Splatoon 3 exudes polish, but lacks ambition

polygon.com:

Over seven years ago, Nintendo did something it rarely does: Its developers released a brand-new IP with an original cast of characters. Splatoon centered on stylish teens who have the power to transform into squids and melt into gooey, paint-filled terrain. The series, which started as a niche shooter, has since gone on to become a staple of Nintendo’s catalog, developing a dedicated fan base along the way. But a large question remains: Where does Splatoon go from here?

Enter Splatoon 3, the newest installment in the series, which will be released for Nintendo Switch on Sept. 9. As I enter the game, I’m greeted by the sounds of an echoing, dripping liquid. From there, I look into the sunny sky as I emerge into the towering city of Splatsville. Neon signs hang overheard, gratuitously ornamenting its shops. As I walk around, I’m treated to a soundscape of subway trains and the competing music of various vendors. This city serves as Splatoon 3’s hub, which connects activities like competitive online play, the solo campaign, and gear shops.

From the get-go, the game leans into the self awareness that there’s a pressure to do something new. “Oh, uh, hi… Did we do this once before?” Cap’n Cuttlefish, an old, bushy-bearded man says to me. The humor is a bit on the nose, but before I can roll my eyes, the land gives way beneath my feet and I tumble into Alterna, an arctic archipelago. Turns out, my Octoling ended up in some sort of facility under the land itself, á la Journey to the Center of the Earth, and it’s up to us to find our lost friend Cuttlefish, who has been kidnapped and is stuck somewhere in this mysterious place.

To do that, I need to collect caviar-like Power Eggs in the single-player missions. These eggs