| #44 | Pikmin 4 |
|---|---|
| guessed by | S.Peelman |
| platform | Switch |
| release year | 2023 |
| developer/publisher | Nintendo |
| genre | real time strategy |
| links | Wikipedia |
Finally the long ago from Miyamoto announced Pikmin 4 came out. I kinda doubt it is the same game he teased back then, it probably was put on ice and reworked later. Either way, now Switch has it's own original Pikmin and with the port of 1 and 2 all mainline Pikmin are on the Switch, a happy time indeed.
Pikmin 4 has a story, that is kinda well-known by now. We crash on a strange planet and have to find our footing by retrieving key items, that are too big to haul. Luckily we find little helpers called the Pikmin, which are following us and can do all kinds of work and also fight the hostile wildlife.
The story obviously has some variations, this time the ones crashing is the rescue team, a team of space rescuers that are now stranded on this planet themself. So the task is to repair the ship, find all the crew and additionally the people we were coming to rescue in the first place. This makes of the biggest amount of NPC in the series. Many of them have a function in the game, once rescued they provide a service to your character which makes the place of the crashed rescue ship to a kind of in-game menu to choose from different actions.
But out in the field things are also mixed up a bit. Mostly with Oatchi, the rescue pup. It follows you like the Pikmin and can take on some similar functions, but learns a lot of tricks throughout the game which makes it a very useful addition. Especially when all the Pikmin can hop on Oatchis back and be safely transported through water.
Pikmin 4 kinda brings back everything from the series - and then adds something on top. So you have all the Pikmin that you encountered throughout the series, you have cave expeditions from Pikmin 2 and the multiplayer battles from Pikmin 3 are kinda reflected through the Dandori battles. But you also have new additions, besides the already mentioned dog Oatchi, you get upgrading through equipment and night expeditions. they also add a lot of quality of life extensions, that make the game better to use. This is kinda the Mario Kart 8 or Super Smash Bros Ultimate of Pikmin: everything the series has to offer and some more. And it is also the best looking, although I always though Pikmin had a kinda good look for their respective platforms. I wonder where they want to go from here? probably another 10 year hiatus.
This all works well and makes a great game and a good Pikmin game. Probably the best entry point for new players, as it is easiest accessible. I would say this game would be contender in some GOTY-awards, if this was a normal year. But 2023 is stacked with great game releases, so we kinda forget that Pikmin also released this year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqpbMLVa9EI
