While Nintendo has a rich lineage in the realm of video games, the one genre it never broke into was competitive shooters. However, the company's first foray into the format with 2015's Splatoon was a critical success. It was isolated on the Wii U console though, so it was clear the series' commercial boom would come on Switch. Splatoon 2 sold well thanks to its engaging multiplayer, making it one of the hybrid system's must-play titles. With such an impressive predecessor, Splatoon 3 has a lot to live up to.
Set to release this summer, Splatoon 3 will be the second entry on Nintendo Switch. A single player component will be included as well as a handful of side activities, but the main draw for Splatoon has always been its competitive four-versus-four multiplayer matches. This offers dozens of hours of fun, as the objective isn't to best the enemy, but to cover as much of the area in ink as possible. It's a formula that works wonders, but Splatoon 2's online component does leave room for improvement.
Splatoon's Map Rotation is Frustrating
Unlike titles such as Call of Duty and Titanfall that find success because of their gameplay and traversal, Splatoon doesn't offer particularly innovative mechanics. It's a third-person shooter that incorporates light motion controls to help improve aim, but it's not anything significantly different from many others in the genre. Knowing this, it's clear Splatoon has to do more than just control well to be something special. Its innovative idea to not focus on PvP is at the forefront of its charm, but maps are almost as vital.
Because the aim of Splatoon's multiplayer is to cover more of the area than the other team, it's important to make the maps feel unique and fun to live in. Splatoon 2 achieves this, but with only two maps on offer every two hours, it likely means a whole play session will be reduced. The game features 23 maps, many of which should also appear in Splatoon 3, so not being able to experience more at any given time is typically frustrating. Using all the available maps and giving them to lobbies on a random basis would make matches feel fresh every time.
Nintendo's Voice Chat Functionality
By their nature, most online-centric games place socializing in high regard. Not only does chatting with teammates make each session more fun, it also often provides the opportunity for players to be strategic and carefully plan their method of attack. Splatoon 2 isn't an overly tactical experience, but the gameplay is so engaging that it's far better when conversing with friends. The original Splatoon didn't include voice chat due to "online negativity," so Splatoon 2 players having to look to other means like Discord isn't a surprise, it's just disappointing.
Online lobbies are often known for heated exchange between competitors. However, with the objective of Splatoon never requiring players to eliminate each other, it would likely result in a more wholesome community than what's seen in traditional competitive shooters. Games like Final Fantasy 14 prove that MMO servers can wield positive communities, and with Splatoon's uniquely friendly approach to competition it would be the less likely to suffer from an abusive fanbase. Improving the voice chat functionality would be a welcome change, making the experience feel all the more communal and further justifying the way people spend their time in the game.
Splatoon is a franchise that has all the most important components of something great. Its gameplay loop is solid, the art style is gorgeous, and there is a lot of content that does well to keep players coming back. Any improvements that Splatoon 3 makes will likely be minor, quality-of-life changes, as its predecessors did a lot right. In a stacked 2022 calendar for the Nintendo Switch, Splatoon 3 will uniquely emphasize online multiplayer. It has the opportunity to be one of the system's best releases, and Nintendo could make small, significant changes to ensure this is the case.
Splatoon 3 launches September 9, 2022 for Nintendo Switch.