Splatoon Raiders Review: Nintendo's Inky Shooter Fades

Splatoon Raiders, the first single-player focused spinoff of Nintendo's "Splatoon" series, has been reviewed as a "disappointingly run-of-the-mill" experience. The game, released on July 23 for £41.99, retains the core paint-splattering turf war mechanics but shifts the emphasis towards cooperative play. While playable solo, the structure of bite-sized repeatable missions and equipment upgrades is described as "tailor-made for teaming up with friends or helping out strangers."

The "Splatoon" franchise is lauded for its unique approach to shooting games, where paint coverage is as important as combat skill, and for its abundant personality, vibrant characters, and distinctive hipness. However, "Splatoon Raiders" reportedly struggles to evoke these positive attributes, making it difficult to recall the series' strengths. The game allows players to start sessions on a hideout ship to upgrade equipment and customize play styles before embarking on missions.

Despite being advertised as a single-player entry, the review suggests that "Splatoon Raiders" is most enjoyable when played cooperatively with up to three other players. This cooperative element is central to the game's design, enabling players to work together towards creating their "ultimate squid-kid avatar of chaos."