Pikmin 4: The ultimate collector’s obsession

Pikmin 4: The ultimate collector's obsession

Pikmin 4: A Whimsical Adventure of Collecting and Chaos

Image: Nintendo EPD, Eighting/Nintendo

It’s 10 p.m. — do you know where your Pikmin are? While exploring a garden in Pikmin 4, I stumbled upon a mysterious tube labeled “refreshing goo”. With my trusty army of Pikmin in tow, I commanded them to bring it back to my spaceship. Little did I know, it was actually blue paint! The in-game record hilariously described it as “Neither the color of the sky nor the color of the sea. Though it is nearly the color of both.” Who knew paint could be so philosophical?

Pikmin 4 is the kind of game that takes small things way too seriously. This has always been the case for the series, which defies its initial appearance as a kids’ game by delivering hardcore gameplay focused on exploration. In the first game, you had to direct your Pikmin to complete missions before Olimar runs out of oxygen. Each new game followed the same formula, although with less time pressure. But in Pikmin 4, you step into the shoes of a space program recruit sent to rescue Olimar. As you explore new levels, collect treasures, and interact with colorful characters, you’ll find that the world of Pikmin is far from child’s play.

Pikmin 4 does away with the time limit of the first game and introduces less harsh daily in-game timers. It also adds handy improvements to streamline your gameplay experience. Need to get back on track? Just hit the rewind button. Lost? Use the “go here” button for instant navigation. Plus, your trusty dog companion, Oatchi, has a special skill to sniff out treasure. And let’s not forget the nifty apps that summarize the story and show you side missions. With these additions, Pikmin 4 makes collecting stuff easier and more enjoyable than ever.

Speaking of collecting, there’s a whole lot of stuff to find in Pikmin 4. Each mission, side quest, and vibrant area comes with a percentage counter, challenging you to locate every last item. Although you only need to collect about half of what’s in a given area to progress, watching the percentages climb is strangely satisfying. Not to mention, the funny and sometimes emotional descriptions of the treasures you uncover are worth the effort.

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Mechanically, Pikmin 4 is a real-time strategy game with a hint of management simulation. Your goal is to collect as many items and castaways as you can within a daily time limit. As your team of Pikmin grows, they can tackle tasks independently, freeing you up to focus on other missions. This concept, known as dandori, allows you to efficiently automate your expeditions. By the fourth day, I was juggling multiple jobs across the map. But even with the pursuit of efficiency, I still found myself captivated by the game’s breathtaking world. The attention to detail, from water textures to flower petals, creates a visually stunning experience.

However, combat in Pikmin 4 can be a bit repetitive. Overwhelming enemies with Pikmin is often the most effective strategy, leading to predictable encounters and puzzles. Tower-defense levels provide a refreshing twist, but the overarching strategy remains the same—quantity over quality. Yet, that didn’t stop me from having a blast in the intense Dandori Trials. Collecting treasures within a limited time frame felt like participating in the Pikmin Olympics. These thrilling mini-games offered a break from the game’s sometimes frustrating micromanagement.

While Pikmin 4’s charm is undeniable, it does have its flaws. The game occasionally over-explains certain actions, inundating you with action guides. On the other hand, some puzzles remain unexplained, forcing you to hunt through the expedition log or rely on coincidental explanations. This lack of consistency can be confusing at times. As the game progresses and combat becomes more punishing, these issues become more noticeable. Yet, despite these frustrations, I couldn’t stay unhappy for long. The world of Pikmin 4 overflows with cuteness and style, capturing the joy and usefulness found in the smallest details of everyday life.

Pikmin 4 is set to be released on July 21 on Nintendo Switch. I had the pleasure of reviewing the game on Switch using a pre-release download code provided by Nintendo. Remember, affiliate partnerships don’t influence editorial content, but they might earn Vox Media commissions for products purchased via affiliate links.

Get ready to embark on a wondrous adventure in Pikmin 4, where the real world becomes even more magical and peculiar than you could ever imagine.