Splatoon Raiders, a new single-player offering from Nintendo, appears to be shaping up as a compelling experience for fans of the franchise, blending its signature ink-based combat with surprising roguelite elements. After a dramatic helicopter crash during a treasure-hunting expedition to the Spirhalite Islands, players find themselves stranded and must embark on a quest for riches.
Core Gameplay and Mechanics
The core gameplay loop will feel familiar to Splatoon veterans. Players will ink environments, swim through their own colorful creations, and collect "Mysterious Shards." The movement mechanics, including surfing across waves on wooden planks, are described as joyful. Combat against the Salmonids involves inking them and cleaning up their "hideous" ink, making way for the player's own "beautiful" green splatters. Defeated Salmonids drop eggs, which can be used for special abilities, and occasionally unique enemies like Salty Tongue drop better gear.
Introducing the Companion Bot
A key new addition is a repairable robot companion piloted by Big Man. This bot enhances gameplay significantly by aiding in combat and providing mobility options. It can boost the player into the air for gliding and leaping to new areas, while also splattering ink. Its primary function, however, is to drill into large crystals to yield more Mysterious Shards and other valuable items. These crystals are identifiable by the beams of light they emit into the sky.
Customization and Progression
As players progress through missions, they collect "treasure chests" containing new ink tanks like Speed, Power, and Tactical. Each tank grants unique combat gadgets, such as the Speed tank's "Blast Boot" for aerial assaults or the Tactical Tank's "Shot Pot" turret. While these abilities have cooldowns, they offer significant tactical advantages. Beyond tanks and gadgets, players can acquire gadget parts to enhance abilities, increase explosion radius, reduce cooldowns, and more. Leveling up allows for upgrades to health, weapon damage, and gadget part slots. The game also features "Salmonid Relics" that provide passive bonuses, such as a double jump or reduced ink consumption for weapons. This deep customization system allows players to tailor their character and become "truly overpowered" through strategic play. The game also includes a base area where players can read lore about the Salmonids and the world.
Roguelite Structure and Challenges
Splatoon Raiders incorporates persistent progression, a hallmark of the roguelite genre. After each mission, players return to their base to sort and upgrade their gear before heading out on another expedition. This rinse-and-repeat cycle of fighting Salmonids and gathering resources is kept fresh by the variety of upgrades and the unfolding challenges. The game culminates in "raids" that take players underground into confined spaces where they must collect a specific number of Salmonid eggs within a time limit. These sections are described as intensely challenging, forcing players to refine their builds, utilize all their tools, and adapt to fast-paced gameplay.
Four-Player Co-op
In addition to the single-player content, Splatoon Raiders offers a four-player co-op mode. This mode largely mirrors the core gameplay, but with the added excitement of playing alongside friends. The chaos of multiple gadgets, guns, and special abilities firing simultaneously is highlighted as a particularly enjoyable aspect of the multiplayer experience.
Overall, Splatoon Raiders appears to deliver a dynamic and engaging experience, successfully integrating its established mechanics with a surprising roguelite structure and extensive customization options. The addition of a companion bot and the challenging raid encounters further enhance the gameplay, with co-op offering a robust social element.