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WiiU

North America

Splatoon E3 Hands-on Preview

by Jonathan Metts - June 10, 2014, 3:23 pm EDT
Total comments: 16

Has Nintendo created a new kind of online shooter?

Many competitive shooters are about controlling territory, either as a fundamental strategy or perhaps literally as control points are claimed and retaken by opposing teams. Splatoon takes the idea much further, as the game is all about painting the level with your squad's color of ink.

There's definitely still direct combat, but focusing too much on your opponents can be a distraction from the ultimate goal of painting the town red (orange, pink, green, etc.). Through multiple demos of the four-on-four setup in Nintendo's E3 booth, I got the feeling that balancing these priorities and understanding the current standings are critical for success. The Wii U GamePad is useful in this respect,as you always have an overview of which territories are painted, as well as your teammate's positions around the map. I especially like the ability to "super jump" to another player's position by tapping on the map -- this allows you to spawn at a safe area but still get halfway across the map without a long traverse.

However, traversal is a key part of Splatoon, and it's my favorite twist on the formula so far. Spraying ink all over the map has an immediate impact on your ability to get around the area, because your character can immediately transform into a squid that will speed along any surface painted with your color. Doing so allows you to move very quickly, even up walls and under fences that are otherwise major obstacles. Diving under also refills your ink, and it has yet another application in direct combat -- stealth. It's possible but very difficult to see an opposing player who is in squid mode, so that provides yet another motivation to alter the environment and limit your opponent's ability to move around undercover.

Splatoon plays very quickly, and the presentation is polished and smooth in this early demo. I found the ink mechanics really fun and interesting -- it's nice to see major innovation in this crowded genre, especially from Nintendo's internal developers. It's also cool to see them demo the game as a team-based, online experience. A game like this, with solid fundamentals in place, will live or die on its level designs and communication features. Considering the unusual modes of transportation and environmental interaction, a campaign mode with puzzle-style objectives could also be exciting. Splatoon is certainly one of the freshest ideas to come from Nintendo in quite a while, and I can't wait to see and play more of it.

Talkback

TrueNerdJune 10, 2014

OMG NEW IPPPPP

MythtendoJune 10, 2014

I was surprised by just how much I liked the trailer for Splatoon during the Nintendo Digital Event. I am pretty interested in the game, I just wish it was coming out sooner than 2015.

RazorkidJune 10, 2014

I am super hyped for this game! It gives me a Team Fortress 2/Zombie's Ate My Neighbors via Da Blob feel. I can't wait to play it.

marvel_moviefan_2012June 10, 2014

I am so hyped for this game, but I am also curious how Sony rips it off next year.

AdrockJune 10, 2014

Sony has never ripped off Nintendo. Ever.

marvel_moviefan_2012June 10, 2014

was that sarcasm? :@

AdrockJune 10, 2014

http://i.imgur.com/49XEb6G.jpg

broodwarsJune 10, 2014

This game looks pretty cool, though I'm concerned about its staying power considering the gameplay is pretty straightforward. Nintendo must also think we're pretty stupid, because they spent what felt like 10 minutes on a concept we probably all understood 2 minutes in.

Still, it's good to see Nintendo putting out a New IP, and in a genre they've gone out of their way to stay out of at that.  I just hope there's more to it than this 8 player quasi-team deathmatch.

marvel_moviefan_2012June 10, 2014

Quote from: Adrock

http://i.imgur.com/49XEb6G.jpg

I am not sure what that post was? Did you intentionally post a blank reply or am I missing something?

broodwarsJune 10, 2014

Quote from: marvel_moviefan_2012

Quote from: Adrock

http://i.imgur.com/49XEb6G.jpg

I am not sure what that post was? Did you intentionally post a blank reply or am I missing something?

Just google "facepalm" in terms of internet posting. It'll make sense eventually.

marvel_moviefan_2012June 10, 2014

Quote from: broodwars

Quote from: marvel_moviefan_2012

Quote from: Adrock

http://i.imgur.com/49XEb6G.jpg

I am not sure what that post was? Did you intentionally post a blank reply or am I missing something?

Just google "facepalm" in terms of internet posting. It'll make sense eventually.

All I see is a blank post, there is no image, text nothing so what am I missing?

marvel_moviefan_2012June 10, 2014

Quote from: marvel_moviefan_2012

Quote from: broodwars

Quote from: marvel_moviefan_2012

Quote from: Adrock

http://i.imgur.com/49XEb6G.jpg

I am not sure what that post was? Did you intentionally post a blank reply or am I missing something?

Just google "facepalm" in terms of internet posting. It'll make sense eventually.

All I see is a blank post, there is no image, text nothing so what am I missing?

Also I am pretty sure I used the wrong emoticon I suck at those, I wasn't going for angry face.

nickmitchJune 11, 2014

Who's trolling who now?

marvel_moviefan_2012June 11, 2014

Quote from: nickmitch

Who's trolling who now?

how am I trolling he posted a blank post there is nothing there, even when I quoted it I just got " " for a reply there was nothing to quote what am I missing?

marvel_moviefan_2012June 11, 2014

I figured it out, it was my ad blocker I turned it off to see if that did anything and it did. Weird because I do see most images but every once in a while something like this one gets blocked too.

nickmitchJune 11, 2014

I totally thought you were just messing with him. LOL

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WiiU

Game Profile

Splatoon Box Art

Genre Shooter
Developer Nintendo
Online1 - 8

Worldwide Releases

na: Splatoon
Release May 29, 2015
PublisherNintendo
RatingEveryone 10+
jpn: Splatoon
Release May 28, 2015
PublisherNintendo
RatingAll Ages
eu: Splatoon
Release May 29, 2015
PublisherNintendo
Rating7+
aus: Splatoon
Release May 30, 2015
PublisherNintendo
RatingParental Guidance
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