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Pikmin 4 is a real-time strategy game for the Nintendo Switch. The fourth main game in the Pikmin series, releasing about a decade after 2013's Pikmin 3, it was officially revealed during a Nintendo Direct on September 13, 2022 and was released on July 21, 2023. It takes place in an alternate timeline from the original trilogy.
Gameplay[]
Gameplay screenshot
Pikmin 4 follows the standard Pikmin series gameplay, which follows a miniscule Captain commanding small creatures known as Pikmin. Pikmin 4 is set to include a new mechanic used to deploy Pikmin, as well as an option for a camera much closer to the ground. The mechanics are more streamlined with the player limited to three types of Pikmin at a time on the surface and all the structures using raw materials. The onion starts more limited, requiring the player to find Flarlic to expand how many Pikmin they can bring out of the Onion and find each species' respective Onion to grow the different species outside of what are found in caves.
There are two new Pikmin species; Ice Pikmin, which freeze enemies and water areas, and Glow Pikmin, which are ethereal green Pikmin that only work at night or in caves. A new dog-like companion, Oatchi, will assist in carrying downed enemies, smashing obstacles, and allows the Captain and Pikmin to travel through water. It is also useful in detecting treasures and castaways. Oatchi can be taught new skills over the course of the game to improve his abilities.
In addition to traditional gameplay, there are Dandori Battles, Dandori Challenge and the night expedition. The Dandori battles and challenges restrict the player's Pikmin to what is given to them and challenge the player to use their multitasking skills to collect all the treasures in a level for Challenges and scoring more points in battles. The night expedition is a Pikmin spin on tower defense. The only Pikmin the player gets are Glow Pikmin and they grow based on how many Glow Pellets the player grabs before the enemies attack the Lumiknolls. The enemies are more aggressive and will attempt to tear down the Lumiknoll. If the Lumiknoll survives the night, the player wins, obtaining a vial of Glow Sap and Glow Seeds.
Plot[]
The game takes place after an alternate timeline based on the bad ending of the original Pikmin. Captain Olimar crashes on PNF-404, and a freak accident causes his ship to crash land and cause his ship to split across the planet. During his search, Olimar bonds with a dog-like creature that he names Moss. After finding his ship's missing radio within the interior of a large house, Olimar transmit an SOS call, along with his voyage logs.
The Rescue Corps, an intergalactic rescue organization, receives the emergency call and sends a team to PNF-404 led by Captain Sheperd, to find and rescue Olimar. However, the ship malfunctions when it reaches the planet, forcing the crew to eject from it before it crash lands on the surface. Concerned for their safety, the Rescue Corps assigns its newest recruit, the player character, to find the missing Rescue Corps members and to help them complete the mission. Reaching the planet aboard the S.S. Beagle, the recruit encounters Shepherd's rescue pup, a dog-like creature called Oatchi, which bonds with them. Rescuing Shepherd and the team's communication officer Colin, the recruit finds that the Rescue Corps ship has run out of power. Through the help of Pikmin near the ship's crash site, the recruit recovers several objects found to contain a resource known as Sparklium, which can help refuel the ship.
The recruit, leading the Pikmin and Oatchi, discover that a number of other spacefarers picked up Olimar's signal and adventured to the planet, only to end up crashing as well and ending up as castaways. The Rescue Corps add this to their ongoing mission to save Olimar. During their exploration, they encounter a suspicious alien who has leaves growing on them and a dog-like creature, taking one of the castaways. This alien turns the castaway into a leafling and challenges the recruit to a Dandori Battle. Upon his defeat, he gives up the leafling and flees on the dog. However, upon returning the leafling to S.S. Beagle, the Rescue Corps discover they cannot identify the leafy castaway. With the Doctor Yonny's help, the crew gathers Lumiknoll Glow Sap and restores the leaflings to their original state.
After acquiring enough Sparklium to power the S.S. Shepherd and rescuing the last member of the Rescue Corps, Bernard, the Rescue Corps discover where Olimar was last was, in the Hero's Hideaway.
Areas[]
There are a total of six areas in the game, each with their own caves, castaways, treasures and Onions.
Sun-Speckled Terrace[]
Blossoming Arcadia[]
Serene Shores[]
Hero’s Hideaway[]
Giant’s Hearth[]
Primordial Thicket[]
Development[]
In 2015, an article published by EuroGamer stated Shigeru Miyamoto had confirmed Pikmin 4 was in development and very close to completion. However, no new information was published for several years afterwards. There was some speculation that the 3DS game Hey! Pikmin was actually what Miyamoto was referring to, though this was not confirmed.[1] In the years to follow, the game was widely considered vaporware until it was officially unveiled on September 13, 2022. There was a rumor that development of the game was rebooted in 2019.
Reception[]
The game received generally favorable reviews. On Metacritic, it has a score of "88" based on 70 reviews.[2]
Gallery[]
| Main article: Pikmin 4/gallery |
References[]
External links[]
| Pikmin | |
|---|---|
| Main series | Pikmin (NPC) • Pikmin 2 (NPC) • Pikmin 3 (DX) • Pikmin 4 • Pikmin 1+2 |
| Spin-offs | Pikmin 2-e • Hey! Pikmin • Pikmin Bloom • Pikmin Finder |