Released in the US on May 29th, 2015, Splatoon was a new IP from Nintendo that took a fresh look at the FPS genre. Players take control of Inklings which are human-like characters that can transform into squids at will. Using a variety of paint guns, players cover territory with ink and blast other players into inky oblivion. Players can then use this ink covered landscape to quickly traverse and scale walls in squid form. Dipping into pools of ink while in squid form also allows players to recharge their paint guns. The flow in which players are able attack and maneuver in this game feels so fluid and smooth. And the mechanics for achieving victory in multiplayer matches are equally refreshing and appreciated. The main multiplayer mode for regular matches is Turf Wars, in which the team with the most ink covered territory at the end of the timed match wins. This means players are constantly involved in matches, be it covering the turf with ink or pushing back again the enemy team. All players are capable of being productive team members. And a keen awareness of the map and play-by-play actions become crucial to swinging the tides of each and every match.
While Splatoon's main focus is the online multiplayer bouts, the game also features a fairly fun single player campaign. Similarly structured to the likes of the Mario Galaxy games, in which players embark on missions containing series of obstacles and platforming challenges to obtain the Zapfish at the end of each level. And for those willing to dig for it, the game also contains a surprisingly rich and dark backstory regarding this squid-filled world.
Many criticisms of this game at launch was that this game felt very bare-bones. There were only a handful of maps and the single campaign, though fun, was a relatively short affair. Nintendo addressed this by releasing free content, including maps, weapons, and modes all the way into January 2016. Additionally, there were the occasional Splatfests in which a controversial and often goofy question would be posed, such as Cats vs Dogs or Roller Coasters vs Water Slides. Players would then choose a team and rally together in matches to determine victory for the posed question. This steady release of events and content proved to create a lively community and continued interest with the game.
Now come July 21st, 2017, the sequel Splatoon 2 will be coming to the Nintendo Switch. And it looks to be expanding this solid foundation at the same steady pace. And looking at the upcoming ARMS, it looks like the same approach will be used. So a special thanks to the young developers that helped start this cultivation of new ideas and communal gameplay. Let's hope more games share these approaches and stay fresh!
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