Astonishingly Addictive: Foamstars Surpasses Splatoon's Brilliance

When Foamstars was unveiled during the Playstation Showcase in May, the response from the internet was swift and harsh - many accused it of being a mere copy of Splatoon. However, having played four rounds of the lively multiplayer action at Gamescom 2023, the reality is far from simple.

Foamstars, a party shooter game developed by Square Enix, aims to fill a void in the online multiplayer shooter market. In some ways, it does just that, but only if you deliberately overlook the undeniable influence of Splatoon. The core gameplay involves two teams of four players engaging in intense battles across various maps, using colored foam to both damage opponents and coat surfaces. The developers have also promised a range of competitive game modes to add to the excitement.

Players can surf quickly across foam of their team's color, but they will move much slower if it's the opposing team's color. If a player gets covered in enough foam, they become immobilized inside a massive foam ball. By surfing into an enemy while in this state, you can knock them out, earning a point for your team. On the other hand, surfing into a foamed teammate will free them so they can continue fighting.

In this game, players have the option to choose from a range of characters with different weapons and special moves. This offers various playstyles, ranging from precise ranged combat to chaotic close-quarters combat. Throughout all four rounds that we played, there was a mode called Smash The Star. In this mode, teams compete to knock out seven opposing players, and once accomplished, the star player on that team becomes the target. The game is won by knocking out the star player of the opposing team.

With the game's basics addressed, it's nearly inconceivable that Foamstars is not a highly targeted, legally unique take on Splatoon, aiming to introduce Nintendo's popular multiplayer franchise to a wider audience beyond Nintendo users. From its vibrant bubblegum color palette to its charming anime-inspired character design, denying the heavy influence of Splatoon on Foamstars would require an astonishing level of cognitive dissonance. Nonetheless, there are subtle distinctions that give Foamstars its own distinct feel.

Initially, the contrasting colored foam that envelops the battleground appears to be a mere variation of Splatoon's ink. However, this foam persists as a three-dimensional element on the map, allowing players to build upon it and alter the landscape throughout the match. Over the course of a three-minute round, the once flat arena transforms into a majestic mountain range of technicolor bubbles, adding an extra layer of dynamism to the already chaotic battles taking place.

The organized team has the ability to create defensive structures and platforms to attack their enemies with foam, although it may be challenging to grasp within a short play time. The transformation of the map in three dimensions adds enjoyable visuals, even for those who are not experts. Additionally, each character in Foamstars has unique weapons and special attacks, allowing for diverse offensive and defensive strategies when combined in a team of four. The characters' abilities range from close-quarters shotgun-style combat to foam rocket launchers and heavy machine gun-style hoses, which create a visually striking display of colored bubbles. While it is possible to have a team of four identical characters, the key to succeeding on the battlefield lies in cleverly combining different roles and abilities.

Playing as four different characters throughout the four rounds, I was pleasantly surprised by the distinct feel of each character. The varying movement speed, weapon selection, and special moves added an interesting variety to the gameplay style. Each character's special attacks, such as a foam grenade or a spiraling cartwheel, perfectly complemented their personality and playstyle. Additionally, each character had a spectacular ultimate move, reminiscent of hero shooters, that covered a vast area of the map in foam.

While Foamstars incorporates 3D morphing maps and hero shooter elements, it may not be enough to completely set it apart from Splatoon. However, after playing a few rounds of Foamstars, the chaotic foam-filled gameplay was undeniably lovable. It will be interesting to see how audiences respond to the subtle tweaks that Foamstars has made to the tried and true Splatoon formula for different platforms.