Splatoon 3 Review!　First impressions by an experienced player of the series with introduction of new elements!

On September 9, 2022, "Splatoon 3" finally went on sale, and many of you may have been eagerly awaiting its release since its surprise announcement during the "Nintendo Direct" broadcast on February 18, 2021. This time, I would like to share with you my first impressions of "Splatoon 3" from the perspective of the author, who has played "Splatoon" series 1 and 2.

This time, the stage is set in the city of chaos, Bankara Street!　New items include new weapons, a new stage, and the big battle of Tricolor Battle!

Splatoon 3" is the latest title in the "Splatoon" action shooting game series, and is the first completely new title in 5 years since the release of the previous title "Splatoon 2," which sold a total of 13.48 million units worldwide as of the end of June 2022. Many gamers may have been excited whenever new information was released in the lead up to its release. I was one of them.

While the unique basic rules of the series, in which players paint each other with ink and compete to see how large an area they have covered, "Splatoon 3" has been greatly enhanced with new weapons, new stages, and various new elements and new gameplay. The stage for this title is the chaotic "Bankara Street. The atmosphere of this city is completely different from that of Haikara Square, the setting of Splatoon 2, with a unique atmosphere filled with a variety of marine life and buildings. Incidentally, this "City of Chaos, Bankara Town" was created as a result of the "Chaos" camp's victory in the "Chaos vs. Order" competition, the final event in the "Splatoon 2" online battle event "Fes.

Splatoon 3" is packed with many new elements, but let's start with the battle aspect.

The basic battle mode is "Navaribari Battle (Regular Match). In this mode, players are divided into teams of four and compete to see how much area they can cover in a three-minute time limit by shooting ink and painting the ground and walls. The main feature of this game is that victory depends not on how many opponents are defeated, but on how much area (Navari) is covered. These basic rules remain unchanged in "Splatoon 3" from previous titles in the series.

However, there are some changes from previous titles in the series, including the addition of new actions such as the "Squid Roll" and "Squid Nobori," as well as a new battle format in which battles start from a floating device called a "Spawner. It will be important for experienced players to quickly become familiar with these elements and make them their own.

As for the stages where battles take place, there are several new stages that have been added to "Splatoon 3. In addition to the "Yunohana Canyon," a sightseeing spot characterized by its strange rocks rising up like chimneys, and the "Yagara Market," a huge market located in a reclaimed area on the coast of the Bangkara region, there are five new stages that exist at the time of release: "Gonzui District," "Namelou Metal" and "Mategai Spillway. Each has completely different features and gimmicks, so the key to victory lies in knowing the terrain and structure of each stage. It is also a good idea to take a walk from the "Sanpo-Shotenjo" in Bankara Town to get a preview of the stage before the battle.

In addition to the stages from the previous title, there are also stages that return from the first "Splatoon" title. This is a nice feature for players who have been playing the series for a long time.

The "squid," or Inklings, use a wide variety of weapons to dominate the battles. Like the stages, there are a number of new items introduced in Splatoon 3.

The main weapon is the "Stringer," a long-range bow-shaped weapon that fires multiple ink blasts when the string is pulled and released, and the "Wiper," a short-range weapon with a sword-like style that sends ink blades flying with centrifugal force, which can be transformed into a powerful Tame slash when swung with enough force. The author has actually used it and found it to be very useful.

The author found that the stringer and the wiper have different strengths in range, but they are both somewhat peculiar, and are intended for intermediate to expert users. Both have new possibilities that have not been seen in conventional weapons, and their appearance and motion are quite cool, so we have a feeling that the number of players who use them will increase.

A new subweapon, the "line marker," a buki with a search function that can mark opponents, has been added, as well as a number of new special weapons. The "Energy Stand," which makes a refrigerator filled with drinks appear and gives various boosts to allies who take the drinks; the "Pop Sonar," which can be thrust into the ground to generate a wave around it, damaging opponents and marking its location; the "Shark Ride," which rushes forward on a shark-shaped vehicle and explodes when it stops to inflict damage on its surroundings; and the "Shark Ride" which can be used to ride a shark and then ride it to a halt. The "Shark Ride" weapon, which rides on a shark-shaped vehicle and explodes when it stops, damaging the surrounding area, and many other unique special weapons that have great potential to overturn the war. The key to victory will be to have a firm grasp of the characteristics of each special weapon, not only when using it yourself, but also to quickly take countermeasures when your opponent uses it.

Image from the official video

Gachimatch," the rank-based battles in previous titles in the series, have been renamed "Bankara Match" in this title. In this new game, players fight under different rules from the Navaribari battles in order to improve their "Udmae." As in the past, four types of rules are used: "Gachi Area," "Gachi Yagura," "Gachi Hoko Battle," and "Gachi Asari," which change with the time and are held in a rotating schedule.

There are two styles of BANKARA matches: "Challenge," in which only one person can participate but there is a chance to earn Udmae points all at once, and "Open," in which up to four players can participate but the increase or decrease in Udmae points is modest, so even during the same time period, the matches are held under different rules and stages. The same time period can be held under different rules and on different stages.

It should also be noted that in previous Gachimatch matches in the "Splatoon" series, the system was designed so that players' Udmae would drop if they kept losing, but in the BANKARA matches in "Splatoon 3," the system has been changed so that once a player's Udmae has been raised, it will not drop. However, it should be noted that the BANKARA Match is based on a three-month season system, and all players' Udmae will drop at the end of each season.

The limited-time "Fes" event, a staple of the Splatoon series, used to be a battle between two forces, but in "Splatoon 3," it has been changed to a three-way battle between three different forces.

Furthermore, in the latter half of the festival, the specifications were changed to a new "Trikara Battle" with new rules in which the three forces meet together. The first-place team, as the defending team, will defend the super signal in the center of the stage and aim to secure their territory, while the second- and third-place teams, as the attacking team, will try to take the super signal and prevent the defending team from winning the battle. The second and third place teams, as the attacking team, will try to prevent the defending team from winning by taking away the Super Signal. The second and third place teams, as the offensive teams, will work to prevent the defending team from winning by capturing Super Signals and delivering "Matoi," which spit out ink to expand the Naval Area, to advance in the battle.

The festival has never been held at the time of writing, but the author was able to experience the festival prior to its launch at the Splatoon 3 eve festival held on August 28 from 9:00 to 21:00. I actually participated in the eve festival as a member of the Choki camp, which came in first in the mid-term rankings, and experienced the "Trikara Battle." While defending my Super Signal from the enemy forces coming at me from both sides, I had to watch my timing and try to take away my opponent's Navalry. It was a battle experience that gave us an unprecedented sense of tension as well as solidarity with our friends. For those who were not in the Choki camp at the eve of the festival, we would like to invite you to the upcoming festival to experience the tension-filled battle for first place in the mid-term rankings.

*Image from "Splatoon 3: The eve of the festival

The series' familiar "Hero Mode" and "Salmon Run" are alive and well in this title!　Check out the many new elements that have been added!

As in the previous title, there are two modes other than battles: "Hero Mode" for one player and "Salmon Run" for cooperative mode. In this "Splatoon 3," Hero Mode has a completely new story and stages, and Salmon Run has new elements and new enemies. So let's start with "Hero Mode.

The hero of this "Hero Mode" is a young man in a bunkara town who earns his daily bread with his partner, KOJAKE, by searching for junk while enjoying Navaribari battles - in other words, you are the hero. One day, by chance, you are appointed as the third member of the "New Crow Tombi Unit," and you must confront the evil octopus army in order to recover the missing giant catfish, the source of energy for Bankara Town. This is the rough outline of the Hero Mode of this game.

The story is connected to the Hero Mode of the previous and second titles, but since it is complete in this title alone, newcomers to the series should have no problem playing it.

The Hero Mode features a stage-clearing action game style, in which the player must tackle numerous stages alone, defeating enemies and conquering gimmicks in order to reach the goal.

If you are new to the Splatoon series, this Hero Mode is a great way to learn the basic controls while following the story and getting to know the squid world. The author actually played the first part of the game and found that the game is designed to allow players to learn a number of actions that can be called the "basics of Splatoon," such as how to shoot ink and control the viewpoint, how to defeat enemies, and how to swim through the ink, in order as they play. Some newcomers to the series may be tempted to go headlong into the Navarari battles right from the start of the game, but putting aside that urge and playing through the first part of the Hero Mode to learn some basic actions will make a big difference in how smoothly you can enjoy the Navarari battles that follow. This will make a big difference in how smoothly and enjoyably you will be able to enjoy the subsequent Navarari battles.

One action unique to Hero Mode that is not found in battles is the action of throwing a "kojake," a sidekick. The kojaké can help you conquer stages with a variety of actions, such as activating gimmicks located far away, attacking enemies, or even acting as a decoy to attract the enemy's attention. While enjoying a fresh new experience that is different from the usual battles, we hope that you will also take note of the cute KOJAKE's patient efforts.

KOJAKE can be removed by eating "Keba-ink," which is a nuisance scattered throughout the field. The presence of kojaké is indispensable for exploring every inch of the field.

Another essential Splatoon mode is "Salmon Run.

Salmon Run, which was introduced in Splatoon 2, is a so-called PvE (Player vs. Enemy) style game in which teams of up to four players participate in order to collect and deliver golden salmon roe while defeating the oncoming salmon, with everyone trying to achieve a specified quota within a time limit. The basic rules have not changed from the previous title, so the exhilaration of four players sharing roles and working together to achieve a goal can be experienced in this title as well.

The first new element in this title is the addition of a new species of "Mono Shake," a powerful fish that can be defeated to obtain golden salmon roe. These new species include the "Tekkyu," which shoots cannonballs from a distance; the "Hashira," which sticks a giant hashira and sprays ink from a height; the "Diver," which dives into a round ring created on the ground; and the "Nabebuta," which releases a barrier from the air to protect the salmon on the ground. As with other giant salmon, there are different effective ways to defeat them, so be sure to get accustomed to them through actual combat while checking information in advance. Also, remember that players can use the objects left behind after defeating Tekkyu and Hashira, so if you make good use of them, you can efficiently collect golden salmon roe.

A further new element from this work is the appearance of the super-sized individual "okashira salmon".

This is the result of an increase in the Okashira Gauge, which is accumulated by clearing bites, and sometimes causes an intrusion at the end of Wave 3 of the bite.

In this extra wave, the goal changes from delivering golden salmon roe to defeating the okashira salmon, and the "Ikura Cannon," which shoots the golden salmon roe at the okashira salmon, can be used to inflict heavy damage. I experienced the extra wave and found the okashira salmon to be incomparably larger and more powerful than the other salmon, and with the addition of ordinary salmon and the omono salmon, it was a chaotic and exciting battle.

While defeating the giant salmon within the time limit seemed like a fairly high level of difficulty, the four-player challenge to defeat a huge boss is a new type of play that has never been seen before in the Splatoon series, let alone in Salmon Run, and is a fresh and exciting experience. Even if you don't defeat the boss, you will be motivated to do it the next time! This is a new and exciting experience. Even if you don't defeat a salmon, you will be motivated to keep going until the next time an Okashira Shakemon appears, and this is an element that I felt further enhances the addictiveness of the already highly addictive Salmon Run. You can also invite your friends to join you in the game, so it is a good idea to aim to defeat the okashira salmon with a group of friends who know each other well.

In addition to battles, the game is packed with new features and new ways to play!　Once you start playing, you'll never want to leave Bankara Town...!

Now, let's take a look at what's new in "Splatoon 3" outside of the various modes.

First is the "lobby. The lobby, which you will visit to start a battle, has a variety of facilities that you can access. The first thing to note is the trial shooting space attached to the lobby. This allows you to test-fire a weapon while waiting to be matched for a battle, as a shoulder exercise or to pass the time. In the previous two games, I had nothing to do while waiting to be matched, so the introduction of this test-firing space is a point that I would like to emphasize.

In addition, there is a "lobby terminal" that can be used to check your results or to use the memory player function to recreate some of your recent battles, as well as a friend's "I'm so cool! and "Bunshin," a friend who can join a friend's battle and send a "ikasu!" message, the lobby has many convenient functions.

Incidentally, the Kumasan Chamber of Commerce, where the Salmon Run is conducted, also has a test shooting space and a BUNSHIN function. This is another nice element for players.

Another major new element is the "catalog.

This can be obtained from the "Zakka shop" and is distributed free of charge, with the contents changing each season, which switches every three months. The "catalog level" is raised through battles and part-time jobs, and the player can obtain various items, such as special gear (equipment) that is only available in the catalog. This system is similar to the "Battle Pass" and "Season Pass" systems used in other games, and the author felt that it contributed greatly to increasing player motivation. The items can be used in the locker (to be described later) and the cards can be used in the Nawa Butler, so this system may be especially good for light or casual players who are not motivated by "hardcore" systems such as Rank or Udmae. This system may be especially good for light or casual players who are not motivated by "hard" systems such as Rank or Udmae.

The aforementioned "locker" is another new feature introduced in this title. This is an element that allows players to freely decorate their lockers with items and stickers obtained through purchases at the Zakka shop, which is also new to this title, as well as their own weapons and gear.

Saved lockers can be shared with other players, and players can also view lockers that other players have made public. In addition to cool customization, players can also create funny decorations that will make you chuckle, making this the perfect way to take a break from battles. The game offers great potential for the creation of a wide variety of "cool" creations, depending on the ingenuity of the players.

One of the elements that players can customize is the "nameplate. These are used not only during battles and part-time jobs, but also when they appear in the plaza. This nameplate can be customized freely by combining elements such as "plate," "two names," and "badge. All of these elements can be obtained by playing through the game, so you can show off your level of skill, or to put it a little more bluntly, your "Splatoon 3 love" to other players.

Another new element I'd like to introduce is the "Battle of the Battlefields Navabattler. The name sounds like a new rule or event for Navabaribat Battle, but it is actually a card battle game in which players collect cards and build a deck to fight. Each turn, the player selects a card from his or her hand, and then connects the cards to fill the board with a predetermined number of squares. The rules are simple and clear, but the puzzle-like fun of the game and the tactics of reading each other's thoughts make it a very deep and addictive game. The thoughtful and enjoyable Navabattler is the perfect mini-game for a change of pace when you are tired of the speedy and thrilling Navabari battles.

What I felt about these new elements was the quiet but strong will of the creators to "keep players in BANKARA TOWN. The presence of a trial shooting space prevents players from taking their hands off the controller and their eyes off the screen while waiting for a match, and the catalog and nameplate elements raise the fun factor of playing through the game and keep players on their toes.

The locker and Nawa Battler are also designed to allow players who are exhausted after a series of intense battles and defeats to refresh themselves in the city of Bankara with Splatoon 3 still running, rather than launching other games to take a break. By combining these new elements with the main content, such as battles, Hero Mode, and Salmon Run, I felt that Splatoon 3 is a game where you can't stop playing and keep playing.

Whether you have experience with the series or not, let's all take this opportunity to dive into the world of squid!

So, without further ado, here are my first impressions of "Splatoon 3," along with an introduction to the new features.

When I first heard about the release of "Splatoon 3," I honestly thought it was just an upgraded version of "Splatoon 2. I was thinking, "Why not just add an update to Splatoon 2 ......?" I had the feeling that it would be a good idea. However, after actually playing Splatoon 3, I changed my mind to a more positive attitude, saying that if the game has evolved so much, it should have been released as a new title. With plenty of elements that make the game easy to play and motivate you to keep playing, I can say without a doubt that "Splatoon 3" will be a game that will be enjoyed by people all over the world for many years to come.

If you have been curious about the Splatoon series but have yet to play it, we encourage you to dive into the world of squid with "Splatoon 3. While you may be put off by the thought that there are so many experienced and skilled players, there are probably just as many "first-time Splat players" as there are experienced and skilled players. As evidence of this, if you search for "first time playing Splat in my life" on social networking sites and video streaming sites, you will see many like-minded people who have jumped into the world of squid from this title.

Whether you are a fan of the series or a newcomer to the series, let's take this "cool" festival-like occasion of the Splatoon 3 launch to gather in Bankara Town and change the world!

• Title Information
• Splatoon 3" (Nintendo)
• Release date: September 9, 2022
• Price: Packaged version: 6,578 yen (tax included)
• Download version: 6,500 yen (including tax)
• #: (Japanese only)

Author: Nero Hyakkabe

Freelance writer who buys too many games. Currently have more than 300 games in my stack. Also a novelist. His works include "Yubisaki Kaidan: 140 Scary Stories" (PHP Kenkyujo) and "Goa-ken: Unrated Edition" (Kodansha).

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