An intrepid yet accident-prone astronaut, Captain Olimar, travels alone through space before, predictably, crash landing on a distant planet and becoming stranded. This prologue will be familiar to anybody who has enjoyed previous entries in the Nintendo series that debuted in 2001. InPikmin 4, however, the protagonist isn’t Captain Olimar or any other pre-rolled character; the player is the hero of thisspace adventure.
The first gameplay tweak inPikmin 4shows up right at the start: character customization, complete with options to change hairstyle, skin tone, suit color, and pick from a small assortment of accessories. It’s a basic creator that fits right into the simplistic tone of the game, and it’s just the beginning of the design changes that make exploring the mysterious planet PNF-404 so enjoyable.
Many people have avoidedPikminbecause, due to the game’s cutesy graphics and vibe, they assume the series is for kids. In fact,Pikminis an RTS at its core, with all the elements that define that genre, though perhaps a bit simplified. While the franchise doesn’t boast the grand settings or complexity that gamers generally associate with real-time strategy, it still features troops with varying abilities that are strategically formed into an army, which is then sent out to conquer enemy territory.
When designing a console game in a genre that has traditionally been handled with a mouse and keyboard, Nintendo needed to create an intuitive and uncomplicated way to do things with a controller. That task was successfully accomplished with the first game, and very little has changed fundamentally since. Each newPikminrelease makes quality-of-life improvements, adjusts the UI a bit, adds a few gameplay elements, and changes the set dressing, so to speak. But they all follow the same basic blueprint, and most fans wouldn’t have it any other way.
Of all the games released in the series so far,Pikmin 4may introduce the most changes, integrated so seamlessly that it’s almost like they’ve always been there. Most notable, of course, is the addition ofOatchi the dog toPikmin 4, who helps out in a number of ways. He serves as a mount, carrying the player and the entire troop of Pikmin effortlessly, which can be invaluable in getting the more hydrophobic of the bunch safely across bodies of water, for example.
Oatchi also provides warmth for any Pikmin who react negatively to cold, knocks objects down from unreachable places, and even crawls into dog-sized tunnels to access switches. His ability to charge into enemies, launching the horde of budding soldiers on his back like a catapult, is incredibly handy. But one of his most useful roles is as a guard pup. Oatchi can be leveled up to gain the strength of 100 Pikmin and gets a similar health increase, and he can even be assigned to a specific location at night, which he will defend fiercely and effectively with little need for player intervention.
Pikmin 4’s night modeis another fun addition, giving the player a chance to try their hand at tower defense,Pikminstyle. For the first time, the protagonist doesn’t cower in safety when darkness falls but instead ventures out to gather Glow Sap from structures called Lumiknolls. Of course, these are attacked relentlessly by a steady influx of enemies, and the player must keep them intact until morning, assisted by Oatchi and a new plant-based ally, the Glow Pikmin. These little guys are unique in that they’re nearly indestructible and are immune to fire, electricity, water, ice, and poison. The night adventures are brief and not super challenging but provide an entertaining diversion from the main task of rebuilding the spaceship and rescuing castaways.
There are a couple of other elements that change up the gameplay as well. The first is Dandori, a Japanese word that means “strategic planning” in the context ofPikmin.Dandori comes in two forms, battles and challenges, and both are incredibly fun.Pikmin 4’s timed split-screen Dandori Battlescan be played co-op or solo with AI, and the goal is to strategically take down obstacles and gather treasure more efficiently than the opponent. Dandori Challenges are also a race against the clock, with the objective to collect everything on the map before time runs out. Beating the other contender by a certain margin or collecting more items results in a higher score, and there are different medals to win, which means this mode will be cheerfully replayed multiple times in order to achieve prime Dandori.
The concept of Dandori carries over into the main missions as well, thanks to the Rewind mechanic. The countdown that hung over players’ heads in previous games has been tossed out. Time still passes and there’s a day/night cycle, but gone is the looming deadline to rebuild the spaceship. And any mistake in a given day, big or small, can be corrected by rewinding time to predetermined checkpoints. It’s a welcome change that grants the freedom to explore thoroughly if desired and, of course, backtrack if a bad decision costs any beloved Pikmin their lives.
Originally introduced in the second mainline entry, caves make a return inPikmin 4and serve as the game’s dungeons. These offer yet another recess from the core gameplay loop and are remarkably varied in design. There’s a dungeon with moving walkways, fans, and bouncy platforms that call for light puzzle-solving. One cave has a sub-dimensional being who doggedly pursues the player and their little army of plant critters. And there is of course an ice dungeon, with falling icicles and frosty foes, requiring the use of Blue and Ice Pikmin to reach the end.
Ice Pikmin are the other new species introduced inPikmin 4, and they do exactly what their name implies. They freeze enemies after attacking them for a set period or, the less attractive option, by being eaten. However it’s accomplished, temporarily turning foes into a popsicle is one of the most useful Pikmin abilities, as it can quickly sap the difficulty right out of an otherwise dangerous encounter. Ice Pikmin can also freeze puddles and ponds if enough are tossed in, allowing their less water-loving cohorts to cross safely.
One thing that may surprise veterans of the series is thatPikmin 4has a central hub, which slowly grows as the rather incredible number of stranded travelers are rescued from this “unknown” planet. Previously,Pikmingames were predominantly solitary affairs, with around three characters trying to reassemble their crashed spaceship. ButPikmin 4eventually houses a veritable outpost, and like any gathering of NPCs, many of them have tasks that need completing in exchange for raw materials.
This currency is used to buy upgrades for the player’s gear and Oatchi’s, and some of these are indispensable, such as the Homesick Signal that sends all idle Pikmin to home base. The hub is also the place to grab handy items like Pikpik Carrots to temporarily paralyze enemies or Scrummy Bones to heal Oatchi. As objectives are completed, the player’s two-legged canine companion earns skill points, and these are used at the outpost Trainer to increase his carrying power, max health, dig speed, and other useful things.
If there’sanything to complain about inPikmin 4, it’s the implementation of co-op. In the other games, Player 2 controlled a second character, but in this new iteration, they just control a floating reticle onscreen to toss pebbles at enemies. It doesn’t feel like two people teaming up to accomplish tasks but rather like Player 2 is just an assistant, and a negligible one at that.
With all the game modes, enemy types, and different Pikmin species, there may seem like a lot to grasp, butPikmin 4is painless to learn and rolls out new mechanics, Pikmin types, and puzzles at an easily consumable pace. And there is a ton to keep fans gleefully occupied. Ittakes about 20 hours to complete the main campaign, but that’s really just the beginning. There are post-credit things to do, including an unlocked side mode called “Olimar’s Shipwreck Tale,” which revisits the story and mechanics of the original games.
While everyPikmingame has followed the winning formula that was established two decades ago, each has added its own tweaks here and there.Pikmin 4seems to have taken the biggest leap in that regard, and yet everything feels like a logical and fitting next step. The core of the gameplay is the same and provides the hours of whimsical RTS challenge and fun that fans expect, while the new modes and mechanics keep it from feeling stale. Every mainline game has been an improvement on the last, andPikmin 4is no exception. Other than the co-op, there’s really nothing negative about the game, besides perhaps the loading times. But it’s really a testament to how greatPikmin 4is that waiting 30 seconds to get back into it is too long.
Pikmin 4
WHERE TO PLAY
Guide pint-sized creatures in an endearing expedition! Meet Pikmin: small, plantlike creatures with distinct abilities that you may grow, pluck, guide, and overpower enemies with! Use your Pikmin’s miniature might (and a bit of strategy) to explore this mysterious planet in search of your crew—and treasure.Lead your loyal and curious squad To succeed, you’ll have to balance caring for the Pikmin with leading them into dangerous situations. Do your best out there!Pikmin grow from pellets and wildlife that you can bring to your ship. Pluck them from the ground to have them join you. Go team!Lead your squad through vast explorable areas to find treasures, discover new paths, and battle enemies of all sizes. You can also direct the Pikmin to collect and carry resources that are helpful for your mission. Up to three Pikmin types can be with you in the field at a time—the rest will hang back until you need them.When their task is done, the Pikmin will wait in place for you. Get close and blow your whistle to summon them to your side! This handy action can also help you protect the Pikmin from danger, do a headcount, or simply bring them with you to your next task.
