If you've been holding out for some more Splatoon 3 news, then today is a good day for you. During the Splatoon 3 Direct presentation held earlier, we learned more about the game's new specials, stages, and modes, as well as a couple of fun surprises.
What did we learn in the Splatoon 3 Direct presentation?
We're coming up fast on the Splatoon 3 release date, so it's the perfect time for Nintendo to release a bunch of exciting new information about the game. Thankfully, today's Splatoon 3 presentation delivered. First up, we got a look at the game's stage lineup, which will consist of 12 stages at launch plus more that will be added throughout Splatoon 3's lifespan. Returning stages include the original Splatoon's Museum D'Alfonsino, Hammerhead Bridge, and Mahi-Mahi Resort, and we also got more in-depth looks at new stages like Scorch Gorge and Eeltail Alley. You'll be able to try out these stages on your own, too, if you don't want to get to know them through battles.
As you do battle across these stages, you'll have access to all of the first two games' basic weapons, as well as new additions like the Stringer bow and the newly-revealed "Splatana". Kudos on yet another awful pun, Nintendo. The Splatana is a melee weapon that can also fire arcs of energy and charge up for an especially devastating attack. New weapons can be unlocked by playing with existing weapons, and you can buy your arsenal from the weapon shop in the new Splatsville hub, too.
On the subject of weapons, the presentation also revealed some of the new specials we can look forward to in Splatoon 3. They include the devastating Reefslider, a shark that explodes after attacking enemies, as well as the radar-like Wave Breaker and the buff-producing Tacticooler. Of course, several specials from the previous games, including the Tenta Missiles, Ultra Stamp, and Booyah Bomb, will return in Splatoon 3. You'll also once again be able to purchase and equip new gear, some of which will have gameplay-boosting abilities, so make sure you're mixing and matching correctly.
What gameplay modes will Splatoon 3 have?
Several gameplay modes will return from earlier games in the Splatoon series, like the main Turf War mode, in which you must ink more ground than your opponents to win. Ranked play is also making a return, with the four main modes from Splatoon 2 back on the cards. The single-player story mode looks like a return to Splatoon 2's 3D platformer-style campaign and should help you learn the ropes, and the Salmon Run mode is back as well, with new boss monsters to take down. Perhaps the most intriguing new additions, though, are the three-way Splatfest matches and the new Table Turf Battle mode, which is...uh...a card game. Yes, really.
Naturally, the Splatfest mode will be returning in Splatoon 3, but this time, you'll pick one of three teams and duke it out against the other two. The first wave of a Splatoon 3 Splatfest battle is a classic Turf War fight, but the second will see the winning team defending against the other two, each of whom will have two players to attack. The winning team will get four, but they're being attacked from two sides, so it's all about defending your position and repelling the attackers. The inaugural Splatfest will begin on August 27th and will see you picking between Rock, Paper, and Scissors for your team. The new Table Turf Battle mode, meanwhile, is a rather odd-looking card game in which you place cards on a grid in order to defeat enemies. You'll get a Starter Deck when you pick up Splatoon 3, so it can't hurt to try it out, eh?
Splatoon 3 is all about online connectivity, of course, so it stands to reason that the Splatnet app will be returning from Splatoon 2. This time, you'll be able to use it to see your performance and grab the exclusive gear you can't get in the base game. You'll also be able to see friends' ghosts in the online lobby and ask them to play with you there, and there will be a locker system that will let you decorate a locker in your personal style and show it off to others online. A handful of new quality-of-life and gameplay-boosting features have been added, too, like the new match replay feature, the ability to buy gameplay-boosting food from the hub, and lots of other smaller things. All in all, Splatoon 3 is shaping up to be a solid third installment for the series, so make sure you check it out when it launches for Nintendo Switch on September 9th.
