Nintendo’s Splatoon series has always been known for its colourful world, high-paced battles and unique ink-based gameplay. Splatoon Raiders tries to take that familiar formula in a new direction with new environments, more exploration and new gameplay systems. There are some fun moments in the game and it shows Nintendo’s willingness to experiment with the franchise. Unfortunately, some bad design decisions, inconsistent pacing and skimpy content prevent the experience from being as good as it could have been.
Splatoon Raiders goes in a new direction
Splatoon Raiders doesn’t have the usual multiplayer-centric structure that the series is known for, which many players are used to. The game is more exploration, missions and character driven. Players splat colourful areas, achieve a range of objectives and depend on familiar ink-based movement to reach hidden locations.
This new direction really gives the game its own identity. Yet fun to swim in ink, And to climb painted walls, And find other ways. The controls are snappy, and the movement system remains one of the better facets of the Splatoon experience.
The game also introduces a lot of new tools and abilities. These additions provide new ways to do combat and face challenges in the environment and exploration in each area. There are a few missions with more than one path, so there’s some flexibility in the gameplay.
Make a strong first impression with vivid imagery
Splatoon Raiders continues Nintendo’s tradition of bright colours, playful animation, and strange character designs. Creative objects and rich surroundings from many lands bring each place to life. The graphics are what you’d expect, but there are enough new details to make the game feel different.
The animations are smooth, especially for movement and fighting. Ink flows nicely on surfaces and every meeting is a feast for the eyes. The soundtrack with its upbeat music and quirky sound effects helps the game’s upbeat feel.
In normal gameplay performance is usually stable. But in busier areas it can feel a little less polished at times, with several enemies and visual effects on screen at once.
Mission Design is Boring
The big problem with Splatoon Raiders is that the missions can get pretty repetitive. The first few sections have interesting mechanics but the game gets too repetitive too quickly. Often you will have to kill enemy squads, collect certain items or cover certain areas with ink.
These are fun in short bursts, but get boring if repeated without a lot of variety. Some missions begin differently, but they’re all basically the same. The middle section of the game is a bit more drawn out than I expected with not many big surprises.
The enemies aren’t exactly varied either. There are a couple of enemies that require similar tactics so there’s less incentive for players to try other weapons or powers.
Fighting is fun, not serious
And the combat stays fast, colourful and easy to understand. Switching between movement and attacks is free, and can lead to some satisfying moments during larger encounters. Weapons offer different styles of play, whether that is a close range attack or something a little more controlled at a distance.
But the game doesn’t really change the combat system. Upgrades increase damage, ink or movement capacity but many upgrades feel predictable. Players don’t have to change their strategy much in the game, which means that certain fights can feel easier than they should be.
More creative boss encounters. They are good at utilising the environment and often require players to learn attack patterns. Sadly, there’s not enough memorable boss battles to make up for the repetitive regular missions.
Good idea but needs more development.
Splatoon Raiders has plenty of good ideas, especially in the exploration system, the lively settings and the fluid movement mechanics. Nintendo has made a game that is connected to Splatoon, but it’s also something else.
Still, the repetitiveness of the missions, limited enemy variety and shallow progression work against its long-term appeal. Hardcore Splatoon fans will enjoy the game for a fresh experience, but those looking for the next evolution of the series will find that there are a few key areas that could do with a little more work.
