As one of the highlights of September, Splatoon 3 has already met all players. The initial popularity of this game exceeded everyone’s expectations. In the first three days of its release in Japan, it sold over 3.45 million copies. Splatoon 3 has already become a new “national-level” game in the local area.
It is certain that this “Spray 3” has attracted many new players, who might find everything in the game novel. But for a “little squid” like me who got into the game from the second generation, I can actually see quite a few familiar things in Splatoon 3. For me, Splatoon 3 still has that addictive “flavor”.
In this review, I won’t throw out any professional terms or competitive tactics. This is an article mainly aimed at newcomers. I will organize the language in the form of a brief introduction and personal feelings to lead everyone to understand all aspects of Splatoon 3.
Scribbling the ground and hitting someone are both indispensable
Like its predecessors in the series, the content framework of Splatoon 3 is quite concise. The game mainly consists of PVP player battles, PVE cooperative part-time jobs, and the single-player “Hero Mode”.
Player battles and cooperative part-time jobs cover most of the game’s content, but both modes require players to be connected to the Internet. Judging from the game’s performance after its release, many domestic players have encountered disconnection issues. Therefore, before purchasing the game, please make sure your network is unobstructed.
As for the introduction of the game content, let’s start with the classic smudge battle. Both players carry their own weapons and compete in a “4V4” format.
The scene of the entire team’s appearance
Unlike other games, in Splatoon 3, bullets are ink. Players can attack each other by spraying ink, but after the game, the cat referee will calculate the area of the territory covered by both sides. The side that has covered more territory will win.
Therefore, killing a lot of people doesn’t necessarily mean winning the game. In a certain match, I achieved a score of 15 kills and 2 kills with just a pelee gun, but I still lost in the end with regret. When I reviewed the video, I found out that while the four of us were all frantically occupying the house, a person from the opposite side sneaked into our territory and painted the entire area clean.
So, new players, don’t put too much pressure on yourself before engaging in the smear battle. Even if you can’t hit the target, you can still paint as many pieces of land as possible. This is also a contribution to the whole team. The game pace in Splatoon 3 is extremely fast, and territory battles and large-scale team fights can occur at any time. As long as you can survive, there is a chance of winning at the end.
When it comes to the specific battle strategy, I need to emphasize one point to all of you: “smearing the ground” and “hitting people” complement each other and neither can be lacking. The principle is actually very simple: If you want to kill someone, you have to first paint the surrounding territory with your own ink to facilitate a quick approach. If you want to smear the ground, you have to kill your opponent as much as possible and take advantage of the time difference when they return to the field to expand your lead.
Of course, in specific matches, the two aspects can be given more emphasis. The choice between “smearing the ground” and “hitting someone” is often related to the performance of the weapon. If you have a “Professional Model Gun MG” (Silver Spray), try to paint the ground first after starting the game. If you just want to go out and kill the other side, you can directly pick up a 4K sniper rifle, as long as you shoot accurately enough.
Even if you can play with two guns, you can still have fun
Whether you are a newcomer to the game for the first time or a veteran who has played the previous works, you can all get a certain kind of wonderful pleasure in the matches of Splatoon 3. Well, a more colloquial way to put it is “getting carried away”.
The three-minute time limit and the fast-paced battle made the entire game full of climaxes. But the random disconnection problem can sometimes be disappointing.
As a second-generation “Muddle Battle party” who got into the game, I think Splatoon 3 doesn’t have many “new” elements in this aspect. Many weapons have already appeared in the previous installment, and ultimate moves like “Ultimate Launch”, “Triple Tornado”, and “Shark Charge” seem to be replicas of the abilities related to the first and second installments. So after experiencing something new for the first time, I became more accustomed to picking up the few weapons I was familiar with and returning to my previous fighting style.
Special ability “Triple Tornado”
But at the same time, I don’t dislike the “conservative improvement” design of Splatoon 3. Because of the operation habits I had developed in the previous work, I could still smoothly carry them out in the third generation, and the transition process was very smooth.
Compared with Splatoon 2, the battle environment of Splatoon 3 has changed, but some of the strategies from the previous game can still be adopted in the new one, allowing veteran players to get started more quickly.
Beginners don’t need to worry about getting started at all. After all, everyone has a process of “starting from scratch”. As long as you don’t have 3D vertigo, I recommend that you enjoy the PVP battles in Splatoon 3 to the fullest.
Don’t be afraid of failure, nor doubt yourself. When you truly embark on your battle journey, you will find that there are many people in this game whose level is comparable to yours. As the saying goes, “It is a pleasure to compete with others.” When you compete with other players in skills, you will naturally immerse yourself in it.
If you want to take on higher challenges, you can also participate in the Mantui Competition (for real) and strive to improve your rank. Whether it’s muddle or real, Splatoon 3 can present the endless fun of competition.
Crack the salmon and separate the roe
If you are a player who doesn’t want to compete with others, Splatoon 3 also has another feature for you, which is the online cooperative mode “Salmon Run”. There is also a conventional term among people in the industry: “wage earner”.
The goal of the part-time job is quite straightforward. Four players form a team to jointly deal with schools of salmon. After defeating a specific type of salmon, you will obtain special golden salmon eggs. If you put enough golden salmon roe into the recycling basket, you can complete the corresponding task.
The recycling basket is right behind you at the beginning of the game
Under normal circumstances, players have to face three waves of attacks from the salmon group. The system will provide four specialized weapons and randomly assign them to each player. After a salmon tide ends, the weapons used by players will still be rotated.
By now, everyone should be able to see one of the difficulties of “Salmon Run”. If players are assigned weapons they are not good at, their combat efficiency will be greatly reduced, and the risk of death will also increase. Yes, a solitary squid may be beaten to death by a group of salmon, but it can only come back to life after coming into contact with the ink sprayed by its teammates.
Not only that, there are also many elite-level monsters in “Salmon Run”. Compared with Splatoon 2, Splatoon 3 has added a variety of salmon bosses. You must master the corresponding strategy methods. If not handled properly, you will be defeated step by step.
One of the new bosses is “Pot Lid Fish”
So, the “Salmon Run” mode is by no means simple. If you are just a novice worker with no experience at all, you are very likely to panic in front of the fierce salmon. To avoid this situation, I strongly recommend that new players take a good look at the official pre-tutorial before starting to play “Salmon Run”.
In many cases, the reason for the failure of “Salmon Run” is that the BOSS was not dealt with in time, leading to the situation gradually getting out of control. If you can quickly kill those elite monsters, you can smoothly obtain the golden salmon eggs, and the pressure on your teammates will also be greatly reduced.
In addition, just like in player battles, “Salmon Run” also tests the team’s level of collaboration. In some cases, the salmon may launch attacks simultaneously from different directions, and the squid played by the player must promptly contain this offensive. If communication among players is not smooth, there will be a problem of neglecting one aspect for another, and in the end, the entire team will suffer the bitter fruit of defeat.
The giant salmon “Henggang” is not easy to deal with
A corresponding suggestion is that “Salmon Run” should play as many games as possible. Compared with casual gatherings, good friends can communicate more efficiently, which can avoid many unnecessary troubles.
Although “Salmon Run” is not easy, it still gains the favor of many players, among whom is myself. In my opinion, the interesting part of “Salmon Run” lies in its challenge.
Someone would calmly rescue three teammates in front of the fierce salmon. Someone will kill the BOSS the moment he lands. Some people might drop the crucial salmon roe at the last second, and these super thrilling scenarios could play out at any time. Overcoming numerous pressures to complete seemingly impossible challenges will also bring players an unparalleled sense of achievement.
Of course, the fun of the “Salmon Run” mode goes far beyond this. When actually playing, players will also encounter various monsters such as iron plate fish and mud salmon, and experience the scenes of thick fog and high and low tides. These random events make the entire “Salmon Run” unpredictable and also make players even more unable to stop.
Since I had already accumulated some working experience in Splatoon 2, I had no difficulty getting started with the “Salmon Run” in Splatoon 3. I also want to particularly talk about a new action added in the third generation, and that is “egg throwing”.
In the previous installment, the squids had to constantly fight on the front line, then transport the salmon roe they obtained to the recovery baskets, shuttling back and forth between the base and the battlefield. Not only was the process uninteresting, but it also took a lot of time.
In “Splatoon 3”, players can press the A key to charge up and then directly throw the salmon roe on their backs. I love this new mechanism so much! With the “egg-throwing” feature, players’ actions can become more flexible. Long-distance throwing greatly increases the efficiency of recovering salmon roe, and players themselves can return to the battlefield more quickly. If you want to show off, you can also try throwing a “three-pointer” into the basket.
Therefore, the “Salmon Run” in Splatoon 3 has become even more thrilling and enjoyable. Although I mentioned various difficulties of this mode in the previous text, this does not scare the players who are willing to try it. As long as you are interested in “Salmon Run”, I also recommend that you play a few rounds.
Save the world once again
Although online battles and “Salmon Run” are full of fun, they both require players to stay online. If your home network frequently encounters problems or you are a “lone Wolf” player yourself, you can try the “Hero Mode” in Splatoon 3. It is equivalent to a large-scale single-player campaign.
Although the main stage of “Splatoon 3” has moved to the brand-new town of Mantui, the method to activate the hero mode remains the same as in the previous installment. Do you see the sewer on the left side of the square? Just get in and you can start your adventure journey.
From a plot perspective, the story of “Splatoon 3” can be regarded as an extension of its predecessor. Some characters from the previous installment will also make an appearance, such as the first-generation idol group “Spicy Squid”, Squid Dry Commander, DJ Mustard Octopus General, and so on. Veteran players will surely feel very familiar.
But at the same time, the plot of the third generation has also prepared many new surprises. Although it’s an old cliche of saving the world, you’ll find that this game has completed some of the Settings for the second generation and opened up some new plots. Nintendo has already mentioned that Splatoon 3 will release large-scale paid DLCS in the future, and the foreshadowing of the main storyline might just be laying the groundwork for the DLCS.
If I wear a mask, I won’t recognize you?
To avoid revealing the plot, I won’t elaborate further on the story. Now let’s talk about the level design of the Hero mode.
From my own experience, the scale of the Hero mode in Splatoon 3 this time is not small. It took me about 7 hours from the start of the game to the end, and I skipped many levels in the game.
The map of the Hero mode in Splatoon 3 is divided into several areas, and there will be obstacles around the entrance of each level. If you obtain enough salmon eggs in the previous levels, you can have your partner, the little salmon, clear the obstacles.
The reddish-brown stuff is an obstacle
It should be emphasized that the development team did not make things difficult for players in terms of map layout. If you want to pass through the entire area quickly, you can first plan your route in advance through a telescope, then clear some levels to harvest fish eggs. Once the obstacles at the entrance of the gate are cleared, players can smoothly move on to the next area.
You can also stay in the current area for a while longer, clear all the obstacles and complete all the levels. If this is done, the entire game duration of the hero mode should be more than fifteen hours. Even if you don’t want to engage in online battles, the Hero mode is enough for you to play for a while.
By the way, for players who complete the “regional clearance”, the official will also offer some rewards and hidden facilities. If you want to know what other surprises the game has prepared, why not try exploring the entire area?
Some friends might ask: The content volume of the Hero mode is guaranteed, but will there be a sense of repetition when playing each level? Please rest assured on this point as well. Based on my experience of clearing the levels, Splatoon 3 is full of creative ideas. After playing it once, I felt extremely satisfied and never got bored at all.
However, for new players, clearing the Hero mode of Splatoon 3 is not an easy task, as many are not only unfamiliar with the in-game operations but also have no idea of “climbing the wall”. Here I’ll give you a hint. Compared to traditional flat mazes, the levels in Splatoon 3 often have a three-dimensional feel.
If you can’t find your way forward on the current platform, you might as well try looking up or down. Many levels have walls that can be colored. When you bump into walls all over the ground, you might as well spray a handful of ink on an unremarkable pillar. After successfully climbing to the top, you should be able to discover the key information for solving the puzzle.
Special ability “Squid Ninja”
As for the level that impressed me the most personally, it was the bounce level in a certain area. At the beginning of the game, the level-clearing player will obtain the “Squid Ninja” ability. He can freely stretch out his arms and shuttle back and forth among the scattered floating columns. If used proficiently, players can rely on this ability to scale walls and eaves, experiencing the thrill of a squid version of Spider-Man.
On the other hand, these highlights do not mean that the design of the Hero mode in Splatoon 3 is flawless. When I was clearing the last level, I encountered quite a few troubles. If you haven’t reached the end of the strategy yet, I can just give you a reminder.
The final level of the Hero mode poses a significant challenge to players. Players must not make major mistakes in their movement, and they need to kill the miscellaneous soldiers as quickly as possible while constantly observing the BOSS’s moves. All these things are easy to talk about, but it’s very difficult to balance them in reality. Even a player like me, who has a solid foundation, failed more than ten times in the last level.
So personally, I think the final level could be a bit easier. There’s no need to deliberately make things difficult for people. Of course, after clearing the game and revisiting it now, I still think the hero mode of Splatoon 3 is quite creative and full of fun to play.
However, for all the new players, I still suggest that you practice your basic skills well in the early levels first. After you become proficient in the operation, go and challenge the last level. This way, it will be smoother to clear the entire hero mode.
Conclusion
Splatoon 3 is an excellent work. While retaining the series’ characteristics, it has incorporated many meaningful “micro-innovations”. Whether you are an experienced squid enthusiast from the previous work or a new one just getting started, everyone can enjoy a wealth of fun in this game. Taking the opportunity of the first Chinese localization of the series, I hope more people can get to know Splatoon 3. After all, it’s so much fun to be a super squid-like seafood!