“Splatoon 3” at its heart is a third person shooter that, instead of the industry standard use of heavy munitions, is more reminiscent of backyard water gun fights and color wars.

Video game sequels are frequently weighed down by the growing pains of trying new things to keep the video games fresh and keeping what players liked front and center; however, “Splatoon 3” offers a polished and honed version of its first two entries.

The “Splatoon” series is a Nintendo game in which the player takes on the role of an “inkling,” a half-kid half-squid hybrid, competing in various paint-related games online. One such game mode is “turf war,” in which two teams compete to cover the most ground in their respective color of paint. The twist is that your character can transform into a squid and travel through your color of paint, allowing for increased movement and the ability to climb walls.

The game’s soundscape is reminiscent of the chaotic nature of childhood fun, with loud nonsensical lyrics and fast-paced beats. The game’s sound effects aid in the game’s soundtrack, making things like knocking out an opponent instead sound like an under beat to the music that is playing.

Much of the “Splatoon” series lives and dies with its community of players. The games have always offered a variety of fashionable gear to deck out your Inkling with, and “Splatoon 3” expands this even further, increasing and updating previous options. The game also hosts large events known as “splatfests,” where players pick sides to a question such as “ketchup vs. mustard” and then earn points for their respective teams. As of writing this review, there has yet to be a respective splatfest for “Splatoon 3.”

What sets the game apart from previous entries is how in-depth the single-player aspects are this time. From the story mode that takes players on a hair-raising mystery to find who has stolen the city’s power supply to the game’s newly introduced card game “tabletop turf war.”

There is a lot of variety for players who maybe wish to take a break from the game’s fast-paced multiplayer. However, those looking for a deep narrative and well-developed characters will find that the story fits the game’s E-10 rating.

“Splatoon 3” is in many ways an example of “Playing the hits,” with many of its stages and weapons being reused from previous games. This comes down to preference as many of these stages have been polished, and the weapons have been rebalanced, but is sixty dollars too much to pay for an update five years after the previous game’s release. This is a great game for those familiar with the series or for those looking for a good place to jump into the series.

“Splatoon 3” is out now only on Nintendo Switch.

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