Splatoon Raiders: Let’s Not Forget the Ink-redible Legacy of Past Campaigns!

There’s a buzz around Splatoon Raiders right now, and for good reason – it’s a fantastic new spin-off that has gamers hooked. But sometimes, when something new and exciting arrives, we tend to forget the incredible foundations that were laid before it. It feels like the awesome single-player adventures from the original Splatoon trilogy are getting a bit overlooked in the hype for Raiders, and frankly, that’s just not fair!

While Splatoon Raiders might very well be the best dedicated single-player experience in the series to date, let’s be real: the campaigns in Splatoon 1, 2, and 3 were far from being just “extended tutorials.” They were genuinely fresh, innovative, and brimming with the unique Nintendo charm we all love. It’s a common misconception that these older story modes were forgettable or light on plot, but anyone who truly dived in knows they offered so much more.

Those early Splatoon single-player stories were concise, super engaging, and packed with personality. Despite their length, they did some serious heavy lifting in expanding the vibrant Splatoon universe. We’re talking deep, fascinating lore, hidden away in those Sunken Scrolls, detailing the ancient rivalry between Inklings and Octarians and even answering some burning questions about Inkling evolution and biology. Plus, the levels themselves were ingenious, serving as brilliant playgrounds to master different weapons and mechanics, often feeling like a splashy, inky cousin to games like Super Mario Galaxy.

Take Splatoon 1’s Octo Valley, for instance. It didn’t just introduce us to the Octarians as the primary antagonists; it built an entire world around them. Each level was a bite-sized marvel, full of clever gimmicks like ink rails and propeller platforms, constantly keeping players on their toes. And let’s not forget the music – those energetic, quirky, and sometimes wonderfully disorienting tunes perfectly captured the contrasting cultures of Inklings and Octarians.

Splatoon 2 followed up with Octo Canyon, a solid continuation that built on the original’s structure while offering players more weapon choices to tackle challenges. What was truly cool about its narrative was how it subtly wove in the outcome of the first game’s final Splatfest, making your past choices feel impactful. But it was the Octo Expansion DLC that truly elevated the series’ storytelling. This fan-favourite shifted to a challenge-room format, letting you navigate levels non-linearly via a subway map. It was a game-changer, even featuring one of the toughest bosses ever, Inner Agent 3 – seriously, a true challenge that could give any FromSoftware boss a run for their money!

Then came Splatoon 3 with Return of the Mammalians, which cleverly started out feeling familiar before evolving into something new, embracing a non-linear progression similar to Octo Expansion, but with levels designed to test your mastery of multiplayer special abilities. And its Side Order DLC? Pure genius! It took the challenge-room concept and infused it with roguelite elements, offering intricate levels, endless upgrade possibilities, and diverse loadouts. It was Nintendo’s unique take on the roguelite genre, and a mighty strong one at that.

When you look closely at Splatoon Raiders, you can see hints of all these incredible campaigns woven into its fabric. The deep lore and hidden history elements echo Splatoon 1. The weapon versatility and experimentation feel inspired by Splatoon 2. The non-linear level progression is straight out of Octo Expansion. Even the ability tutorials in Raiders’ Sampler Dungeons and its spec-building systems clearly draw from Splatoon 3’s Side Order. It’s a beautiful culmination of a decade-plus of fantastic ideas.

So, while Splatoon Raiders is a stellar standalone experience that refines many elements from its predecessors, it’s vital not to downplay the games that came before it. Each Splatoon campaign brought something unique and memorable to the table. Everyone will have their personal favourite – maybe you’re like me and still prefer the PvP chaos, making Raiders your least favourite, but you can’t deny it’s a seriously good game. The ultimate takeaway isn’t that Raiders is better than what came before, but that the entire Splatoon series, in all its inky glory, is something truly special.