Splatoon 3 review: Polished as ever, but lacking in ambition

Over seven years ago, Nintendo did something very rare. Its developer has released an all-new IP with an original character cast. Splatoon It centers around a stylish teen who has the power to transform into a squid and blend in with the gooey, paint-filled terrain. What started out as a niche shooter has since become a staple of Nintendo’s catalog, developing a devoted fanbase along the way. But the big question remains: Where does Splatoon go from here? ?

come in splatoon 3It is the latest installment in the series to be released for Nintendo Switch on September 9th. From there, take in the clear skies as you step out onto the towering city of Splatsville. Neon signs hang overhead and unfairly adorn the store. As you walk around, you’re surrounded by subway train soundscapes and competing music from different vendors.This city splatoon 3is the hub for connecting activities such as competitive online play, solo campaigns, and gear shops.

From the start, the game leans into the self-awareness that there is pressure to do something new. “Oh, um, hello… have you done it once before?” Cap’n Cuttlefish, an old man with a bushy beard, says to me.humor is a bit On my nose, but before I could roll my eyes, the land gave way under my feet and I tumbled into Alterna, the arctic archipelago. Eventually my Octoling ended up in some kind of facility under the land itself. Journey to the center of the earthand it’s up to us to find our missing friend Cuttlefish, who has been kidnapped and stuck somewhere in this mysterious place.

To do so, you’ll need to collect Caviar-like Power Eggs in single-player missions. These eggs allow me to remove deadly fluff from the surface of the world, thereby revealing even more places to explore. It is the Ink Rail that allows you to cruise to the top of the Metal Factory Tower via streams of ink.

The “miscellaneous junk” motif can sometimes feel like an afterthought of aesthetic choice, but purging that fuzzy world to uncover intermittent secrets is nonetheless zen-like. It didn’t feel like a sad, barren, apocalyptic world. You can even collect pages of digital lore books that tell the history of Alterna. I’ll spare you the details, but as is often the case with post-apocalyptic fiction, the insouciant advances in human technology ended up not doing the world any good.

Image: Nintendo

Common conspiracy behind splatoon 3The larger world of is an especially welcome addition. Fill it with paint, move a smooth paint-filled slide, or fill an explosive paint balloon to use as a grenade.

what splatoon 3 No major changes, but slightly compensated for by quality of life tweaks. There is a multiplayer lobby where you can participate in shooting practice between rounds, and a locker that you can decorate with items such as oil barrels and stuffed animals. This seems like a small change, but it’s a huge improvement over the glorious loading screens of previous entries.

Image: Nintendo

My time on the multiplayer side was part of a limited-time trial for review purposes, but nevertheless, diving into Turf War immediately reminded me of the utter chaos of previous games. A few new weapons and specials have joined the fray, but returning to the midst of it feels like second nature The mechanics and gameplay felt exactly like the previous games, and my old strategies held up. Within half an hour, I found myself battling splattering ink and participating in a frenetic pace.

Coming back to Splatoon feels like returning to a big messy house. On the one hand, the developers have polished off some of the rough edges that have graced the series since the beginning. New weapons, courses, and more developed online features all contribute significantly to improving the overall experience. increase.

On the other hand, the game still feels like it’s in a stalemate. The series has had his second chance to evolve and remains an outstanding series for generations of Nintendo fans. But when I needed a leap, I just took baby steps. splatoon 3‘s script and characters suggest it has kept up with the times since it came out seven years ago. But its stagnant design pillars suggest otherwise. The result is a game that reaches the excitement of the original, but fails to fully grasp it.

splatoon 3 It will be released on Nintendo Switch on September 9th. This game was reviewed using a pre-release download code provided by Nintendo. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not affect editorial content, but Vox Media may earn commissions on products purchased via affiliate links.discoverable Additional information on Polygon’s Ethics Policy can be found here.