Square Enix Unveils Foamstars, PlayStation's Splatoon Rival

PlayStation's latest showcase received mixed reactions from fans, with a good portion of the presentation dedicated to major announcements like the Metal Gear Solid 3 remake, a Marathon revival, and the first gameplay trailer for Marvel's Spider-Man 2. However, the remainder of the showcase focused on some underwhelming reveals, many of which will also be available on Xbox consoles. Despite not quite falling into the former category, Square Enix's Foamstars stands out as one of the more intriguing games unveiled.

Foamsters is a 4v4 party shooter from Square Enix, available exclusively on PS4 and PS5, featuring a vibrant art style with a heavy emphasis on pastel colors. In Foamstars, players are tasked with taking down their opponents with brightly colored foam while tossing it across the arena. Fans of Nintendo may find Foamstars' gameplay strikingly reminiscent of Splatoon, but this game has its own unique tricks up its sleeve that could make it a serious contender on PlayStation.

Foamstars Has Serious Splatoon Vibes

Despite its obvious inspiration from Splatoon, Foamstars manages to bring its own unique mechanics to the table. The character models are still cartoon-y and colorful, but with a more humanoid touch. The weapons also follow the trend of being brightly colored, oversized and adorned with lights and panels. The gameplay is focused on spraying foam instead of paint, but still aims to cover as much of the environment as possible.

However, Foamstars stands out from Splatoon with its own innovative mechanics. Unlike Splatoon, any foam shot on the ground in Foamstars stays there for a little while, building up and potentially changing the gameplay strategy. This sets Foamstars apart and could lead to its own dedicated fan base.

In Foamstars, players have the unique ability to continue shaping the arena by spraying foam on it even after it has been initially covered. According to the game's producer, Kosuke Okatani, this foam can be molded to create various structures, like a makeshift fortress to gain the high ground, a wall to temporarily hide behind, or even a slide to surf around the arena. This mechanic sets Foamstars apart from Splatoon and adds an exciting aspect to the gameplay. While it remains to be seen how revolutionary this feature will be in practice, it definitely adds to the game's appeal.

It's surprising that no other major publisher has attempted to create a game similar to Splatoon since its release in 2015. With the massive success of Splatoon 3, it makes sense for Square Enix to want to capitalize on the trend and produce a similar game. Partnering with PlayStation also seems like a smart move, as the console could always use more exclusives. While Foamstars may not generate as much revenue as Splatoon, it would make for a fun PlayStation Plus Extra title.