Nintendo's July in Review (Splatoon 2, New 2DS XL, & Switch Online App)

Going into July of 2017, Nintendo had a ton of momentum that they could capitalize on. With releases earlier this year that included a revolutionary new console, the likely undisputed game of the year in Breath of the Wild, a new IP in ARMS, and an incredible selling Mario Kart 8 port, Nintendo had been knocking it out of the park. July continued this momentous path for the Big N, as the month saw a major first party Switch game in Splatoon 2, a pair of first party 3DS games, the launch of the Nintendo Switch Online App, and even a new hardware release. A ton of great Indie titles also made it onto the Switch in July, However, major third party support made very little appearances. Let’s look in depth at the highs and lows of Nintendo’s July.

Nintendo Switch Online App Review (Switch Voice Chat Review)

Along with their hit shooter, Splatoon 2, Nintendo also launched their highly anticipated Nintendo Switch Online App. Since its announcement earlier in 2017, excitement, speculation, and apprehensions had been surrounding the Switch Online App. Well, on July 21^st, critics and fans finally got their hands on the app, and all of our fears about it became reality. The app just has so many problems pertaining to how it handles in-game voice chat. However, it has to be noted that it isn’t all bad. With the Switch Online App also came SplatNet 2, which has been better than any of us could have imagined. Let’s jump into the details of what makes this app both terrible and great all at the same time.

My Thoughts on Splatoon 2: Final Review (Splatoon 2 Review)

In 2015, Nintendo released a brand new IP in the form of Splatoon. This new third-person shooter from the house that Mario built shocked nearly everyone upon release, as almost no one expected it to be as good as it was. Throughout the first year or so of the game’ life, Nintendo continued to support their new IP with free DLC that gave the already awesome game some much needed more depth. The sequel to this hit shooter recently released, but this time, it wasn’t taking anyone by surprise. The hype for Splatoon 2 was through the roof during the time leading up to its launch. Despite the massive hype, Nintendo did not disappoint and once again delivered on an epic Switch game. Splatoon 2 brings over all of the depth added to its predecessor, while adding its own new touches that makes it stand on its own as a full-fledged sequel rather than just another port.

My Thoughts on Hero/Story Mode (Splatoon 2 Review)

Diving into Splatoon 2’s Octo Canyon is a very familiar experience. The basic level design and hub world layouts are nearly identical to that of Splatoon 1’s. Even the story feels somewhat familiar, revolving around the Octarians abducting the zap fish that power Inkopolis. However, despite the similarities to its predecessor, Splatoon 2’s story mode somehow feels like a fresh experience. This is accomplished by means of improvements to almost every aspect of both gameplay and storytelling.

My Thoughts on Ranked Battles (Splatoon 2 Review)

Every good multiplayer focused game offers both casual matches and some type of ranked match in order to cater to both casual players and hardcore fans. Thankfully, Splatoon 2 does indeed offer both. Nintendo’s sequel to their hit third-person shooter includes 3 very different game modes within their overall ranked mode. These 3 modes are the same 3 that were also found in the original Splatoon: tower control, splat zones, and rainmaker. Each game mode offers its own unique challenges and gameplay opportunities. Unique gameplay opportunities also occur through randomized map/mode combinations. The current playable game mode and a pair of maps cycle through every 2 real-time hours in order to create these unique combinations. Someone may play Splatoon 2 at 1 PM and experience tower control on Moray Towers or Humpback Pump Track, but play again later that evening and get a much different experience by playing the same game mode, but on two very different maps. This variety means that players will not be having the same experience too often. However, it is now easier than ever for players to track their favorite map/mode combinations through Nintendo’s Switch Online App, or more specifically SplatNet 2 (For more on this, check out my review on the Switch Online App). With this app, players can check a schedule of upcoming combinations!

My Thoughts on Turf War and Salmon Run (Splatoon 2 Review)

One of the strongest features of Splatoon 2 is that it is truly a full-fledged sequel that knows how to keep all the strengths of its predecessor, while adding new modes, mechanics, and tweaks to keep the gameplay fresh and exciting. This statement is especially true when pertaining to two of the game’s modes. Turf war and Salmon Run. While turf war is a tried and true, beloved game mode from Splatoon 1, it has also been slightly revamped in a way to make it even more enjoyable. Salmon Run is a mode unique to Splatoon 2 that adds an entirely new layer of gameplay to the title. These two game modes are quite possibly the biggest highlights of Nintendo’s hit sequel.

My Thoughts on Today's (7/6/17) Splatoon 2 Direct

So Nintendo hit us with a Splatoon 2 focused Direct, and it did not disappoint. This Direct was a decent length, being over 25 minutes, and the whole presentation was full of information. There was also a good flow to today’s Direct, which was a welcome feature, as Nintendo has often struggled with pacing in their presentations as of late. Information was presented clearly and in a timely manner, and even though there was a lot to take in, I don’t feel like I really missed anything. There was also that lovable Nintendo charm present, as they chose to stick with the “Squid Research Lab” theme that myself and many others have come to love. It definitely seems that this direct delivered on almost everything that Splatoon fans wanted, so without further ado, let’s jump into the details.

The Master Trials: A Great Addition to an Already Epic Gaming Experience (BoTW Expansion 1)

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of The Wild’s first expansion, appropriately titled “The Master Trials” is now available. Despite being out for nearly a week at the time of writing this, I have unfortunately only been able to spend about 6-7 hours with the new content. However, even with my limited time with this DLC, I still feel like I have plenty to say about it, so let’s just jump into it. Warning: Minor SPOILERS for The Master Trials DLC will be discussed, so if you want to avoid any details about it then save this page and come back after playing!