The first part of the Splatoon 3: Expansion Pass made its debut over a year ago, introducing players to the nostalgic Inkopolis Plaza from the original Splatoon. This hub area brought back fond memories, allowing you to shop and partake in Splatfests. However, while the initial wave offered a splash of nostalgia for Wii U fans, many Nintendo Switch users felt the content did not warrant the £22.49/$24.99 price tag. Those who eagerly purchased the expansion likely held high hopes for Wave 2, titled “Side Order.” This exciting new single-player campaign is set for release in 2024, with Inkopolis Plaza initially serving as a teaser for what was to come. Now that Wave 2 has officially launched on February 22, 2024, the big question remains: has the Splatoon 3 Expansion Pass finally provided enough new content to justify the investment, or is it merely swimming in circles?
A notable absence from the original single-player campaign was the fan-favorite duo, Marina and Pearl, who originated in Splatoon 2 as members of the beloved pop idol group, Off the Hook. Their omission was significant, but it turns out they were reserved for a starring role in the DLC. In “Side Order,” you take on the role of Agent 8, the octoling first introduced in the Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion. Awakening from a slumber on a train to Inkopolis Square, you find yourself in a bizarre, colorless world. Soon, you encounter Pearl, though she appears in an unexpected form— as a drone. She asks you to assist her in locating Marina, who is thought to be at the top of a tower reminiscent of the one in Inkopolis Square.
As you delve deeper into the narrative, it becomes evident that the quest to find Marina is just the beginning of an expansive storyline. A significant plot twist unfolds early on, but to keep this review spoiler-free, I’ll pivot to discussing the gameplay itself. Overall, the narrative successfully broadens the Splatoon universe, presenting a new perspective on the ultimate Splatfest of Splatoon 2, where Team Chaos claimed victory, leading to the chaotic world of Splatoon 3. In “Side Order,” players witness a storyline reimagining what could have happened had Team Order emerged victorious.
“Side Order” adopts a roguelite format, marking a first for the series. Players ascend a 30-floor tower, encountering new levels with varied objectives on each floor. Each floor presents three objectives, ranked from easy to rigorous, with more challenging tasks yielding higher rewards in “membux.” This currency can be utilized at Vending-Machine Corners on certain floors to acquire lives, color chips, and various sub and special weapons. But what are color chips? They’re unique collectibles that provide passive abilities across categories including range, power, and mobility.
The objectives range from destroying portals to escorting turbine towers, protecting zones, sinking infuriating ∞-balls, and battling fleeing foes. Every tenth floor brings a challenging boss encounter. True to Splatoon style, gameplay revolves around splatting adversaries with your ink-based weaponry, alongside help from your trusty Pearl drone. Lives are limited, and running out will send you back to the start, converting all your membux and color chips into “prlz.” This new currency facilitates permanent upgrades to enhance future attempts, such as increasing the maximum number of lives or reducing damage taken. While losing and restarting can be taxing, collecting prlz ensures that progress isn’t entirely lost, and each ascent has its unique elements.
As an experienced player with nearly 1000 hours invested in the Splatoon series, I anticipated “Side Order” to be rather straightforward; I was pleasantly surprised by the challenge it presented. If you consider the campaign complete after the main story, it will take about 4-7 hours. However, as a roguelite, it invites you to replay and discover additional unlockables, including numerous special cosmetic items for multiplayer. Complete mastery can take over 20 hours, as players can feel the repetition creep in due to similar objectives. Despite this, I enjoyed my journey, experimenting with all available weapon types, starting with just the “order dualies” before progressing.
While the initial wave of the Splatoon 3: Expansion Pass left some wanting, the second wave, “Side Order,” elevates the DLC to a must-have for both Splatoon enthusiasts and fans of the roguelite genre. Splatoon has focused largely on online multiplayer, but this DLC highlights that the single-player experience is equally engaging. For those already enjoying Splatoon 3, acquiring the Expansion Pass is an easy decision; for newcomers, there’s never been a better time to dive into the splat-tastic excitement. The Splatoon 3: Expansion Pass is now available on the Nintendo eShop.
8/10