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Welcome to another purchase reflection, where I walk you through my personal thought process when deciding whether to buy a game or not. Today’s game is Splatoon Raiders, the first spin-off in the series, which has a focus on single-player content.
I’m just like you: a Nintendo Switch gamer that is not partnered with Nintendo or any other major brand and needs to rely on the same information you do when making my purchases. So, as usual, I have to go by the game trailers, available demos, first impressions of big media outlets, and, of course, the pricing.
I’ll also be giving a grade to each section, with the hopes of giving you a better understanding of where my purchasing decision comes from.
And after analyzing and pondering everything, I can say upfront that Splatoon Raiders is a game you should add to your Wishlist.
Purchasing Score:
| Category | Weight | Score | Weighted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price & DLC | 35% | 9/10 | 31.5% |
| Not Game Key Card | 25% | 10/10 | 25.0% |
| Reviews | 15% | 7/10 | 10.5% |
| Game Scope | 15% | 8/10 | 12.0% |
| Demo Availability | 10% | 2/10 | 2.0% |
| Total | 81.0% |
1. Splatoon Raiders Price: Is It Worth the Cost?
Saying if a game is decently priced these days is getting a bit difficult because Nintendo’s price point for their IPs has gone up to the $70-$80 range.
Splatoon Raiders, as a spin-off, sits at $50 digital and $60 physical, the same as Star Fox, which I happily purchased.
It does seem like a fair price, but we still don’t know how long it will be just yet. While it’s a game that primarily focuses on single-player, there are co-op features that remind me a lot of Monster Hunter and even Phantasy Star Online. So there is a lot of potential here to extend your gameplay time.
2. Is Splatoon Raiders a Game Key Card or a Full Cartridge?
Say it with me, Splatoon Raiders is NOT a Game Key Card!
Pokopia scared me a bit, but thankfully, all in-house developed Nintendo Switch 2 games have been a Game Key Card, and it seems they will continue to be so.
Even if you choose to purchase it digitally, the game will only need a 13.1 GB download, which is a size that can easily fit in a cartridge. And even though it costs less to purchase digitally, there are always pre-order sales that cut the price down of physical releases that match that price, so I know which route I will take.
We live in an age where physical media is being taken for granted, and I understand the people who say game key cards don’t look that bad when comparing them with having no physical options at all.
I don’t want this as an option at all in the future, so I’ll keep purchasing my games physically in hopes of sending a message that says, “Yes, we still want physical games.”
3. Splatoon Raiders Gameplay: What to Expect
Splatoon Raiders feels like an expanded Salmon Run mode. From your base, you can choose where you want to look for treasure on the map, and once you reach the destination, you’ll be greeted with a ton of Salmonids.
Small ones can be dispatched quickly, but the boss Salmonid can overrun you pretty quickly if you don’t exploit their weakness.
After clearing the salmonids, you are free to snatch the treasure and go back to base. There you can use what you caught to upgrade your weapons, customize your character, and even craft gadgets crafted from enemy parts.
If a particular spot is proving to be difficult, you can go online and play with up to 4 friends, or you can also lower the difficulty option.
This is essentially a looter shooter with a slash of Monster Hunter, and honestly, it looks super fun to play.
Everything else controls just like a regular Splatoon game, and even if you’ve never played one before in your life, this is a great entry point.
Since it’s a single-player game first, it leans more on the casual side, so you can freely turn off the motion controls if you don’t like them, especially in handheld mode.
Although, I would give it a try if you intend to try Splatoon 3 in the future!
4. Splatoon Raiders Reviews and First Impressions
Since reviews are not available yet, I can’t accurately score this section; however, I will consider what media outlets are saying about their firsthand experience. And reading what they have to say does paint a promising experience :
ResetEra: “We walked away surprised with how deep and rewarding this next entry feels.” source
IGN: “I didn’t know what to expect with Splatoon Raiders, but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t a good time.” source
CGMagazine (via Nintendo Life roundup): “Charm, hilarious puns, an endless mess, and challenging encounters await players daring enough to take up residence on the Spirhalite Islands.” source
Gamereactor: “the very engaging, mechanically deep treasure hunting loop… could very well catch me and hook me for the whole summer.” source
5. Is There a Splatoon Raiders Demo?
Every game shdemo have a Demo on Nintendo Switch 2, and I still stand by that. They keep releasing these exclusive demos to play at certain locations when they could easily make them available in the eShop where more people could play it.
I’m still not sure what Nintendo’s thought process was when making these decisions, since we got demos for other 1st party titles, like Kirby Air Riders and Star Fox.
In this particular case it’s not affecting my purchasing decision as much, since I’m already familiar with the Splatoon franchise, and I know what to expect.
But still, please release Demos Nintendo.
Final Verdict: Should You Buy Splatoon Raiders?
In my opinion, yes, you should purchase Splatoon Raiders after everything Nintendo has shown us thus far.
It’s a fun single-player game first that can be enjoyed with others online and requires 0 knowledge of past titles. The price is fair, the full game is present on the cartridge, and so far the first impressions have been great.
For one, I’m eager to finally play another Nintendo game online. I’ve had some fun with Star Fox, Mario Kart World, and even Kirby Air Riders, but a looter shooter from Nintendo is something I don’t think I’ve played yet from them, so I’m eager to try it out!
Thanks for reading, and I’ll be seeing you again next time with brand new content!
What’s your score?
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