<s>
is	O
a	O
2015	O
third-person	O
shooter	O
video	O
game	O
developed	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
Nintendo	O
for	O
the	O
Wii	B-Device
U	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Splatoon	B-Application
features	O
several	O
different	O
game	O
modes	O
,	O
including	O
four-on-four	O
online	O
multiplayer	O
and	O
a	O
single	O
player	O
campaign	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Splatoon	B-Application
was	O
developed	O
by	O
Nintendo	O
's	O
Entertainment	O
Analysis	O
&	O
Development	O
division	O
,	O
and	O
originated	O
from	O
a	O
competitive	O
multiplayer	O
ink-based	O
territory	O
control	O
game	O
,	O
which	O
was	O
later	O
expanded	O
to	O
include	O
squid	O
and	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
swim	O
through	O
ink	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
concept	O
was	O
created	O
by	O
lead	O
programmer	O
Shintaro	O
Sato	O
,	O
who	O
had	O
previously	O
worked	O
on	O
games	O
in	O
the	O
Animal	B-Application
Crossing	I-Application
franchise	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
development	O
team	O
for	O
Splatoon	B-Application
was	O
generally	O
composed	O
of	O
younger	O
Nintendo	O
employees	O
compared	O
to	O
other	O
games	O
by	O
the	O
company	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Splatoon	B-Application
received	O
positive	O
reviews	O
,	O
with	O
critics	O
praising	O
Nintendo	O
's	O
decision	O
to	O
enter	O
the	O
genre	O
with	O
a	O
new	O
franchise	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
overall	O
style	O
and	O
presentation	O
,	O
gameplay	O
mechanics	O
,	O
and	O
its	O
soundtrack	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
criticism	O
was	O
directed	O
at	O
the	O
exclusion	O
of	O
voice	B-Protocol
chat	I-Protocol
and	O
private	O
lobbies	O
,	O
the	O
small	O
number	O
of	O
multiplayer	O
maps	O
at	O
launch	O
,	O
and	O
issues	O
with	O
online	O
matchmaking	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Splatoon	B-Application
was	O
awarded	O
and	O
nominated	O
for	O
several	O
year-end	O
accolades	O
from	O
several	O
gaming	O
publications	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
sequel	O
,	O
Splatoon	B-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
was	O
released	O
for	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
on	O
July	O
21	O
,	O
2017	O
,	O
followed	O
by	O
another	O
sequel	O
,	O
Splatoon	B-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
which	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
on	O
September	O
9	O
,	O
2022	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Splatoon	B-Application
is	O
primarily	O
a	O
team-based	O
third-person	O
shooter	O
that	O
is	O
playable	O
by	O
up	O
to	O
eight	O
players	O
in	O
online	O
four-versus-four	O
matches	O
,	O
although	O
the	O
game	O
also	O
features	O
local	O
one-versus-one	O
multiplayer	O
matches	O
and	O
a	O
single	O
player	O
campaign	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
all	O
modes	O
,	O
except	O
for	O
the	O
two-player	O
mode	O
,	O
players	O
can	O
use	O
the	O
Wii	B-Device
U	I-Device
GamePad	I-Device
to	O
view	O
a	O
map	O
of	O
the	O
surroundings	O
and	O
instantly	O
launch	O
towards	O
the	O
location	O
of	O
another	O
teammate	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
use	O
optional	O
gyroscopic	O
controls	O
to	O
assist	O
with	O
aiming	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Primary	O
paint	O
weapons	O
range	O
from	O
those	O
whose	O
firing	O
patterns	O
resemble	O
various	O
types	O
of	O
firearms	O
,	O
to	O
melee	O
weapons	O
such	O
as	O
Splat	O
Rollers	O
,	O
Inkbrushes	O
,	O
and	O
Sloshers	O
(	O
ink	O
buckets	B-Device
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
also	O
supports	O
Splatoon	B-Application
Amiibo	B-Device
figures	O
,	O
with	O
each	O
figure	O
unlocking	O
a	O
set	O
of	O
missions	O
which	O
unlocks	O
extra	O
equipment	O
(	O
weapons	O
and	O
clothing	O
)	O
and	O
a	O
bonus	O
minigame	O
upon	O
completion	O
,	O
the	O
latter	O
of	O
which	O
can	O
be	O
selected	O
and	O
played	O
on	O
the	O
Wii	B-Device
U	I-Device
GamePad	I-Device
while	O
waiting	O
in	O
lobbies	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Battle	O
Dojo	O
,	O
the	O
local	O
multiplayer	O
mode	O
,	O
two	O
players	O
compete	O
to	O
pop	O
the	O
most	O
balloons	O
,	O
with	O
one	O
player	O
using	O
the	O
Wii	B-Device
U	I-Device
GamePad	I-Device
and	O
the	O
other	O
using	O
the	O
TV	O
with	O
a	O
Wii	B-Device
U	I-Device
Pro	I-Device
Controller	I-Device
or	O
Wii	B-Device
Classic	I-Device
Controller	I-Device
or	O
either	O
controller	O
in	O
conjunction	O
with	O
a	O
MotionPlus-enabled	O
Wii	B-Device
Remote	I-Device
to	O
recreate	O
the	O
GamePad	B-Device
's	O
gyroscopic	O
controls	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Each	O
level	O
also	O
contains	O
a	O
hidden	O
"	O
sunken	O
scroll	O
"	O
which	O
reveals	O
backstories	O
and	O
lore	O
surrounding	O
the	O
setting	O
of	O
Splatoon	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Splatoon	B-Application
was	O
developed	O
by	O
Nintendo	O
Entertainment	O
Analysis	O
&	O
Development	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
mid-2013	O
,	O
one	O
member	O
of	O
the	O
Animal	B-Application
Crossing	I-Application
development	O
team	O
,	O
Shintaro	O
Sato	O
,	O
created	O
a	O
four-versus-four	O
ink-based	O
territory	O
control	O
game	O
set	O
in	O
a	O
featureless	O
arena	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
art	O
director	O
sketched	O
different	O
ideas	O
for	O
the	O
player	O
character	O
,	O
including	O
animals	O
,	O
"	O
macho	O
men	O
,	O
"	O
robots	O
,	O
and	O
Mario	B-Application
,	O
but	O
the	O
co-directors	O
wanted	O
to	O
include	O
a	O
playable	O
squid	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
From	O
the	O
beginning	O
,	O
the	O
GamePad	B-Device
could	O
display	O
a	O
real-time	O
overview	O
of	O
the	O
map	O
so	O
the	O
player	O
could	O
see	O
which	O
team	O
was	O
ahead	O
,	O
and	O
at	O
some	O
point	O
,	O
the	O
team	O
considered	O
using	O
urinals	O
and	O
sinks	O
as	O
warp	O
points	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Game	O
director	O
Tsubasa	O
Sakaguchi	O
and	O
producer	O
Hisashi	O
Nogami	O
admitted	O
that	O
they	O
,	O
along	O
with	O
the	O
rest	O
of	O
the	O
team	O
,	O
play	O
first	O
person	O
shooters	O
and	O
games	O
on	O
other	O
companies	O
 '	O
hardware	O
(	O
such	O
as	O
Call	B-Application
of	I-Application
Duty	I-Application
and	O
Battlefield	O
)	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
their	O
job	O
,	O
and	O
also	O
because	O
they	O
love	O
video	O
games	O
in	O
general	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Splatoon	B-Application
was	O
revealed	O
in	O
a	O
trailer	O
during	O
Nintendo	O
's	O
E3	O
2014	O
Digital	O
Event	O
video	O
presentation	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
demo	O
of	O
its	O
multiplayer	O
mode	O
was	O
playable	O
on	O
the	O
show	O
floor	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
15	O
May	O
,	O
on	O
the	O
Santa	O
Monica	O
Pier	O
in	O
Santa	O
Monica	O
,	O
California	O
,	O
Nintendo	O
held	O
a	O
special	O
event	O
called	O
the	O
Splatoon	B-Application
Mess	O
Fest	O
,	O
featuring	O
celebrities	O
and	O
an	O
obstacle	O
course	O
inspired	O
by	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Splatoon	B-Application
outfits	O
are	O
also	O
featured	O
in	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
3DS	I-Operating_System
title	O
,	O
Girls	B-Application
Mode	I-Application
3	I-Application
:	I-Application
Kirakira	I-Application
☆	I-Application
Code	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Canada	O
,	O
Splatoon-themed	O
frozen	O
yogurt	O
was	O
produced	O
at	O
various	O
Yogurty	O
's	O
locations	O
from	O
June	O
to	O
September	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nintendo	O
UK	O
partnered	O
with	O
Adrenaline	O
Alley	O
skatepark	O
to	O
decorate	O
it	O
with	O
decals	O
and	O
props	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
game	O
and	O
install	O
several	O
Wii	B-Device
U	I-Device
demo	O
stations	O
for	O
the	O
summer	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nintendo	O
also	O
held	O
fan-art	O
competitions	O
on	O
Miiverse	O
and	O
Twitter	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Wii	B-Device
U	I-Device
Deluxe	O
Set	O
bundles	O
with	O
Splatoon	B-Application
included	O
were	O
released	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
at	O
Best	O
Buy	O
stores	O
(	O
as	O
a	O
coupon	O
for	O
a	O
digital	O
copy	O
)	O
Australia	O
,	O
Europe	O
,	O
and	O
New	O
Zealand	O
(	O
on	O
a	O
physical	O
disc	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Splatoon	B-Application
series	O
Amiibo	B-Device
were	O
released	O
alongside	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
with	O
Boy	O
and	O
Girl	O
Inklings	O
sold	O
separately	O
and	O
a	O
Squid	O
figure	O
sold	O
exclusively	O
as	O
a	O
bundle	O
with	O
either	O
the	O
game	O
or	O
the	O
two	O
other	O
Amiibo	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Amiibo	B-Device
figures	O
of	O
in-game	O
pop	O
idols	O
Callie	O
and	O
Marie	O
—	O
collectively	O
known	O
as	O
the	O
"	O
Squid	O
Sisters	O
"	O
—	O
were	O
released	O
in	O
Japan	O
on	O
7	O
July	O
2016	O
and	O
internationally	O
on	O
8	O
July	O
2016	O
,	O
along	O
with	O
limited	O
edition	O
recolors	O
of	O
the	O
Inkling	O
Boy	O
,	O
Girl	O
and	O
Squid	O
Amiibo	B-Device
;	O
the	O
Callie	O
and	O
Marie	O
Amiibo	B-Device
unlock	O
in-game	O
music	O
players	O
featuring	O
their	O
songs	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Players	O
who	O
pre-ordered	O
the	O
game	O
at	O
GameStop	O
received	O
a	O
download	O
voucher	O
for	O
Splatoon-themed	O
Mii	O
costumes	O
for	O
use	O
in	O
Super	B-Application
Smash	I-Application
Bros	I-Application
.	I-Application
for	I-Application
Nintendo	I-Application
3DS	I-Application
and	I-Application
Wii	I-Application
U	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
bundle	O
containing	O
Splatoon	B-Application
and	O
Super	B-Application
Smash	I-Application
Bros	I-Application
.	I-Application
for	I-Application
Nintendo	I-Application
3DS	I-Application
and	I-Application
Wii	I-Application
U	I-Application
was	O
announced	O
in	O
a	O
November	O
2015	O
Nintendo	O
Direct	O
and	O
was	O
released	O
during	O
the	O
holiday	O
season	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nintendo	O
released	O
a	O
Splatoon	B-Application
Wii	B-Device
U	I-Device
Deluxe	O
Set	O
containing	O
the	O
amiibo	B-Device
figures	O
in	O
Japan	O
on	O
7	O
July	O
2016	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
,	O
Nintendo	O
launched	O
two	O
new	O
diorama	O
sets	O
based	O
solely	O
on	O
Splatoon	B-Application
and	O
its	O
characters	O
around	O
the	O
same	O
time	O
in	O
Japan	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
August	O
2015	O
update	O
raised	O
the	O
level	O
cap	O
from	O
20	O
to	O
50	O
,	O
added	O
S	O
and	O
S+	O
ranks	O
to	O
ranked	O
battles	O
,	O
introduced	O
new	O
Splatling	O
and	O
Slosher	B-Device
weapons	O
,	O
private	O
lobbies	O
and	O
party	O
play	O
,	O
and	O
added	O
over	O
40	O
new	O
pieces	O
of	O
gear	O
items	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Additionally	O
,	O
Nintendo	O
announced	O
that	O
Splatoons	B-Application
online	O
services	O
will	O
continue	O
to	O
be	O
active	O
,	O
despite	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
final	O
Splatfest	O
having	O
occurred	O
on	O
22	O
July	O
2016	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Splatoon	B-Application
was	O
well-received	O
when	O
it	O
was	O
revealed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
release	O
,	O
Splatoon	B-Application
received	O
positive	O
reviews	O
,	O
receiving	O
an	O
aggregated	O
score	O
of	O
81/100	O
on	O
Metacritic	O
based	O
on	O
88	O
reviews	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
GamesRadar	O
gave	O
the	O
game	O
3.5/5	O
stars	O
,	O
praising	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
refreshing	O
take	O
on	O
the	O
shooter	O
genre	O
,	O
while	O
criticising	O
some	O
elements	O
such	O
as	O
lobbies	O
and	O
amiibo-locked	O
content	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
IGN	O
initially	O
scored	O
the	O
game	O
7.9	O
,	O
praising	O
the	O
gameplay	O
but	O
criticizing	O
the	O
low	O
number	O
of	O
maps	O
and	O
modes	O
at	O
launch	O
and	O
absence	O
of	O
voice	B-Protocol
chat	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nintendo	O
Life	O
scored	O
the	O
game	O
nine	O
stars	O
out	O
of	O
ten	O
,	O
considering	O
Splatoon	B-Application
one	O
of	O
the	O
"	O
most	O
fun	O
"	O
online	O
games	O
available	O
because	O
of	O
the	O
unique	O
way	O
each	O
online	O
match	O
played	O
out	O
due	O
to	O
the	O
ink	O
mechanic	O
,	O
which	O
also	O
helped	O
counteract	O
potential	O
boredom	O
from	O
the	O
low	O
number	O
of	O
maps	O
playable	O
at	O
launch	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Writing	O
for	O
The	O
Guardian	O
,	O
Kate	O
Gray	O
praised	O
the	O
visual	O
style	O
of	O
Splatoon	B-Application
for	O
contrasting	O
realistic	O
shooter	O
games	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
Call	B-Application
of	I-Application
Duty	I-Application
franchise	O
with	O
a	O
"	O
90s	O
cartoon	O
aesthetic	O
"	O
,	O
citing	O
influence	O
by	O
games	O
such	O
as	O
Jet	B-Application
Set	I-Application
Radio	I-Application
,	O
Super	B-Application
Mario	I-Application
Sunshine	I-Application
,	O
and	O
de	B-Application
Blob	I-Application
,	O
along	O
with	O
a	O
catchy	O
soundtrack	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
Gray	O
noted	O
shortcomings	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
a	O
lack	O
of	O
multiplayer	O
maps	O
and	O
modes	O
on-launch	O
making	O
the	O
game	O
feel	O
repetitive	O
,	O
matchmaking	O
issues	O
(	O
such	O
as	O
inconsistent	O
wait	O
times	O
between	O
matches	O
and	O
team	O
composition	O
issues	O
)	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
the	O
lack	O
of	O
features	O
such	O
as	O
voice	B-Protocol
chat	I-Protocol
and	O
private	O
lobbies	O
,	O
but	O
defending	O
the	O
criticism	O
by	O
arguing	O
that	O
it	O
was	O
"[Nintendo's]	O
first	O
game	O
in	O
a	O
long	O
time	O
that	O
's	O
really	O
attempted	O
to	O
revitalize	O
and	O
reinvent	O
a	O
genre	O
that	O
often	O
seems	O
stagnant	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Gray	O
concluded	O
by	O
declaring	O
Splatoon	B-Application
to	O
be	O
"	O
a	O
breath	O
of	O
fresh	O
air	O
—	O
or	O
more	O
accurately	O
'	O
splodge	O
of	O
fresh	O
ink'—for	O
those	O
who	O
like	O
to	O
shoot	O
stuff	O
,	O
but	O
have	O
grown	O
tired	O
of	O
the	O
endless	O
bloody	O
churn	O
of	O
gritty	O
,	O
realistic	O
shooters.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Splatoon	B-Application
debuted	O
at	O
No	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
2	O
in	O
the	O
UK	O
software	O
sales	O
chart	O
in	O
the	O
week	O
it	O
launched	O
,	O
only	O
behind	O
The	B-Application
Witcher	I-Application
3	I-Application
:	I-Application
Wild	I-Application
Hunt	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
the	O
fifth	O
fastest-selling	O
Wii	B-Device
U	I-Device
game	O
and	O
the	O
fastest-selling	O
new	O
intellectual	O
property	O
on	O
the	O
console	O
in	O
that	O
country	O
,	O
beating	O
the	O
previous	O
record	O
set	O
by	O
Ubisoft	O
's	O
2012	O
launch	O
title	O
ZombiU	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Splatoon	B-Application
debuted	O
at	O
the	O
top	O
of	O
the	O
Japanese	O
software	O
sales	O
chart	O
,	O
with	O
over	O
144,000	O
retail	O
copies	O
sold	O
in	O
its	O
launch	O
week	O
and	O
a	O
total	O
of	O
1.53	O
million	O
sold	O
by	O
December	O
2016	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
May	O
2016	O
,	O
Splatoon	B-Application
was	O
announced	O
to	O
be	O
the	O
most	O
successful	O
new	O
home	O
console	O
intellectual	O
property	O
(	O
IP	O
)	O
in	O
Japan	O
since	O
Wii	B-Application
Sports	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
artbook	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
titled	O
the	O
Art	O
of	O
Splatoon	B-Application
was	O
released	O
in	O
Japan	O
in	O
September	O
2015	O
,	O
and	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
and	O
Europe	O
in	O
June	O
2017	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2016	O
,	O
a	O
series	O
of	O
real-life	O
virtual	B-General_Concept
concerts	I-General_Concept
featuring	O
the	O
Squid	O
Sisters	O
,	O
known	O
as	O
"	O
Squid	O
Sisters	O
Live	O
"	O
and	O
appearing	O
as	O
holograms	O
,	O
were	O
held	O
at	O
Tokaigi	O
2016	O
(	O
Makuhari	O
Messe	O
)	O
in	O
January	O
,	O
Choukagi	O
2016	O
in	O
April	O
,	O
Japan	O
Expo	O
(	O
Paris	O
)	O
in	O
July	O
,	O
and	O
Niconico	O
Cho	O
Party	O
in	O
November	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Splatoon	B-Application
has	O
been	O
adapted	O
into	O
a	O
manga	O
series	O
,	O
which	O
is	O
written	O
and	O
illustrated	O
by	O
Sankichi	O
Hinodeya	O
.	O
</s>
