Splatoon has been a beloved Nintendo series since its first installment on the Wii U in 2015. It’s a series full of style, impeccable vibes, and an extremely compelling multiplayer that has brought players from far and wide back for the chance to ink some turf. Splatoon 3 is no different, building on the triumphs of its predecessors.
But, for some of us, this might be our first exposure to the world of Splatoon and everything it has to offer. When your knowledge begins and ends with “squid kids” and “ink,” everything is a discovery, and you might be in the market for a little guidance. We’re all in this together, after all. Time to get inked.
5 The Campaign Is Longer Than You Think
You’d be forgiven for thinking that the campaign for Splatoon 3 is short. Splatoon is meant to be accessible to kids and adults alike, and is best known for its fun, unique multiplayer mode. Newcomers who only know the basics of Splatoon through cultural osmosis may even be surprised to learn that there is a campaign at all.
The introduction to the campaign takes the form of several short, trial-based levels as you reach the bottom of a pit to defeat a boss who has been causing havoc. Going into it, you may think it’s just a tutorial to teach you the basics of splatting, and will end after you deal with the boss. This is not the case. After your boss battle, you’ll be thrown into Alterna, a snowy, underground world where more levels await you. You can leave at any time, but just know that a sprawling world is waiting for you right beneath your feet.
4 …And Harder Than You Think
It’s not just that the campaign is longer than you’d think, however. It’s also harder than you might be prepared for, especially if you’re not totally comfortable with the controls or weapons yet. While you can adjust the sensitivity of the controls to your liking, there are just some challenges in the campaign that are more skill-based than you may be prepared for.
While Splatoon 3 is for all ages, some of the levels you face may have you clutching the controller much harder than you intend to as you mutter about timing your jumps. Of course, it doesn’t get any easier, either. You just get better. Besides, getting through these difficult levels means you’ll be ready to mess some turf up when you boot up multiplayer.
3 Can’t Buy New Clothes Until You’re Level 4
For a game (and series) that puts so much emphasis on having the best fits, Splatoon 3 doesn’t actually allow you to buy any new clothes until you’ve hit Level 4 in multiplayer. This can be a little annoying, especially if you have a troublesome connection. It would be one thing if the shops weren’t open for your low-level Inkling or Octoling. But, no, the shopkeepers will actively shame you for entering their places of business at a lower level.
It’s not especially difficult to reach level 4 in multiplayer, provided your connection stays solid, and no other players drop out of the game. So you don’t have to stress too hard about it. Just be aware that you’re not cool enough to wear shirts with stripes until you’ve proven yourself in the literal squid games.
2 Diversify Your Loadout For Multiplayer
When you start multiplayer, you only have one weapon to choose from. It’s fine for a beginner, but as you get better at the game and move up through the ranks, you’ll want something that fits your gameplay style better. Lucky for you, there are many options to choose from once you have the necessary tokens. You may be tempted to stick to a certain type of weapon or hoard the passes.
Instead, you should choose a variety of weapons. You never know what kind of ink-based item of harm your teammates will have, so it’s better to try a bunch of things and be dynamic. You might find something you like much more than you thought you would.
1 You Don’t Need To Know Anything About Splatoon
For some of us, our knowledge of Splatoon as a series begins and ends with, “hey, aren’t those squid kids in Smash Bros and Mario Kart?” And hey, there’s no shame in that. Splatoon isn’t too intimidating in terms of its lore – it’s not like diving into Mass Effect 2 while knowing exactly nothing about Mass Effect. Still, as players, we have all been bitten by the bug known as “completionism.” So starting a series with the third entry just feels wrong.
Don’t worry, though. Splatoon 3 doesn’t expect you to be familiar with its setting, strange, formerly aquatic humanoids, or why they constantly hit each other with ink. However, this isn’t to say it’s not a little confusing for newcomers. Splatoon doesn’t give too much in the way of explanation, but does it really need to? It’s a multiplayer-focused experience about running around to cool tunes and doing thorough graffiti with your friends. Everything else is just vibes.
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