Splatoon 2 is the Clear Winner in the Splatoon 1 vs 2 Debate

With the release of Splatoon 3, Nintendo fans new and old are wondering how it compares to the previous games. Should you go back and play the original Splatoon on Wii U, or just dive into Splatoon 2 on Switch? After diving deep into both ink-slinging shooters, I believe Splatoon 2 is the definitive Splatoon experience that all players should start with. Read on to see why the sequel leaves the original in the dust when it comes to content, features, and ongoing support.

Re-Inking the Formula: Major Improvements in Splatoon 2

At its core, Splatoon 2 retains the addictive 4v4 Turf War gameplay that made the first game so fresh. Two teams of Inklings compete to ink the most turf by spraying their colored ink across the battlefield. However, Nintendo made major upgrades across the board in the sequel that improve the overall gameplay experience.

For starters, Splatoon 2 benefits greatly from launching on more powerful Switch hardware. The frame rate was bumped up to 60fps from 30fps on Wii U, making the action feel smoother and more responsive. The animations received a noticeable upgrade as well – weapons pack more of a punch, and maps feel more dynamic thanks to small interactive elements.

The controls also got overhauled in Splatoon 2 to provide more options and precision. Motion aiming was made more accurate and easier to use in handheld mode. Players can now also continue storing a charge while transforming into squid form and swimming through ink – adding cool strategic depth. These enhancements really improve the core gameplay andflow.

The visuals and animations received a substantial upgrade in Splatoon 2 (Right) compared to the Wii U original (Left).

Moving beyond presentation, Nintendo also added a number of quality of life changes that were suggested by fans after extensively playing the first game. This includes things like being able to adjust gear abilities without spamming rerolls, buying gear already in stock at shops, and tweaking matchmaking.. It‘s clear the developers listened closely to the community‘s feedback.

New Weapons Expand Your Arsenal

One of my favorite parts of Splatoon is the awesome arsenal of ink weaponry. Splatoon 2 brings back nearly all main weapons from the first game, while also introducing some fresh new options. For example, the Splat Dualies dual-wield pistols add some stylish up-close-and-personal action. Here‘s a comparison of how the weapon types stack up across games:

The sequel more than doubles the number of Slosher bucket-like weapons. Fan favorites like the Aerospray MG and .52 Gal see a return, while newcomers like the Dapple Dualies and Goo Tuber offer unique playstyles. There‘s a wider variety of strategic options to choose from in Splatoon 2 for inking turf.

Special weapons also saw a major revamp. Some classics like the Inkzooka returned with tweaks, while other new specials got introduced like the Inkjet jetpack. There‘s definitely a sense of familiarity, but the new specials breathe fresh life into the gameplay. They recharge faster as well, letting you pull off more big plays during a match!

An assortment of the new weapons added in Splatoon 2 for even more tactical options.

Expanded Modifiers and Gear Abilities

Sub abilities on gear also got overhauled in Splatoon 2. Many near-useless abilities were removed, while new abilities got added to enable more build variety. Gear power was redistributed as well – for example, Gear with Bomb Defense Up will have less slots filled by default.

This change helped flatten the gear power curve to make abilities more balanced. Combined with the new Gear Ticket system to add and reroll specific abilities, it‘s much easier to customize your gear with your desired build. Dialing in your inkling‘s look and abilities adds a whole new layer of depth.

Revamped Multiplayer Modes

At its core, Splatoon revolves around 4v4 Turf War battles. Teams compete to ink the most ground with their colored ink before time expires. This signature gameplay returns unchanged in Splatoon 2, retaining the same addictive and accessible formula. The sequel‘s new maps provide more altitude variation and interactive elements to keep things fresh.

Ranked Battle modes, however, received a significant overhaul. Splatoon 1 gradually rolled out Ranked Battles in free updates over its first year. Splatoon 2 has all three previous ranked modes – Splat Zones, Tower Control, and Rainmaker – available immediately. Each was updated with new maps and some rule changes to improve balance.

The biggest addition is Salmon Run – an entirely new local 4-player co-op mode. Teams take on waves of enemy Salmonids while scrambling to collect golden eggs. This frantic PvE mode provides a fun alternative to core multiplayer when you need a change of pace or want to squad up with friends against bots.

Singe-Player Hero Mode: Improved Variety and Level Design

Both Splatoon games contain a single-player Hero Mode with about 30 levels. These serve as tutorial-like challenges to learn the ropes while offering some light platforming gameplay. The levels include some neat concepts revolving around obstacles and enemy ink.

Splatoon 2‘s Hero Mode benefits from more varied objectives between levels to keep things from getting repetitive. Some examples include riding grind rails, piloting a floating ink tank, traversing invisible paths, defeating mini-bosses, and more. The sequel also brings back bosses from Hero Mode in the first game, with remixed phases and new attacks to provide a new but familiar challenge. Overall the solo experience feels expanded and refined.

Post-Launch Support: Continued Content Keeps Things Fresh

One of Splatoon 2‘s biggest strengths is the impressive amount of additional content added to the game over time through free updates. Splatoon 1 also received regular content drops, but Nintendo really stepped up support in the sequel.

Here‘s a comparison of new post-launch content added to each game in the 2 years after release:

As you can see, Splatoon 2 nearly quadrupled the amount of new gear added. Splatfest events recurred twice as frequently as well, thanks to the game‘s sustained popularity. This drip feed of new content keeps the meta evolving and gives you reasons to come back. Splatoon 1 felt like a more "finished" package after its last update, whereas Splatoon 2 continued going strong for years.

Splatoon 2 is the Go-To Entry Point for New Players

After pouring over 100 hours into both games competitively, in my expert opinion, Splatoon 2 stands out as the clearly superior experience. The smooth 60fps action, bigger arsenal of weapons, improved game modes, and absurd amount of new content added over time all push Splatoon 2 to another level.

As an avid player, I also appreciate all the smaller quality of life improvements that removed some frustration I experienced in the original release. The sequel feels like a refined version of the formula that hits the sweet spot. Considering both games retail around the same price now, I have no qualms recommending Splatoon 2 to any new players looking to dive in.

That said, I don‘t mean to diminish the first Splatoon at all. It originally released during the Wii U‘s twilight years, and I have fond memories battling friends in my living room after school. If you already own a Wii U, grabbing a budget copy of Splatoon 1 can serve as a nice, cheaper introduction to the series. Several of my gaming buddies went this route and enjoyed it.

At the end of day, while you can‘t go wrong either way, I believe Splatoon 2 is the definitive entry that all Switch owners should play. The vibrant visuals, rocking soundtrack, satisfying single-player, and addicting multiplayer make it one of Nintendo‘s best games. I can‘t recommend it enough to anyone looking for a fun and family-friendly online shooter. Stay fresh!