Undoubtedly the most fine-tuned Splatoon experience to date. Small gameplay changes, like the squid dodge-roll, less gimmickey map design, and the best selection of specials to date near perfects the frantic gunplay interactions I love from the series. With everything that has changed, I'm disappointed in the drip-feed approach that the devs will not shake off. I believe the season/battle pass approach works well to incentivize play, but there is a noticeable lack of new variety in all categories. The new weapon categories are superb, but why so few? I appreciate the more thought-out stage design for competitive play, but why so selective in what returned at release and is included in the drip-feed? Perhaps the most egregious yet, why are there no new competitive or casual modes?

I love Splatoon as much as I ever did, with 3 being the apex of the current formula. But it feels as if the team has exhausted the potential as the series exists now, in a creative sense. The sequel has earned its right for a new, full priced release, but I worry we are at a crucial point in the series. I hope that the team breaks away from what has already been considered the "series staples," in both structure and content, as the IP clearly has more life to give.

Mastery status is for 100% completion of the story mode