The only question mark that remains is how far Splatoon’s tentacles will take it, but Nintendo have been clear in outlining their plans to support the Wii U exclusive post-release. New stages, modes, weapons and gear are to be steadily rolled out, with interest to be regularly sparked by hosting special Splatfest events that see players answer a themed question to take sides against their Inkling rivals online. A major update in August will expand on this all even further, promising to cover a few shortcomings such as allowing four players to form up as a team online and the chance to create private matches. Naturally it’ll be the players that ultimately decide Splatoon’s longevity, and I certainly hope that they stick with it.



But if anything’s clear at this point, Nintendo have done it again. Splatoon feels incredibly different to anything that you’ve played before, and is all the more refreshing for it. Accessible in a way that has allowed mainstays such as the Mario Kart series to be readily enjoyed by all ages over the years, it’s addictive by design. With sleepy feline Judd waking to reveal scores at the end of each match, this can be marked down as an undeniable victory for Nintendo.