Splatoon

Splatoon is a third-person shooter video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii U, released in Japan on May 28, 2015, in North America and Europe on May 29, 2015, and in Australia on May 30, 2015. The game centers around characters known as "Inklings"—beings that can transform between humanoid and squid forms, and hide or swim through colored ink sprayed on surfaces using gun or brush-based weaponry. Splatoon features several gamemodes, including 4-on-4 online multiplayer and a single player campaign.
Splatoon received positive reviews upon its unveiling and release, with critics praising Nintendo's decision to enter the genre with a new intellectual property, the game's overall style and presentation, gameplay mechanics, and its soundtrack. As of June 2015, one million copies of the game have been sold worldwide.
== Gameplay ==
Splatoon is primarily a team-based third-person shooter which is playable by up to eight players in online four-versus-four matches, although the game also features local one-versus-one multiplayer matches and a single player campaign. Players control characters called Inklings, who have the ability to shape-shift between humanoid and squid forms. In humanoid form, Inklings can shoot ink in their team's color, which can be used to cover the environment or "splat" opposing players or enemies. Transforming into a squid allows players to swim through ink of their own color, even up walls and through grates, hiding from the enemy and replenishing their ink supply in the process. Conversely, enemy ink is much slower to move across in humanoid form and cannot be swum through in squid form. Players can use their ink to try and "splatter" their opponents, which will send them back to their team's respawn point whilst also providing a large splat of ink. In all modes, players can use the Wii U GamePad to view a map of the surroundings and instantly launch towards the location of another teammate, as well as use optional gyroscopic controls to assist with aiming.
Players go into battle wielding a primary weapon, such as a mid-range gun, a chargeable rifle, or a giant paint roller; a secondary weapon, such as bombs, ink walls, or disruptive grenades; and a temporary special weapon (including shields, inkstrikes, and enemy detectors) that can be activated after covering enough ground in ink to fill a special meter. These weapons are sold in sets that can be purchased with money earned from battles, with more sets becoming available to the player as they gain experience. In addition, players can customize their character with headgear, clothes, and shoes from the neighboring shops, with more items becoming available as the player's level increases. Each item features a main stat increasing ability, such as faster respawn time or longer special duration, as well as additional abilities that can be unlocked by gaining experience in battles. When encountering other players in the plaza, players can choose to order an item another player is wearing and purchase it the next day from a backalley dealer for a higher price.
The game also supports Splatoon series Amiibo, with each Amiibo type unlocking a set of missions which unlock extra equipment and a bonus minigame upon completion, which can be played on the Wii U GamePad while waiting in lobbies. Players can also make posts to the game's Miiverse community, which appear in-game as graffiti.