What we said about Splatoon 3’s single-player
Splatoon 3’s single-player campaign is a triumphant success, effectively combining the creative spirit of Splatoon 2’s Octo Expansion with a fulfilling hub world. The game’s engaging level design and meaningful objectives, complemented by the personality of its bosses, maintain a compelling experience. Even with familiar enemies, the campaign remains fresh throughout.
Score: 8
Splatoon 3’s single-player campaign earns an 8 out of 10. It consistently delivers on excitement and fun, offering a satisfying experience despite some slight flaws.
What’s the best Splatoon single-player campaign?
This question, posed in the form of a poll, highlights the enduring appeal of single-player campaigns across the Splatoon series. It reveals how different players may prioritize different aspects, such as the creative missions or the replayability, when evaluating the quality of a single-player campaign.
Wave 1 of the Splatoon 3 Expansion Pass
Logan Ranks the Splatoon Campaigns
The Splatoon 3 Expansion Pass, particularly Side Order, offers a fresh perspective on the series’ gameplay mechanics. The introduction of new abilities and enemy types provide a significant departure from the familiar, offering a unique approach to the game.
Splatoon 3: Side Order DLC Review
Splatoon 3’s Side Order DLC, while a welcome addition, faces some critical limitations. Its roguelite structure, which involves incremental progress and weapon variety, does not translate into a consistently challenging experience. The emphasis on early runs, before the substantial difficulty curve kicks in, creates a less satisfying replay experience for experienced players.
Side Order’s strengths include:
- Creative gameplay: New abilities and enemy types, along with the Pearl Drone, provide exciting twists on core mechanics.
- Unique visual style: The black-and-white dystopian setting sets a distinct tone from the vibrant color scheme of other Splatoon games.
- New enemy designs: The Jelleton enemies boast interesting mechanics and designs, enhancing the game’s combat.
Side Order’s weaknesses include:
- Ease of early runs: The game becomes less challenging for experienced players early on, impacting its replayability aspect.
- Limited boss variety: Repetitive boss encounters throughout the Spire of Order, especially during repeat playthroughs, may detract from the replay value.
- Pacing issues: The balance between stage progression, dialogue, and level selection can feel uneven, impacting the overall flow of gameplay.
The inclusion of color chips and upgradeable character stats makes running the tower endlessly enjoyable, though the lack of an endless mode restricts the true replay value. The risk-reward system connected to difficulty settings adds layers of strategy but doesn’t entirely compensate for the relatively easy early runs.
Side Order’s success ultimately hinges on personal preference. Players seeking an easily accessible introduction to the roguelite genre or who are enamored with the black-and-white aesthetic might find it worthwhile. However, hardcore fans or veterans of the series might find the game’s difficulty curve unsatisfactory or its boss fights and variety underwhelming. This should not be seen as a disappointment, however, as it is still a valuable DLC for the main game.
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