The Splatters

Last updated
The Splatters
The Splatters XBLA cover.jpeg
Developer(s) SpikySnail Games
Publisher(s) Microsoft Studios
Platform(s) Xbox 360, Windows, OS X, Linux
ReleaseXbox 360
April 11, 2012
Windows, OS X
June 26, 2013
Linux
2014 [1] [2]
Genre(s) Puzzle
Mode(s) Single-player

The Splatters is a physics based puzzle video game for the Xbox 360's Xbox Live Arcade. It was developed by Israeli studio SpikySnail Games and published by Microsoft Studios. The Splatters was released on April 11, 2012. [3] [4] A PC port was released in 2013 titled Super Splatters. The Splatters was originally going to be called "Confetti Carnival", however the name was changed prior to release. [5] The game received positive to mixed reviews from critics.

Contents

Gameplay

Screenshot of The Splatters in play The Splatters 03.jpg
Screenshot of The Splatters in play

The Splatters is a physics based puzzle video game that tasks players with using anthropomorphized globs of goo to clear bombs scattered across each level. When the globs of goo break from contact with an obstacle in the level, they split open, spilling colored goo that causes bombs to detonate once they become coated in the goo. Both the globs of goo and the bombs have different colors, and bombs can only be destroyed by goo from globs of the same color. Players have a small number of irregular launches and other methods of changing the game's physics, called "stunts", to aid in clearing levels. [6] [7] [8]

The game has three modes: Become a Talent, Combo Nation, and Master Shots. Become a Talent includes tutorials and twelve regular levels, and introduces players to the gameplay and stunts. Completing it unlocks the Combo Nation mode, which has 21 levels, and the Master Shots mode, which has 32. Combo Nation tasks players with stringing together long combinations, detonating bombs by launching globs and destroying bombs in rapid succession. Master Shots gives the player only one glob and specific maneuvers that must be done. After each level, players are graded on their performance and given up to three stars. [4] [8]

Reception

The Splatters received positive to mixed reviews upon release, and has a Metacritic score of 72. [9] Several reviewers compared the game to Angry Birds. [5] [8] [12] Kyle Hilliard of Game Informer called the mechanics a "cross between Angry Birds and Peggle in all the right ways", [5] while Jason Venter of GameSpot labeled The Splatters as "derivative". [8] Venter praised the ability for players to upload scores and game play videos as a "nice touch that adds a strong competitive element to a single-player game". [8] Kevin Schaller of Game Revolution praised the accuracy of the game's controls, as well as the game's visuals, which he described as "somewhere between traditional animation and claymation in appearance". [6] Several reviewers, however, had complaints about the game's consistency. Ventner of GameSpot complained that trying the same thing three times would often yield three different results, [8] while Kyle Hilliard of Game Informer lamented how much of a factor luck played in the game. [5] Lorenzo Veloria of GamesRadar felt that the game was too repetitive, and that the Combo Nation felt "less like a puzzle and more like an exercise in trial and error", coming to the conclusion that the game was better suited for phones than the console. [11]

Super Splatters

On September 4, 2012, Indie Fund announced that they would be providing financial backing to SpikySnail Games' effort to create a port of The Splatters for Windows, Mac, and Linux, with the aim of helping get the studio to a point where they would be financially self-sustaining. [13] On March 13, 2013, SpikySnail Games announced on their blog that the port, called Super Splatters, was almost complete and would be playable at PAX East. [14]

Super Splatters was released via Steam on June 26, 2013.

Related Research Articles

<i>Marvel vs. Capcom</i> Series of crossover fighting games

Marvel vs. Capcom is a series of crossover fighting games developed and published by Capcom, featuring characters from their own video game franchises and comic book series published by Marvel Comics. The series originated as coin-operated arcade games, though later releases would be specifically developed for home consoles, handhelds, and personal computers.

<i>Unreal Tournament 3</i> 2007 first-person shooter video game

Unreal Tournament 3 (UT3) is a first-person arena shooter video game developed by Epic Games and published by Midway Games. Part of the Unreal franchise, it is the fourth game in the Unreal Tournament series, and the eighth and final game overall; its name is in reflection of the game being the first in the franchise to use Unreal Engine 3. It was released on November 19, 2007, for Microsoft Windows, December 10 for the PlayStation 3, and on July 3, 2008, for the Xbox 360. OS X and Linux ports were planned, but they were eventually cancelled. A free-to-play version, entitled Unreal Tournament 3 X, was leaked in late 2022 and cancelled in 2023.

<i>Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes</i> 2000 video game

Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes is a crossover fighting game developed and published by Capcom. It is the fourth installment in the Marvel vs. Capcom series, which features characters from both Capcom's video game franchises and comic book series published by Marvel Comics. Originally released in Japanese arcades in 2000, the game received ports to the Dreamcast, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox, Xbox 360, and iOS devices over the span of twelve years.

<i>Battle Fantasia</i> 2007 video game

Battle Fantasia is a fighting video game developed by Arc System Works. Originally released in Japanese arcades in April 2007, the title was ported to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 home consoles in Japan in May 2008, with a North American Xbox 360-exclusive version released in English in September 2008 by Aksys Games. It was later released in the PAL region in 2009 for both systems by 505 Games (Europe) and Aksys Games (Australia). A Microsoft Windows version, ported in collaboration with DotEmu and distributed via Steam, was released on July 7, 2015 as Battle Fantasia: Revised Edition. The game's development was headed by Emiko Iwasaki, who had previously served as illustrator for the company's Guilty Gear series, and features three-dimensional character models restricted to a two-dimensional plane. Battle Fantasia retains a number of features of its predecessor including fast-paced gameplay, colorful anime-style graphics, and over-the-top effects, yet was designed to be a more basic representation of the fighting genre.

<i>NBA Ballers: Chosen One</i> 2008 video game

NBA Ballers: Chosen One is a video game for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It is the sequel to NBA Ballers: Phenom.

Fancy Pants is a series of free side-scrolling Flash games created by American developer Brad Borne. Four worlds have been released so far. World 1 was released on March 14, 2006 and World 2 was released on January 9, 2008. After the 2009 Comic-Con, Borne announced he would officially start working on World 3. It was released on April 5, 2012. A console version developed by Borne and Over the Top Games was released by EA 2D for PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade on April 19 and April 20, 2011, respectively. An iOS version developed by Chillingo, Over the Top Games and Borne Games was released on the Apple App Store on March 4, 2012, with an Android version released on May 22, 2017. In 2017, Brad Borne made a fourth entry, Super Fancy Pants Adventure, which was later ported to Adobe Flash in 2020 as World 4.

<i>Super Street Fighter IV</i> 2010 video game

Super Street Fighter IV is a 2.5D fighting game produced by Capcom. It is an updated version of Street Fighter IV and has been said to mark the definitive end of the Street Fighter IV series. Having been deemed too large an update to be deployed as DLC, the game was made into a standalone title but given a lower price than that of a full retail game. It was released in April 2010 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition was released as one of the launch titles for the Nintendo 3DS, with 3D functionality, on February 26, 2011, in Japan. The game has sold 1.9 million units worldwide, while the 3D Edition for the 3DS has sold an additional 1.1 million units worldwide.

<i>Skylanders: Spyros Adventure</i> 2011 video game

Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure is a 3D action-adventure platform game and the first video game in the Skylanders series. It is played using with toy figures that interact with it through a "Portal of Power" that reads their tag through NFC.

<i>Orcs Must Die!</i> 2011 video game

Orcs Must Die! is an action-tower defense video game developed and published by Robot Entertainment and Mastertronic. It is a tower defense game that eschews the traditional top-down view of similar games, instead using a third-person action-oriented viewpoint. After being demonstrated at Penny Arcade Expo East 2011, the game was released via Xbox Live Arcade on October 5, 2011, and for Windows PCs on October 12, 2011.

<i>Kinect Star Wars</i> 2012 video game

Kinect Star Wars is a Star Wars video game developed by Terminal Reality and published by LucasArts and Microsoft Studios for the Xbox 360 that uses the Kinect motion peripheral. The game features four game modes: "Jedi Destiny", the primary game mode; podracing; Rancor Rampage; and Galactic Dance-off. In Jedi Destiny, players assume the role models of Jedi Padawans as they wield their lightsabers and use the Force to attack enemies mostly from the prequel trilogy using gestures. Podracing is a race-based game mode, Rancor Rampage is a destruction-based game mode, and Galactic Dance-off is a dance-based game mode similar to the Dance Central series.

<i>BloodRayne: Betrayal</i> 2011 video game

BloodRayne: Betrayal is a 2D side-scrolling platform game released in 2011. Arc System Works published the PlayStation 3 version in Japan under the name BloodRayne: Crimson Slayer on May 1, 2014.

<i>Cobalt</i> (video game) 2016 video game

Cobalt is an action side-scrolling video game developed by Oxeye Game Studio and published by Mojang Studios. It was released on 2 February 2016 for Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360 and the Xbox One consoles.

<i>LocoCycle</i> 2013 video game

LocoCycle is an action-adventure beat-'em-up video game developed by Twisted Pixel Games and published by Microsoft Studios. Originally announced as an Xbox Live Arcade title at E3 2012, LocoCycle was released in November 2013 for Xbox One in its digital storefronts, and on February 14, 2014 for Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360. The Xbox One version was localized for Japan for release on September 4, 2014.

<i>Guacamelee!</i> 2013 Metroidvania platforming video game

Guacamelee! is a Metroidvania action platforming video game developed and published by DrinkBox Studios, initially launched in April 2013 for platforms PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita and was later ported to Windows in August and to OS X and Linux in February 2014. The enhanced Super Turbo Championship Edition was released for Wii U, Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Xbox 360 in July 2014 and later on the Nintendo Switch in October 2018. The game is inspired by traditional Mexican culture and folklore, like alebrijes and Day of the Dead.

<i>Charlie Murder</i> 2013 video game

Charlie Murder is a beat 'em up video game developed by Ska Studios and published by Microsoft Game Studios for the Xbox 360 and Ska Studios for Microsoft Windows. First revealed in January 2010 for Xbox Live Indie Games, the studio announced in May 2010 that the game would undergo a "complete overhaul" and be published in 2012 through Xbox Live Arcade for the Xbox 360. Charlie Murder was eventually released on 14 August 2013 to positive reviews, with critics praising the game's soundtrack and hand-illustrated visuals. Versions for Microsoft Windows, Linux, and macOS were released on May 12, 2017 via Steam.

<i>Tropico 5</i> 2014 video game

Tropico 5 is a construction and management simulation video game developed by Haemimont Games. It was released for Microsoft Windows in May 2014, with versions for Linux, OS X and Xbox 360 released later in 2014 as well as versions for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One released in April 2015 and May 2016 respectively.

<i>Deadfall Adventures</i> 2013 video game

Deadfall Adventures is an action-adventure video game developed by The Farm 51 and published by Nordic Games. Deadfall Adventures was released on November 15, 2013, for Windows and Xbox 360, and on October 28, 2014, for PlayStation 3 under the name of Deadfall Adventures: Heart of Atlantis. The game is set in the universe of the Allan Quatermain series, created by H. Rider Haggard.

<i>Alien Spidy</i> 2013 video game

Alien Spidy is a platform game for Microsoft Windows, Macintosh, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3. It was developed by Spanish studio Enigma Software Productions and published by Kalypso Media. Players control an extraterrestrial spider who has crash-landed on Earth, as he seeks to repair his spacecraft and rescue a fellow extraterrestrial spider.

<i>Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions</i> 2014 video game

Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions is a 2014 multidirectional shooter video game developed by Lucid Games and published by Activision under the Sierra Entertainment brand name. The game was released on November 25, 2014 for Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4, day later for Xbox 360 and Xbox One and in the middle of 2015 for iOS and Android. As the sequel to Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2, Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions is the first game in the series to be released on Sony platforms. It is the sixth installment in the Geometry Wars series and the first one developed after the creator of the series Bizarre Creations was shut down by Activision.

<i>Monaco: Whats Yours Is Mine</i> 2013 stealth video game

Monaco: What's Yours Is Mine is a 2013 stealth video game developed by Pocketwatch Games in which players, alone or cooperatively, perform heists and robberies. Players choose from eight characters, each of whom has a unique and beneficial skill, such as the ability to change appearance or tunnel through walls. Monaco's single-player story is told in four acts from perspectives of different characters. The cooperative mode lets up to four players play together in different locations.

References

  1. ↑ Dawe, Liam (17 February 2014). "Super Splatters Casual Arcade Game On Its Way To Linux". GamingOnLinux. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  2. ↑ "Super Splatters". SpikySnail. Archived from the original on 16 April 2014. Retrieved 5 March 2021– via Steam.
  3. 1 2 "The Splatters for Xbox 360". Game Rankings. CBS Interactive Inc. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 McCaffrey, Ryan. "The Splatters review". Official Xbox Magazine. Future US, Inc. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Hilliard, Kyle. "The Splatters". Game Informer. Game Informer Magazine. Archived from the original on April 19, 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  6. 1 2 3 Schaller, Kevin. "The Splatters Review". Game Revolution. AtomicOnline, LLC. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  7. ↑ Hopper, Steven (9 April 2012). "The Splatters Review". IGN. IGN Entertainment, Inc. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Venter, Jason. "The Splatters Review". Gamespot. CBS Interactive Inc. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  9. 1 2 "The Splatters for Xbox 360". Metacritic. CBS Interactive Inc. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  10. ↑ "The Splatters for Xbox 360". Metacritic. CBS Interactive Inc. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  11. 1 2 Veloria, Lorenzo (10 April 2012). "The Splatters review". GamesRadar. Future plc. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  12. ↑ "The Splatters review". Edge Magazine. Future Publishing Limited. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  13. ↑ "Indie Fund Now Backing The Splatters". Indie Fund. Archived from the original on 2 April 2013. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
  14. ↑ Fisher, Nev. "Super Splatters – Playable @ PAX East". SpikySnail Blog. SpikySnail Games. Archived from the original on 1 July 2013. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.