Splatoon Reviews

Splatoon is ranked in the 86th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
GameSpot
Top Critic
8 / 10
Jun 1, 2015

Splatoon is surprising because it bucks trends that have held back shooters for years, opening the genre up to all comers, casual and hardcore alike.

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Bit Cultures
Brenna Verner
81%
Aug 10, 2015

All in all, Splatoon is extremely creative, inventive, and just plain fun.

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82 / 100
May 26, 2015

Splatoon, then, makes me optimistic about what games can do not with pastiche or duplication-as-serialization, but with sampling. We don't have a genre convention to slot Splatoon into, and that's a rare and wonderful thing.

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8.2 / 10.0
May 26, 2015

"Splatoon" is everything you could want out of a new Nintendo IP. It somehow manages to be both cute and cool. It freshens a well-traveled genre with a neat game mechanic. The only thing holding it back could be Nintendo: the Wii U Gamepad's battery life is weak, the online battle modes are presently limited by a rotation system that takes choice away from players and the overall amount of content is lacking outside of the weapons and gear customization. If the company supports "Splatoon" as they say they will, though, we could very well be talking about these Inklings for a long, long time.

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83 / 100
May 26, 2015

Splatoon is clever, creative, and fun. The multiplayer is a fun twist on the team-based shooter. However, the single-player campaign is surprisingly the best thing in the game. It offers the kind of quality level design you'd expect from a Mario title, but with a healthy dose of shooter mechanics.

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8.4 / 10.0
May 26, 2015

Splatoon is a great game that may be outstanding in a few months' time. If Nintendo delivers in a big way with the planned free updates, it could absolutely be a must-have for the system. As it stands, Splatoon is a mechanically solid shooter set in a delightful world, but just doesn't have enough to it to truly make it exceptional.

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8.5 / 10.0
May 27, 2015

All good fun. Nothing really to complain about. There are some downfalls with lack of levels. On the other hand, the variations in weapons along with new levels coming keep Splatoon with its fresh, new take.

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Geeks Under Grace
Cooper D Barham
8.5 / 10.0
Jun 14, 2015

It's never been so fun being a squid! Grant that squid some ink-flinging artillery with a serving of friendly competition, and you'll find something rarely discovered on the video game scene: a paradigm-altering shooter where your main goal is not to kill, but to conquer. Splatoon is standing proof Nintendo still holds a deck of aces.

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8.5 / 10.0
Jun 15, 2015

Is it perfect? Not quite, but none of the flaws matter when you're 15 matches in and the promise of doing something productive with your night is all but forgotten.

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8.5 / 10.0
May 27, 2015

If this is Nintendo's idea of what a multiplayer shooter should be, then I'm not about to argue with them.

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8.5 / 10.0
May 28, 2015

Splatoon has a huge amount of potential wrapped in an addictively bizarre visual style. That said both the solo and multiplayer aspects are relatively simple and have a lot of room to grow with DLC and updates. Hopefully Splatoon will get better with age but for now its inky competitive action should keep you busy for a month or two.

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8.5 / 10.0
May 27, 2015

In some ways, Splatoon's online component is disappointing, and the lack of so many features will likely push other shooter fans away. But most of those shortcomings can be forgiven in my mind because of how damn fun it is. As a shooter it's refreshing, and as a 3D platformer it's up there with some of Nintendo's greatest creations. You'll quickly forget about the fact that you're playing Turf War over and over as you squid down an alley, leap across a gap, and shoot enemies in the air as you fall. All Nintendo needs to do is keep supporting Splatoon, because the foundation is fantastic.

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8.5 / 10.0
May 26, 2015

Nevertheless, a month past its release, it's safe to say that Splatoon functions well enough, has an active community and continues to grow in the right directions, even if some obvious areas of improvement remain.

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8.6 / 10.0
Jun 4, 2015

Splatoon is without a doubt one of the best games out there for the Wii U. The games unique paint mechanics make for great frantic, fast paced matches that anyone can get some enjoyment out of. Unfortunately it's disappointing how little content there is at launch - with only two online modes and short hero mode it leaves you wanting more. Yet the quirky nature of the game makes it highly addictive and something that'll keep you entertained for hours on end.

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IGN
Top Critic
8.6 / 10.0
Nov 13, 2015

Nintendo's take on the third-person shooter is refreshingly original, with lots of impressive tools, skillful mobility, and creative maps to play with. Matches are consistently fun and tense, and the mechanics feel simple and fair enough that almost anyone can contribute positively. Not having voice chat is a bummer, but the great modes and maps feel polished and kept me claiming turf for hours.

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88 / 100
Jun 13, 2015

A new Nintendo classic. Splatoon is an artistic and competitive triumph that demands you play 'just one more round' again and again.

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Digitally Downloaded
Matt S.
Top Critic
Jun 2, 2015

Splatoon is almost endlessly replayable, and it effortlessly my favourite Nintendo game so far this year.

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9 / 10
Jun 3, 2015

A game that could only be made by Nintendo.

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4.5 / 5.0
May 28, 2015

A unique looking and playing online shooter, one that currently is rich with content, with the only issue being that it's an online game that is missing an efficient way to communicate.

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9 / 10.0
May 31, 2015

Overall, Splatoon makes for an amazing online game, likely the most engaging online experience Nintendo has ever made. The multiplayer, regardless of its lack of voice chat or randomized parties, is sublime, successfully making a shooter that is easy to hop into but tough to master. The single-player might be short and linear, but it's a wonderful change of pace from the frenzy of online play.

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