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
Buy Now
Buy on
  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

All reviews »
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 »
See all user reviews »