Soapbox features allow our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random things they’ve been chewing on. Today, on Pikmin 4On her first anniversary, Alana thinks that the half-plant, half-animal creatures known as Pikmin helped her move around the world…
I define many of the greatest moments in my life contextually. What did I do, what movies did I like, where did I live and – perhaps most importantly – what games did I play? It is only human nature to attach memories and moments to objects or things, be they positive or negative. Personally, it helps create an attachment that goes beyond “Hey, this video game is really good!”
A little over a year ago, I moved to America from my small apartment in a coastal town in England, almost 4,000 miles across the Atlantic, to live with my partner. The moment we got together, I knew it was always a big move for one of us, and it just so happened that I would be the one traveling west. I didn’t bring a ton of stuff with me – shipping boxes are really expensive, so I was pretty selective about what I kept and sold or gave to family members. Somehow I managed to cram my entire life into six large boxes and two suitcases. The physical objects I owned were divided and separated into rooms, types, etc. I felt strange.
I didn’t have many plans when I first arrived in my new home, miles away from my birthplace. Unpack (if necessary). He spends time with my other half (and the cat). Pet the cat (a lot). And buy my first video game as an American – Pikmin 4.
I knew I was going to like Pikmin 4, but I didn’t expect it to be one of those life-defining things. The stress of packing, unpacking, adjusting, homesickness – all I needed was a great army of little half-plant, half-animal creatures.
Pikmin 4 is a lot less stressful than other games in the series, though. There is still a daily time limit and countless creatures that will put my Pikmin and best boy Oatchi in danger. But one thing that has always defined Pikmin is their determination. These little guys, whether they have leaves or fully bloomed flowers on their heads, will do anything for you, including collecting and keeping all those treasures.
Treasures are my favorite things o Pikmin games. “What household objects can we put into the game to power up the spaceship?” That’s how I imagine Pikmin’s carefully curated treasure list will go down. That and “What else can we call a peach without it being ‘shaggy butt’?” A false bottom is the answer, folks.
I character, the newest recruit to the Salvation Corps, is stationed on PNF-404 to save the rest of the Corps, including Captain Olimar. This unusual Earth-like planet was my character’s new home—just as if I had landed in a strange but familiar town in the Midwestern United States. It’s similar enough to the UK, but with wider roads, different accents and different shops.
Everything in Pikmin 4 is huge. Garden benches are now like skyscrapers, bins are the size of caves, and staircases are impassable mountains of wood and varnish. I recognized all of these things and, as I made my way through the Sundappled Terrace, Tranquil Shores, and Hero’s Hideout, I excitedly dragged my Pikmin around examining all of these oversized items.
The feeling was similar every time we drove around town or went to the store – some things were basically the same as at home with one small difference that I would often point out and have fun with. Most houses in the US are made of wood or have siding on the outside, which is not common in the UK. So whenever I see a brick house, it is little already seen. Some brands, fruits and vegetables have different names, while others remain the same but have different variants. In America, I felt like a little Pikmin – or a Rescue Corps agent – in a big, creepy world.
All these objects that we see every day have a completely new purpose
In the world of Pikmin 4, pipes and cardboard boxes become platforms or objects to push and advance. You can drag roots and plants to create new paths. Fans can catapult Pikmin through large gaps. All of these items that we see every day have a brand new purpose, showing that beautiful creative energy that Nintendo seems to infuse into everything. It also helped me gain a whole new perspective on things I would have otherwise taken for granted.
I’m not here to talk about pipes, don’t worry (Mario’s warp pipes have fictional pipes), but the setting of Pikmin 4 helped me get used to this strange but familiar life I’ve moved to in America. The only real difference in the move was that my family wasn’t around – and they were only a phone call away – but I couldn’t help but be excited about everything “new” in my new home.
But that didn’t make the moving process that much easier. Even if family is just a buzz or a video call away, there are still thousands of miles between me and where I grew up. The memories I made seemed more distant because I wasn’t in that sleepy seaside town where I grew up. Fortunately, Pikmin 4 reminded me of something important I brought with me from my former home: things.
These games have always loved things. Batteries, biscuits, sweets and toys. Fruits, vegetables, wire and soap. There is something strangely comforting about watching these little creatures carry tubes of paint and grapes back to the ship. They do it so carefully, requiring a certain number of creatures (and Oatchi’s help, sometimes) to wear it correctly. Every item is precious to these tiny, determined creatures and the Rescue Corps.
Calling the ship’s energy Sparklium also seems intentional. Sparklium is found in the treasure that Pikmin bring to the ship. Giving magical energy to random objects like picture frames and calculators makes these ordinary, everyday objects special. Suddenly, the pen on my desk has the power to bring SS Shepherd back to life. There’s treasure in Pikmin 2, but it’s to pay off a debt – in Pikmin 4, things are Magic.
I had so much fun finding these Treasures in Pikmin 4. While the stage design and obstacles inspired a fascination in me, these treasures taught me to love the things I brought to my new home. I took the Buddy Displays (read: photo frames) out of their boxes, inspected all the scratches and imperfections, and looked at the artwork and photos inside in a new light. I gold Legend of Zelda Stone of Advancement (yes, GBA SP) that had been with me for almost 20 years felt somehow different in my hands.
…in Pikmin 4, things are Magic.
Pikmin 4 also reminded me of all the things that I am I did not have retention: from my immediate relocation, moving out of the family home or simply growing up and growing things. One of my favorite collections is the Roundabout Express series, which consists of toy train track parts. You can’t get every single piece of track or train in one place, but I couldn’t help but smile every time I picked up another piece of the set. Life Station, which is what the game calls Train Station, is the perfect name for that little toy. The real a thing is a place where lives intersect and pass, where life goes on or somewhere that could act as the beginning of an adventure. It’s one of the last places I stood before getting on the train to the airport.
This game about collecting items, nurturing little creatures, repairing the ship and reuniting the ship’s crew taught me the value of things and how to love the little things. But he also gave me a consistent presence in this new life as I delivered those messages. Directing Pikmin to collect these items and explore these new lands reflected and enriched my experience of moving abroad. And when I was stressed or needed to slow down, I could calm down with my little Pikmin.
A year ago, I was just like my pink Rescue Corps rookie—I was in a strange new but familiar place, surrounded by items, objects, and creatures that were either new and fascinating or strange but comforting. I had my little fluffy friend in my cat (I would love Oatchi) and a whole new life ahead of me. Pikmin 4 made that transition much easier, and as a result, it will always be an extremely special video game to me.
