Splatoon Reviews
Splatoon is a lively, vibrant, clever game that turns the shooter genre on its ear, and in the early going it's a blast to play. But unless Nintendo can quickly adapt to the fluid nature of these sorts of games and ensure it remains fun for all types of players, it might not find the long-term audience it deserves. Like a beautiful coat of paint on a wall that wasn't properly primed, the cracks are already beginning to show.
Splatoon is an example of a game that actually suffers from the fact that it doesnt have enough to offer. Quite frankly, I adore the game, and the only frustration I get aside from bad lobbies, is the fact that I don't have MORE of it to play! Splatoon was incredibly fun to play, but overall felt like an incomplete game from its launch date. I would love to see Nintendo remedy the situation more with future content, and I won't discourage anyone from buying it either. Maybe wait until the game has some more to offer, but don't miss out on it. I still think it's a really fun game overall.
Fun and colourful shooter but needs more content
Splatoon is an inventive new IP, hampered by a lack of content and almost desperate need to appeal to kids despite having enough depth for all but the most hardened players.
Splatoon is a wonderful concept with fantastic core mechanics and Nintendo's usual genius when it comes to visuals, scene setting and presentation. It's incredibly close to becoming the Mario Kart of Shooters that some people seem to think it is. Yet without more maps, a less restrictive approach and more inventive game modes, it might not hold our interest for more than a few weeks. With this in mind, we're downgrading the score to 7 until Splatoon is more fully fleshed-out. More content should be on its way this summer, and we just hope that addresses our concerns.
A strong emphasis on its online mechanics means that most of Splatoon is to be experienced on a multiplayer basis, which would be at a higher level if all future options and contents were already available. Given the importance of cooperative online play and team work, it's also difficult to understand why there's no voice chat but despite this shortcoming, Splatoon has all conditions to become a must have classic, once all the contents are made available.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Splatoon is a novel title that is a blast to play. My biggest concern is longevity. With certain modes and features locked behind players reaching a certain level, I wonder how long its legs truly are. I want it to catch on, but with the paltry Wii U user base, and a quirky new IP at the helm, my fears are that no one will care about Splatoon in a month's time.
Nintendo's newest IP 'Splatoon' delivers a very unique take on the third-person shooter genre that's a ton of fun, but its primitive online may not be for everyone.
By turns brilliant and frustrating, a Nintendo classic and a missed opportunity.
Splatoon is a brilliant and unique shooter sorely lacking in maps and modes, and it desperately needs a refill.
I really like playing Splatoon online, and I'd love to give this game a higher score but I can't factor out the game's blemishes in its current form. You can't even perform basic actions like acquiring new weapons or outfits for your Inkling without being forced to go online, which is inconvenient if ever the servers are down. I really would have admired more modes for offline play, and I'm disappointed by a lack of content in the base game, but I am optimistic about future updates adding new content. But when Splatoon shines, it's a fantastic game. It's fun, it's competitive and above all, it's fresh.
I dove into Splatoon with high expectations and high hopes for the new Nintendo IP. But now, after playing over a hundred matches, I am torn between its pros and cons. For its merit, it has that simple, pure, fun factor that keeps me coming back, even after memorizing every nuance of each board. Yet with a sparse selection of maps, a single match type for each mode, and what feels like a dousing of turpentine on character customization and choice, in the end Splatoon feels like purchasing an expensive gallon of paint, only to crack open the lid and find just a quart of paint within. Nintendo promises to fill that can at no extra charge, but unfortunately that means day one purchasers will go home and start painting, only to feel like the job is half finished.
Many fans wanted Splatoon to be Nintendo's answer to Halo or Call of Duty, and I don't know if that is fair. If you are expecting that, Splatoon might not be the game for you. Splatoon is to shooters what Mario Kart was to racers: it emphasizes pick up and play fun. It's a fun and lighthearted game with some great mechanics and focus on elements of the shooting genre that have never been looked at the same way before. The world is alive with color and paint and is a treat for the eyes. While the initial amount of maps and modes may be deterring, the sheer fun of the game manages to outshine any strong negative feelings I had. It's not a perfect game, but it's fun: plain and simple.
Splatoon is a game that isn't afraid to get messy, and in this case, messy is absolutely a good thing.
An enjoyable experience, but it needs more content and some streamlined design
Splatoon is a vibrant, colourful and innovative competitive multiplayer shooter that's beautiful, addictive and undoubtedly fun - but a lack of maps and modes could hurts its lasting appeal.
"Colourful and constantly updating shooter."
Review in Finnish | Read full review
Splatoon blows third-person shooting wide open with its wildly unique mechanics and uninhibited sense of fun. Approachable for newcomers and enjoyable for old hands, it's an impressive Wii U exclusive, though we'll have to take Nintendo's promises of free DLC and updates on trust.
Nintendo have taken a risk with a new and original concept, particularly within a difficult market to crack. Effortlessly charming, compelling and a solid start to what may well become one of the company's regular franchises. There are niggles with the game's control and lack of offline content, but there is certainly plenty of potential for Splatoon going forward, particularly through download content. Whether a shooting fan or not, Splatoon offers a refreshing, intriguing multiplayer experience that deserves a go or two, or three, or four…
Splatoon offers little, and yet the melding of color, punk rock, and nostalgia create a winner.