Splatoon 3 Side Order DLC review: An excellent ink-fueled roguelite, with the classic Splatoon charm

Splatoon 3 Side Order is something I was lowkey excited about when it was first announced. Being someone who got into the world of Spaltoon quite recently with the latest entry, I was craving for more ink-fueled action, albeit not on the multiplayer side of things. Instead, I was looking for something that I can enjoy solo and in short bursts.

Honestly, the Side Order DLC delivers more or less my expectations while adding a neat little twist to the classic Splatoon gameplay formula. You see, Spaltoon 3 Side Order is a roguelite, a genre that's very near and dear to me and something that I never expected to see in a mainline Splatoon game.

I spent nearly 15 hours with the Side Order DLC, and all-in-all, I really enjoyed my time with the expansion. However, that's not to say it's perfect; it's far from it, to be honest. While I was impressed by how creatively Nintendo EPD mixed a roguelite mode with classic Splatoon gameplay, the DLC suffers from the same pitfalls as the base game itself.

If there's one thing that Nintendo almost always gets right, it has to be the presentation and art style. Say what you will about Nintendo's games, be it the flagship first-party titles, i.e., Mario, Zelda, Pokemon, or third-party exclusives like Bayonetta, Astral Chain, and Fire Emblem, they all never fail to deliver a stellar visual presentation.

The same stands true for both Splatoon 3 and the Side Order DLC. Back when I played and reviewed Spaltoon 3, I was genuinely impressed with its art style, as well as its soundtrack. And while I was coming back to the game after not having touched it for more than a year, it still left a similar impression on me.

Suffice it to say, if you're someone like me who adored the base game's art style and