"Splatoon 3" Review: A Graffiti Extravaganza (Looking Forward to Nintendo Switch 2)
Table of Contents
6/8/2025
An in-depth review of "Splatoon 3," analyzing its gameplay, graphics, sound effects, and more, and looking ahead to its future performance on the Nintendo Switch 2 platform.
Hello everyone, I'm your old friend, a Nintendo Switch gamer and game critic with over ten years of experience. Today, we'll delve into "Splatoon 3," the shooting game that's sparked a graffiti craze on the Nintendo Switch platform. As the latest installment in the series, what innovations and surprises does it bring while inheriting the excellent genes of its predecessors? Let's explore together! At the same time, we'll also look ahead to how this game might perform on the future Nintendo Switch 2 platform.
1. "Splatoon 3": Return to the Squid World and Embark on a New Graffiti Journey
"Splatoon 3" is a third-person shooting game developed by Nintendo and is the latest work in the "Splatoon" series. The story is set in "Splatsville," a vibrant and chaotic city populated by seasoned Inklings and Octolings. Players will play as Inklings or Octolings, participating in thrilling turf wars, competing for territory, and experiencing the unique fun of ink-based shooting.
2. "Splatoon 3" Game Review: A Multi-Dimensional Analysis of Squid Ink Battles
2.1 Gameplay: Core Gameplay Evolves Deeply, Multiplayer Mode is Endlessly Fun
The core gameplay of "Splatoon 3" still revolves around "inking" the turf. Players need to use various weapons to cover as much of the stage as possible with their team's color, and the winner is determined by the amount of turf inked.
- Turf War: The classic 4v4 Turf War mode is simple to pick up but highly strategic. You need to constantly think about how to effectively cover the stage, while repelling enemies and protecting your teammates.
- Ranked Battles: Compared to Turf War, Ranked Battles focus more on teamwork and tactical coordination. It includes four modes: "Splat Zones," "Tower Control," "Clam Blitz," and "Rainmaker," each with unique rules and objectives.
- Salmon Run: A cooperative mode where players need to form a team to fight off waves of Salmonid invasions, collect Golden Eggs, and complete specific tasks. This mode is intense and exciting, and it tests players' teamwork and adaptability.
- New Mode: "Splatoon 3" adds a new mode called "Tricolor Turf War," which is similar to "Tetris 99," where players attack other players by inking turf, and the last player standing wins.
Pros:
- Diverse Weapon Selection: "Splatoon 3" has a rich arsenal of weapons, including shooters, rollers, brushes, snipers, and more, each with different characteristics and uses.
- Smooth Movement and Shooting Experience: The game's controls are smooth and easy to pick up, while also providing enough depth for players to continuously improve their skills.
- Strategic Gameplay: Inking is not just about simple coloring, but also requires considering terrain utilization, weapon combinations, and teamwork.
- Rich Multiplayer Modes: A variety of different multiplayer modes satisfy the needs of different players, whether they are casual or competitive, they can find their own fun.
Cons:
- Network Connection Issues: Due to server problems, unstable connections or disconnections occasionally occur, affecting the gaming experience.
- Matching Mechanism Needs Optimization: Sometimes there are matches with large differences in strength, leading to a poor gaming experience.
Data Support: According to player feedback and community discussions, the game's network connection issues are widespread. Nintendo needs to solve this problem as soon as possible to improve the player's gaming experience.
2.2 Graphics and Sound Effects: Vibrant Colors, Dynamic Music, A Visual and Auditory Feast
"Splatoon 3" has a very unique visual style, using vibrant cartoon rendering, full of vitality and creativity. The stage design of Splatsville is also very detailed, filled with graffiti and street culture elements.
The game's sound effects are also excellent. The background music is dynamic and exciting, complementing the rhythm of the turf wars, making players feel energized. The sound effects of the weapons are also unique, enhancing the game's sense of immersion.
Pros:
- Vibrant Cartoon Rendering Style: The graphics are fresh and bright, full of vitality, giving people a relaxed and joyful feeling.
- Detailed Stage Design: The stage design of Splatsville is full of details, with various graffiti and street culture elements, making players feel like they are in a real graffiti world.
- Dynamic Background Music: The music has a strong sense of rhythm, complementing the rhythm of the turf wars, making players feel energized.
Cons:
- Slightly Insufficient Screen Resolution: In TV mode, the screen resolution may be slightly insufficient, affecting the visual experience.
2.3 Story Mode: Single-Player Campaign, Explore the Secrets of the Squid World
"Splatoon 3's" story mode tells the story of Agent 3, played by the player, fighting against the new fish species "Salmonids" and the evil Octarian army. The story mode contains multiple levels, each with different challenges and puzzles that require players to use various weapons and skills to overcome.
Pros:
- Interesting Storyline: Although the storyline is simple, it is full of fun and suspense, making players want to explore it.
- Diverse Level Design: The level design is ingenious, containing various different challenges and puzzles, allowing players to fully experience the fun of the game.
- Rich Weapons and Skills: Players can use various different weapons and skills in the story mode to experience different ways of playing.
Cons:
- Short Story Mode: The story mode is relatively short and lacks depth.
2.4 Handling Feel: Easy to Pick Up, Depth to be Explored
The handling feel of "Splatoon 3" is very smooth and easy to pick up. Players can use the controller's joystick to control the character's movement, use the ZR button to shoot, and the ZL button to submerge in ink.
The game also provides a gyroscope aiming function, which can more accurately control the shooting direction. However, gyroscope aiming requires a certain amount of adaptation time, which may require some practice for novice players.
Pros:
- Smooth Operation, Easy to Get Started: Even novice players can quickly get started with the game.
- Gyroscope Aiming Function: Can more accurately control the shooting direction.
Cons:
- Gyroscope Aiming Requires Adaptation: For novice players, it may take some practice to master gyroscope aiming.
2.5 "Splatoon 3" Score: 8.5/10
"Splatoon 3" is a very excellent shooting game. It inherits the excellent genes of its predecessors and has evolved and innovated in all aspects. The game has colorful graphics, dynamic music, smooth operation, and rich and diverse gameplay. Whether you are a casual player or a competitive player, you can find your own fun in the game. Although there are some network connection problems and matching mechanism problems, these problems cannot hide the advantages of the game.
Authoritative Score Reference:
- IGN: 8/10 (IGN Splatoon 3 Review)
- Metacritic: 83/100 (Metacritic Splatoon 3)
Considering everything, I give "Splatoon 3" a score of 8.5/10. It is a masterpiece worth experiencing for all Nintendo Switch players.
3. "Splatoon 3" Beginner's Guide: The Path from Rookie to Expert
3.1 Basic Operations: Master Movement, Shooting, and Submerging
- Movement: Use the left joystick to control the character's movement.
- Shooting: Press the ZR button to shoot.
- Submerging: Press the ZL button to submerge in ink, which can hide your body, move quickly, and replenish ink.
- Jump: Press the B button to jump.
- Super Jump: Select a teammate or respawn point on the map and press the X button to super jump.
3.2 Weapon Selection: Find the Weapon That Suits You
"Splatoon 3" has a rich arsenal of weapons, each with different characteristics and uses. Novice players can first try using easy-to-use weapons such as shooters or rollers.
3.3 Inking Techniques: Cover the Stage, Gain the Upper Hand
- Prioritize Inking: At the beginning of the game, prioritizing inking can quickly increase your team's inked area and gain the upper hand.
- Use the Terrain: Use the terrain to dodge and attack, which can effectively protect yourself and repel enemies.
- Pay Attention to Ink: Always pay attention to your remaining ink, replenish ink in time, and avoid being attacked by enemies.
3.4 Teamwork: Cooperate with Teammates, Win the Victory
- Support Each Other: Supporting each other can effectively improve the team's survivability and combat effectiveness.
- Communicate: Communicate through in-game voice or text to better cooperate with teammates and formulate tactics.
- Reasonable Division of Labor: According to your own weapon characteristics and personal abilities, a reasonable division of labor can improve the overall efficiency of the team.
4. "Splatoon 3" Advanced Techniques and Strategies: Become a Graffiti Master
4.1 Weapon Matching: Build the Strongest Lineup
There is a relationship of mutual restraint between different weapons. Reasonable weapon matching can effectively improve the overall strength of the team. For example, you can choose a weapon that is good at inking and match it with a weapon that is good at killing enemies to form a complement.
4.2 Map Understanding: Familiar with the Terrain, Control the Battle
Familiarity with every corner of the map and understanding the characteristics of the terrain can help you better dodge, attack, and defend. For example, you can use high ground for ranged attacks, or use narrow passages for ambushes.
4.3 Special Skills: Use Flexibly, Turn the Tide
"Splatoon 3's" weapons are equipped with special skills, such as Ink Bombs, Tenta Missiles, and Ink Armor. Using these skills flexibly can turn the tide in key moments.
4.4 Consciousness Cultivation: Predict Movement, Control Rhythm
Having a good sense of awareness can predict the enemy's movement and control the rhythm of the battle. For example, you can predict the enemy's movement route in advance based on the characteristics of the enemy's weapons and movement habits, and ambush them.
5. The Future of "Splatoon 3" and Nintendo Switch 2: A Smoother, More Exquisite Graffiti World
As a game with colorful graphics and certain performance requirements, the performance of "Splatoon 3" on the Nintendo Switch 2 platform is worth looking forward to.
- Higher Resolution and Frame Rate: The Nintendo Switch 2 is expected to have more powerful performance, which will allow "Splatoon 3" to run at higher resolutions and frame rates, bringing a smoother and more exquisite visual experience. Imagine that at a higher resolution, the details of Splatsville will be clearer, and the colors of the graffiti will be more vivid.
- More Stable Network Connection: Hopefully, the Nintendo Switch 2 can improve network connections, reduce disconnections and lag, and improve the multiplayer mode gaming experience. nintendo switch2 price New hardware should bring better network performance.
- Faster Loading Speed: Faster storage speeds will shorten game loading times, allowing players to enter the game faster.
All in all, the arrival of the Nintendo Switch 2 will further enhance the gaming experience of "Splatoon 3," allowing players to immerse themselves more in this charming graffiti world.
Regarding the release date of the Nintendo Switch 2, it is expected to wait until April of next year. nintendo switch2 first look Let's look forward to the arrival of the Nintendo Switch 2 and the wonderful performance of "Splatoon 3" on the new platform!
6. Is "Splatoon 3" Worth Buying: Summary and Recommendations
"Splatoon 3" is a very worthwhile shooting game to buy. It has a unique game mechanism, exquisite graphics, dynamic music, and rich and diverse gameplay. Whether you are a casual player or a competitive player, you can find your own fun in the game.
If you are a fan of the "Splatoon" series, then "Splatoon 3" is definitely not to be missed. If you are a shooting game lover but are tired of traditional shooting games, then "Splatoon 3" will bring you a new experience.
Even if you have never been exposed to the "Splatoon" series, don't worry. The entry threshold of "Splatoon 3" is very low, and even novice players can quickly get started with the game.
Considering the price and content of the game, the price/performance ratio of "Splatoon 3" is very high. It can bring you hundreds of hours of happy time.
nintendo switch2 compatibility If you are worried about whether the future Nintendo Switch 2 is compatible with "Splatoon 3," the current news is that the Nintendo Switch 2 is expected to be backward compatible with Nintendo Switch games, so even if you buy "Splatoon 3," you don't have to worry about not being able to run it on the Nintendo Switch 2.
All in all, "Splatoon 3" is a Nintendo Switch game that is very worth buying.
Hope this review has been helpful to you! If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment in the comment section, and I will try my best to answer them. Happy gaming!
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