{"id":20786,"date":"2022-08-24T15:00:44","date_gmt":"2022-08-24T13:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1696841"},"modified":"2022-08-24T15:24:10","modified_gmt":"2022-08-24T13:24:10","slug":"splatoon-3-preview-big-dollops-of-family-fun","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/splatoon-3-preview-big-dollops-of-family-fun\/","title":{"rendered":"Splatoon 3 preview: Big dollops of family fun"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Rob Leane\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 24 August 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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With the Splatoon 3 release date<\/a> inching ever closer, fans of this paint-splattering gaming franchise are hoping for big things. And we\u2019re pleased to report that the game looks to be in pretty good shape, delivering big dollops of messy fun at every turn.<\/p>\n

Ahead of the game\u2019s arrival on Nintendo Switch, RadioTimes.com<\/a> went along to the Nintendo offices in Windsor to try out Splatoon 3 with a handful of other journalists. The result was a very good time for all, we\u2019d wager.<\/p>\n

To start with, we sat down with a docked Nintendo Switch and a medium-sized monitor for some solo play. We got to try three of the single-player campaign levels, and we had a good time with each of them. The graphics looked great from the off, it\u2019s worth saying.<\/p>\n

The basic setup here is pretty simple. In each level, there are keys to find. These will unlock doors and eventually let you move on to the next level. But getting those keys isn\u2019t easy! You\u2019ll need to use an array of paint-based weaponry, along with your puzzle-solving skills, to progress each time.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a good amount of challenge and verticality in these levels, which introduce you neatly to all of the core mechanics in the game. There\u2019s not much story to speak of, but that\u2019s to be expected, and these levels do exactly what you need them to do. They get you into the game without wasting any time.<\/p>\n

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The colours really pop in Splatoon 3.<\/span><\/figcaption> Nintendo<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

One of the levels we played introduced the new Tri-Stringer weapon, a bow that fires three shots at a time. This weapon was fun to play with, especially after someone explained that it has a charged shot that will administer a hefty paint explosion shortly after arriving at its destination. Drop this behind an enemy and they\u2019ll be splatted seconds later. Great fun, that is, and a handy route out of tricky situations.<\/p>\n

After finishing the three levels on offer (we did get stuck on one for a while), it was time to link up with a local LAN server for some multiplayer mayhem with the other journalists present. The first multiplayer mode we got to try is Turf War, where two rival teams duke it out in a big map.<\/p>\n

The aim in this mode is to paint the floor in your team\u2019s colour. Sounds simple, right? Well, at its core, it very much is. Anyone of any skill level can take part in the floor-painting part and feeling like they\u2019re helping out, but you\u2019ll want to watch out for rival players that will be looking to take you down.<\/p>\n

After a few hotly-contested rounds of Turf War, we\u2019re confident in saying that lots of players will enjoy this returning mode which feels smooth as you like on sticks and can lead to some very close competitions.<\/p>

Next up, we tried out the new version of Salmon Run, another returning mode that we think fans of the franchise will love. In this mode, you work in a team with other players to fight off invading NPC monsters, trying to collect golden eggs while wave after wave of foes try to stop you.<\/p>\n

We very much enjoyed this mode, too. The first few rounds went relatively smoothly, until the difficulty started increasing and the wins became less frequent. There was a sweet, collaborative feel to the whole thing which made us want to play more, despite the growing challenge.<\/p>\n

Between each match, we got to hang out in the lobby, a playable area with a Test Range where you can try out each weapon in turn. This is a neat addition that will keep you entertained between rounds (don\u2019t forget to press the button on the screen to confirm that you\u2019re ready for action, though, or you could end up staying in the lobby forever).<\/p>\n

Finally, we moved into handheld mode to see how the game looked on the Nintendo Switch OLED<\/a> screen. And guess what? It looked great! The colours really popped and it was still easy to follow the action as we went for a couple more rounds of family-friendly fun. And with that, our preview session was over. We\u2019ve got no complaints so far and we\u2019re looking forward to learning more.<\/p>\n

Splatoon 3 launches Friday 9th September on Nintendo Switch.<\/strong><\/p>\n