Review Roundup: Splatoon 2 marks another hit for the Nintendo Switch

Nintendo Switch has had a steady stream of exclusives since releasing in March. We had The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild at launch, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe in April, Arms in June, and now we're gearing up for Splatoon 2 later this month!

The incredibly successful Wii U kid-friendly shooter will be getting a sequel on Nintendo Switch later this week but some are a bit concerned that there's not enough new content to justify a full-priced sequel. Well, based on early reviews it seems that it has a lot to offer for both new fans and veterans of the first game and it continues to be a solid shooter that keeps you coming back! If you're on the fence about Splatoon 2, we've gathered a number of excerpts from a handful of reviews. You can view them below and can click on the scores to read the full review.

GameSpot

Splatoon 2 is easy to love. It's colorful and quirky and unafraid to be different, and it's consistently a blast to play. As far as shooters go, its unique movement mechanics stand out and make each match exciting. And while the logistics of its multiplayer aren't perfect, Splatoon 2 is a vibrant and exuberant sequel with enough fresh additions and changes to set it apart from the original.

8/10

Game Informer

"By combining engrossing gameplay with unique objectives and a fun aesthetic, Nintendo successfully cultivated the original Splatoon into a hit. With Splatoon 2, much of what made the first game good is wisely kept, while new ideas and modes make for a much stronger experience out of the gate."

"Through focusing the best elements of the original game and adding meaningful new content, Splatoon 2 is a good follow-up to Nintendo's popular shooter. With an great competitive multiplayer suite, a fun take on the wave-based survival formula, and an imaginative single-player mode, Splatoon 2 is an excellent evolution."

8.25/10

Polygon

What the first Splatoon did well is still built into the sequel’s barnacle-encrusted DNA, and now it’s on a system that you can stuff in your bag or play on the couch. It’s baffling that Splatoon 2’s best feature is held back by a frustrating lack of proper online support, and in many ways, it’s the same game with some new tricks. But there are still enough imaginative additions for anyone who played the first game to death, especially via its strange, captivating supporting cast. It may be much more of the same, but the same is still pretty fresh.

8/10

Destructoid

"Splatoon 2 is one of those sequels where you can pick up instantly where you left off, without a sense of disdain that you just paid $60 for an expansion pack."

"If you're the type of person who tried Splatoon for a little while and gave up, Nintendo hasn't done a whole lot to change your mind outside of adding a horde mode. But with more concessions for higher-level play and a deeper meta, veterans will be jumping ship from Wii U to Switch in an instant. Here's hoping that Splatoon 2 gets even more long-term support and Salmon Run is free of the shackles of a "once in a while" event for those of you who don't have multiple Switches at your disposal."

8.5/10

IGN

It feels as if the paint had just begun to dry on Splatoon after its release on the Wii U in 2015 when Nintendo applied a fresh coat and relaunched it with Splatoon 2 on the Switch. That may be why this sequel feels less like a whole new game than a new version of the first one that rolls up the best post-launch updates to the colorful and adorably non-violent team-based shooter and adds some new toys. Of course, considering the first game is a lot of fun, that’s not necessarily a bad thing, especially if you missed it for lack of a Wii U. And despite some questionable choices that can leave you trapped in matchmaking purgatory, the addition of a standout and clever take on a co-op horde mode provides some seriously addicting fun that has me coming back for more.

Review in progress, temporary score of 8.3 (subject to change).

Metro

A lot of multiplayer-focused games don’t have a single-player mode at all, so the fact that Splatoon 2’s is a bit dry is barely a complaint. In fact, there are no serious issues at all in terms of either the gameplay or content. We would like to see more maps, but they have been promised and if the original game is anything to go by that’s something Nintendo can be reasonably trusted with.

And so the only issue remains of whether this is a worthwhile sequel or not. But the only ones for which that is even an issue are those that have already played the original – and yet they’re probably more likely to want to play this than anyone. And although it’s ironic for the most original shooter of the generation to have the least inspired sequel, there are extenuating circumstances. Not the least of which is that Splatoon 2 remains so effortlessly and irresistibly entertaining.