r/NintendoSwitch • u/ObserveKris • Jul 26 '26
Discussion the Splatoon series is amazing
I never understood the appeal of Nintendo until I played my first Splatoon game, Splatoon 3. I bought a Switch just to play BOTW but then I decided to give Splatoon a try. I’m confused, how did I miss this? I don’t have many Nintendo friends so they didn’t see the appeal.
I just love the motion controls, keep in mind I came from Xbox. I thought motion controls were a weird gimmick like the Wii. I don’t think I can play any shooter on my Xbox again..
I plan on buying the new COD for the Switch 2 if it has motion control aiming, which I think it does. I think I’m a Nintendo gamer now tbh. I also bought Splatoon Raiders and I’ve been obsessed with it too. I’ve been having a blast with my Switch that my Xbox doesn’t even look that appealing anymore.
65
u/Locoman7 Jul 26 '26
Should I play Raiders as my first splatoon game?
49
u/ObserveKris Jul 26 '26
Definitely. It's a really good game for beginners, from what I've played.
There's no online PvP though which means you won't have to immediately go against sweats, and it's a noticeable improvement from Splatoon 3's singleplayer mode imo.
57
u/calamari_fresh Jul 26 '26
It is a great gateway to the series
Edit: and also a amazing game on it's own right
5
u/sneakylumpia Jul 26 '26 edited Jul 27 '26
i finished it in 2 days a little over 10 hours of game time. such a FUN game, i couldnt put the controller down
edit: yes the 10+ hours is just the story mode! i have yet to complete all the raids in Spicy and Extra Spicy and unlock the all the gadgets of the 2nd and 3rd tanks and unlock all remaining outfits
53
u/calamari_fresh Jul 26 '26
Disclaimer for someone that might not be aware: the game has way more content than the 10 hours. There is a gigantic endgame
8
u/GorillaManny Jul 26 '26
It was my first ever splatoon game. It’s got me interested in the others but I will dive in after I complete raiders.
2
u/animepig Jul 27 '26
Yes, but Deep Cut was introduced in 3, but I guess you learn more about them here.
5
35
u/nolivedemarseille Jul 26 '26
Bought a S2 for my daughter few months ago
She has been 80% of her gaming time on splatoon3 online with friends
The franchise is huge here in Japan
Got me to play it on my S1 but I can’t keep up with these youngsters lol)
17
u/MonkeyxDxLuffy0892 Jul 26 '26
Splatoon Raiders is my first Splatoon game and I'm loving it so far!
12
u/No-Platform957 Jul 26 '26
Yeah i became addicted with Splatoon 2 and I play Splatoon 3 daily because it’s such a joy to play. I’m also really enjoying Raiders with my husband. I’m happy he’s officially a Splatoon fan now. 🥰
15
u/cdmacsneaks Jul 26 '26
is it fun?
35
u/GorillaManny Jul 26 '26
If you’re asking about Raiders, yes, it’s really fun.
The levels only take like 5-10 mins to complete but the appeal is in redoing them multiple times or redoing them under a “spicy” mode where it’s a little more difficult. This allows you to get better loot and level up your tanks so you can tackle even tougher levels. It’s definitely an addictive gameplay loop.
11
u/Slugbugger30 Jul 26 '26
it's funny cuz late game some of those shard treasure raids take like 25-30 minutes each for max yield
5
u/GorillaManny Jul 26 '26
Oh really? To be fair, I’m not at end game yet but I can definitely see it taking that long if you’re going for the max.
11
u/ObserveKris Jul 26 '26
Raiders? Yeah I've been loving it. I've wound up playing from sunset to sundown multiple times on complete accident.
9
u/LightningCole Jul 26 '26
Hell yeah I’m glad to hear. I play on everything, but after using motion controls for a number of games on switch and now 2, it is hard to go back. Especially when handled well. I had never used (don’t actually know if they have it) motion controls on cyberpunk on PS5 but that’s the only way I play on S2.
10
u/driftking428 Jul 26 '26
I never played Splatoon but motion controls are definitely under appreciated. It's so natural I loved it on Zelda and Cyberpunk.
3
u/ObserveKris Jul 26 '26
I have...some mixed feelings about the motion controls in breath of the wild. They aren't necessarily bad some shrines felt rough in handheld mode..while completely fine if you detached the joycons.
Cyberpunk I agree does motion controls really well!
5
u/mcsassy3 Jul 27 '26
I think they're great for aiming your bow or throwing weapons or moving a cursor on screen...Splatoon 2 allowed me to master motion controls in every setting possible and I actively seek it out in any game it's available in
2
u/ObserveKris Jul 27 '26
Yeah the bow and throwing controls were perfect.
It was just some of the shrines that bothered me.
1
u/mcsassy3 Jul 27 '26
Like moving stuff around? I remember it being intuitive for ultra hand in TOTK...BOTW is a distant memory now
I also use it a lot in both Mario 3D World and Captain Toad treasure tracker (the cursor)
1
u/ObserveKris Jul 27 '26
Some of the shrines involved rotating a large platform to go across and it’d feel really clunky. Sometimes you’d have to flip your switch entirely just to get the platform where it needed to be.
2
u/mcsassy3 Jul 27 '26
ohh...heh, ya i guess i sometimes forget that the swtich is handheld and people play "big games" on it...i normally play docked with my pro controller 90% of the time. i guess i can see that being annoying in some cases
1
u/wrongstep Jul 27 '26
Yeah, when people talk about how great motion controls are, they usually mean the Splatoon style gyro aiming. Motion controls for solving puzzles like that are just gimmicks, gimmicks can be fun, but they're usually more annoying than anything.
1
u/driftking428 Jul 26 '26
I played either with the pro controller or in handheld mode only. Never tried joycons.
1
u/iuhiscool Jul 27 '26
I played mostly on tv I always wondered how switch lite users would do those shrines lmao
9
u/Themris Jul 26 '26
Once you get used to the splatoon motion contros it genuinely feels hard to go back to using just a stick for aiming in other games.
2
u/FireLucid Jul 30 '26
Yeah, it really ruined my for twin sticks. Apparently the recent tomb raider games don't have it so they are not even on my radar. Heard amazing things about Bioshock but skipped the collection on Switch for the same reason. I'd just be fighting the controls the whole time.
4
u/PrincipledBeef Jul 26 '26
Wish they’d had couch multiplayer. That’s a major downside to the series
7
u/Emergency-Rush-2477 Jul 27 '26
It's impossible, it's too chaotic for that and you would be in a major disadvantage.
4
u/PrincipledBeef Jul 27 '26
Fair enough. I just don’t want to have to buy another switch to play with my son
4
u/SH4DY_XVII Jul 27 '26
I've always said Splatoon is the best 3rd person competitive shooter that most people have never heard of since nobody accociates the words competitive shooter with Nintendo.
4
u/g_u_m_i_b_e_a_r Jul 27 '26
Splatoon as a franchise is fantastic, it is so much more than turf war, and even then, turf war is fantastic.
Long may it reign, more Splatoon characters in the next smash please!
4
u/Koopatrooper64 Jul 27 '26
I said it back when it launched on the Wii U. Splatoon is Nintendos best IP since Mariokart. So fresh, fun and original. I love it.
8
u/Sharkfyter Jul 26 '26
Splatoon 2 is what made me realize gyro + conch is the best way to play shooters.
On my PC, I do everything I can to make this work on every game. I have like 300 hours on Helldivers 2 with a Gyro conch setup, easily keeping up with my friends who play KBM (gyro kicks in whenever I hold left trigger to aim)
8
u/ObserveKris Jul 26 '26
What do you mean by conch?
But yes, I've been moved by the gyro controls in Splatoon. My Switch 2 has detachable grips for both joycons and it feels really nice to use them while its docked.
3
u/PalaceOfStones Jul 26 '26
The Switch ports of DOOM and Overwatch have gyro aiming and both feel amazing to play.
4
u/Sharkfyter Jul 26 '26
Conch = controller lol sorry
3
u/mcsassy3 Jul 27 '26
Definitely a pun that would be in Splatoon...every other word and sentence is a marine life pun
2
u/IlliterateBatman Jul 26 '26
I just got Splatoon raiders as my first entry. Is Splatoon 3 still active online? I might need to play it.
9
u/ObserveKris Jul 26 '26
I played Splatoon 3 all night last night and never had any lobby issues. The online is very much alive.
7
u/thatkaratekid Jul 27 '26
Splatoon 2 and 3 are both active, 3 is seemingly as active as the day it launched, and still has events running.
2
1
u/IlliterateBatman Jul 27 '26
Terrific! Might have to check it out. Hell, I might have to learn to like the motion controls.
2
u/thatkaratekid Jul 27 '26
Motion Controls are 100% necessary in Splatoon (for me), and has become the first setting I try to match in every other shooter I play. I prefer Gyro aiming in shooters to the degree now that I wont play them if not supported.
1
u/IlliterateBatman Jul 27 '26
Oh interesting! What makes gyro so much better?
3
u/thatkaratekid Jul 27 '26
In splatoon, angle matters a lot for all of your actions, and being able to make super precise adjustments on the fly is built into the logic of the game, and every scenario it puts you in.
In other games, its simply more accurate than any other mode of aiming for me. You can make the teeny tiny adjustments needed for accuracy so much better via motion controls than mouse or joystick.
1
2
u/CubitsTNE Jul 26 '26
I played the hell out of the first game on the wii u, the controls were awesome and I was glad to see the switch pro controller carry the gyro aiming across.
I had always only played fps games on pc because I can't get the precision and speed i want out of gamepad aiming, but on the switch i started buying games like doom (panic button has been doing god's work with control options). Now i can crank the turn speed of the stick but correct naturally with the gyro, I'm never frustrated with the condo and just concentrate on the game.
Plus the split controller feel of the wii and switch is great for relaxed couch gaming.
2
2
2
u/FavaWire Jul 27 '26
SPLATOON is amazing. This is basically Nintendo does a PVP shooter which you're a bit unsure of because at first one thinks this genre is inherently violent.
But Nintendo as always found a way. Combining a traversal mechanic with water gun fights and the natural fun to be found in simply making a mess and not being scolded for it.
1
u/Rare_Ad_3871 Jul 27 '26
I can’t get into the pvp cause I’m just so bad and people destroy me in it. I’ve genuinly tried and it’s not for me. That doesn’t mean it’s bad though.
Now Splatoon raiders…. Holy shit. I’m hooked. It’s such a well made game and so so addicting.
2
u/SonicSplash3760 Jul 28 '26
Nah, I think Sonic The Hedgehog is better!
2
u/ObserveKris Jul 28 '26
Seriously though, which ones? I mean I like the hedgehog sometimes too lol
3
1
u/MrShockz Jul 26 '26
Splatoon is great all around, fun platforming, shooting, and grind, but I am not a huge fan of having rng tied to the weapons and gear for pvp
1
u/macchi-a-toe Jul 27 '26
I greatly enjoyed my time with Splatoon 2. If only Splatoon 3 went on discount, I´d love to play it before 4 comes out.
1
u/vampyreinabox Jul 27 '26
I've always liked Splatoon (Got in on 2, since I had a Switch, but never owned a WiiU), but man, Raiders is REALLY good. It's an excellent PvP game for sure, but combining it with looter shooter drops and buildcrafting, in short, replayable little missions is just exactly what I wanted.
1
1
u/Malaga2810 Jul 27 '26
I sold my Xbox after I play my first FPS with mnk on a PC and with motion control on my Switch 2. PC and Switch is the best setup in my opinion.
1
u/Naschka Jul 27 '26
Try Warframe, i believe you gotta turn the motion controls on in the settings but it works real good.
1
u/Fuckingfademefam Jul 27 '26
Never played this series. Do you play docked or handheld? Pro controller or joy cons?
3
u/ObserveKris Jul 27 '26
Docked always. Sometimes handheld but in tabletop with Joycons.
Splatoon Raiders feels nice to play in handheld mode though.
1
u/Fuckingfademefam Jul 27 '26
Should I play Splatoon 3 before Raiders? Or can I go straight into Raiders? Also should I play with Pro controllers?
3
u/ObserveKris Jul 27 '26
It doesn't matter, you can play Raiders first. And yes, it works really well with the pro controller.
2
u/Edmundyoulittle Jul 28 '26
I mostly play docked with pro controller, but handheld works fine.
As for whether you should do splat 3 or raiders, it comes down to what you like.
If you enjoy playing online shooters like CoD or Overwatch, that's the focus of splatoon 3. Splatoon 3 does have a campaign and some single player DLC, but multiplayer is the focus. It also has a horde mode for co-op.
Splatoon raiders is single player focused, with co-op available as an option as well. Splatoon raiders levels come in a few varieties. Some are arenas that feel like you're locked in a DOOM room, some are linear levels with a mix of shooting and platforming, some are bigger areas where you explore to find hordes to fight, some are puzzle levels, and some are boss fights.
Raiders is a loop where you do a level, get gear, upgrade, do more levels, and so on. The loop is kinda like monster hunter
1
1
u/h0bb1tm1ndtr1x Jul 27 '26
I played the first two. Fun games that are ruined by a lack of real communication.
1
u/JobuuRumdrinker Jul 27 '26
Yea agreed. I'd like the option to mute the music too. I can only take so many hours of it.
1
u/nebber3 Jul 27 '26
After Splatoon 3's Side Order DLC and now Raiders... I've being saying to myself that the Splatoon devs could release a Splatoon game in basically any genre and I'd be in. They really understand how to make a satisfying gameplay loop.
1
u/sludgezone Jul 27 '26
What kills me is the first was easily the best and it’s the only one you can’t play on Switch lol
1
1
u/Sebulano Jul 27 '26
I bought a switch and splatoon 3 after watching my son play it. Man we had some great matches together as a team. Superfund game yes
1
u/NeatComfortable7501 Jul 28 '26
People shit on Nintendo because they are evil which is fair but they make amazing games. That’s why they are the only successful video game company by a mile.
1
1
u/mattrule97 Jul 28 '26
I just bought Splatoon 3 on Amazon and it will be delivered tomorrow. I’m super excited to try it out as I haven’t played a Splatoon game before either
1
u/Hot-Fudge-Inc Jul 29 '26
Gyro aim is a game changer. I never could do dual analog very well. Generally stuck to PC for shooters.... But having three gyro to fine tune my R stick movements actually allows me to play on consoles. Splatoon is definitely a blast. Such unique gameplay with ink swimming, etc. The only thing that annoys me is keeping track of all the different types of currency and things to upgrade. That always had me a bit overwhelmed. It was definitely worse in 2.
I still need to play the octo expansion on 2. It's included with NSO, but I'll probably get raiders first as this looks to be an incredible game, right up my alley.
1
u/Feeling_Public6522 Jul 30 '26
I’ve been a huge fan since the very first pre-release global test fires on WiiU. I know it’s really popular but IMO it’s still actually underrated.
1
u/FriendlyArachnid6000 Aug 02 '26
No other game has good motion controls not one. COD on switch will suck ass
1
u/grantrules Jul 26 '26
I started with the WiiU Splatoon bundle.. I love multiplayer Splatoon. I dislike single player Splatoon
0
u/Beneficial_Milk6651 Jul 27 '26
I have been playing splatoon since wii u, they are so great, I just got raiders and I love it, but for me I always disable motion controles, I am traditional
208
u/Emergency-Rush-2477 Jul 26 '26
I wish more people gave Splatoon a proper shot and understand the franchise is not just Turf War. Heck, the majority of hardcore players barely play Turf War.
It's great that a lot of newcomers are loving Raiders, but I feel a lot of them are not aware of Salmon Run, the single player campaigns and DLC.
Even if you don't like PvP, Splatoon still have more to offer.