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Nintendo has taken a big step away from the usual Splatoon formula with Splatoon Raiders. Released on July 23 on Nintendo Switch 2, the new game keeps the bright colors and ink-filled fights intact, while adding survival, exploration, and loot. Early reactions to the game look positive, with players enjoying the new gameplay style. If you want to describe the game in simple terms, it's a game with lots of ink and some quirky mechanics.
The gameplay takes the raiders on an alien journey to investigate many islands that suddenly appeared. Next comes the plane crash that sends the raiders to Spirhalite islands, where they encounter Salmonid monsters and hunt for resources to return to civilization. Whether it’s the haptics, colors, movements, or the overall experience, the game is well-balanced in every section.
However, there’re even a few issues. The game lacks a checkpoint system. On the greatest difficulty, these checkpoints become massively beneficial. Players often fail at these stages, and having to start from a certain point again and again feels frustrating. Next is conversational depth, often, the dialogue between characters feels lacking in depth and personality.
Looter shooters have become a common sight in gaming. The basic idea is simple: fight enemies, collect better gear, and repeat the process. The problem is that this can get boring when the missions start feeling the same.
Splatoon Raiders tries to make the formula more fun by adding the series' ink mechanics. Players can use ink during fights and while moving around the world. The colorful setting also gives the game a look that is very different from most games in this space.
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Splatoon Raiders does not try to replace the main Splatoon games. Instead, it gives the series a new path, that risk could work in Nintendo's favor.
The mix of ink combat, exploration, survival, and loot gives fans something different. It may not be perfect, but the new approach makes Splatoon Raiders an interesting addition to the series.
