Genre: Third-Person Shooter
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo

Splatoon is like a 16:9, high resolution cross between two turn-of-the-century Dreamcast classics: Jet Set Radio, and Sonic Adventure; clear blue skies and punks storming up the place! The amount of programming that obviously went into the ink is impressive, with the way that its substance seems to layer on and shift about as players move through it. If there is a complaint it's that the game just doesn't quite have that "CGI in real-time" look of Mario Kart 8 or Super Mario 3d World.

Splatoon's gameplay and its audio are inseperably intertwined. The way that the music dynamically changes to reflect the stage of the match becomes, in itself, a mechanic that players listen for, and alter their behavior accordingly. The various splat sound effects change when hitting a player, or a surface that can't be painted on. The various special ability sound effects are so memorable and distinctive that they trigger reflexive responses almost immediately. If there is a down side, it's that clearly not much attention was given to the songs used in the single player mode.

Superficially, Splatoon plays like a standard third-person shooter, with the left analog stick used for movement, and the right stick for camera manipulation. It's the deviations that make Splatoon stand apart; gyroscope aiming allows for almost mouse-like finesse. Holding the left trigger lets players hide and move around in their team's ink, introducing a massive stealth element to the proceedings, while simultaneously allowing for movement on walls. The variety of super clever weapons, and the overall "feel" of the physics really come together perfectly.

In the 1980s and 1990s, crazy new ideas, with brand new worlds, characters, and gameplay concepts sat right alongside clones and established formulas, as first-class citizens-- as equals, with big budgets and equally big mindshare. Even if only for a single release, Splatoon is a return to that glorious age's mentality. As for the game itself, it almost knocks things out of the park, if it weren't for two details: the single player feels like a "bolted on" bore; it's a total chore. And once the player hits the maximum level of twenty, the core gameplay starts to feel a bit aimless. Still, no shooter since the original Unreal Tournament has felt this novel. Stay fresh!