Pikmin what is this?
Let’s start with the basics! Pikmin is a real-time strategy game but mostly accessible thanks to its cute paint job. Essentially, you play as Hocotatien (including the famous Olimar and others) who are banished to an unknown planet inhabited by Pikmin, themselves spawned by an onion. These little creatures are very docile and will sometimes help you clear your way, sometimes defeat dangerous creatures that stand in your way, or even pick up all sorts of objects. Each of these little animals has a special feature (resistance to fire, water, etc.) and these should of course be used with care. This allows you to rescue shipwrecked Hocotatians, bring back treasure, and find a way home. To achieve this, you must manage your Pikmin workforce like a warlord, sending them to this or that task while ensuring their survival at the same time.
Besides gameplay, Pikmin is also one of Nintendo’s exclusive licenses. While it’s not the best known, nor the most prolific, it was coined by the great Shigeru Miyamoto (co-creator of Mario, Donkey Kong or even Zelda) in the early 2000s. The first Pikmin actually dates back to 2001, while the second will be released on the GameCube in 2004. After 9 years without a new work, the license finally gave us a third episode on Wii U, an episode that will also exist, like most of the titles originally released on this console, ported to Nintendo Switch in 2020. In addition to this port, a 3DS spin-off and a mobile game, Pikmin fans haven’t had a new work on their mouths for 10 years. And coming back after such a long time isn’t exactly easy…
Is Pikmin 4 5 Years Late?
We’ve seen it in Nintendo’s various presentations, Pikmin 4 joins the direct lineage of its predecessors. At first glance, there are actually no major changes. The structure is the same: Pikmin, paths to unlock, fruits and other treasures to collect, onions to find… We find the same electrified barriers, the same sand walls to tear down, the same creatures, the same day/night system…. In 10 years, the formula has not fundamentally changed. Also, if you played the deluxe version of Pikmin 3 on Nintendo Switch, You’ll find roughly the same gameplay (despite some improvements, particularly in terms of aiming). Even in its early days, the game is as commanding and wordy as it was then. It definitely works well, but it’s not really very modern.
But it is precisely at the graphics level that we feel the weight of the years: Pikmin is not a very nice game. We often talk about the limitations of the Nintendo Switch, but that’s not the issue. Because despite everything, the hybrid console is largely able to offer us very nice games. In that sense, Pikmin 4 falls far short of the console’s capabilities. It’s boring, lacks life, and inevitably makes you cringe a little (especially when docked). In fact, Pikmin 4 has once again kept its old skin. And if, no doubt, fans of the license will be delighted to find this rural and hazy universe, it is clear that this is not what will tempt new players.
A true new game for the Nintendo Switch
Personally, I’m not a big fan of Pikmin. I’ve tried small snippets of each game and had a good time doing it, but without the license ever catching on as a reference in my eyes. And throughout the tutorial I had a terrible feeling of déjà vu… until this new adventure really started and revealed its novelties. Because even if Pikmin 4 is formally similar to its predecessors, it offers differences that may seem trivial at first glance, but really change the background. The player is much more involved in Pikmin 4 than before. He is no longer just a leader overseeing the action, he takes part in the construction site.
And it starts with the ability to customize your little explorer for the first time. Of course, that doesn’t have much impact on the game itself, but it’s quite symptomatic of the desire to involve the player a bit more in this Pikmin 4. This desire is also reflected in the new character presented in the course of the communication: Oatchi. This type of dog is not only an additional ally, but also A mount that you can fully control, allowing you to be more directly involved in the action. And the tactics don’t stop when your exploration is over, because once you’re back at your base, you can craft new tools and teach your trusty steed new skills. A welcome little RPG site that gives a real sense of progression and is game changing.
Co-op story mode
One of the only major disappointments in those first few hours of play was the lack of a true co-op story mode. Nintendo has decided to abandon Pikmin 3’s co-op mode to offer us a mode more similar to Super Mario Odyssey. Basically, the second player is content to support player 1, in particular by throwing stones. And I have to tell you it’s not very exciting…
And since these are new features, it is also important to mention the Ice Pikmin, which is very useful and therefore well liked. Confused, with the underground caves we also find the possibility of a return, a ship transfer or even a thoughtful structural change. Overall, what we sense in these changes is a desire to make everything more dynamic and accessible.
But Pikmin 4 doesn’t neglect the tactical aspect, culminating in the fiendishly addictive Duel Dandori mode (previewed during Nintendo Direct). And a priori, the game has other surprises in store for us, especially with the nighttime explorations that we were able to discover during the last Nintendo Direct. Again, that doesn’t sound like much, but for a license that’s always based on the day/night cycle and the terrible threat it poses, this is a significant change. And we’re excited to see if this license, which is over 20 years old, will breathe new life into it.
In summary, Pikmin 4 fans of the license will surely like it. It picks up on his very particular formula, both tactically and approachably. But with its additions, it breaks with its rather passive side, which might put off some players, and opts for an even more accessible and addictive formula. For the rest, if we regret Pikmin 3’s lack of co-op and lack of a ‘modern’ facelift, Pikmin 4 is a near-pristine game for now.
