Yes, Splatoon 3 is Absolutely Worth it for Splatoon 2 Players
As both a longtime Splatoon fan and competitive player, I can definitively say that Splatoon 3 is well worth picking up if you enjoyed Splatoon 2. The newest entry in the ink-blasting series retains everything that made Splatoon 2 such an addictive and fun online shooter, while also expanding and improving upon it in nearly every way.
After over 30 hours splatting foes and covering turf in Splatoon 3, I‘m having just as much of a blast as I did playing hundreds of hours of Splatoon 2. The core 4v4 Turf War battles remain as intense and exhilarating as ever, with a host of new weapons, maps, and quality of life improvements that enhance the experience.
And the major updates to single player Hero Mode and Salmon Run co-op provide fresh new challenges for honing your skills. Splatoon 3 takes the Splatoon formula we know and love, and injects it with new life for both casual sessions and competitive play.
What‘s New and Improved from Splatoon 2
Let‘s ink dive into the biggest changes and additions that make Splatoon 3 a must-have upgrade:
Fresh New Content
- 12 new arenas for Turf War and Ranked Battles, with creative new layouts and obstacles. My favorites are Eeltail Alley, Mincemeat Metalworks, and Undertow Spillway.
- Over 10 new main weapons like the Tri-Stringer bow, Tenta Sorella Brella, and Squiffer. They fill out the gaps in Splatoon 2’s arsenal.
- New special weapons including the hilarious Tacticooler support fridge and powerful Wave Breaker tidal wave.
- An entirely new co-op mode, Tableturf Battle, with 150+ collectible cards to battle with. It‘s a great side activity between matches.
- Expansive new single player campaign with creative new levels and bigger, more epic boss fights. Easily 10 hours of fresh content.
Quality of Life Improvements
- Faster matchmaking with the option to queue for multiple modes at once.
- You can finally change your gear in the lobby between matches, saving so much time.
- Voting on the next stage so you can avoid getting the same map repeatedly.
- Locker decorations let you customize your space with collectibles like plushies.
- Helpful player guides explain the many multiplayer modes for new players.
Gameplay Refinements
- Weapon rebalancing to nerf overpowered weapons like the Bloblobber and improve choice diversity.
- New Salmon Run wave types and random boss selection keeps co-op runs exciting.
- Squid Surge movement adds new strategic options for evasion and covering ground.
- Matchmaking improvements generally provide fairer, closer skill matches.
- Quality of life enhancements like map voting and queue for multiple modes.
How Splatoon 3 Improves Upon Splatoon 2
To give a detailed comparison, here‘s a breakdown of some key stats and features between both games:
| Splatoon 2 | Splatoon 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Release Year | 2017 | 2022 |
| Multiplayer Maps | 15 | 12 new (27 total) |
| Main Weapons | 74 | 10+ new (84+) |
| Single Player Levels | 80 | New campaign w/ Alterna lore |
| Salmon Run Maps | 6 | 2 new (8 total) |
| Splatfest Events | 24 | New theme voting system |
| Gear Slots | 3 | 3 |
| Locker Customization | None | Decorations |
| Matchmaking Options | Individual modes | Queue multiple modes |
As you can see, Splatoon 3 packs in a ton of new content while also refining and improving upon existing features. But more importantly, these changes enhance and modernize the core gameplay rather than reinvent it.
My Review: Splatoon 3 is a Must-Buy for Splatoon 2 Fans
As both a dedicated Splatoon 2 player and fan of the franchise, I highly recommend all Splatoon vets upgrade to Splatoon 3. The full price is well worth it for the massive amount of fresh stages, weapons, modes, and story content you get. Plus, all the quality of life improvements you‘ve been waiting for are finally here!
The addictive ink-based gameplay I loved is even better now with the new weapon varieties, salmon run updates, and quality of life improvements that respect players‘ time. And the robust single player campaign alone provides dozens of hours of new PvE content.
Of course, if you never got into Splatoon 2, then Splatoon 3 likely won‘t convert you. But it succeeds tremendously at giving existing fans more new stuff to splat and enjoy. I‘m having just as much fun mastering the new weapon kits and learning the maps‘ intricacies as I did playing Splatoon 2.
Nintendo knocked it out of the park by iterating on a great foundation while also breathing new life into the franchise. I can wholeheartedly recommend Splatoon veterans grab their splattershots for one more run in Splatoon 3—it’s the best the series has ever been. Let’s keep these Splatfests going strong!