Splatoon 2 Hands-On Impressions

It shouldn't come as a surprise given the success of the first game, but Splatoon 2 definitely stakes a claim as Nintendo's challenger on the esports front. This first-party exclusive is set to arrive this summer, while the Switch is still young. A bold strategy as there may not be a huge number of players at launch, however, there is also the potential of building a healthy and competitive community that will last for years.

These are just assumptions on our part, though, as little of this was shown at the recent Switch reveal event that we attended. What it did was allow us to make rather limited first contact with the game, although we were able to get a sense of what it offered, even if we already knew plenty after playing its predecessor a lot. At first glance there is not much of a difference, and an experienced player will feel right at home here.

To further the sense of dèjá vu, the map we got to try in this version had an urban theme, with style and elements similar to what we've seen in the first game. The layout is not the same, everything is different, and you're forced to cook up new strategies. Several paths cut through the levels, and so teams can find new ways to mount a comeback if they're trapped at their respawn point, or if they need to counter certain equipment combos.

The design of the characters does a better job of reflecting the progress that's been made. The plot reveals that two years have passed since the events of the first game, and it's noticeable in the Inklings, who are now more mature. They appear hardened, possibly a result of being battle worn, and they wear more serious faces in spite of the rather cheerful overall tone of the game. What has caused this change? Splatoon 2 will offer a more complex and deep story mode, something that we cannot in good conscience claim was there in the first game. But alas, we're still completely in the dark about what it will entail. Well, maybe not completely in the dark, there was the grey-haired character who appeared at the end of the first trailer. A possible protagonist or narrator, or even an antagonist?

The demo also reveals the gap in quality between Nintendo's two consoles, even if the heritage from the first game is there to be seen. The action flows at a fluid 60 frames-per-second, something that we're told has been guaranteed throughout (and there's no reason to think otherwise). The crisp 1080p resolution and more complex 3D models are clearly improvements. It's even looks sharp when played in 720p with the Switch removed from its dock.

We also have to tell you about a couple of new equipment-based features. The new double pistol is the first example of what appears to be a complete rejuvenation of the arsenal. They're agile and comfortable to use, and they have enough power and don't waste too much ink. We were also able to try a new special attack that lifts the inkling about five meters above the map, letting you deliver cannon shots more precisely. As there wasn't a sniper there to kill us, it was a blast and allowed us to clean the map in ten seconds flat. Will it be nerfed prior to launch? Probably.

Splatoon was born on the Wii U and the change of platform doesn't go unnoticed. The trade-off from losing the second screen, although perhaps it's not that important, is that we've lost our complete overview of the map, as well as the fact that you can no longer touch where you want to respawn on Gamepad. With the Switch you have to press the X button, choose your destination, then deploy via the d-pad or the motion sensor. It's not a major inconvenience, but maybe this is one of the few times we'll actually miss the often underused dual screens of the Wii U.

The next thing to note is in regards to the controllers. The Joy-Con and Pro controller are better than their predecessors; they're much more precise and sensitive in comparison. As a result the overall responsiveness has been improved. Playing Splatoon 2 with the Pro controller, or even with the Joy-Cons attached to the tablet, is a silky smooth experience.

One map, one weapon and one special attack, plus the new control scheme, the familiar interface, and the option of portable gaming. This is what we got to try during our short demo of a title that has a lot more riding on it than its predecessor ever had. We haven't played enough to say whether this is a full on sequel or more of an enhanced port (the title suggests it's a sequel, of course). Howeverm there is every reason to have high expectations as Nintendo returns for a second serving of Splatoon. We're pleased with what we've seen, even if our hands-on was very short. Hopefully we'll get to play a more fleshed out demo soon.