'Splatoon Raiders': Nintendo's ink battle franchise takes a turn with its new 'spin-off'

Since the first Splatoon landed in 2015 on the Wii U, Nintendo's young franchise has been mainly defined by its competitive multiplayer aspect, where fast-paced, colorful ink battles focused on conquering territory are the main protagonists. The Japanese company had already explored new mechanics in some of the main titles' expansions, but, supported by their new hardware, they have now decided to make a strong and unexpected turn. Splatoon Raiders is the first official spin-off of the saga and the fourth global installment of its universe, in which Nintendo moves away from the traditional formula to offer a mainly solo adventure that bets on frantic action, treasure hunting, and the exploration of large territories.

The new proposal has been designed from the outset as an ideal entry point into the universe of Splatoon, especially for players who may have felt overwhelmed by the competitive pace of the online game. The new approach reinterprets the acclaimed cooperative mode Salmon Run, present in the last two installments of the saga, in which the objective is to survive large hordes of enemies known as salmonids. Now, thanks to the technical power leap of the Nintendo Switch 2, the company takes the opportunity to explore these dynamics in larger scenarios and with much more massive battles.

A loop between the floating base and incursions to the islands

The plot of Splatoon Raiders begins when the player's avatar, a young mechanic who can be customized as an Inkling or Octoling, accidentally crashes on the mysterious Spiralita Islands. On this remote archipelago, the protagonist joins the Surimi Clan, a well-known trio of musicians who already debuted in Splatoon 3. In order to persevere and discover the treasures hidden on the islands, they form a team and rebuild a ship that serves as their central floating base from which to coordinate the different incursions. This base will also be the place to permanently improve the character and arsenal in order to progress in the adventure.

The game's structure is organized in a very dynamic and addictive loop, in which the player embarks on missions to the islands with progressively increasing difficulty. During each raid, the player must collect minerals and other valuable loot while facing different waves of enemies, and everything they achieve will serve to improve and qualify for more complicated raids (and with better rewards). Although it is designed to be played individually, Raiders it also includes the possibility of working cooperatively with up to four players (both online and local), adapting the difficulty of the challenge according to the number of team members.

Ink combos, impossible gadgets, and custom upgrades

One of the great successes of the proposal are the new gadgets and the ink tanks. This system offers a very deep customization capacity and a well-defined progression, in addition to favoring a generally very mobile and frantic gameplay on the battlefield. Choosing one of the three types of tank defines the protagonist's general dynamic, but the player can combine and customize the 15 gadgets to adapt the functionality to their combat style and create devastating combos. To top it off, the game features over 100 main weapons, divided into the 11 traditional categories of the saga.

All resources obtained on the islands can be used to increase the mechanic's level and skills, boost different weapons, or improve the base itself. Furthermore, the potential of the Explorabot, a special robot piloted by members of the Surimi Clan that offers battlefield support through special actions and attacks, can also be expanded. Combining and optimizing this entire arsenal and then testing it in the most complicated incursions is one of the game's great attractions.

A bet to cool off this summer

Nintendo's new proposal is reminiscent of the successful Pokémon Pokopia, as it is also a spin-off of a very consolidated saga but with a radical change in its gameplay. By the way, Pokopia premieres its first expansion this August 5th with a new very summery ecosystem. Both proposals, thanks to good optimization and the capabilities of the hybrid console, result in a very polished and, above all, fun experience, as they propose new dynamics within a universe already familiar to players. Moreover, the new Splatoon has had a remarkably positive reception so far, to the point that it has become one of the highest-rated games in history by users of Metacritic, a well-known score aggregator.

For Catalan players who want to try the new proposal firsthand, Nintendo is bringing its summer tour through Catalonia and will stop in Calafell (August 3, 4 and 5) and Cambrils (August 7, 8 and 9). The event features free access game points where you can try both Splatoon Raiders and other new releases from its console's catalog. A very good opportunity to cool off this summer with one of the season's most original action proposals.