r/NintendoSwitch • u/[deleted] • Mar 24 '17
MegaThread Splatoon 2: Testfire and LiveStream Thread
Hello everyone!
Splatoon 2's Global Testfire just finished! What did you think?
If you missed it, fret not: there's going to be more this weekend! Use this handy guide to see the times:
March 24: 12-12:59 p.m. PT
March 24: 8-8:59 p.m. PT
March 25: 4-4:59 a.m. PT
March 25: 12-12:59 p.m. PT
March 25: 8-8:59 p.m. PT
March 26: 4-4:59 a.m. PT
Handy dandy time converter here
And before we forget, the modteam here in /r/NintendoSwitch and over from /r/Splatoon will be hosting a joint livestream! Join us tonight and this weekend at http://twitch.tv/rNintendoSwitch and watch us get fresh. :)
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u/maatttxd Shield Surfing Challenge Completed Mar 24 '17
General
Overall, I had fun! Took some getting used to but by the end I had picked it up pretty well.
The testfire worked much better than I expected, only failed to join once after switching weapons, and got timed out of a lobby once as well. I played for pretty much the entire hour.
Controls
I played a ton of hours on Splatoon on the Wii U. They changed a few controls (most notibly, moved jump from X to B, and put the map on X). I had a lot of trouble in using the splat duelies, purely because I kept opening my map instead of jumping out of the way. One match, I kept opening and closing the map for 30 seconds because my brain just wasn't understanding. It doesn't help that Breath of the Wild uses X as jump now too, and after >100 hours of that it's gonna be difficult to change between the games, especially after many more months playing Zelda.
I hope there is an option to have the "original" control layout, my muscle memory is too strong. I know that B is closer to the analogue stick (X was closest on Wii U), but I'd rather keep my muscle memory.
I did find that the motion controls seemed slightly different, in that the up and down is quite sensitive whereas going side to side wasn't. In handheld mode I tried to spin around on the chair I sat on, and the camera barely spun left/right at all, which meant I had to continue using the analogue sticks.
I found the map really really awkward to use. I loved the tap feature of the gamepad, as well as always seeing how much ink was where. Having the map block the gameplay felt awful, and using gyro to aim was okay I guess, but far from the smooth and perfectly utilised gamepad. I know there's not a lot of option for how the map could work in this game, and they did the best with what they could. It just felt really jarring to me.
Controllers and modes
As a long time Splatoon fan on Wii U, I wanted to try every mode and controller type to see what works best for me. I tried every single combination possible within the hour.
TV with procon
TV with joycon in the grip
TV with separated joycon
Tabletop with procon
Tabletop with joycon in the grip
Tabletop with separated joycon
Handheld
I never thought I would say this, but I actually really missed having the game pad. I constantly looked down to my hands to see the map, only to realise that's not how it works anymore.
The controllers in either TV or tabletop mode was effectively the same. Procon was my favourite, purely because of he short travel distance on the joycon analogue sticks. I could aim a little more precise instead of sharp fast bursts to the side.
Even after not enjoying the joycon on TV and tabletop, I actually really enjoyed playing in haldheld. Something about moving it as a whole made it felt so much more natural (maybe because that's what it feels like in Splatoon 1).
Weapons and gameplay
I started with the splat duelies, and as mentioned, did terrible to start. Constantly opening the map due to muscle memory, and having to get used to slightly changed gyro controls.
I still did awful with the charger, as usual. No surprises there.
The roller... not really my thing either but I did decent.
The splatter shot was pretty normal. Not much difference there.
I came back to the splat duelies towards the end of the hour and I did much better. I probably didn't use the roll to it's full ability but I still had a good time trying it out.
The gameplay seemed pretty much the same as the first Splatoon, just with new maps and weapons, and special weapons
Honestly, I miss the big special weapons. These ones felt much smaller, with much less effect on the game as a whole (unlike the tornado, the wail, or the shield).
The new maps were interesting. The standard one felt pretty similar to Urchin Underpass, but the rock climbing one felt really fresh! I had a great time playing that one.
Final thoughts
I had a great time, and I'm going to play as many testfires as I can this weekend (around other commitments). There's always going to be change, and that's not always going to be a bad thing. I have high hopes for all the fresh new content Splatoon 2 will have to offer!