Splatoon 2 Reviews
Like the first Splatoon, Nintendo's sequel to their smash hit isn't your average multiplayer online shooter.
We really, really like Splatoon 2 but we can't help but feel frustrated at all the poor design choices holding it back.
A few extra bells and whistles keeps Splatoon 2 relevant and fun on its new platform, but Nintendo plays it a little too safe for hardened Splatters.
Splatoon 2 comes with all of the original game's strengths and weaknesses. It remains incredibly fun and addictive to play, and newcomers especially will fall in love with it. But if you're like me, you will mourn that Splatoon 2 failed to heed its predecessor's advice to stay fresh.
Given how novel and interesting Splatoon felt during the time of its release, I can't help but view Splatoon 2 as the least innovative sequel to one of the most unique games we've seen in years. There's still plenty of fun to be had here, but just don't go in expecting anything that drastically refines or improves upon the Splatoon formula.
Unlike its unique predecessor, you largely know what you're getting into with this third person ink shooter sequel, but that's not a bad thing. Shortcomings aside, Splatoon 2 still just might be the best multiplayer experience on the Nintendo Switch so far.
Even though Splatoon 2 outdoes the first game in every technical sense, it still feels lesser simply because it's more of the same. What was captivatingly eccentric in 2015 feels safer now, its quirks predictable even though they're still impressive. Get lost in the speed and noise of one of its matches and it might not seem like any of these problems matter, but a slower, sober moment looking at Splatoon 2 as a whole makes it difficult to ignore.
"Splatoon 2" is entirely held together by its premise and gameplay. It's charming. It's different. It works and it's fun. But once a closer look is taken at the limitations of the different modes, an embarrassingly outdated set of online features and lack of onboard voice chat that those bright colors start to fade. "Splatoon 2" has the potential to be one of the best games of the year, but Nintendo needs to start taking notes on how modern game makers create an experience for a competitive scene.
Given that you're greeted by the squid DJ duo Marina and Pearl each time you hope into the game — who are instantly lovable the moment you meet them — it's easy to see why Splatoon made such a splash on the Wii U two years ago, and how Splatoon 2 might make a kid (or a squid) out of all of us on the Switch.
Right out of the gate Splatoon 2 feels a lot like the original game.
Despite Nintendo splatting themselves in the foot yet again, the Splatoon franchise remains fresh. Splatoon 2 succeeds in making a number of improvements while keeping everything we know and love when it comes to these odd Squid Kids.
"Polished return."
Review in Finnish | Read full review
Splatoon 2 is more Splatoon - which is not necessarily a bad thing as the sequel offers everything that made the first game great, and this time there's a meaty and really fun coop horde mode to accompany the PvP battles. It's just a shame that the online multiplayer suffers from a badly designed Nintendo Switch online system.
Review in German | Read full review
Nintendo managed to rebalance the game without having to make any changes to main weapons that would trip up veteran players of the first game. Stages are similarly tweaked, often a bit more close-quarters before. In service of one of my biggest letdowns from the first game, Splatoon 2‘s single-player mechanics even show up in some multiplayer maps.
Splatoon 2 offers a stellar single-player, a robust and addictive multiplayer and in Salmon Run, a horde-like mode that provides a great alternative to standard online matches. Splatoon 2 is funky, fresh and most importantly, fun.
Splatoon 2 presents itself as a classic sequel and misses the opportunity to add some changes to the gameplay and multiplayer that make an impact. The game is still a must-have for shooter fans on the Nintendo Switch, even when there's not enough new content for Splatoon Veterans.
Review in German | Read full review
Splatoon 2 is a great game that could have been amazing. If you have a Nintendo Switch and some friends willing to deal with some headaches, then this is a must-buy especially if you didn't dive in to the series before. But the baffling way modes and maps are gated off feels antithetical to a game on a console that prides itself on letting you play however you want. It's one heck of a catch, I just wish it didn't get tangled in its own net so much.
Those hankering for a wildly robust and addictive competitive experience should absolutely take a dip into the neon-drenched waters of Splatoon 2. More so than Mario Kart 8, it offers a level of customisation, depth, and sheer fun that is rarely found anywhere else.
Nintendo has taken one of the few genuine highlights that it enjoyed with the Wii U and successfully brought it to the Switch and, one suspects, a new audience to do with the old.