Splatoon

 Wii U
Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 88 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 75 out of 88
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 88
  3. Negative: 0 out of 88
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  1. Impulsegamer
    Jun 8, 2015
    72
    A whole new way to play online shooters- instead of shooting people, shoot the ground!
  2. Cheat Code Central
    May 29, 2015
    72
    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.
  3. The Digital Fix
    Jun 26, 2015
    70
    Splatoon is an intelligent shooter, but it tries too hard to be hip with its “fresh” lingo and focus on superficial style.
  5. games(TM)
    Jun 23, 2015
    70
    The five maps are great now, but they’ll grate if you’re playing them over and over again for weeks on end while waiting for new content. What’s here is undoubtedly clever and thoroughly entertaining, but it’s also limited and given Nintendo’s history with new IPs, be prepared for the possibility that its online community may have dwindled by the time the promised DLC makes up the fuller package envisioned.
  6. Gamer.no
    Jun 5, 2015
    70
    While it might be a bit short on the content side of things, Splatoon is still a fun an engaging third person shooter. The pace is fast and frenetic without being too chaotic, and both a defensive and offensive play style is not only encouraged but welcomed among players. Unfortunately, it needs more content, and badly so.
  7. VideoGamer
    Jun 4, 2015
    70
    Splatoon can be intensely tactical, and its end-of-battle results screen after a close match is genuinely tense. But these moments can't overcome the thinness of Splatoon's package.
  8. Metro GameCentral
    May 27, 2015
    70
    The most original and enjoyable online shooter of the generation, but the lack of content at launch means it may be months before it reaches its true potential.
  9. ZTGD
    May 27, 2015
    70
    I want it to catch on, but with the paltry Wii U user base, and a quirky new IP at the helm, my fears are that no one will care about Splatoon in a month’s time.
  10. GamesRadar+
    May 27, 2015
    70
    Splatoon is a brilliant and unique shooter sorely lacking in maps and modes, and it desperately needs a refill.
  11. Game Rant
    May 27, 2015
    70
    There are certainly short-comings that veteran shooter aficionados will pick up on right away, but the game’s willingness to march to the beat of its own drum is admirable and often enjoyable – if not occasionally frustrating.
  12. FNintendo
    May 27, 2015
    70
    A strong emphasis on its online mechanics means that most of Splatoon is to be experienced on a multiplayer basis, which would be at a higher level if all future options and contents were already available. Given the importance of cooperative online play and team work, it's also difficult to understand why there's no voice chat but despite this shortcoming, Splatoon has all conditions to become a must have classic, once all the contents are made available.
  13. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Jul 21, 2015
    60
    This is an entertaining and graphically stunning game where you shoot color instead of lead. Despite the poor visuals the game is quite challenging from time to time ... and focused primarily on multiplayer.
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  14. Toronto Sun
    May 27, 2015
    60
    The lack of a chat feature just ends up making Splatoon a game that rewards smart teamwork but doesn’t give players tools to communicate.
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In Progress & Unscored

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  1. Ars Technica
    Dec 9, 2015
    There is absolutely fun to be had in a good Splatoon battle, but the catch here is the future tense. Splatoon reveals more than a few signs of immaturity in the online gaming space, but its worse offense sees Nintendo catching up, unfortunately, with another big gaming trend of late. This is yet another retail launch of an unfinished game. The version of Splatoon we'd like to play—different from the one people are about to spend $60 on—evidently hasn't been made yet.
  2. The A.V. Club
    Dec 8, 2015
    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.

Awards & Rankings

10
#10 Best Wii U Game of 2015
1
#1 Most Discussed Wii U Game of 2015
6
#6 Most Shared Wii U Game of 2015

User Reviews

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User Score
8.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1429 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,235 out of 1429
  2. Mixed: 104 out of 1429
  3. Negative: 90 out of 1429
  1. Xavier_Boixader
    May 29, 2015
    10
    The game it's amazing I think that it's true when nintendo says that this game is the MarioKart of the Shooters.
    Some people is cheating    The game it's amazing I think that it's true when nintendo says that this game is the MarioKart of the Shooters.
    Some people is cheating about the lack of content but the game is amazing and the updates will solve this.    … Full Review »
  2. Josephsa
    May 29, 2015
    3
    Splatoon represents everything wrong with gaming. It is not a terrible game. A terrible game could be simply not played and forgotten about.Splatoon represents everything wrong with gaming. It is not a terrible game. A terrible game could be simply not played and forgotten about. Instead Splatoon has some fresh and innovative concepts that are buried and ruined by the incompetency of Nintendo and their inability to keep up with modern times.

    Think of a multiplayer game and think of the features you'd commonly find in one. Usually about 10-20 maps, 5-10+ game modes, voice chat, a party system, local competitive play etc. would all be common features. Well, Splatoon has none of those. Launching with a meager 5 maps and 2 game modes, no voice chat, no party system, the only local competitive mode is a 1v1 balloon popping mode, and the inability to switch out your loadout in a match (so rather than feeling like you can adapt to a changing match, you're stuck using the same loadout the whole match), and a 4-5 hour singleplayer campaign, Splatoon is as barebones a package you could find in 2015.

    This is simply unacceptable for a game in 2015; the game has been rushed to market, missing in basic content, and spoilt by the complete incompetence of Nintendo and their inability to adapt to modern times. This game was rushed to market to fill a gap in the game releases and to satiate a months long gaming drought.

    After playing the testfires and a few hours of the game after launch, the game does feel fresh and is a unique take on the genre, but frustration quickly overwhelms due to the repetition of maps (two maps every four hours), lack of basic features isolating one from the other players, and overall lack of fresh content. Singleplayer has been somewhat satisfying, but it lacks the usual Nintendo charm and feels rushed, and just simply is not enough justify a $60 purchase (for some reason this game is reduced retail price in Europe, but not NA).

    Overall, Splatoon is a 3 as it stands now. Perhaps, it could be a 7 or an 8 if it had launched with more maps, modes, voice chat, party chat, local play, a longer campaign, etc. but as it stands now, Splatoon is an incomplete package, and if Nintendo rushes and releases an incomplete package, that is what I will review. I am not of the mindset that we should buy a game simply on the word that there will be future content. I will not lay down $60 for a simply incomplete game and play the waiting game, while the community wanes over time and just simply hope that even some of these features are improved upon. I recommend you give it a rent at most, if nothing more than to see what could have been, but there simply isn't enough unique and fresh content in the game to justify even a $30 purchase, let alone $60.    … Full Review »
  3. ACM3PTS
    May 29, 2015
    9
    Wow. This game surpassed all my expectations. Splatoon needs to stand by your copy of Smash as the two most fun games on the system. Truly aWow. This game surpassed all my expectations. Splatoon needs to stand by your copy of Smash as the two most fun games on the system. Truly a success and an experience worth your money. PD: More maps are coming soon!… Full Review »
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