Splatoon 2 Review

Not known for their online multiplayer prowess, Splatoon on the Wii U showed that Nintendo, while not having the most fantastic infrastructure, knew what made competitive team-based multiplayer fun in the first place. Splatting coloured ink all over the map (and your opponents) in an effort to cover the most territory is ingenious when you think about it, and with Nintendo Switch still in its first year, there’s no better time to revisit the franchise than with Splatoon 2.

The maps rotate every two hours across the main modes of play, which is just long enough for you to get used to them but changes with a frequency that keeps the game interesting. I put hundreds of hours into the first Splatoon, and I have to say that the maps themselves feel more memorable this time around, well set out with choke-points, bottle-necks, competitive hot zones and plenty of different levels of verticality to allow for tactics.

Weapons are varied, with many making their return and a couple of new ones for good measure. The Splat Dualies are a pair of pistols which allow you to roll and dodge out of harm’s way, but I often did resort to my previous favourite the Splat Roller, which works incredibly well at close range (the shotgun equivalent in this world, always my go-to in multiplayer shooters). You can also change your outfit to acquire abilities like being able to swim faster through ink, use less ammo and so on.

Some of these are randomised as you level up your gear, but everything is useful, even if it’s not the exact result you were hoping for. Nice touches like being able to order gear that you’ve seen on other players in-game or by stocking up on abilities through one of the stores to be used later means players who want the perfect combination can work towards that goal; at a price, of course. This form of progression for players looking to make a mark in Ranked Battles and League Battles is a very welcome addition, sure to separate the Ink-novices from the Ink-masters.

(It’s worth noting that I haven’t been able to experience much of the modes within Ranked, Tower Control and Rainmaker, as the game hasn’t been populated enough yet to try it out during my time reviewing it).

Salmon Run is the new game mode on everyone’s mind, and it’s a big success. It is Splatoon 2’s version of horde mode, and it’s fully fleshed out with wave after wave of enemies, golden eggs to collect, bosses with well-guarded weak-spots and plenty of challenges for a team of four players. It’s no pushover, requiring teamwork and communication from your squad to conquer it effectively. Weapons are randomised, always keeping you on your toes, and the conditions on the battlefield shift differently with each game, so it never gets old. I loved the variety and it provides a nice point of difference from Turf Wars.

Strangely, it’s only available online at certain times during special events, unless you’re playing it via local co-op. To put such a successful game mode behind a “limited time” wall like this is odd, although reminiscent of the rotating events you might find in something like Overwatch.

Splatoon 2 is colourful and vibrant on the Nintendo Switch, with a lot more detail having been invested this time around. Everything looks bolder and brighter, still emphasized by the audacious soundtrack that pumps through during matches and thumps in the background in the game’s hub. With the tongue-in-cheek characters all repeating how important it is for you to stay fresh, it’s easy to get swept up in the quirky fun vibe. Pearl and Marina are also worth pointing out as the most iconic hosts ever. They’re sarcastic, silly and just the right level of sass that keep me chuckling whenever they are on screen.

Online functionality is ultimately where Nintendo stumbles again. The Nintendo Switch app is supposed to make things easier but ultimately doesn’t simplify things any more than using a third-party app to talk to your friends. I do like the access to statistics and information on Splatfests that’s available in my pocket, but with no way to communicate with friends properly through the Switch itself, it’s convoluted at best. I’m hoping this gets rectified with future updates, because the concept of the app is fine; it’s just not there yet.

Decisions like these frustrate, taking away from what is otherwise such a well thought-out gameplay experience. I will say that Splatoon on Wii U was supported constantly over its lifetime with a lot of free additional content, which bodes well. And with no other real multiplayer shooter alternatives at this point on the Switch, it’s likely that this sequel will stay populated for quite some time.