Splatoon Reviews

Splatoon is ranked in the 86th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
Jun 3, 2015

Splatoon offers little, and yet the melding of color, punk rock, and nostalgia create a winner.

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4 / 5.0
Jun 2, 2015

Splatoon is all about staying fresh, and despite its lack of content somehow manages to remain just as appealing after twenty hours as it was in its first. Its core gameplay is so unwaveringly solid that it's bound to only become better as more maps, weapons and modes are released in the months after launch, but even now Splatoon might just be Wii U's long-awaited killer app.

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B
Jun 2, 2015

Splatoon has arrived and very nearly delivered on every bit of the potential it showed at E3 2014. A bold mixture of classic Nintendo sensibilities and modern game design, Splatoon has planted its flag firmly in the ground both as an online multiplayer title and solo adventure game.

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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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Essential
Jun 2, 2015

It's those three minutes that really count, though, and it's there you'll find the genius and the joy of Splatoon. It's where you'll find a genre distilled, broken down and reassembled, with each piece snapping perfectly in place. It's where you'll find Nintendo charting new territory, and sharing with you the thrills of their own discovery. And it's where you'll find what happens when Mario's maker steps away from the comfort of the Mushroom Kingdom and tries something new: a true modern classic, and one of Nintendo's finest games in a generation.

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9 / 10
Jun 1, 2015

Splatoon isn't perfect, but despite the faults it's a wonderful game, both online and offline. There's some fantastic ideas here that can be built upon, but as it stands right now, it's already superb. A little rough around the edges, but in the heat of the moment during a good multiplayer match, it's a whale of a time.

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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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8 / 10.0
Jun 1, 2015

Pure, joyous, unbridled fun. Nintendo's Splatoon is missing content, but what's here will keep you coming back again and again. "Just ONE more match!"

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May 31, 2015

It's squid kids and ink blasting abound in Nintendo's exceptionally fun new online shooter.

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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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8 / 10.0
May 29, 2015

Despite the lack of content at launch, the title is incredibly fun. Even if there are only two modes available so far, the gameplay is so unique that a purchase is worthwhile. I do believe it could have more potential if it included voice chat or an extra mode or two at launch, but past that, Splatoon has the kind of longevity that will keep me playing for a long time.

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8 / 10.0
May 29, 2015

Splatoon is different, inventive, and the most fun I've had with a Nintendo-developed game since the Wii U launched

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May 29, 2015

Splatoon proves Nintendo has the chops for online shooters

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3.6 / 5.0
May 29, 2015

I dove into Splatoon with high expectations and high hopes for the new Nintendo IP. But now, after playing over a hundred matches, I am torn between its pros and cons. For its merit, it has that simple, pure, fun factor that keeps me coming back, even after memorizing every nuance of each board. Yet with a sparse selection of maps, a single match type for each mode, and what feels like a dousing of turpentine on character customization and choice, in the end Splatoon feels like purchasing an expensive gallon of paint, only to crack open the lid and find just a quart of paint within. Nintendo promises to fill that can at no extra charge, but unfortunately that means day one purchasers will go home and start painting, only to feel like the job is half finished.

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7.8 / 10.0
May 29, 2015

An enjoyable experience, but it needs more content and some streamlined design

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May 28, 2015

Splatoon blows third-person shooting wide open with its wildly unique mechanics and uninhibited sense of fun. Approachable for newcomers and enjoyable for old hands, it's an impressive Wii U exclusive, though we'll have to take Nintendo's promises of free DLC and updates on trust.

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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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Unscored
May 28, 2015

[F]or now, it's clear that Nintendo has succeeded in crafting a new, idiosyncratic take on the modern shooter. The bright colors, peppy music, and short bursts of action make it fun and easy to keep coming back. It's the sort of no-brainer we should have been playing for a long time now, and just like getting those hard and soft taco shells in the same box, it's sure to be a crowd pleaser.

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Yes
May 28, 2015

Playing as squid kids that use water guns to make a giant mess is lots of fun.

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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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