Splatoon 3

Splatoon 3 is the third installment of the Splatoon series, it is the sequel to Splatoon 2, and it was released on the Nintendo Switch on September 9, 2022.

Splatoon 3

This game is the hottest and freshest spot that Inklings and Octolings they have ever seen.

Protagonist(s):	Agent 3 (Splatoon 3) Smallfry
Genre(s):	Third-person Shooter
Rating(s):	Japan: CERO A US: Rated E
Platform(s):	Nintendo Switch
Release Date:	September 9, 2022
Developer(s):	Nintendo EPD
Publisher(s):	Nintendo
Country:	Japan
Series:	Splatoon
Predecessor:	Splatoon 2
Successor:	Splatoon 4 (possibly)

Why It Inks Fast (In a Good Way)

While the first Splatoon takes place in Japan and Splatoon 2 takes place in New York, this game takes place in Las Vegas:
- Several elements focus on gambling-like gameplays like Shell-Out Machines, which can be used to claim prizes when using cash, Shell-Out tokens, or conch shells; and Arcade Tableturf Machines, while they look like actual Tableturf machines outside of lobbies, they look like casino machines.
- An inverted Fake Eiffel Tower seen in Splatlands is similar to one given in the Strip.
- Speaking of Splatlands, it is based on the Mojave Desert in the Southwestern United States, but without the vegetation.
  - Scorch Gorge and Crater also resemble Mojave Desert but the former has some elements from Red Rock Canyon in Nevada and the latter is based on Grand Canyon in Arizona.
- Splatsville is loosely based on the Strip, due to the city and desert connection. However, most of its appearance is inspired by Kowloon from Hong Kong.
- Alterna is based on Area 51 with the dome being based on the Sphere.
- Some stages take inspiration from Las Vegas like Barnacle and Dime resembling the real-life Fashion Show Mall.
Unlike other Splatoon games, it is region-free, meaning that players can buy a copy of it in any region without changing the language.
Return of Mammalians is a good story mode with some elements from its game predecessor's DLC story, Octo Expansion. Like using Power Eggs to start the level and using treasures to access the final stage.
- In addition, players can consume Power Eggs to clear fuzzy oozes by using their Smallfry.
- Not only players can find Sunken Scrolls, but also Alterna Logs when they finish the stage and introduce skill trees to make them stronger, alongside Smallfry.
- Players can even control DJ Octavio's Octobot King L3.Gs. so that he can vacuum the fuzzball on Mr. Grizz.
- An unexpected twist is that Mr. Grizz is not a statue, but rather a fat giant grizzly bear who wants to take over Earth by creating fuzzballs.
The game introduces Smallfry, the players' companion, to find hidden loot anchors, pop balloons when they are far to reach and make distractions to Mammalians.
It also introduces Deep Cut, the main performer and antagonist in Splatoon 3.
- Shiver is based on a Japanese dancer and Frye is based on a flute player in India.
- If players see Deep Cut as a group or solo, they can hear a Japanese dulcimer for Shiver, an Indian flute for Frye, and a stock horn sound effect for Big Man.
Agent 3 from the original Splatoon game was massively redeemed in this game. Although there is a plot hole regarding them, it is great to see them as the new captain of New Squidbeak Splatoon after Car'n Cuttlefish's retirement.
It also introduces new special weapons like Crab Tank, a slow but tough special weapon to shoot ink to opponents, Tacticooler, which can be used to buff any stats to defeat opponents or run dodge their inks to make them safe, and Splattercolor Screen, a wall that makes opponents blind with monochrome when touched.
Sheldon Licenses and Golden Sheldon Licenses are introduced in this game, which can be used to buy weapons in Ammo Knights.
- Sheldon Licenses can be unlocked when players' level increases, adds 1 star in their weapons' Freshness, or when the season ends.
  - Not only that, but also can be used to buy Shell-Out tokens in Shell-Out Machines, if players are interested in saving cash for outfits and decorations.
- Golden Sheldon Licenses are obtained during the save data of Splatoon 2, but they can be immediately bought as a weapon.
Hotlantis is a new feature for buying decorations to put them in the locker.
Tri-Stingers and Splatanas are good additions to the game.
- Tri-Stingers resemble bows and arrows to shoot arrows on walls to make them explode after contact.
- Spaltanas act the same as Splat Brushes, but they can change direction by creating talons, regardless of the firing.
Salmon Run introduces Big Runs, egg throws, and Boss Salmonids, which are great additions instead of putting eggs in the basket in the predecessor.
There are plenty of new modes and tweaks for some returning modes online:
- The most prominent feature is Tricolor Turf War, a successor of the original Turf War Splatfests in the first two Splatoon games, though it happens during the halftime.
- Spawners now appear midair rather than on land meaning that players can find opponents when defeated.
- Tableturf Card Battle is also a new addition to this and it requires cards to play to get rewards and rivals for Tableturf Battle Dojo.
- Recon Mode is now added outside of the lobby so that players can explore freely online, though players can add more if there is an online subscription.
- If players require the Expansion Pass, they can freely explore Inkopolis at any time, along with Inkopolis Square after beating Side Order once.
- It introduces Splashtags, Stickers, and Titles to customize them.
- Players can freely use emotes after winning the battle.
- Shel-Drones appear after exploring Alterna 100%, which means that players can obtain cash or items after paying 999 Power Eggs and they can obtain them in the Lobby Terminal, though it is pointless for offline players.
There are plenty of Easter Eggs involving the number "3" and its elements:
- Examples include, DJ Octavio's Octobot King L3.Gs., Tricolor Turf Ward, 333x battles, the level, Return of Mammalians featuring Mr. Grizz's original name, Bear#03, the time limit for the final boss having 3:33 minutes, After Alterna's entry fee having 333 Power Eggs, and the members of Deep Cut and C-SIde, having three of them.
Great graphics for a Nintendo Switch game.
Catchy music, especially Calamari Inkantation 3MIX, Wave Goodbye, and Anarchy Rainbow.
The new DLC story, Side Order, is a roguelite-type game in which players must ascend the Spire of Order in the Memverse to defeat Order itself.
- It features the return of Off the Hook and Agent 8 after being absent from the base game: Pearl can turn into a new drone form to assist Eight and Marina can hack the Memverse so that the player stands a fighting chance.
  - It also introduces Acht in person, as she was previously only seen in music pictures.
- Each floor has various Color Chips that can be placed into Palettes, which are unlocked by collecting keys and accessing lockers.

Bad Qualities

Sometimes, the game itself rehashes its predecessor due to having somewhat similar features, though it is still good.
Most of the content requires Nintendo Switch Online to access all modes, which is disappointing since Splatoon 2 has a few features offline to access shops.
Missed Opportunity: The arcade game is missing in Splatsville, meaning that players cannot play arcade games in this game.
Plot Holes:
- When the player in Splatlands finishes training, they ride the train to enter Splatsville without the ticket, despite in real life, people can ride the train with a ticket.
- How is Agent 3 from Splatoon promoted as a captain after Cap'n Cuttlefish retires?
  - While Agent 3 before this game has voices, it is never explained how they are silent in this game.
- What happened to Agent 4 after the events of the previous game?
- How does Mr. Grizz torment Cap'n Cuttlefish so that the latter becomes dried up?
- The entirety of DJ Octavio:
  - How does he escape in the snow globe at the end of Octo Canyon and build his Octobot King L3.Gs?
  - How does he survive falling into the gorge of the crater when the player (Agent 3) is knocked down by Mr. Grizz?
  - After defeating Mr. Grizz, his fate is never resolved once he and the player go to Splatsville.
While Tri-Stingers are a good addition, they are weaker since players have to be precise on the target.
While it is nice to see Off the Hook return in Side Order, the fact that they are locked behind DLC can be a turn-off.
- In addition, the boss fight against Marina uses the now-tired "ally is brainwashed to justify them as a boss" cliché.
There are some bad stages in Alterna, like Deadly Dance Hall - Jump, Jump!, One-Way Ride to Target Town, and most infamously, After Alterna.
- Similarly, sometimes the objectives in Side Order will most likely become frustrating due to enemies constantly swarming you.
- It is nearly impossible to get 100% in Side Order due to Jelletons swarming without stopping and for having the infamous danger conditions, as well as some infamous bonus conditions like "Don't move in Octoling form" or Don't swim".

Reception

Splatoon 3 received generally positive reviews, scoring 83/100 on Metacritic and 9/10 on Nintendo Life. Praise was directed at the new maps, single-player content, customization options, and mechanics, but criticism came to a lack of new content and matchmaking/disconnecting issues.

Trivia

The cracked part of the surface for the final logo of this game references the theme of chaos and taking place in desert regions, mainly Scorch Gorge and Splatlands.
Upon looking closely at the black background, there are packaging and luggage tapes scattered around there.

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