Splatoon Raiders arrives on Nintendo Switch 2 as a single-player-focused action shooter that sends players into the Spirhalite Islands alongside the Deep Cut trio. Launching July 23, the game casts you as a mechanic who outfits a mobile hideout ship and heads out to hunt treasure while fending off Salmonid swarms. Varied terrain stretches from icy stretches to lava zones, mixing wide exploration areas with tighter dens, restricted facilities, and underground dungeons that can feel bottomless in places.
Exploration is at the center of every adventure, as players search for gold and hidden Salmonid relics in the open zones, relics that provide some pretty cool abilities when discovered. Clearing enemy nests is always important because it opens up new avenues to explore, and we’ve included gadget-specific facilities and wave-style raid stages to keep things interesting. Every run also includes an Exploration Bot, piloted by a member of the Deep Cut crew, which points out all of the local riches and provides a few useful utility functions fuelled by eggs stolen from tougher foes.
- Kick off the fun with a Nintendo Switch 2 system, your choice of a select digital game, and a savings* of up to $29.99!
- Includes choice of either the Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, or Pokémon Pokopia digital game download
- One system, three play modes: TV, Tabletop, and Handheld
Combat is where the ink really begins flying, and it’s designed around your large personal tank, which refills over time. You have over 100 different weapon varieties to select from, the majority of which you will find laying around after defeating some of the Salmonids, and the uncommon ones are worth keeping because they become stronger the more you use them. You have three tank chassis to choose from: Speed Tank focuses on moving quickly, Power Tank on pouring down major damage, and Tactical Tank on getting into position and controlling the combat. Each one comes with two gadgets attached, which you can swap out and add to when you discover additional components and bits in the wild.
In terms of gadgets, you can buy everything from boots that just blast the place to orbiting sentries and even forward-dashing explosives and floating balloon clusters, not to mention tethers that simply draw all adversaries towards you. When you collect pieces in the field, you can change things like damage, area size, and cooldown duration, as well as add unique features like ink explosions and knockback clouds. Back at the hideout, you have a workshop where you can make new gadgets from scratch, as well as a cache where you can break down old ones for materials, creating a continuous loop in which every time you return to the hideout, you have fresh alternatives for the next journey out.
Multiplayer support remains as flexible as ever; up to four players can team up online or locally to take on the islands together, or solitary players can simply summon a temporary ally from the larger community, complete with a cooldown and prizes for anybody who steps up to help out. So you have a safety net without having to coordinate with the rest of the group.
Outfits and gear for your mechanic character can be obtained through island challenges and general exploration, and if you’re a fan of Splatoon, you might want to check out the classic looks unlocked with compatible amiibo, as well as the new Deep Cut-inspired designs from the new Splatoon Raider amiibo. Meanwhile, three new Joy-Con 2 colors will be released in conjunction with the game’s premiere.
Digital copies are priced at $49.99, physical copies at $59.99, and the new amiibo figures at $24.99 each. As a pre-launch celebration, Nintendo is hosting a Splatoon 3 Splatfest from July 10 to 12, allowing you to have a taste of the game before it is released. Overall, the complete package includes systematic runs, upgrades that mean something, and extremely adaptable co-o, so whether you’re a seasoned pro or just getting started, there’s something for everyone.
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