Nintendo decided to close out their E3 2014 presentation with a very interesting third-person shooter game that we didn’t quite see coming. It’s titled “Splatoon,” and it features some of the most fresh and innovative gameplay mechanics we’ve seen in a long time. The game pits a group of 8 squids (4 vs 4) against each other who look to complete their goal (whether it’s reaching an objective or being the last squid standing) using nothing but their ink. Yes, ink.
The base game mechanic has to do with movement and where (and where not) your squids can go. You can only travel where your ink is, and running into an enemy’s ink (which would naturally be a different color than yours) can slow you down and stave you off. You can also use your own ink to hide and setup traps for unsuspecting enemy players. Catch an enemy squid red-handed? Douse him with your ink and make him suffer.
Splatoon features a very vibrant color palette and nicely designed levels, and an art style that you’ve come to expect from a Nintendo game by now. This new IP is unproven, but it’s no less exciting and we can’t wait to see how it turns out once it launches at some point in 2015.
