2021 is shaping up to be a big year for shooters of all kinds. New titles likeReturnalandDeathloopare hoping to make a splash, while heavy hitting franchises likeHaloare poised to make a comeback. In a way, then, it’s a good thing thatSplatoon 3is taking its time. The continuation of Nintendo’s fairly new franchise won’t be out until 2022, so hopefully it can dodge the release dates of some of its potential rivals.Splatoonfans are really eager to get their hands onSplatoon 3, though; now that Nintendo has made it clear that a lot has changed in the new game, fans want to find out just how much new content Nintendo has added.
The new setting forSplatoon 3is definitely a good start as far as surprising fans with interesting changes is concerned. There’s also lots of cosmetic adjustments, like the player’s new pet,a genderlessSplatooncharacter creator, and the freedom of choice to be either an Inkling or an Octoling. What fans really want to see, though, is everything new inSplatoon’s gameplay. Players are clamoring to see some big updates, especially some interesting new weapon types. While the bow that Nintendo has teased is a good start,Splatoon 3should push its limits in gunplay as much as its pushing limits in other departments.
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Examining Splatoon’s Arsenal
SplatoonandSplatoon 2definitely had an impressive amount of choices when it came to weapons. There’s lots of types of guns to choose from, with Shooters, Blasters, and Chargers all doing well to emulate machine guns, shotguns, and snipers in more traditional shooters. However,Splatoon’s weirder weapons are generally its most memorable. The Roller is arguablySplatoon’s most iconic weapon since it does so well to represent the heart ofSplatoon’s gameplay: cover the stage in as much ink as possible. It’s also a decent melee weapon in a pinch. Although the Roller isn’t a conventional weapon, it channelsSplatoon’s offbeat, charming humor perfectly. The games wouldn’t be the same without it.
Splatoon 2did well to advancethe weapon weirdness with the Brella. While this umbrella-like weapon type doesn’t look combat worthy at a glance, it’s actually a sort of shotgun with a deployable shield, making it very useful at close-range. The Brella was a great idea, but Nintendo can’t stop there.Splatoon 3deserves some clever, unique weapons similar to the Brella and the Roller. The new bow category thatSplatoon 3is adding is a good start, seeing how badly fans wanted a bow weapon, but hopefully Nintendo has even more ideas up its sleeves.
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Getting Wild in Splatoon 3
One weapon that would really change things up inSplatoon 3is a rocket launcher, sharing a Charger’s slow fire-rate and high charge time but offering huge area-of-effect damage at mid-range. An explosive Main Weapon akin to the Inkzooka could add a lot ofchaotic excitement toSplatoon’s multiplayer. As for something a little goofier, maybeSplatoon 3could try a different take on covering the stage in ink with a spray can. Player could spray continuously in an area in front of them to deal damage over time and ink up the stage, then share Dodge Rolls with the Dualies fromSplatoon 2,since they’d both be lightweight weapons.
These suggestions only amount to the Main Weapons inSplatoon.The players' Sub Weapons, which are nearly all grenades or other explosives, deserve a shakeup too. It’d be fun to see some more utility-focused Sub Weapons with more focus on crowd control or helping allies than on dealing damage. Diversity in weapons of all kinds will helpSplatoonget more tactical than ever before. Adding more and more depth to the gameplay – especially the multiplayer – is one great way that Nintendo can keep fans coming back for more.Splatoonis doing really well for a six year old franchise, so hopefully NintendousesSplatoon 3to try some new thingsand figure out whatSplatoon’s future looks like.
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