A brand-new video game for the Wii U is called Splatoon. Both a multiplayer option and a single player option are available in this game. Teams of four compete in the multiplayer mode to paint the game area with various ink colors. The objective is to cover as much ground as you can before the timer expires. Your team wins if it covers a larger area than the opposition. Either you and your friends can play together or the game will pair you with players. In the single-player mode, you fight your way through the levels, taking on bosses to earn the zap fish, a rare variety of catfish. You must ultimately save the enormous zapfish, which is the source of inkopolis’s entire power.
Although this game is a “shooting game” it is relatively benign. It is accurate to say that the game’s action is rated E for everyone. Really nothing about this game should worry parents. My nine-year-old understood the backstory, picked it up without any trouble, and started playing right away. To keep the game interesting and varied, there are various shops where players can purchase various guns and accessories. At least for a nine-year-old, the single player is challenging but not overly difficult. It appears that they have found the ideal level of difficulty for the game because it is marketed toward young players.
Unlike other games like Plants vs. Zombies, Splatoon doesn’t seem to have an in-game chat feature. As older players occasionally enjoy the game and do not filter their language in games with younger players, the in-game chat can be a problem area for younger gamers. Splatoon players need not be concerned about foul language or other interactions with other players.
The game has even been enjoyable to watch, in my opinion. It has colorful, funky music and somewhat androgynous characters. My son chose a figure that, while to me, appeared to be a girl, he was certain that what I should have seen as long hair was actually dripping ink. His interactions with the game have struck me as being quite creative.
As a parent, I would suggest Splatoon to other parents as a fun game for their younger kids that is relatively simple to learn and offers many hours of enjoyment with little need to worry about the game’s content or the online interactions.