User Score
8.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1422 Ratings

User score distribution:
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  1. Jul 21, 2017
    7
    It's mild fun, just don't expect to have any fun with friends and family at home, as split screen is not an option. Otherwise there is a short and bland single-player mode, and the main meat of the game is online. Very little has changed from the previous entry as well. Avoid this game unless you live for online play.
  2. Jul 21, 2017
    7
    A good game let down by lack of improvements.

    No amount of polish and digits at the end of the title can fool anyone here. This is just spaltoon 1 again. The improvements that the first one needed arent here and the fact that you no longer have the second screen map make this feel like the prequel. If you played the first game you'll be frustrated yet again, having to get to level 10
    A good game let down by lack of improvements.

    No amount of polish and digits at the end of the title can fool anyone here. This is just spaltoon 1 again. The improvements that the first one needed arent here and the fact that you no longer have the second screen map make this feel like the prequel.

    If you played the first game you'll be frustrated yet again, having to get to level 10 (at least a dozen hours) of the dullest mode the game has to offer to be able to play the fun stuff. On top of that there is still no replay to show you how you died, you still have to come offline to change your load outs, and no new gameplay elements seem to have been introduced.

    On top of all this there is still no voice chat, sure you can use youe phone and the nintendo app to voice chat, but i can only use my phone and facetime whilst playing this game, doesnt mean this game has video chat now does it.

    A lazy effort alround by nintendo.
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  3. Nov 29, 2017
    7
    Really fun game, both single player and multiplayer. This review probably would have been a 9 or 10 if not for one thing: the REALLY LONG UNSKIPPABLE CUTSCENE every time you start the game while connected to the internet. I have 3 kids that play and we all take turns, all with our own profiles, so we have to watch the REALLY LONG UNSKIPPABLE CUTSCENE 4 times every day.
  4. Aug 7, 2017
    7
    For what it is Splatoon 2 has a lot going for it. As Nintendo finally wakes up and starts building new IP's to keep their company afloat, I wonder if this is just skin-deep?

    Splatoon 2 is unique on the surface; new creative ideas for design, but within is the same tired, monotonous gameplay design Nintendo refuses to budge on. While I understand this might be what core players desire,
    For what it is Splatoon 2 has a lot going for it. As Nintendo finally wakes up and starts building new IP's to keep their company afloat, I wonder if this is just skin-deep?

    Splatoon 2 is unique on the surface; new creative ideas for design, but within is the same tired, monotonous gameplay design Nintendo refuses to budge on. While I understand this might be what core players desire, it means Nintendo is now ONLY making gameplay for that player base and the rest be damned!

    Everything works in the game. Shooting is fun, maps are fun, the objectives are fun, upgrades feel good to get, but there is where and how far I felt it was worth to go. After getting compete gear what is there truly left to do with Splatoon 2? You are left with simply getting to an equilibrium with combat against other players to endlessly do the same thing over and over and over. I personally find this is indicative of the current video game market; but Nintendo are the LEADERS in monotonous game design.

    As said said before: everything works, but there's nothing to work towards, nothing more akin to a past trope equivalent in video games: Earning Points. This is how the gaming industry has moved in the last few years: Build a game, debase things that worked in generations past (story is dumb in games), exclaim ONLY gameplay matters, hide ineptitude (can't be bother to make a story that works) build EVERYTHING around gameplay, create boring endless pvp fighting that amounts to nothing but more of the same, just with the same handful of maps/objectives. How many times can someone do the samething I wonder? And I know there will be people which will disagree here; that's expected. You are part of the community that ALWAYS wanted this, the vast majority though are stuck.

    If you are looking for something new from Nintendo with Splatoon 2, you will be getting only half new. A solid pvp shooter which is nothing more than a monotonous point collector simulator with vibrant colors.
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  5. Sep 12, 2017
    7
    I loved Splatoon on Wii U, it was a fun and very fresh take on shooter genre, but unfortunately this sequel doesn't add much more to what we've played before. It features the same gameplay structure and modes with some extra content (and better visuals), like a new horde mode called ''Salmon Run'', which is nice by the way, but for some strange reason, it's not available to play anytime.I loved Splatoon on Wii U, it was a fun and very fresh take on shooter genre, but unfortunately this sequel doesn't add much more to what we've played before. It features the same gameplay structure and modes with some extra content (and better visuals), like a new horde mode called ''Salmon Run'', which is nice by the way, but for some strange reason, it's not available to play anytime. Also there is a new story for the single-player campaign, that was something i was expecting bigger improvements in terms of length and production value for this sequel. However, even good, it is disappointedly similar and short as the first game.
    So, i'd say that if you skipped the Wii U, go for it and have a great time, but if you have played the original to death, you may get tired of playing the same stuff all over again.
    Splatoon 3 will probably happen some day, so i'm counting on a completely re-invention for the series next time.
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  6. Dec 19, 2017
    7
    As someone who was quite skeptical of the first Splatoon, this sequel has done a great job improving on the base mechanics and alleviating my doubts about the concept. It's fast, quirky and fun with a great soundtrack to boot. But while it does do a great job improving on the original, I feel it doesn't do nearly enough. I believe the original displayed an interesting concept that didn'tAs someone who was quite skeptical of the first Splatoon, this sequel has done a great job improving on the base mechanics and alleviating my doubts about the concept. It's fast, quirky and fun with a great soundtrack to boot. But while it does do a great job improving on the original, I feel it doesn't do nearly enough. I believe the original displayed an interesting concept that didn't work whereas Splatoon 2 improves these mechanics showing that it can work, though the lack of compelling modes doesn't really create a game that begs to be played. I still believe it's a great game, but after a couple entries the series is still rough around the edges. Expand
  7. Sep 11, 2017
    7
    Un buen titulo, lo mejor que ay al momento en switch pero se siente flojo en comparación a su primer entrega, este splatoon 2 parece mas un DLC del primero que otro juego, técnicamente no mejoro nada, pero si entrego un poco mas de historia, algunos campos y armas nuevas y su mayor fortaleza nuevos modos de juego es muy recomendable en especial si no jugaste el primero, aunque resultaUn buen titulo, lo mejor que ay al momento en switch pero se siente flojo en comparación a su primer entrega, este splatoon 2 parece mas un DLC del primero que otro juego, técnicamente no mejoro nada, pero si entrego un poco mas de historia, algunos campos y armas nuevas y su mayor fortaleza nuevos modos de juego es muy recomendable en especial si no jugaste el primero, aunque resulta frustrarte el pésimo servicio de juego online que tiene. Expand
  8. Oct 21, 2017
    7
    Good:
    - Campaign: Levels have a lot more variety than expected, especially considering how much emphasis is put on the multiplayer modes. The weapon specific missions act as great tutorials for the wide array of weapons and maps are usually tailored nicely to suit the gun being used.
    - There is a wide range of weapons, sub weapons, and super abilities that all feel great to use in their
    Good:
    - Campaign: Levels have a lot more variety than expected, especially considering how much emphasis is put on the multiplayer modes. The weapon specific missions act as great tutorials for the wide array of weapons and maps are usually tailored nicely to suit the gun being used.
    - There is a wide range of weapons, sub weapons, and super abilities that all feel great to use in their own respects and all have their own unique functionality. It all comes down to preference.
    - Despite a ton of small issues, the game is a very fun take on the shooter genre. Covering the map in paint and surfing as a squid is very enjoyable.
    - Salmon Run adds some nice variety to multiplayer
    - The soundtrack is catchy

    Mixed:
    - Bosses could have been a little better but it’s nice that they’re in there at all
    - Tons of cosmetic items but the scrub system is tedious for gathering power-ups you want and players who put massive amounts of time towards it have huge advantages in multiplayer modes

    Bad:
    - Can’t switch your load outs in the middle of a match and you have to leave match making completely to do so
    - Veteran players have massive advantages over newcomers; match making pits low level players against high level players much to often
    - You lose your super charge when you are killed
    - Players can’t leave match making while searching for a game; waiting times can be very long and the timer resets every time a player enters the lobby or turns off their game
    - Voice chat…
    - Players can’t create parties with their friends; chances are you’ll often be fighting against friends rather than with them
    - The multiplayer map preview plays everytime you start up the game and is unskippable
    - Map rotations are dumb and the fact that you can’t play Salmon Run whenever you want is stupid
    XXX
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  9. Oct 2, 2018
    7
    There are a lot of things to love about Splatoon 2 like its bright colourful gorgeous graphics, its unique sound track and the tons of free dlc that come out for the game. The game overall is quite good but is VERY similar to its predecessor and feels more like an expansion than an actual new game. The weapons also arent very balanced.
  10. Jul 30, 2017
    7
    This game would be really good if it wasn't so bad.

    You get absolutely brilliant gameplay, wonderful mechanics and lovely visuals, all ruined by nintendo's completely dumb decisions. There are 8 battle stages, but they change every two hours, so if you're interested in short session you'll be able to play only two of them. Every single day you get to watch unskippable cutscene
    This game would be really good if it wasn't so bad.

    You get absolutely brilliant gameplay, wonderful mechanics and lovely visuals, all ruined by nintendo's completely dumb decisions. There are 8 battle stages, but they change every two hours, so if you're interested in short session you'll be able to play only two of them. Every single day you get to watch unskippable cutscene presenting current stages even though you can check these anytime yo want in menu. Matchmaker is not very good, you either get into battle instantly or wait three minutes to be kicked out because there's not enough players. There's a lot of AFK players, whom in 4vs4 make a huge difference. After reaching level 10 you gain access to ranked battles (which is reasonable). There are three ranked modes, which also change every two hours. Therefore if you don't like one of modes, you won't be able to play other modes until time window passes. After reaching rank B- (which means gaining three ranks, or actually two if you're good enough) you gain access to league matches, which can only be played with friends against other teams. Since I only have two pals who own switch and neither of them have splatoon, I'm unable to play league battles. You cannot change weapons without quitting lobby (it's due to matchmaking being weapon based - which is BS, it matches completely wrong weapons sometimes, like 4 identical weapons in one team and 4 different weapons in another). You cannot communicate with teammates, so if someone does something stupid you cannot tell him what to do or insult him for being stupid. Only three messages are availabe - "booyah", "this way" and "ouch". It doesn't suit my communication needs at all. You can also use MOBILE APP for voice chat but only with your friends, so it's easier to use TS or Discord. There's also fourth game mode - salmon run, which is cooperative rush mode. I really like it, but you can't play it all the time since it has time windows (WTF nintendo?!). So, to sum things up - I don't like the matchmaker, I don't like time windows, I don't like playing two levels over and over again, I don't like completely unbalanced weapons. I get more annoyed than satisfied by this game.

    There's also a single player mode, but it's so dull, there's no point in even launching it.
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  11. Aug 5, 2019
    7
    FPS games have never been my thing, but there is something with splatoon 2 that just clicks for me. A huge part of that is problablty that the gameplay is unlike any other FPS ever (Exept of course the first splatoon) The combat is not just based around kills, though it does still help the team,but painting the ground is your main mission in this game. The game is a bit short on contentFPS games have never been my thing, but there is something with splatoon 2 that just clicks for me. A huge part of that is problablty that the gameplay is unlike any other FPS ever (Exept of course the first splatoon) The combat is not just based around kills, though it does still help the team,but painting the ground is your main mission in this game. The game is a bit short on content but that doesn't matter since you can easily put 100 hours in the onlie gamemodes that currently exists. The thing that drives this up to a 9 for me is that this game is just plain adictiv and fun, the combat is super fast and easy to learn but still hard to master and there is always alot of room for improvement in skill. Truely a great game Expand
  12. Mar 18, 2018
    7
    It's definitely different, though with it being a meaty multiplayer title there are a lot of issues with balance, matches tend to be dominated by one side and it's rarely turns into a push/pull battle, modes are locked until you achieve a certain level or rank whilst others are time gated.... ermm okay nintendo.
    leveling is ridiculously slow and it never really feels rewarding, it's fun
    It's definitely different, though with it being a meaty multiplayer title there are a lot of issues with balance, matches tend to be dominated by one side and it's rarely turns into a push/pull battle, modes are locked until you achieve a certain level or rank whilst others are time gated.... ermm okay nintendo.
    leveling is ridiculously slow and it never really feels rewarding, it's fun for the first few hours then it just feels like a grind fest. it's great for casual experience, as long as you don't mind playing with/against kids the majority of the time, as these are likely to be your allies/opponents.
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  13. Jan 11, 2018
    7
    The story of this game is surprisingly fun and the bosses are so freaking cool. The game as a whole though has trouble hooking me. I know a lot of people love it but I feel like the multiplayer somehow feels disconnected. I don't know, it feels impersonal. I don't know. Just not quuuite my cup of tea, i guess.
  14. May 30, 2018
    7
    Good game. Lots of fun and a great game to play online but the lack of local multiplayer and having to listen to the squid sisters every time you boot up the game makes it a perfect 7
  15. Aug 31, 2017
    7
    Splatoon 2 is a great sequel but I there is alot of problems. 1, the wifi is a problem, when I play online some times it will lag and say there is a connection problem. 2, Salmon Run is a great mode but IT SHOULD BE OPEN ALWAYS!!!!! There is more problems but other then that it's a great game. I would recommend it to people
  16. Aug 9, 2017
    7
    This sequel to the smash hit of 2015 feels like the same game with a new bucket of paint. While I played Splatoon 2 I just felt like I was playing the first game but with DLC. It's gameplay is addictive of course just like the first, but it feels boring, it doesn't feel brand new, and that's exactly what a sequel should do. So when stuff like FIFA 17 happens, it doesn't feel like a sequel,This sequel to the smash hit of 2015 feels like the same game with a new bucket of paint. While I played Splatoon 2 I just felt like I was playing the first game but with DLC. It's gameplay is addictive of course just like the first, but it feels boring, it doesn't feel brand new, and that's exactly what a sequel should do. So when stuff like FIFA 17 happens, it doesn't feel like a sequel, the game is fun but at the same time boring, the story is great but predictable and overall a fun experience that should have costed less. Expand
  17. Jul 27, 2017
    7
    The success of Splatoon so far has been unquestionable. That said, there are faults within the game, and those faults continue in #2.

    Team "balancing" is an issue. One game is a "blow out" for one team, the next, a "blow out" for the team you are selected for. "Blow outs" should be a rare occurrence, but they are not. There should be more games that are competitive. A regular "Bell
    The success of Splatoon so far has been unquestionable. That said, there are faults within the game, and those faults continue in #2.

    Team "balancing" is an issue. One game is a "blow out" for one team, the next, a "blow out" for the team you are selected for. "Blow outs" should be a rare occurrence, but they are not. There should be more games that are competitive. A regular "Bell Curve" should apply to game distribution.

    This of course does not apply to "League" or "Custom" in #2.

    Also, game "precision" could be improved, accounting more for evasive maneuvers that a player does in "close shot" situations. The game seems to err on the side of the shooter getting the "splat", rather than the "dodger" getting away.

    On the defensive side, it's really easy to "stack" your player defensively (with clothing bonuses), making them way too difficult to splat with direct shots firing on them. Toning down the defensive bonuses might help here.

    If you liked #1, #2 is recommended. If you've never played Splatoon before, this is a cool game that is fun, and can be addicting. Sometimes, it can be a little frustrating though.
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  18. Aug 14, 2017
    7
    Splatoon 2 is an ok game, it does have some very good gameplay and mechanics but almost none of that from the singelplayer is in the multiplayer the weapons are hopelessly unbalaced. The sigleplayer is very good but to short and some of the bosses are wait for them to attack the weakpoints are exposed hit the weakpoints x amout of times. But is it fun........... kinda even if this game isSplatoon 2 is an ok game, it does have some very good gameplay and mechanics but almost none of that from the singelplayer is in the multiplayer the weapons are hopelessly unbalaced. The sigleplayer is very good but to short and some of the bosses are wait for them to attack the weakpoints are exposed hit the weakpoints x amout of times. But is it fun........... kinda even if this game is a piece of garbage there is still something very fun about splatting things with paint. Because you cant make groups and there is no voice chat i say wait for a sale and buy it if you are intrested. Expand
  19. Aug 18, 2017
    7
    Trying to play this game online with friends is pretty much impossible, salmon run is limited by time, the online app is a mess, the server runs at 18 ticks and the single player was just all right. This has to be one of the worst online experiences for an online game in recent years, but even with so many flaws the game play is addicting, music is exciting and painting your color ontoTrying to play this game online with friends is pretty much impossible, salmon run is limited by time, the online app is a mess, the server runs at 18 ticks and the single player was just all right. This has to be one of the worst online experiences for an online game in recent years, but even with so many flaws the game play is addicting, music is exciting and painting your color onto the ground is super satisfying. This really is really an amazing game only held back by Nintendo's non existent knowledge of how online games work, if you are wanting a competitive game, i suggest you look over to Overwatch or CS:GO, but if you are looking for a good time this game definitely deliveries. Expand
  20. Oct 29, 2017
    7
    "Да ты не на меня одного! Ты разбрызгивай, разбрызгивай!" (Splatoon 2)

    Знаете чем вторая S действительно отличается от первой? Тем что она уже не уникальна! Мы получили хороший, щупальцевый замес на новую платформу от Нинки, со всё теми-же достоинствами и, что страшнее, недостатками. В игру завезли кооп-режим, более свежую картинку и новые лейки с плюхами. Расширили, подровняли,
    "Да ты не на меня одного! Ты разбрызгивай, разбрызгивай!" (Splatoon 2)

    Знаете чем вторая S действительно отличается от первой? Тем что она уже не уникальна! Мы получили хороший, щупальцевый замес на новую платформу от Нинки, со всё теми-же достоинствами и, что страшнее, недостатками. В игру завезли кооп-режим, более свежую картинку и новые лейки с плюхами. Расширили, подровняли, заменили одну мини-игру на другую и дали на общее пользование. Для тех кто не знаком с первой частью это пять звёзд из две тысячи пятнадцатого, но сейчас-то уже 20/17! Выверенный стиль? Отшлифованная механика? Новые щупальца-пуськи на мониторах? Ничто из этого не пробивает орбиту, как это было в первый раз. И нет! Это - не "Раньше было лучше", это - "Где моя скидка за сей добротный, диэлсишный апдейт для первой части?". S2 отрабатывает стандартную программу, без неожиданностей, за что в общей палитре красок не хочется ругать, но и хвалить за это особого желания нет! Списывать недочёты уже нельзя, так как не ново, а накидывать звёзд за заслуги прошлой части - просто не красиво.
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  21. Nov 12, 2017
    7
    Splatoon 2 really isn't much different than the first. The single player campaign isn't anything special and can be quite boring. The multiplayer mode is the main attraction and provides a fun, yet simple, experience. There really isn't that much variety as far as modes go and playing online with friends has a plethora of it's own issues. Splatoon has loads of different abilities unlockedSplatoon 2 really isn't much different than the first. The single player campaign isn't anything special and can be quite boring. The multiplayer mode is the main attraction and provides a fun, yet simple, experience. There really isn't that much variety as far as modes go and playing online with friends has a plethora of it's own issues. Splatoon has loads of different abilities unlocked via clothing and offers a nice variety of weapons. While the game is a fun distraction, I don't see how it's worth the $60 price tag. This is a $40 game at most. Expand
  22. Mar 30, 2018
    7
    Meh. That's how I can sum up the sequel to one of the most innovative games in recent years. Sure, it's a fine sequel, but It's like Call of Duty. It stays in the box, not trying anything new. I mean, it's fine, better graphics, more weapons, new mode.. but the story mode is better. Just don't expect much new out of Splatoon 2. As Captain Cuttlefish would say, it's just a few crab cakesMeh. That's how I can sum up the sequel to one of the most innovative games in recent years. Sure, it's a fine sequel, but It's like Call of Duty. It stays in the box, not trying anything new. I mean, it's fine, better graphics, more weapons, new mode.. but the story mode is better. Just don't expect much new out of Splatoon 2. As Captain Cuttlefish would say, it's just a few crab cakes short of a dozen. That failed. Expand
  23. May 17, 2018
    7
    No skip option. Bad Connection. Great game play. Its a good game but isn't good enough to be anywhere near perfect.
  24. Jun 16, 2018
    7
    Clearly love and effort is being put into this game, not to mention it is incredibly adorable and fun. However the game play is at times frustrating, and it is far from the best moba out there.
  25. Jun 17, 2018
    7
    Splatoon 2 is a great game but with bad matchmaking. I have to go against level 80s and I'm just level 30. Say its just a level but it means experience, you don't just die over and over and get to level 80. It's hard to have fun in a game where you have to keep losing and losing over high competitive play. Everything else is good though.
  26. Jul 22, 2018
    7
    Great single player mode. Lots of content being poured out by Nintendo, including a full fledged single player DLC. The downsides to this game are the abysmal online server provided. Large amounts of latency, disconnects, awful matchmaking, and inability to easily group with friends make the fun online multiplayer into a frustrating experience.
  27. Sep 27, 2018
    7
    If you loved the first game on Wii U, you'll love this one. If you don't know what Splatoon is, it's basically a shooter game, but with ink, This version has new hairstyles, weapons, stages and more, including a new mode called Salmon Run. What I hate about this game now though, is that you have to pay to play the main modes, Turf War and Ranked Battle. If you buy this game, unless youIf you loved the first game on Wii U, you'll love this one. If you don't know what Splatoon is, it's basically a shooter game, but with ink, This version has new hairstyles, weapons, stages and more, including a new mode called Salmon Run. What I hate about this game now though, is that you have to pay to play the main modes, Turf War and Ranked Battle. If you buy this game, unless you specifically bought it for Hero Mode, (Which I don't think anyone does?) be prepared to pay $20 a year to play this game, just warning ya. If this online service didn't exist, I would have given this game a solid 8. But since it does exist, I had to bump it down to a 7. Expand
  28. Nov 20, 2018
    7
    Splatoon 2 is a charming, poppy, and creative shooter contrasting ideas of shooting the enemy and maintaining territory. Although this game was fun for a while, I found serious flaws such as the startup waiting time, only certain modes being available at certain times, and repetitive game-play after some time. If you aren't into multiplayer shooters, I would stay away but if you are, thisSplatoon 2 is a charming, poppy, and creative shooter contrasting ideas of shooting the enemy and maintaining territory. Although this game was fun for a while, I found serious flaws such as the startup waiting time, only certain modes being available at certain times, and repetitive game-play after some time. If you aren't into multiplayer shooters, I would stay away but if you are, this will be a fantastic game for you. Expand
  29. Mar 22, 2020
    7
    Quite disappointing compared to the original Splatoon. I missed the co-op feature from the original. Nintendo doesn't support cloud saves for this game, which is honestly stupid because the Wii U had cloud saves for Splatoon.
    I bricked my switch by plugging in speakers to it (yeah it actually happened), sent it to Nintendo, and lost my Splatoon 2 data. All of those months of grinding are
    Quite disappointing compared to the original Splatoon. I missed the co-op feature from the original. Nintendo doesn't support cloud saves for this game, which is honestly stupid because the Wii U had cloud saves for Splatoon.
    I bricked my switch by plugging in speakers to it (yeah it actually happened), sent it to Nintendo, and lost my Splatoon 2 data. All of those months of grinding are now gone.
    Maybe I'll change this review one day. So far it has: Good soundtrack, great graphics, and the enjoyable gameplay that is also stupid.
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  30. Jun 6, 2020
    7
    Controls aren’t the best plus the lack of local multiplayer is really disappointing. Interesting take on the shooter game though
Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 100 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 94 out of 100
  2. Negative: 0 out of 100
  1. Oct 12, 2017
    85
    Though never fun in real life, spilling ink all around is even more fun in Splatoon 2 than it was in the first game. Teaming up with your squid friends has never been better. But even though some weird Nintendo elements can drag the fun to a stall, everywhere that Splatoon 2 shines makes it a deserving heir to the original.
  2. Oct 8, 2017
    80
    Splatoon 2 builds on what its successor did so well, with a much larger base of assets that has allowed Nintendo to provide more to consumers right off the bat.
  3. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Sep 29, 2017
    80
    Splatoon extended its content and has brought a funny storyline in the second episode. Both newcomers to the Switch and fans of the first game, this is a must-have for you. [Issue#277]