Splatoon is a third-person shooter in which players control characters called Inklings. The Inklings shoot colored ink out of their weapons and have the ability to change from human form to a squid form.
General Gameplay
The game is team-based and is playable by up to eight players in two teams for four-on four matches. The goal of the game is to splat as much ink over the environment within a time limit and end up with the most colored territory.
Transforming into a squid allows players to swim through their own color of ink very swiftly and navigate up walls and through grates, giving further advantage to an abundance of one's own ink throughout the environment. Players can even hide from the opposition in their own ink in squid form, and replenish their ink supply in the process. Conversely, trying to navigate through the opposing team's ink limits the character's maneuverability.
Finally, players can splat ink directly at opponents, sending them back to their team's re-spawn point. In addition to the default ink gun, players can obtain special weapons that have limited ink ammo, including a large paint roller, a bazooka, a sniper rifle, and grenades.
Gamepad Integration
The Wii U Gamepad provides a map of the arena and the touch screen can be used to instantly launch to a teammate's location. Players can also use the controller's gyroscope to assist with aiming.
Game Modes
In addition to the eight-player multiplayer mode, a single player and one-on-one local multiplayer mode are also planned. There's no details known about the single-player yet, but the one-on-one mode is said to be something completely different to the normal gameplay shown so far.
