Splatoon 2 (Nintendo Switch) Preview

Splatoon is one of Nintendo's most recent creations; a completely new concept that deviated from simply popping bullets into enemies and made it something of its own. The aim of the game sounds simple on paper, but in execution is a concept that has plenty of depth and demands plenty of skill to stay on top. Two teams battle for turf supremacy in closed arenas by covering the floor with their coloured ink. It's that simple. Throw in an eclectic arsenal of different weapons, though, the ability to swim through ink, and varying rules, and things start to get messy indeed - in a good way.

The shooter went viral on the Wii U, with a community that - at its peak - created a new sense of engagement on the otherwise failing hardware. The Miiverse community was brimming with plenty of Splatoon action and continues to maintain a steady following today. Some of Nintendo's experiments in recent years have faded back into their plastic boxes, gathering dust in charity shops, but Splatoon seems to have resonated well enough with fans to get the greenlight for a sequel.

Much like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Splatoon can be played in a handful of different ways - off-TV and tethered to the system like a handheld console, using the Switch Pro Controller or with the screen set to table-top mode. It allows for eight players - each with Switch consoles, or some sharing - to come together and play a true local multiplayer for the very first time. The original Wii U release was, for the most part, designed to be Nintendo's online shooter from Day One, with a two-player mode that seemed tacked on. With the new setup, however, local multiplayer is now an option and this is what Nintendo highlighted during the event.

One of the new weapons, the Dualies, was in full flow with a number of ink rivals opting for these in the handful of sessions sampled with Splatoon 2. These new pistols pack a punch - double and intense - spluttering ink like Princess Peach penning a letter to Mario. Whilst it is frantic, it perhaps lacks some of the meat of the other weapons from the original, but is an interesting addition to the already versatile mix. Another small change is the option to perform a quick dodge/roll, where the character almost leaps to one side, which is a good addition and keeps things a little more focused on the attack, rather than having to constantly try to evade an opponent. A small tweak, but it may see different tactics come into play upon release.

The original roster of weapons - at least the key ones for now - Splattershot, Ink Roller, and Splat Charger make a welcome return this time round, each boasting new special moves that unleash a barrage of damage once built up.

Visually, this runs and performs just as well as its predecessor. There were no blips or frame-drops during the play sessions, with striking colourful backgrounds and intense ink splatting looking great on both the handheld and TV. With so much action happening at the same time, and a need for pinpoint timing, there were some pre-play concerns that when playing on the go it could well see drops in performance, but it certainly seems well up for the challenge. With Nintendo still skimming around the foreign concept that is anti-alialising, at some points Splatoon 2 does look that bit more engaging on the Switch screen, as well.