Splatoon
Show Your True Colors! Splatter enemies and claim your turf as the ink-spewing, squid-like characters called Inklings in Nintendo's new third-person action shooter game for the Wii U console. Challenge your friends in chaotic four-on-four matches, in which the goal is to get your ink on as many places as possible and claim your turf, all while strategically submerging yourself in your team's colors and blasting your enemies. This is a colorful and chaotic online third-person action shooter exclusively on Wii U.
Show Your True Colors! Splatter enemies and claim your turf as the ink-spewing, squid-like characters called Inklings in Nintendo's new third-person action shooter game for the Wii U console. Challenge your friends in chaotic four-on-four matches, in which the goal is to get your ink on as many places as possible and claim your turf, all while strategically submerging yourself in your team's colors and blasting your enemies. This is a colorful and chaotic online third-person action shooter exclusively on Wii U.
Show Your True Colors! Splatter enemies and claim your turf as the ink-spewing, squid-like characters called Inklings in Nintendo's new third-person action shooter game for the Wii U console. Challenge your friends in chaotic four-on-four matches, in which the goal is to get your ink on as many places as possible and claim your turf, all while strategically submerging yourself in your team's colors and blasting your enemies. This is a colorful and chaotic online third-person action shooter exclusively on Wii U.
Show Your True Colors! Splatter enemies and claim your turf as the ink-spewing, squid-like characters called Inklings in Nintendo's new third-person action shooter game for the Wii U console. Challenge your friends in chaotic four-on-four matches, in which the goal is to get your ink on as many places as possible and claim your turf, all while strategically submerging yourself in your team's colors and blasting your enemies. This is a colorful and chaotic online third-person action shooter exclusively on Wii U.
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The lowest price for Splatoon right now is $15.00 at eBay.com.au, compared across 2 retailers.
The all-time low was $5.67 on 31 May 2026 — today's price is 165% above the lowest ever. It has been notably cheaper before — worth setting a price alert.
Prices last updated 6 Sept 2026.
Last updated at 06/09/2026 22:47:02
Splatoon Nintendo Wii U Incomplete Pal In Good Condition 10183
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Nintendo Wii U Splatoon Game Software Japanese W/ Box Japan Used
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Splatoon
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originally posted on bestbuy.com
Splatoon in a shooter for the WiiU where you play as a squid-kid humanoid and use ink-based weapons to cover the ground. The game features an online mode where players compete to cover the most territory in a 4v4, and a single player campaign. The neat thing about this game, is that you transform between the kid and squid modes. As a kid you can use your ink to shoot territory your color, and in squid form, you can move through that ink much faster and replenish your ink supply.I'm writing this review 4 hours into the game (Level 6, first 6-7 weapons unlocked), and the online play is fantastic. The games are fast paced an strategic, which is something I feel the shooter genre has been lacking for awhile. The combination of being able to tilt the gamepad for slight ... MoreSplatoon in a shooter for the WiiU where you play as a squid-kid humanoid and use ink-based weapons to cover the ground. The game features an online mode where players compete to cover the most territory in a 4v4, and a single player campaign. The neat thing about this game, is that you transform between the kid and squid modes. As a kid you can use your ink to shoot territory your color, and in squid form, you can move through that ink much faster and replenish your ink supply.I'm writing this review 4 hours into the game (Level 6, first 6-7 weapons unlocked), and the online play is fantastic. The games are fast paced an strategic, which is something I feel the shooter genre has been lacking for awhile. The combination of being able to tilt the gamepad for slight camera changes alongside the right joystick to turn the entire pad makes for precise aiming; I've never seen anything quite like it. Overall there appears to be 20-ish different weapons, and I've enjoined every one I've tried out. There have been some people who have complained about lack of voice chat (The gamepad has a built in mic), but the game is simplistic enough with it's overall premise that this isn't necessary. There is a natural indication to work as a team when moving/defending that makes this point moot.The single player campaign focuses on a battle against the Octarians, who all look like a tentacle of an octopus. I've played the first 2 levels, and it's design reminds me of Super Mario Galaxy, in the sense that there are lots of floaty sections that you jump between. The enemy variety is lacking but I believe that is because I didn't play far enough (I didn't reach a boss yet, cannot write about that).The Amiibos focused around the game allow for a replaying of the campaign levels, but with a twist (Time Trial, or using a different weapon). These missions reward you with the game's currency and Amiibo -exclusive Items.The game's customization allows for headgear, an outfit, and shoes, which each come with abilities (Save ink, faster respawn times, less damage taken, etc). There is a lot of abilities and I have yet to fully experiment, but it looks like there is a lot of customization that you can do to try and find a set of abilities that works for you.Before I get to things I don't like, I want to reiterate that I have has a blast playing this game so far. However, I have run into a few minor things that i didn't like about the game:--Only online 5 maps (There will be more coming out in the future, see the Splatoon Nintendo Direct).--If you want to switch gear, you have to leave the online queue, switch, and then re-enter the queue.--Lack of starting weapons (You only have 1 option at the start of the game, but less than 30 minutes of gameplay changes that).I would give this game a 9/10 on launch, but I suspect that with the amount of free additional content planned (Again, look into the Splatoon Nintendo Direct from May for more information) this game would move up to a 10 in my mind. This review is a first impression, and I don't want to rate based on content that I have not personally seen.Overall Splatoon is a fantastic strategic shooter that focuses on territory over kills, and is a very colorful addition to a genre that is dominated by dull browns and greys.
originally posted on bestbuy.com
As a big first-person shooter fan (Halo, Call of Duty, Destiny, Gears of War, you name it) I was very curious to see what Nintendo did with the shooter concept in Splatoon. I'm happy to report that, while a bit light on content compared to the rest of the genre, Splatoon has a fun and addictive core mechanic that will certainly have you spending more time with it than you probably anticipated.The gameplay has you spraying paint in each level, trying to cover the highest percentage for your team's color. You dip into the ink as a squid and swim around to refill your ink meter. It's simple but a whole lot of fun, since you can spray ink paths up walls and then scale them with ease, adding a refreshing verticality to the typical shooter concept.The single-player ... MoreAs a big first-person shooter fan (Halo, Call of Duty, Destiny, Gears of War, you name it) I was very curious to see what Nintendo did with the shooter concept in Splatoon. I'm happy to report that, while a bit light on content compared to the rest of the genre, Splatoon has a fun and addictive core mechanic that will certainly have you spending more time with it than you probably anticipated.The gameplay has you spraying paint in each level, trying to cover the highest percentage for your team's color. You dip into the ink as a squid and swim around to refill your ink meter. It's simple but a whole lot of fun, since you can spray ink paths up walls and then scale them with ease, adding a refreshing verticality to the typical shooter concept.The single-player mode is more of a platformer, with a story loosely intertwined with levels that have you jumping around and splatting various enemies for rewards, such as weapons that you can use in multiplayer. It's a fun distraction from the multiplayer, and is worth a leisurely playthrough.But the multiplayer is where Splatoon really shines, and where most of your time will be spent. Your goal is to paint as much of each level as possible, while occasionally taking out other players. The goal is not so much to kill other players as it is to hamper their painting of the level. There are unranked and ranked modes and several different game types, with the recently-added Tower Control being among the highlights. There's also a straightforward "paint the hightest percentage of the level" mode as well as a zone control mode, in which you try to keep a zone painted your team's color for as long as you can. The list of modes and maps isn't huge (even after the August 2015 update), and it certainly pales in comparison to shooters like the CoD series, but matches are quick (3 minutes) so you never really get map or mode fatigue.There are all kinds of paint-themed weapons to choose from (a bucket, a giant paint roller, squirt guns, sniper rifles, etc.) and they can all be individually leveled up, and your character gains levels and experience as well (up to level 50 as of this writing). Gaining levels unlocks new weapons and gear (hats, shoes, shirts, etc.) for your character that in turn offer combat perks such as quicker ink refilling. Think a streamlined version of Call of Duty's weapon and gear level modes and you have Splatoon.The game isn't without flaws, however. No voice chat is disappointing, and you have to do silly stuff like drop out of your online lobby in order to change your weapon/gear loadout. You also can't skip any of the cutscenes at the beginning of the game that announce what the day's maps are, which quickly grows tiring. GamePad aiming also takes somes getting used to (but it's optional). Fortunately these gripes won't hamper your enjoyment of the title much at all, and maybe Nintendo will fix some of them down the line. They've certainly supported the title pretty well so far, with balance patches on top of the already-planned DLC.Overall Splatoon is a great choice for anybody looking for a shooter that's a little off the beaten path, or someone that wants a shooter that they can feel comfortable playing with younger children. Its gameplay is fun, simple, and addictive, and it's perfect for sitting down and turning your brain off for an hour. Highly recommended.
originally posted on bestbuy.com
A great premise and executed nicely, Splatoon is a must own for your Wii U. Seeing as the game system itself has struggled to have a library of games thus far and seeing as Nintendo keeps recycling games from past successes, this one's a breath of fresh air (sorta). Though the majority of their games rely on their Virtual Console choices you can repurchase from Nintendo's Wii U online store, core titles have been few and far in between. Splatoon has currently had a few updates adding more and more game modes it didn't ship with, kinda filling up an empty carcass to fatty the meat on it's bones... having said such, it still is worthy of a buy. It's kid friendly, cartoony violence take on the competitive multi-player genre has it's moments though also the opposite. ... MoreA great premise and executed nicely, Splatoon is a must own for your Wii U. Seeing as the game system itself has struggled to have a library of games thus far and seeing as Nintendo keeps recycling games from past successes, this one's a breath of fresh air (sorta). Though the majority of their games rely on their Virtual Console choices you can repurchase from Nintendo's Wii U online store, core titles have been few and far in between. Splatoon has currently had a few updates adding more and more game modes it didn't ship with, kinda filling up an empty carcass to fatty the meat on it's bones... having said such, it still is worthy of a buy. It's kid friendly, cartoony violence take on the competitive multi-player genre has it's moments though also the opposite. The controls take A LOT of getting used to, seeing as aiming the gamepad itself towards the TV is nauseating and it's camera work becomes on par with the Blair Witch Project's. Once you get it down though (patience being a virtue) the game clicks and can be a lot of fun. The pricetag is an embarrassing hit below the belt because in my humble opinion, if Nintendo wants to sell more games out of an almost empty library they may want to sell their exclusives on the cheap instead of $60 like most 2nd party titles tend to maintain. More fans will be tempted to try a game (albeit the system in general) if the price is underwelming. Nintendo games would do better if they were more market savvy and kept up with big dogs. Their portable systems always do better than their mainstream... so they may wanna ask that division questions on how they do so well.
Splatoon Nintendo Wii U Incomplete Pal In Good Condition 10183
Free delivery
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Nintendo Wii U Splatoon Game Software Japanese W/ Box Japan Used
Free delivery
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Splatoon
Delivery $11.36
Splatoon
Delivery $9.96
Splatoon
Delivery $12.85
Splatoon in a shooter for the WiiU where you play as a squid-kid humanoid and use ink-based weapons to cover the ground. The game features an online mode where players compete to cover the most territory in a 4v4, and a single player campaign. The neat thing about this game, is that you transform between the kid and squid modes. As a kid you can use your ink to shoot territory your color, and in squid form, you can move through that ink much faster and replenish your ink supply.I'm writing this review 4 hours into the game (Level 6, first 6-7 weapons unlocked), and the online play is fantastic. The games are fast paced an strategic, which is something I feel the shooter genre has been lacking for awhile. The combination of being able to tilt the gamepad for slight ... MoreSplatoon in a shooter for the WiiU where you play as a squid-kid humanoid and use ink-based weapons to cover the ground. The game features an online mode where players compete to cover the most territory in a 4v4, and a single player campaign. The neat thing about this game, is that you transform between the kid and squid modes. As a kid you can use your ink to shoot territory your color, and in squid form, you can move through that ink much faster and replenish your ink supply.I'm writing this review 4 hours into the game (Level 6, first 6-7 weapons unlocked), and the online play is fantastic. The games are fast paced an strategic, which is something I feel the shooter genre has been lacking for awhile. The combination of being able to tilt the gamepad for slight camera changes alongside the right joystick to turn the entire pad makes for precise aiming; I've never seen anything quite like it. Overall there appears to be 20-ish different weapons, and I've enjoined every one I've tried out. There have been some people who have complained about lack of voice chat (The gamepad has a built in mic), but the game is simplistic enough with it's overall premise that this isn't necessary. There is a natural indication to work as a team when moving/defending that makes this point moot.The single player campaign focuses on a battle against the Octarians, who all look like a tentacle of an octopus. I've played the first 2 levels, and it's design reminds me of Super Mario Galaxy, in the sense that there are lots of floaty sections that you jump between. The enemy variety is lacking but I believe that is because I didn't play far enough (I didn't reach a boss yet, cannot write about that).The Amiibos focused around the game allow for a replaying of the campaign levels, but with a twist (Time Trial, or using a different weapon). These missions reward you with the game's currency and Amiibo -exclusive Items.The game's customization allows for headgear, an outfit, and shoes, which each come with abilities (Save ink, faster respawn times, less damage taken, etc). There is a lot of abilities and I have yet to fully experiment, but it looks like there is a lot of customization that you can do to try and find a set of abilities that works for you.Before I get to things I don't like, I want to reiterate that I have has a blast playing this game so far. However, I have run into a few minor things that i didn't like about the game:--Only online 5 maps (There will be more coming out in the future, see the Splatoon Nintendo Direct).--If you want to switch gear, you have to leave the online queue, switch, and then re-enter the queue.--Lack of starting weapons (You only have 1 option at the start of the game, but less than 30 minutes of gameplay changes that).I would give this game a 9/10 on launch, but I suspect that with the amount of free additional content planned (Again, look into the Splatoon Nintendo Direct from May for more information) this game would move up to a 10 in my mind. This review is a first impression, and I don't want to rate based on content that I have not personally seen.Overall Splatoon is a fantastic strategic shooter that focuses on territory over kills, and is a very colorful addition to a genre that is dominated by dull browns and greys.
As a big first-person shooter fan (Halo, Call of Duty, Destiny, Gears of War, you name it) I was very curious to see what Nintendo did with the shooter concept in Splatoon. I'm happy to report that, while a bit light on content compared to the rest of the genre, Splatoon has a fun and addictive core mechanic that will certainly have you spending more time with it than you probably anticipated.The gameplay has you spraying paint in each level, trying to cover the highest percentage for your team's color. You dip into the ink as a squid and swim around to refill your ink meter. It's simple but a whole lot of fun, since you can spray ink paths up walls and then scale them with ease, adding a refreshing verticality to the typical shooter concept.The single-player ... MoreAs a big first-person shooter fan (Halo, Call of Duty, Destiny, Gears of War, you name it) I was very curious to see what Nintendo did with the shooter concept in Splatoon. I'm happy to report that, while a bit light on content compared to the rest of the genre, Splatoon has a fun and addictive core mechanic that will certainly have you spending more time with it than you probably anticipated.The gameplay has you spraying paint in each level, trying to cover the highest percentage for your team's color. You dip into the ink as a squid and swim around to refill your ink meter. It's simple but a whole lot of fun, since you can spray ink paths up walls and then scale them with ease, adding a refreshing verticality to the typical shooter concept.The single-player mode is more of a platformer, with a story loosely intertwined with levels that have you jumping around and splatting various enemies for rewards, such as weapons that you can use in multiplayer. It's a fun distraction from the multiplayer, and is worth a leisurely playthrough.But the multiplayer is where Splatoon really shines, and where most of your time will be spent. Your goal is to paint as much of each level as possible, while occasionally taking out other players. The goal is not so much to kill other players as it is to hamper their painting of the level. There are unranked and ranked modes and several different game types, with the recently-added Tower Control being among the highlights. There's also a straightforward "paint the hightest percentage of the level" mode as well as a zone control mode, in which you try to keep a zone painted your team's color for as long as you can. The list of modes and maps isn't huge (even after the August 2015 update), and it certainly pales in comparison to shooters like the CoD series, but matches are quick (3 minutes) so you never really get map or mode fatigue.There are all kinds of paint-themed weapons to choose from (a bucket, a giant paint roller, squirt guns, sniper rifles, etc.) and they can all be individually leveled up, and your character gains levels and experience as well (up to level 50 as of this writing). Gaining levels unlocks new weapons and gear (hats, shoes, shirts, etc.) for your character that in turn offer combat perks such as quicker ink refilling. Think a streamlined version of Call of Duty's weapon and gear level modes and you have Splatoon.The game isn't without flaws, however. No voice chat is disappointing, and you have to do silly stuff like drop out of your online lobby in order to change your weapon/gear loadout. You also can't skip any of the cutscenes at the beginning of the game that announce what the day's maps are, which quickly grows tiring. GamePad aiming also takes somes getting used to (but it's optional). Fortunately these gripes won't hamper your enjoyment of the title much at all, and maybe Nintendo will fix some of them down the line. They've certainly supported the title pretty well so far, with balance patches on top of the already-planned DLC.Overall Splatoon is a great choice for anybody looking for a shooter that's a little off the beaten path, or someone that wants a shooter that they can feel comfortable playing with younger children. Its gameplay is fun, simple, and addictive, and it's perfect for sitting down and turning your brain off for an hour. Highly recommended.
A great premise and executed nicely, Splatoon is a must own for your Wii U. Seeing as the game system itself has struggled to have a library of games thus far and seeing as Nintendo keeps recycling games from past successes, this one's a breath of fresh air (sorta). Though the majority of their games rely on their Virtual Console choices you can repurchase from Nintendo's Wii U online store, core titles have been few and far in between. Splatoon has currently had a few updates adding more and more game modes it didn't ship with, kinda filling up an empty carcass to fatty the meat on it's bones... having said such, it still is worthy of a buy. It's kid friendly, cartoony violence take on the competitive multi-player genre has it's moments though also the opposite. ... MoreA great premise and executed nicely, Splatoon is a must own for your Wii U. Seeing as the game system itself has struggled to have a library of games thus far and seeing as Nintendo keeps recycling games from past successes, this one's a breath of fresh air (sorta). Though the majority of their games rely on their Virtual Console choices you can repurchase from Nintendo's Wii U online store, core titles have been few and far in between. Splatoon has currently had a few updates adding more and more game modes it didn't ship with, kinda filling up an empty carcass to fatty the meat on it's bones... having said such, it still is worthy of a buy. It's kid friendly, cartoony violence take on the competitive multi-player genre has it's moments though also the opposite. The controls take A LOT of getting used to, seeing as aiming the gamepad itself towards the TV is nauseating and it's camera work becomes on par with the Blair Witch Project's. Once you get it down though (patience being a virtue) the game clicks and can be a lot of fun. The pricetag is an embarrassing hit below the belt because in my humble opinion, if Nintendo wants to sell more games out of an almost empty library they may want to sell their exclusives on the cheap instead of $60 like most 2nd party titles tend to maintain. More fans will be tempted to try a game (albeit the system in general) if the price is underwelming. Nintendo games would do better if they were more market savvy and kept up with big dogs. Their portable systems always do better than their mainstream... so they may wanna ask that division questions on how they do so well.
Don't worry if you've never played a shooter before, Splatoon is a game where even inexperienced players can contribute. It's full of a wide variety of weapons to try out, and a fair number of stages. The weapons are not just guns but also things like paint rollers, buckets, brushes, and more. The controls may take some getting used to, but they feel fine once you do.The online play is all team-based and is separated between regular Turf War and Ranked, the latter of which cycles between three different modes. In Turf, whoever has covered the arena with the most paint is the winner, so you don't necessarily need to be good at combat to help your team. In Ranked however, the modes have a more specific objective, and the competition can get rather fierce.If you're ... MoreDon't worry if you've never played a shooter before, Splatoon is a game where even inexperienced players can contribute. It's full of a wide variety of weapons to try out, and a fair number of stages. The weapons are not just guns but also things like paint rollers, buckets, brushes, and more. The controls may take some getting used to, but they feel fine once you do.The online play is all team-based and is separated between regular Turf War and Ranked, the latter of which cycles between three different modes. In Turf, whoever has covered the arena with the most paint is the winner, so you don't necessarily need to be good at combat to help your team. In Ranked however, the modes have a more specific objective, and the competition can get rather fierce.If you're not looking for online competition, the game doesn't have much to offer for offline single player. While there is a level-based single player mode, it can be completed in just a few hours. It does offer a few creative ideas and bosses though, so it's fun while it lasts.Overall, it's a fun and unique game that anyone with a Wii U should check out.
Splatoon is a real tour de force when it comes to introducing online multi-player battling to the WiiU. Nintendo have never been supportive of online battling for the hard-core gamer and so it is unlikely we would ever see the likes of COD on the WiiU. Where Nintendo do hold their own is in good 'clean' family fun and franchises with loveable characters; both markets will have something to gain from this game. Whilst the settings are beautiful and the characters are adorable, there is no compromise in the form of competition with currently two types of online battles for 8 players, 2 teams of 4, and a two player offline mode. Players run around battlegrounds aiming to either protect zones, claim the most 'turf' or pop balloons with a range of wacky and wonderful ... MoreSplatoon is a real tour de force when it comes to introducing online multi-player battling to the WiiU. Nintendo have never been supportive of online battling for the hard-core gamer and so it is unlikely we would ever see the likes of COD on the WiiU. Where Nintendo do hold their own is in good 'clean' family fun and franchises with loveable characters; both markets will have something to gain from this game. Whilst the settings are beautiful and the characters are adorable, there is no compromise in the form of competition with currently two types of online battles for 8 players, 2 teams of 4, and a two player offline mode. Players run around battlegrounds aiming to either protect zones, claim the most 'turf' or pop balloons with a range of wacky and wonderful weapons, all firing brightly coloured paint. That chararcters are loveable and it's not just the weapons that can be customised but also the clothing and accessories of that characters. If you need more ink, to hide or to move fast then your character can transform into a squid. The single player mode is innovative and is a great way of getting used to the control system. There are options of motion controls or stick for aiming and I suggest trying both to see which is more intuitive for you. Online there is ranked and regular battles with the option to join people from your friends list (much like in Mario Kart 8). Ranked battles are not available until you have had enough experience to reach level 10 but offer a harder gamer experience. As with Mario Kart, there is the future promise of further DLC which will include new maps, weapons and battle modes. Unlike Mario Kart which offered these as an, albeit cheap, upgrade, Splatoon offers these for free; there's a big download due in August 2015. The only criticism I can currently level against the game are that there is currently no way to communicate with friends during battles, unlike with some other games and consoles. It's unclear at the moment whether this is due to Nintendo's wish to keep the game family friendly, or if this is a feature that will be available for people on your friends list later on. All in all a thoroughly enjoyable and addictive game and with matches of 3 minutes each, something that you can hop in and out of. One warning though. This game is highly addictive and those 3 minute matches can add up...to hours!
Full disclosure: I work a lot and don't have time to get into major games like Skyrim or Fallout. I don't have the most patience for learning large worlds and building up characters over a long period of time. I like games that I can quickly pick up and play without having to learn all of the intricacies of strategy and control.That being said I picked up Splatoon at launch and had a lot of fun with it at the beginning. Each 3 minute round was a lot of fun, even though it seems like the last minute is all that matters. I didn't care too much for the main lobby and there isn't really a single player mode I had a lot of fun using the same weapon and going at it again and again for 3 minutes at a time. Then I sold the game.I figured at the time that it was ... MoreFull disclosure: I work a lot and don't have time to get into major games like Skyrim or Fallout. I don't have the most patience for learning large worlds and building up characters over a long period of time. I like games that I can quickly pick up and play without having to learn all of the intricacies of strategy and control.That being said I picked up Splatoon at launch and had a lot of fun with it at the beginning. Each 3 minute round was a lot of fun, even though it seems like the last minute is all that matters. I didn't care too much for the main lobby and there isn't really a single player mode I had a lot of fun using the same weapon and going at it again and again for 3 minutes at a time. Then I sold the game.I figured at the time that it was online-only and that the game wouldn't have much lasting value. Especially if the online server were to ever be shut down in the future. Plus Nintendo's waning support for the console was cause for concern. Yet for some reason I kept wanting to periodically pick it up for a quick round. So yes, I went out and rebought the game. I realized at that point that Nintendo games don't really go on sale, but you do get the value out of them in the long run. Even though the game is a bit pricey and repetitive it has proven its worth to me as a great way to blow off some steam and have fun.As for the game itself the controls are good, mechanics are well thought out, and the match-making is really good. I haven't experienced any issues with cheating or goofy camera angles or anything else that would deter one from playing the game. It is a well-polished, kind of goofy third person shooter that is suitable for kids and fun for adults as well. Definitely pick it up when you get a chance.
Lots of comparisons with third-person shooters and Splatoon out there but I think the similarities are skin-deep. Splatoon requires much different strategy than most TPS games (CoD, Battlefield, Halo, etc.).I bought this for my 7 year old son but we find ourselves taking turns in multiplayer more than anything -- it's VERY addicting. The gameplay is frantic because rounds are only three minutes. So far there are only two game types with more to come, but our favorite is the general multiplayer where your goal is to paint more of the arena than the opposing team. There are power-ups to help and equipment you can buy or earn to help boost your squid (your in-game persona) abilities.The game is an absolute blast to play and rounds are short so it's easy to forget ... MoreLots of comparisons with third-person shooters and Splatoon out there but I think the similarities are skin-deep. Splatoon requires much different strategy than most TPS games (CoD, Battlefield, Halo, etc.).I bought this for my 7 year old son but we find ourselves taking turns in multiplayer more than anything -- it's VERY addicting. The gameplay is frantic because rounds are only three minutes. So far there are only two game types with more to come, but our favorite is the general multiplayer where your goal is to paint more of the arena than the opposing team. There are power-ups to help and equipment you can buy or earn to help boost your squid (your in-game persona) abilities.The game is an absolute blast to play and rounds are short so it's easy to forget that last round where it was lopsided and your team was crushed.I'm rating the game 5 stars because it's just that good -- the gameplay is fresh, the graphics & sound are outstanding, and the single-player gives you several hours of fun (and rewards you upon completion). The setup, the style, the gameplay... they all are so typical "Nintendo" and that's a very good thing.That said, there are a couple things I'm hoping Nintendo changes. The news squids are funny but being forced to watch them periodically is annoying. And occasionally the game lobby seems to get "stuck" and you end up spending 2-3 minutes waiting for players or watching people drop out of the lobby, and you can't do ANYTHING while you're in the lobby -- not even leave!The last improvement I'm hoping for relates to the mechanics of changing equipment (paintgun, paint brush, headwear, etc.). I'd like to be able to change my equipment without losing the group of people I'm grouped with.Those downsides will be addressed, I'm sure. Don't wait: buy this one with confidence!
I'm a big gamer but not typically a fan of online shooters and the like. I like my stories and single player adventures most of the time and rarely play online. Even though Splatoon got excellent reviews, I held off because of this..Months later, I had some extra money and wanted to play more on my Wii U, so decided to pick it up.Hooooooly moly. SO FUN.I started with the short single-player mode to get my feet wet (no pun intended), and once I started, I could NOT put it down. I played through every level and unlocked all the blueprints for upgraded weapons (for online play), and I wanted MORE. I couldn't resist and hopped into online quick and ranked matches, and was immediately and absolutely hooked.The gameplay and premise sounds silly but it is ... MoreI'm a big gamer but not typically a fan of online shooters and the like. I like my stories and single player adventures most of the time and rarely play online. Even though Splatoon got excellent reviews, I held off because of this..Months later, I had some extra money and wanted to play more on my Wii U, so decided to pick it up.Hooooooly moly. SO FUN.I started with the short single-player mode to get my feet wet (no pun intended), and once I started, I could NOT put it down. I played through every level and unlocked all the blueprints for upgraded weapons (for online play), and I wanted MORE. I couldn't resist and hopped into online quick and ranked matches, and was immediately and absolutely hooked.The gameplay and premise sounds silly but it is INCREDIBLY fun. The balance of using the paint to not only go on offense but also for defense (by hiding, and to regain health and "ammo") works brilliantly, and since you can also swim through the paint, you can create pathways of sorts on walls and such and use it to flank your opponents or make yourself creative hiding spots in nooks and crannies around the stages. It gives you a lot of mobility throughout the very well designed levels, both to move around quickly but also to move vertically. If you see a surface, you can probably paint it and swim through/up/on it. The amount of creativity it gives you (for how you want to use it and to cater to your style) is more than I have ever seen in any kind of shooter. Get up close and personal, sit up high and rain paint down, sneak around your opponents, create a bottleneck, hang back and defend an area, rush in and disrupt the opponent's team, whatever. It all works.There is a good variety of weapons, and items/gear you obtain gets upgraded by experience gained while wearing it playing online, which unlocks perks for that gear. The amount of gear is extensive (styles, combinations of perks) and new items cycle in every day. Nintendo also introduces new items with fairly frequent updates. The "Plaza" (essentially a hub) will populate with random other players, and you can even approach them and have an NPC order gear of theirs that you like for you. Weapons vary in ways that seem minor at first but actually cater to very different styles of play, allowing you to experiment and see what works best for you. Weapons all fall into one of a handful of classes, and variations within those classes typically revolve around the combination of subweapons (a main subweapon and special), which again may seem subtle at first but actually can make a big difference in-game. Combining gear lets you get the perks you want to support your play strategy (and different gear/perks can complement your weapon of choice) while also allowing you to apply your own style to your character. Monthly Splatfests (where the entire userbase is split into two teams and compete for 24 hours) not only are a blast, but also reward you with special currency which lets you add perk slots to existing gear or reroll maxed out items.Splatoon Amiibo unlock bonus levels, which when beaten, in turn unlock exclusive gear for your character.Online matches are quick (3 minutes, not counting matchmaking and the quick flyover), battles are INTENSE, and everything, soup to nuts, is just a joy. You can even play mini-games on the gamepad while waiting for matchmaking (which is generally pretty fast). Graphics and performance-wise, it's a first party title from Nintendo, so as expected, graphics are vibrant and colorful (without being loud or obnoxious), music is great and fits the game perfectly, and everything runs silky smooth without a hitch. Gamepad usage is appropriate and non-intrusive, being used to "super jump" to teammates when respawning or to return to base, as well as being used to target some special weapons and to monitor what the paint distribution looks like at a given time (to plot your path to your next destination). Outside of matches, you can look at stats and navigate between different game areas (stores, stages, online, etc.). Everything's is just great.Wow. I can't gush about this game enough. Well done, Nintendo. Well done. If you have a Wii U (which you must, if you're reading this), buy this game. Now.The ONLY negative thing I can say about it is if you're like me, you'll find yourself playing at the end of your day, only to check the time and realize HOURS have blown by, leaving you accomplishing nothing you wanted to that evening and also convincing yourself that you'll be just fine at work/school the next day with 3-4 hours of sleep (or less) so you can squeeze in a few more matches. Stupidly fun, and dangerously addicting gameplay.If you can't tell, I can't recommend this game enough for any Wii U owner. Do yourself a favor and jump in.
To say this isn't the average shooter would be an understatement. The game circles around a story mode and an online mode, the latter of which is more important for the game in general. Characters are more interested in being "fresh" than saving a princess or a kingdom or a galaxy. All in all, it's a bit of a strange title, especially coming from the Big N, but it highlights the fact that Nintendo can- and will- create new stuff. The characters are in their own way very endearing, dialogue is amusing, the gameplay is solid, and the graphics are excellent (I might even say gorgeous). My only major complaints are that the story quest is disappointingly short, although there are bonus items in each level for the completionist to come back and that if you like taking ... MoreTo say this isn't the average shooter would be an understatement. The game circles around a story mode and an online mode, the latter of which is more important for the game in general. Characters are more interested in being "fresh" than saving a princess or a kingdom or a galaxy. All in all, it's a bit of a strange title, especially coming from the Big N, but it highlights the fact that Nintendo can- and will- create new stuff. The characters are in their own way very endearing, dialogue is amusing, the gameplay is solid, and the graphics are excellent (I might even say gorgeous). My only major complaints are that the story quest is disappointingly short, although there are bonus items in each level for the completionist to come back and that if you like taking other people on in battle you need to stick with the online games. Local multiplayer is very limited. If Nintendo ever shuts down the servers for this game without patching in a game-changing update, Splatoon will one day be borderline useless software, and that is a liability for long term players. But that possibility seems years away, and for the time being, I'd recommend Splatoon to anyone who wants to try something new, or wants a shooter game without gratuitous violence, swearing, and innocence ruining kiddie gamers. The main objective is to join your team and cover the playing field in your color using a wide variety of weapons ranging from the obvious to the practically and delightfully ridiculous. It's hard to explain, so try before you buy and see how it fits you. I wasn't disappointed, and I look forward to the next game in Nintendo's newest IP. Stay fresh!
No doubt you've seen mixed reviews about the value of a game like Splatoon on a Nintendo platform. It's a different genre for them (an online-focused multiplayer "shooter"), a new IP, and like other games of this nature that have been released on other platforms (at least initially), it's lacking modes/features.Like most Nintendo games, it's incredibly polished with refined mechanics. Controls are simple, made even more simple with the motion control of the GamePad, and while there is a slight learning curve, after an hour or so with the game new players should feel competent enough to be competitive online. You level up and unlock new weapons with each level, and every day you can purchase new items for your head/body/feet, with each item also having different ... MoreNo doubt you've seen mixed reviews about the value of a game like Splatoon on a Nintendo platform. It's a different genre for them (an online-focused multiplayer "shooter"), a new IP, and like other games of this nature that have been released on other platforms (at least initially), it's lacking modes/features.Like most Nintendo games, it's incredibly polished with refined mechanics. Controls are simple, made even more simple with the motion control of the GamePad, and while there is a slight learning curve, after an hour or so with the game new players should feel competent enough to be competitive online. You level up and unlock new weapons with each level, and every day you can purchase new items for your head/body/feet, with each item also having different perks and leveling capabilities. New players level up quickly, and even though it can be tempting to use currency earned through playing on all of the weapons, the starting weapon is surprisingly well-balanced for any player. Unfortunately, there is no off TV play with this game, and that's one of the bigger disappointments for me.Online itself is a mixed bag. There's no voice chat, an oversight many will lament. It hasn't impacted me, but I can see why others are bothered by it. Most of the matches are smooth and lag-free, but there are times with lag creeps up, and over the first week or so, I have been disconnected from matches (as I would gather so have others with whom I am playing). This hasn't been a huge deal, and it happens with other online games as well, but why it matters is that all games are 4v4. In other words, if someone is disconnected from your team, 25% of your team is gone. On the plus side, even though you will most always lose these matches when they're 4v3, the matches (so far) are all only 3 minutes long.Currently, there are only two modes. Unranked and Ranked Turf Wars, with the goal being to cover as much horizontal ground in ink as you can in unranked, and control a certain section of the map over a period of time in ranked. Additionally, there are only six maps, with only two in play in both modes at any given time (with the maps being swapped around every 4 hours). This is kind of limiting, but it does help the players get used to the different maps, which I believe is the end goal of limiting the map pool.If you can break away from the frantic and fun online multiplayer, the single player campaign is a mix of platforming/shooting enemies, and offers a hopeful insight to future maps/content updates that are scheduled to roll out over the course of the summer.Despite any shortcomings the game has, Nintendo has shown a willingness to adjust and refine their titles even months after the initial release. As Splatoon is in the infancy of its lifespan (hopefully), many of the issues listed may eventually be patched out in the future.Whatever reservations I have about the state of the game at the moment, one thing is for certain: it's undeniably fun.
