If this were 2009, this title would be wildly inaccurate. 2009, of course, was the year that Modern Warfare 2 came out, arguably the best Call of Duty game of all time. Splatoon for the Wii was a massive surprise. No one expected it to be the hit that it became. Low and behold, it spawned a sequel for Nintendo’s hit console, the Switch, which is even better than the original. Although Splatoon is a third-person shooter while Call of Duty is a first-person-shooter, both are competitive shooters that do draw comparisons. That being said, Splatoon 2 is better than Call of Duty. There is no question, at least in regards to the recent entries.
Kill-to-Death Ratio
One thing I love about Splatoon is that it’s not all about killing your opponent. That does not determine your score like in Call of Duty. Yes, it helps, but it’s not the be-all-end-all. Splatoon is such a unique concept and ultimately the winner is decided by the amount of ink the course is covered in. This idea is unheard of. There is nothing like it in Call of Duty, and while the CoD series is much more realistic, so much depends on kill-to-death ratio. It’s not that fun, especially in more recent entries, whereas Splatoon takes the focus off simply killing your opponents and has a much grander strategy.
Innovation
The Splatoon IP is one of the most innovative franchises that Nintendo has ever developed. The character design is exquisite, the idea of using paint guns as a weapon has never been conceived in a shooter of this magnitude in a video game before, and the amount of support Nintendo shows Splatoon 2 is above and beyond what any other company does. There are continuous updates and even this week there is a Splatfest for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! As someone who grew up with the movies and cartoon (originals), I find Nintendo’s constant ingenuity astounding.
On the other hand, it seems that all Call of Duty has to offer is double XP weekends, which gets rather boring after a while. It’s also frustrating that if you don’t have the best guns, which unlock at a high level, it’s hard to fully compete with those who play the game non-stop. While in Splatoon 2, yes, the better guns are unlocked as you level up and spend coins, but there are plenty of guns that are considered “lower tier” that are of fine quality as well.
Character Customization
One of the most rewarding parts of Splatoon 2 is the ability to buy attire, such as clothing, hats, shoes, etc. These aren’t just for show either. As your character progresses, you are able to unlock abilities. But, let’s be honest, the ability to make your character look like a total badass is incredibly rewarding. The clothing also fits the game’s unique and innovative character designs perfectly. Want to dress your character as a skater squid? The game’s got you covered. Want a wear a tee, hat, and some Sketchers-like shoes? The game has you covered too. There are so many customization options it reminds me of Animal Crossing, and this isn’t a bad thing.
With regards to Call of Duty, you customize your guns, sidearms, grenades, kill streaks…and that’s about it? There are also other add-ons and WWII is more customizable than previous installments with different classes and abilities, but it feels like a chore and is overwhelming when first approaching it. Splatoon 2 is a lot more streamlined and a lot more fun.
Splatoon is the Future
Splatoon 2 is the best shooter to come out, first-person or third-person, in years. It is a global phenomenon. While Call of Duty is in decline, the Splatoon franchise is on its way up. It’s fun, it’s beyond innovative, and it is the future. Games like Call of Duty simply aren’t enjoyable anymore. Yes, Splatoon is whacky, but it’s so much damn fun.