Honestly I have no idea why this game so damn unbalanced. The previous iteration was also released on the switch and lasted around 5 or so years before Splatoon 3 was released so they had plenty of notes on how to keep the balance OK and make the game enjoyable.

The maps are all terrible and just has the focus on the middle which frankly feels just like a cheap out. The difference in inkable turf between Splatoon 3 maps and Splat2&1 maps is ridiculously large, and also just doesn’t offer enough variety.

And while I do enjoy the catalogue, I feel as though the catalogue level has completely skewed matchmaking balances since you’re no longer really matching with people around the same player level, and that filling out the catalogue is quite tedious and redundant. Turf war doesn’t exactly feel fun anymore especially during Splatfests, unfortunately.

completed main story but otherwise shelved. i wish this was as good as splatoon 2 but it just isn't.

it's basically made for the bitches who hate teamwork and love flexing how good and awesome they are. a casual player can't enjoy themselves anymore because of the free-for-all matchups, the maps are kinda samesy, and splatfests are basically not a competition anymore because everyone can guess who will win (regardless of the theme)! it just sucks to be a casual player these days.

i will say that i loooove salmon run tho. not as stressful, for the most part, because of the inherent teamwork component. big runs and the king salmonid are awesome

SO CALLED "FREE THINKERS" WHEN LOVE DIES: ALL THAT REMAINS ARE THE FACTS

okay so the aesthetic of this game is out of this world. first of all. loved going through the world and collecting all the collectibles (there are a TON which is amazing for ME in specific i love collecting things) and doing funny parkour without taking fall damage. related to this the soundtrack is also a jam and a half especially the title theme
the word "diverse" has been tainted but there's something very nice about the varied backgrounds of the characters (especially witness who is iranian probably kurdish? i am not kurdish but i am iranian and he HAS AN IRANIAN ACCENT it makes me sooo happy) and the queerness of it wrt love dies and her optional flings. i love the whole cast and how messy they are even if they suck shit the world they're in sucks shit so it's influenced them. except for yuri because he's a dick but that's the point i guess?

as a mystery... it's great. i love it. i like how starlight groups all your evidence together so that i don't have to do the heavy lifting and thinking. the final act with the trial was also a delight and i like how different characters can be convicted based on the evidence you have at the time (whether you start the trial prematurely or not) and how co-conspirators can drag each other down with them it's like watching dominoes topple. though unfortunately for all the free will love dies gets as detective and executioner (especially once the trial is over) it feels kind of empty. like the only consequences come if u mess with the based married couple and even then it's not much

but don't let this stop you from playing!! Please play this game im so normal about it

This game is literally better enjoyed if you read the fan translation by orenoren on the Let’s Play archive, the official localization is ridiculously poor and considering it was the fan translation that caused it to be so popular that resulted in it being localized in the first place, kind of ironic. Also, in terms of story it’s a lot more enjoyable when you’re a teenager. As soon as you’re an adult the holes in the plot as well as the…unsavouriness of some tropes become too obvious.

Still has a large place in my heart hence the 2 stars. But definitely not the best killing game or murder mystery video game out there.