Summary
The originalSplatoonbecame one of the few reasons to invest in a Wii U, as its ink-splashing fun stood out next to its grimmer, bloodier, moodier third-person squad shooter brethren. Its sequels continued the fun on the Nintendo Switch, where, online or offline, players tried to cover as much of the stage as possible in their team’s ink, and paint over whatever areas their opponents reached first.
But now there’s a new entry in the series on the way, and unlike its predecessors, it’s got different goals in mind.Splatoon Raidersis the series’ first spin-off game, and it aims to shake up the formula. It’s still early days, so there’s plenty of room for speculation, but with the trailer and early press details available, this list will deal withwhat’s officially confirmed forSplatoon Raiders.
6It’s Not Splatoon 4
It’s a Spin-Off for a Reason
It’s a bit of an obvious statement,butSplatoon Raidersis notSplatoon 4. The trailer suggests that players can still shoot ink everywhere to help them maneuver, so it’ll be familiar enough forSplatoonfans. But the trailer also shows that the game will likely be a single-player affair, as its new hero will run around the Spirhalite Islands instead of joining their buddies to ink up multiple different courses.
Splatoon 4is still currently in development, but if players still want a more traditionalSplatoonexperience, they can revisitSplatoon 3and its new update. It gave players a range of new stages, and 30 new weapons to experiment with, from the Splat Charger CAM 0 and its Crab Tank to the Torrentz Hydra Splatling and its Big Bubbler. That, and it’s all free of charge, though it works better on the Switch 2than its predecessor.
5It’s A Switch 2 Exclusive
There’s Only One Way to Play This Game
Even if players don’t have a Switch 2, they can still enjoySplatoon 3. But if they want to see whatSplatoon Raidershas to offer, they’ll eventually have to switch (pun not intended) to Nintendo’s new console, asthe spinoff is exclusive to the Switch 2. At the time of this writing, the game doesn’t have a set release date, so players have time to save up cash until the game hits the market.
The Switch 2 can provide a 4K resolution when docked, supports HDR, and provides 60FPS gameplay even in handheld mode. It’s apretty powerful piece of kitcompared to its predecessor, so players can expect the game to be a visual treat with its tropical locations and vibrant ink splashes.
4There’s a New Hero in Town
Say Hello to the Mechanic
Instead of playing any random Inkling or Octoling, players take control of a new lead inthe Mechanic. They joined Deep Cut, the band fromSplatoon 3, whose desire for treasure led them all to the Spirhalite Islands in the first place. While the player character remains mute in the trailer, they get the lion’s share of the gameplay, where they can do everything the squid kids can do in the regularSplatoongames.
They’re armed with a new ink-shooting weapon that has a bigger ink tank but looks more makeshift next to the main series’ gear, suggesting they made it themselves. The Mechanic is also joined by a robot buddy who runs after them as they dash, jump, shoot, and swim around the place. But the trailer didn’t show off what it does yet, so no one knows for sure whether it’ll fight off foes, collect materials, or do something completely different.
3They’re Joined by Deep Cut
Splatoon 3’s Band of Treasure-Hunting Musicians Make a Return
Shiver, Frye, and Big Man, the members of Deep Cut, gaveSplatoon 3players the rundown on their stages, game updates, and other announcements via their Anarchy Splatcast. They even played the bad guys inthe ‘Return of the Mammalians’ campaign, where their plans to loot the Splatlands got them into trouble. Now they drive the plot ofSplatoon Raiders, as they find a map of the Spirhalite Islands hidden in a basement.
According to the articles they found, they think it could lead them to their next payday, and get the Mechanic to fly them over there via helicopter. At least until some hidden, mysterious, glowing object sends a tornado their way and makes them crash. Chances are they won’t let that stop their search, nor will it stop them from having fun, as the trailer shows them fishing, lounging around and doing all sorts in the background.
2It Takes Players Into a New World
Jumping Off the Stage into the Wider World
The trailer shows the Mechanicrunning freely around the Spirhalite Islands, with nary a wall, pit, or team member driving them to ink everything in sight. So, it’s safe to saySplatoon Raidersis going to be more exploratory, where players will use their abilities to see more of what this new world offers.
Does that mean it could be an open-world game? It’s likely, though it’s hard to say. Viewers only got a brief snippet of gameplay in the trailer. It does seem like the player can take the Mechanic around anywhere, though there’s a chance it could be more open-zone a laSuper Mario Odysseythan being aSplatoon-basedBreath of the Wildclone. Until Nintendo shows off more of its gameplay, there’s little for prospective players to go on.
1There’s Something Hiding Around the Islands
And It Might Not Be Friendly
While the big glowing light at the center of the Spirhalite tornado sticks out more, there’s a shot of an eye slowly opening while hidden underwater in the trailer. This suggests there’ssome sort of threatlurking around the Spirhalite Islands too. Similar trailers in the past have used cryptic signs like this to tease their game’s big villains, or at least one of their new, more antagonistic characters.
But without anything more concrete to go on, this eye could belong to anything. All that can be said for sure is that the Spirhalite Islands are hiding more than Deep Cut’s long-sought treasure, and it’ll be up to the player, via the Mechanic, to find out what it is. It sounds ominous enough, but with their new gear, the Mechanic needs something to give a good inking.
