Splatoon 2 had it's own Nintendo Direct recently, which showed off some new features for the upcoming Switch exclusive.
The Nintendo Direct was mostly a refresher on most of the basics of Splatoon, from four-player online battles, the use of gear and weapons, and some of the new gameplay modes added to the title, such as the horde mode Salmon Run and a new Single Player mode.
Some of the new features included new weapon abilities. Charger weapons, for example, allow you to keep charges while swimming in ink, and rollers now have a vertical swing which can increase the range of splash attacks. There is also a new dodge roll for dual-wielding players. Several new weapons were revealed to show off these moves in action. New Special weapons were also introduced, such as the Sting Ray, which can shoot through walls and the Baller, a giant hamster ball that the player can travel in and explode at any time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnIAN06eSAE
In addition to the new guns and gear, Splatoon 2 will have several gameplay modes added to the title. Salmon Run was already mentioned, but it will apparently be only playable at designated times online, or at any time locally. It also shows off more boss Salmonids, including the Steel Eel, the Steelhead, and the Flyfish. The mode also features fog weather effects and even nighttime missions, but certain items can only be unlocked in Salmon Run, so the rewards are great if you are able to survive.
Another revamped mode is the Splatfests. Nintendo is promising content updates for Splatoon 2 that will last around a year, but the Splatfests will go on for the game for the next two years. These events are limited-time multiplayer matches that promise to unlock exclusive gear and weapons for players.
A free demo is already available for Splatoon 2, and those who download the demo will be able to participate in the first Splatfest event on July 15th, from 3 to 7 PM PT.
One more feature talked about was Splatnet 2, a new phone companion app for Splatoon players. Like most companion apps, Splatnet 2 allows you to track your battle results, send alerts to in-game Splatfests, track online records and even engage in voice chat with other players. Other features include tracking your progress in the single-player mode, your personal stats, an online shop and even fun extras such as how much turf a player has inked compared to real-world places.
Splatnet 2 is also one of the few ways players can invite their friends to join Private Battles, League matches, Salmon Run and Splatfest events. It should be noted that Splatnet 2 uses the Nintendo Switch Online App when it is released, so players will have to download the app to gain access to it.
Splatoon 2 launches for the Nintendo Switch on July 21st. If you want to check out some of the info from E3, this video will give you a quick rundown of the information from then:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXUX6SPBo4o
What are your thoughts on Splatoon 2? Leave your comments below.
