I was a latecomer to the Splatoon series. If you had asked me three years ago what my favorite Turf War stage is, the 45 minutes I had spent with Splatoon 2 might have been able to cough up "the boat one" at a push, but that's only if I was really firing on all cylinders. The Inklings freaked me out, the motion controls made me dizzy, and it was all too fast for my little brain to handle. But then Splatoon 3 came along and stole my heart.
What it was that inspired me to pick up the third entry, I will never know. Maybe it was the new yellow/purple colorway, maybe it was the explanatory Directs, maybe it was Smallfry and his customizable hairdo. Whatever it was, I'm pleased that I decided to give it another shot because, for the past two years, it has been one of my favorite games on Switch.
It would be reasonable to assume, then, that the end of "regular updates" for the title would be enough to leave me feeling a little down. And yet, here I am, smiling as I wave it off into the sunset. Why? Because the Grand Festival happened, and I think that it might have just been Nintendo's perfect goodbye.
This was so much more than a 72-hour Splatfest — though it very much was a 72-hour Splatfest — it was an all-out party, a celebration of everything that makes Splatoon great and a complete takeover from title screen to Turf War. Seriously, even the opening 'Splatoon 3' icon was replaced by a sign advertising the Grand Festival.
Nintendo pulled off some cool changes on the Splatfest side of things, with Tricolor Battles available from the jump, increased 10x Battle frequency, and a new Grand Splatlands Bowl stage thrown in for good measure. Still, the real star of the show was the central stages hub, an area so full of activity and celebration that it was difficult to walk around without a grin plastered across my face.
And I see you, Splatoon team, flexing your technical muscles. Splatoon 3 has always been a rather pretty game that holds its own remarkably well given the number of simultaneous moving parts, but the Grand Festival took things up a level with its crowds, lighting, falling ink and more. I want 'Switch 2' as much as anyone else, but it's always nice to be reminded of just how much Nintendo's little hybrid is capable of.
It was just all so full of joy, and it's clear that I wasn't alone in my adoration. Turning back to the internet this morning revealed waves of similar-minded squid kids soaking up the fun, taking in the music, and uncovering the new area's secrets. See for yourself:
Never one to waste a good bit of design, Nintendo has even given us a backdoor pass to sneak in and relive the celebrations now that the event is over. If, like me, you too found yourself in the Grand Festival's clutches, you can whip over to Splatsville's amiibo area, scan any Squid Sisters, Off the Hook, or Deep Cut amiibo, and get the option to travel back in time to watch the shows or explore the hub all over again. Come on, that's neat.
There aren't many Nintendo games that could go out with such a bang, but for Splatoon 3, the Grand Festival perfectly fit the bill. Of course, we still have a handful of regional Splatfests, Big Runs, and Eggstra Work shifts to look forward to, but as the last bit of new in Nintendo's newest series, it doesn't feel like a bad way to say goodbye.
So long, Splatoon 3, and thanks for all the squids.
