With a week before E3 2015, the game that caught a lot of attention at E3 2014 has finally been released. Splatoon is Nintendo’s attempt at creating a fun and original shooter that doesn’t follow the traditional rules of a genre that is focused on shooting and killing. Instead of following the rules of what defines a shooter, Nintendo gives their own spin on the idea along with a more cartoonish look. The main concept is that you play as an inkling who has the ability to swap between a human and squid form, as you use ink to paint the battlefield with as much ink as possible. You shoot ink in your human form and refill by swimming in the ink you sprayed onto the battlefield in your squid form. This simplistic, yet, unique idea for a shooter is the reason why the game is so fun while also being accessible to all ages.

The colorful world of Splatoon is ever so inviting when you start the game, with the many shops of Splatoon’s hub world, Inkapolis, only adding to this. The customization the game allows for the player is extensive, as it gives the player the ability to create a personalized character that separates them from others when playing online. The clothes you can buy from these shops also grant certain buffs to your character which help when playing online. The weapons you can purchase and use consist of standard guns that shoot ink, guns that you can charge for more power, and weapons that act like paint rollers. Along with each weapon, there is a sub-weapon and a special weapon that goes along with your primary weapon. It is slightly frustrating to see that we aren’t allowed to mix-and-match a primary, sub, and special of our choice as they are packaged in pre-made sets for the player. It’s annoying, but allows for the player to search for pre-made weapon sets that best suit their playing style.

The game has a single-player campaign, a local multiplayer mode, and an online multiplayer mode. The campaign is pretty short and the local multiplayer only allows for a game where you and a friend compete to see who can shoot down the most balloons for points. Online multiplayer is where you will be spending most of your time as it consists of the most addicting fun part of Splatoon along with a competitive scene for those who really want to show off their skills. The game itself does seem a little light on content, as you basically play one of the two game modes and that is about it. This has been addressed by Nintendo, who promise frequent updates that will provide more content for the game.

Nintendo’s unique idea has created an awesome new IP for a company that is finally getting the publicity that it deserves. The game’s mechanics are reminiscent of Super Mario Sunshine while creating a new and colorful look to a game that works for its concept. Although there may not be much for the game as of right now, that will soon be solved and doesn’t make the game any less fun. Splatoon is a must-have for any Wii U, and will certainly keep you entertained as we wait for Nintendo to release more games for its system.