendo games
Nintendo Switch games
Nintendo Switch-only games
Third-person shooters
Video games developed in Japan
Video games featuring protagonists of selectable gender
Video game sequels
2022 video games
Video games that use Amiibo figurines
Post-apocalyptic video games
The Game Awards winners