Splatoon

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For the game in a British gameshow, see SMTV Live.
Splatoon
2717093-spratoonbox.jpg
Packaging artwork released in all territories.
Developer(s) Nintendo EAD Group No. 2
Publisher(s) Nintendo
Director(s) Yusuke Amano
Tsubasa Sakaguchi
Producer(s) Hisashi Nogami
Programmer(s) Shintaro Sato[1][2]
Artist(s) Seita Inoue[3]
Composer(s) Toru Minegishi[3]
Shiho Fujii
Platform(s) Wii U
Release date(s) JP May 28, 2015[4]
EU May 29, 2015[5]
NA May 29, 2015[6]
AUS 20150530May 30, 2015
Genre(s) Third-person shooter, Platformer[7]
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Splatoon (Japanese: スプラトゥーン Hepburn: Supuratūn?) is a third-person shooter video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii U, released in Japan on May 28, 2015, in North America and Europe on May 29, 2015, and in Australia on May 30, 2015. The game centers around characters known as "Inklings"—beings that can transform between humanoid and squid forms, and hide or swim through colored ink sprayed on surfaces using gun or brush-based weaponry. Splatoon features several gamemodes, including 4-on-4 online multiplayer and a single player campaign.

Splatoon received positive reviews upon its unveiling and release, with critics praising Nintendo's decision to enter the genre with a new intellectual property, the game's overall style and presentation, gameplay mechanics, and its soundtrack. Criticism was directed at the exclusion of voice chat and private lobbies—features that are commonplace in the genre of multiplayer shooters, on-disc content locked using Amiibo, the small number of multiplayer maps, and issues with online matchmaking. Splatoon debuted to strong sales, debuting at number one and two respectively on sales charts in Japan and the United Kingdom; 144,000 copies were sold during its launch week in Japan, and the game was the fastest-selling new IP on the Wii U in the United Kingdom. As of June 2015, one million copies of the game have been sold worldwide.

Gameplay[edit]

In Splatoon, players control characters referred to as Inklings. Here, the player uses an Inkling in human form to shoot colored paint across the game environment.

Splatoon is primarily a team-based third-person shooter which is playable by up to eight players in online four-versus-four matches, although the game also features local one-versus-one multiplayer matches and a single player campaign. Players control characters called Inklings, who have the ability to shape-shift between humanoid and squid forms. In humanoid form, Inklings can shoot paint in their team's color, which can be used to cover the environment or "splat" opposing players or enemies. Transforming into a squid allows players to swim through paint of their own color, even up walls and through grates, hiding from the enemy and replenishing their paint supply in the process. Conversely, enemy paint is much slower to move across in humanoid form and cannot be swum through in squid form. Players can use their paint to try and "splatter" their opponents, which will send them back to their team's respawn point whilst also providing a large splat of paint. In all modes, players can use the Wii U GamePad to view a map of the surroundings and instantly launch towards the location of another teammate, as well as use optional gyroscopic controls to assist with aiming.[8][9]

Players go into battle wielding a primary weapon, such as a mid-range gun, a chargeable rifle, or a giant paint roller; a secondary weapon, such as bombs, paint walls, or disruptive grenades; and a temporary special weapon (including shields, paintstrikes, and enemy detectors) that can be activated after covering enough ground in paint to fill a special meter.[10] These weapons are sold in sets that can be purchased with money earned from battles, with more sets becoming available to the player as they gain experience. In addition, players can customize their character with headgear, clothes, and shoes from the neighboring shops, with more items becoming available as the player's level increases. Each item features a main stat increasing ability, such as faster respawn time or longer special duration, as well as additional abilities that can be unlocked by gaining experience in battles. When encountering other players in the plaza, players can choose to order an item another player is wearing and purchase it the next day from a backalley dealer for a higher price.[10]

The game also supports Splatoon series Amiibo, with each Amiibo type unlocking a set of missions which unlock extra equipment and a bonus minigame upon completion, which can be played on the Wii U GamePad while waiting in lobbies.[11] Players can also make posts to the game's Miiverse community, which appear in-game as graffiti.[12]

Multiplayer[edit]

Online multiplayer is split into regular and ranked game types. Each of these battle types goes through a rotation of two maps, which change every four hours. In ranked games, players gain or drop ranks based on consecutive wins and losses, ranging from C- to A+. Having a higher rank increases the amount of money and experience earned after wins.[11]

Regular matches use the "Turf Wars" game type, in which two teams must attempt to cover more of the map in their own color of paint before time runs out.[11] Ranked match rotations have used the following modes:

  • Splat Zones is a king of the hill-style mode where the teams try to control a designated area by keeping it covered in paint for a certain period of time. A team wins if they get their counter down to zero, or if they have the lowest time remaining on their counter when time runs out.[13][14][15]
  • In Tower Control, the objective is to capture and escort a floating tower located at the center of the map towards a target at the opponents' end of the map.[16]

Additional modes, along with new maps and weapons, will be introduced to the game as timed unlocks and updates.[17]

In Battle Dojo, the local multiplayer mode, two players compete to pop the most balloons, with one player using the Wii U GamePad and the other using the TV with a Wii U Pro Controller or Wii Classic Controller[9][18] or either controller in conjunction with a MotionPlus-enabled Wii Remote to recreate the GamePad's gyroscopic controls.[19]

Timed "Splatfest" events are also held in multiplayer play; players choose between one of two teams, and earn points towards a player rank and their team based on their performance. The winning team, decided by popularity and overall performance, earn "Super Sea Snail" items, which can be used to re-spec and add additional perks to equipment.[20]

Campaign[edit]

Octo Valley is the game's single player campaign in which players must rescue captured great Zapfish, Paintopolis's source of power, from evil Octarians. Players use a default weapon for this mode, which can be enhanced with upgrades or additional bombs by collecting Power Orbs littered across each stage. The goal of each level is to navigate through enemies and obstacles, including spongy platforms and paint-eating robots, in order to reach the Zapfish at the end. Each level also contains a hidden "sunken scroll", which reveal backstories and lore surrounding the setting of Splatoon. After clearing each level in an area, players face off against that area's boss in order to proceed to the next. Clearing each boss unlocks blueprints that can be exchanged at the weapons shop for more weapon options.[13][14]

Development[edit]

Splatoon was developed by Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development. In mid-2013, one member of the Animal Crossing development team, Shintaro Sato, created a four-versus-four paint-based territory control game set in a featureless arena.[21] After management approved making the prototype into a full game, the team started expanding its concepts, creating the ability to hide in ink,[22] and wanted to somehow incorporate squids.[23] After coming up with these ideas, the developers had trouble "filter[ing] it down" to a "simple, fun game." Shigeru Miyamoto told the team that there was "no appeal" to the game in that state. Afterwards, the developers added the ability to hide in ink and verticality to the maps, but it still felt unfocused.[23] The art director sketched different ideas for the player character, including animals, "macho men," robots, and Mario,[22] but the co-directors wanted to include a playable squid.[24] They also needed the character to be human in order to hold weaponry, but thought that a squid-human hybrid "wouldn't sell".[24] In January 2014, they realized they could make the player character switch between human and squid forms, which allowed them to come up with other ideas, such as swimming through ink or sustaining damage while maneuvering in enemy ink.[24] From the beginning, the GamePad could display a real-time overview of the map so the player could see which team was ahead.[2] The development team was determined to make interesting sound effects, so they repeatedly pounded slime to create the sound of a squid diving into ink.[1]

The team working on the game is composed of much younger members compared to other teams that work on Nintendo franchises. Game director Tsubasa Sakaguchi and producer Hisashi Nogami admitted that they, along with the rest of the team, play first person shooters and games on other companies' hardware (such as Call of Duty and Battlefield) as part of their job, and also because they love video games in general.[21] Splatoon was revealed in a trailer during Nintendo's E3 2014 Digital Event video presentation, and a demo of its multiplayer mode was playable on the show floor.[25][26] The game's single-player campaign, was furthered detailed in a later Nintendo Direct.[27]

Release[edit]

Prior to the game's release, a global playable demo called Splatoon Global Testfire took place on three one-hour blocks between May 8 and May 9, 2015 and one two-hour block on May 23, 2015.[28] On May 15, on the Santa Monica Pier in California, Nintendo held a special event called the Splatoon Mess Fest, featuring celebrities and an obstacle course inspired by the game. Fans could also play a demo of the game at the event.[29] In Japan, a collaboration with Masahiro Anbe's Squid Girl manga series was announced, which will include free in-game costumes to be released in August 2015.[30] Splatoon outfits are also featured in the Nintendo 3DS title, Girls Mode 3: Kirakira ☆ Code.[31] In Canada, Splatoon-themed frozen desserts will be produced at various Yogurty's locations from June to September.[32] Nintendo UK partnered with Adrenaline Alley skatepark to decorate it with decals and props based on the game and install several Wii U demo stations for the summer.[33] Nintendo of America and Nintendo UK held fan-art competitions on Miiverse and Twitter.[34][35]

In North American Best Buy stores, a 32 gigabyte Wii U with a Splatoon download voucher and Nintendo Land pre-installed was available when the game launched,[36] while a 32 gigabyte console and a physical copy of the game is available in Australia and New Zealand at launch and in Europe in mid-June.[37] Splatoon series Amiibo figures were released alongside the game, with Boy and Girl Inklings sold separately and a Squid figure sold exclusively as a bundle with either the game or the two other Amiibos. Players who pre-ordered the game at GameStop received a download voucher for Splatoon-themed Mii costumes for use in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.[38]

In the United Kingdom, a lorry containing a shipment of special edition copies of the game was hijacked in transit, resulting in GAME having to cancel all their special edition pre-orders.[39][40]

During the Splatoon Nintendo Direct on May 7, 2015, it was revealed that free post-launch downloadable content will be made available throughout the summer of 2015 that will add new gear, weapons, and stages to the game. Two new modes, Tower Control and Rainmaker, will also be added. In the official Prima guide for the game, some of the upcoming weapons were revealed, as well as four of the upcoming DLC stages: Bluefin Depot, Kelp Dome, Camp Triggerfish, and Port Mackerel. A planned update to be released in August 2015 will allow enhanced online options with friends, such as private 4-on-4 matches, as well as new maps and gear.

Reception[edit]

Critical reception[edit]

Reception
Aggregate scores
Aggregator Score
GameRankings 81%[41]
Metacritic 81/100[42]
Review scores
Publication Score
Destructoid 8.5/10[43]
GamesRadar 3.5/5 stars[44]
GameTrailers 8.4/10[45]
IGN 7.9/10[46]
NintendoLife 9/10 stars[47]

Splatoon was well-received when it was revealed. Many in the gaming press were surprised that Nintendo was creating a shooter IP and praised the new gameplay ideas that distinguished it from other titles in the genre.[1][8][21][26][48]

On release, Splatoon received positive reviews, receiving an aggregated score of 81% on GameRankings based on 55 reviews[41] and 81/100 on Metacritic based on 78 reviews.[42] GamesRadar gave the game 3.5/5 stars, praising the game's refreshing take on the shooter genre, while criticising some elements such as lobbies and Amiibo-locked content.[44] GameTrailers gave the game a score of 8.4/10, praising the game's mechanics and presentation, while lamenting that the game feels sparse at launch.[45] IGN scored the game 7.9, praising the gameplay but criticizing the current lack of content and absence of voice chat.[46] Some critics expressed displeasure over the fact that communication errors cause a loss of points in Ranked Battles. Destructoid gave the game a score of 8.5, arguing that its shortcomings "can be forgiven in my mind because of how damn fun it is."[43] Nintendo Life scored the game nine stars out of ten, considering Splatoon one of the "most fun" online games available because of the unique way each online match played out due to the ink mechanic, which also helped counteract potential boredom from the low number of maps playable at launch.[47]

Writing for The Guardian, Kate Gray praised the visual style of Splatoon for contrasting realistic shooter games such as the Call of Duty franchise with a "90s cartoon aesthetic", citing influence by games such as Jet Set Radio, Super Mario Sunshine, and de Blob, along with a catchy soundtrack. However, Gray noted shortcomings in the game, such as a lack of multiplayer maps making the game feel repetitive, matchmaking issues (such as inconsistent wait times between matches and team composition issues), as well as the lack of features such as voice chat and private lobbies, but defending the criticism by arguing that it was "[Nintendo's] first game in a long time that's really attempted to revitalize and reinvent a genre that often seems stagnant. This sort of daring creative venture will have its flaws, and if anything, we should be glad that it’s Nintendo taking the first step into new territory." Gray concluded by declaring Splatoon to be "a breath of fresh air—or more accurately 'splodge of fresh ink'—for those who like to shoot stuff, but have grown tired of the endless bloody churn of gritty, realistic shooters."[49]

Sales[edit]

Splatoon debuted at No. 2 in the UK software sales chart in the week it launched, only behind The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. It is the fifth fastest-selling Wii U game and the fastest-selling new intellectual property on the console in that country, beating the previous record set by Ubisoft's 2012 launch title ZombiU.[50] Splatoon also debuted at the top of the Japanese software sales chart, selling over 144,000 physical copies in its launch week, with over 400,000 sold after seven weeks on sale.[51][52] In the U.S., 165,000 combined physical and downloaded copies were sold in May, with another 290,000 sold in June.[53] As of June 2015, over one million copies of the game have been sold worldwide.[54]

Accolades[edit]

List of pre-release awards and nominations
Year Awards Category Result Ref.
2014 Destructoid's Best of E3 Best Nintendo Exclusive Nominated [55]
Best Shooter Nominated
Game Critics Awards Best of E3 2014 Best Online Multiplayer Nominated [56][57]
Best Original Game Nominated
Gamescom Award Best Console Game Wii U Nominated [58]

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External links[edit]
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