is a
real-time strategy
Real-time strategy (RTS) is a subgenre of strategy video games that do not progress incrementally in turns, but allow all players to play simultaneously, in "real time". By contrast, in turn-based strategy (TBS) games, players take turns to p ...
and
puzzle video game
Puzzle video games make up a broad genre of video games that emphasize puzzle solving. The types of puzzles can test problem-solving skills, including logic, pattern recognition, sequence solving, spatial recognition, and word completion.
H ...
series created by
Shigeru Miyamoto, and published by
Nintendo. The games focus on directing a horde of
plant
Plants are predominantly photosynthetic eukaryotes of the kingdom Plantae. Historically, the plant kingdom encompassed all living things that were not animals, and included algae and fungi; however, all current definitions of Plantae exclu ...
-like creatures called Pikmin in order to collect items by destroying obstacles, avoiding hazards and fighting
fauna
Fauna is all of the animal life present in a particular region or time. The corresponding term for plants is ''flora'', and for fungi, it is ''funga''. Flora, fauna, funga and other forms of life are collectively referred to as ''Biota (ecology ...
that are hazardous to both the player character and the Pikmin.
[
The ''Pikmin'' series features five main entries, as well as a spin-off. The first two, '']Pikmin
is a real-time strategy and puzzle video game series created by Shigeru Miyamoto, and published by Nintendo. The games focus on directing a horde of plant-like creatures called Pikmin in order to collect items by destroying obstacles, avoiding ...
'' (2001) and ''Pikmin 2
is a 2004 real-time strategy puzzle video game developed and published by Nintendo for the GameCube home video game console. It is the direct sequel to the 2001 game ''Pikmin (video game), Pikmin'' and is the second game in the ''Pikmin'' series. ...
'' (2004), were released for the GameCube and later ported
In software engineering, porting is the process of adapting software for the purpose of achieving some form of execution in a computing environment that is different from the one that a given program (meant for such execution) was originally desi ...
to the Wii as ''New Play Control!
is a series of first-party GameCube titles porting, ported over to the Wii by Nintendo. Games in the ''New Play Control!'' series feature a number of enhancements, most notably the implementation of the Wii's unique motion controller, motion co ...
'' titles in 2008 and 2009. ''Pikmin 2'' was re-released in the ''Nintendo Selects
''Nintendo Selects'' (formerly ''Player's Choice'') was a marketing label used by Nintendo to promote video games on current Nintendo game consoles that have sold well. ''Nintendo Selects'' titles were sold at a lower price point (usually $19.99 ...
'' series in 2012. A third installment, ''Pikmin 3
''Pikmin 3'' is a real-time strategy and puzzle video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii U video game console. It is the sequel to the GameCube games ''Pikmin'' (2001) and '' Pikmin 2'' (2004), and was released in Japan on July ...
'', was released for the Wii U
The Wii U ( ) is a home video game console developed by Nintendo as the successor to the Wii. Released in late 2012, it is the first eighth-generation video game console and competed with Microsoft's Xbox One and Sony's PlayStation 4.
Th ...
in 2013. The series' first handheld game, ''Hey! Pikmin
''Hey! Pikmin'' is an action game in the ''Pikmin'' series developed by Arzest and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS handheld video game console. It is a standalone sequel to ''Pikmin 3'' and is the series' first installment on a handh ...
'', was released for the Nintendo 3DS in 2017. '' Pikmin 4'' was announced to be in development by Miyamoto in September 2015, and was officially confirmed for release in 2023 during a Nintendo Direct in September 2022. ''Pikmin Bloom
''Pikmin Bloom'' is a 2021 augmented reality mobile game in the ''Pikmin'' series, developed and published by Niantic. Like ''Pokémon Go'', it rewards players for spending time outside. The player's real-world movements are rewarded with ite ...
'', the series' mobile spin-off, was released for iOS and Android in 2021.
Gameplay
The series' gameplay combines elements of action platformer
A platform game (often simplified as platformer and sometimes called a jump 'n' run game) is a sub-genre of action game, action video games in which the core objective is to move the player character between points in an environment. Platform game ...
with puzzle and strategy gameplay. The ''Pikmin'' games focus on exploring an Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to harbor life. While large volumes of water can be found throughout the Solar System, only Earth sustains liquid surface water. About 71% of Earth's surfa ...
-like planet named PNF-404, and controlling a crowd of the titular Pikmin. Pikmin are intelligent, loyal, multicolored, plant-animal hybrid
Hybrid may refer to:
Science
* Hybrid (biology), an offspring resulting from cross-breeding
** Hybrid grape, grape varieties produced by cross-breeding two ''Vitis'' species
** Hybridity, the property of a hybrid plant which is a union of two dif ...
s that follow the orders of their leader. There have been multiple leaders over the course of the series, with the first and most notable being Captain Olimar
is a main character from Nintendo's ''Pikmin'' video game series created by Shigeru Miyamoto. He first appeared in ''Pikmin'' (2001), which led to the development of three additional games; two of them featuring Olimar as the protagonist.
Olimar ...
, a tiny alien
Alien primarily refers to:
* Alien (law), a person in a country who is not a national of that country
** Enemy alien, the above in times of war
* Extraterrestrial life, life which does not originate from Earth
** Specifically, intelligent extrater ...
from the planet Hocotate introduced in the original ''Pikmin''. ''Pikmin 2'' features Louie and The President, Olimar's co-worker and boss, respectively, who are also playable leaders. ''Pikmin 3'' features leaders from a new alien species. The leaders are Alph, Brittany, and Charlie, who come from the planet Koppai and are similar to the Hocotatians.
Pikmin are directed to perform a number of tasks, with the primary one being the retrieval of items integral to the mission of each game. The player must direct the Pikmin to overcome obstacles and PNF-404's fauna.[ Because individual Pikmin are small and weak against most ]predator
Predation is a biological interaction where one organism, the predator, kills and eats another organism, its prey. It is one of a family of common feeding behaviours that includes parasitism and micropredation (which usually do not kill th ...
s, and some are best suited for certain tasks, it is the responsibility of the player to direct the Pikmin appropriately in order to ensure successful retrievals of any items, avoid any hazards, and quickly tend to any obstacles and predators. Game time is divided into individual days, each of which consist of approximately 13 minutes, in which the player is encouraged to accomplish as much as possible before sunset.[
Pikmin appear in a variety of colors, which signify the Pikmin's abilities and resistance to environmental hazards. The number of Pikmin and their abilities have shifted over the course of the franchise, with the first ''Pikmin'' game featuring three colors: Red, Yellow, and Blue. Red Pikmin can resist fire, Blue Pikmin can move underwater thanks to their ]gill
A gill () is a respiratory organ that many aquatic organisms use to extract dissolved oxygen from water and to excrete carbon dioxide. The gills of some species, such as hermit crabs, have adapted to allow respiration on land provided they are ...
s, and Yellow Pikmin can be thrown higher than other Pikmin, and are able to carry bomb rocks. In ''Pikmin 2'', Yellow Pikmin have lost their ability to carry bomb rocks in exchange for being immune to electric
Electricity is the set of physical phenomena associated with the presence and motion of matter that has a property of electric charge. Electricity is related to magnetism, both being part of the phenomenon of electromagnetism, as described by ...
al hazards, and White and Purple Pikmin are introduced. White Pikmin are the fastest, resistant to poisonous gases, capable of poisoning enemies, and capable of spotting objects buried underground. In comparison, Purple Pikmin are significantly stronger and heavier than the other types, which makes them excellent at inflicting damage and carrying heavy items.
''Pikmin 3'' introduced two more types: the gray-colored Rock Pikmin, and the pink-colored Winged Pikmin. Rock Pikmin can break crystalline materials, cannot be crushed or impaled, and inflict the most damage out of all Pikmin types when thrown. In comparison, Winged Pikmin can fly freely, which enables them to recover elevated items and attack airborne enemies with ease.[ In addition to making each type capable of carrying bomb rocks, ''Pikmin 3'' also adjusted the abilities of Yellow, Blue, White, and Purple Pikmin. Yellow Pikmin are tied with Rock Pikmin for the fastest digging speed; Blue Pikmin are capable of swimming; White Pikmin are tied with Winged Pikmin for the lowest attack strength, and slowest digging speed; Purple Pikmin are tied with Red Pikmin for second highest attack strength, and second fastest digging speed.
Outside of coloration, all types of Pikmin share the same method of indicating their strength and swiftness: the stalk atop their heads will sport either a ]leaf
A leaf ( : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, ste ...
, bud
In botany, a bud is an undeveloped or embryonic shoot and normally occurs in the axil of a leaf or at the tip of a stem. Once formed, a bud may remain for some time in a dormant condition, or it may form a shoot immediately. Buds may be spec ...
or flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Angiospermae). The biological function of a flower is to facilitate reproduction, usually by providing a mechani ...
, which develops when Pikmin are fed nectar or left planted in the ground for a certain amount of time.[ By extension, all types of Pikmin are stored in their respective motherships, referred to as "Onions", for safety after sunset, as they are vulnerable to nocturnal predators. The Onions play a vital role in Pikmin reproduction: when any food, such as prey or pellets, is delivered to an Onion, it propagates ]seed
A seed is an embryonic plant enclosed in a protective outer covering, along with a food reserve. The formation of the seed is a part of the process of reproduction in seed plants, the spermatophytes, including the gymnosperm and angiospe ...
s, which grow and are plucked from the ground as fully developed Pikmin.[ An Onion serves as an incubator for all Pikmin of its respective color, housing the Pikmin. The Onions travel alongside Olimar as he flies to different locations on the planet.
]
Games
''Pikmin'' (2001)
''Pikmin'' is the first game in the series, released in 2001. The game's plot focuses on Captain Olimar
is a main character from Nintendo's ''Pikmin'' video game series created by Shigeru Miyamoto. He first appeared in ''Pikmin'' (2001), which led to the development of three additional games; two of them featuring Olimar as the protagonist.
Olimar ...
's predicament of having crash-landed on an unknown planet and befriending plant-animal creatures that he dubs as Pikmin. Olimar has to gather the missing pieces of his broken spaceship in order to escape, before his air supply completely runs out and he succumbs to the planet's oxygen
Oxygen is the chemical element with the symbol O and atomic number 8. It is a member of the chalcogen group in the periodic table, a highly reactive nonmetal, and an oxidizing agent that readily forms oxides with most elements as ...
-rich atmosphere, which is poisonous to his species.
''Pikmin'' features three endings, which are dependent on the number of spaceship parts reclaimed. Reclaiming all thirty parts by the final day results in the best ending: Olimar waves goodbye to the Pikmin, who proceed to defend themselves on their own at nighttime, while Onions of various colors observe his departure off as he looks back on the unknown planet before returning home. Reclaiming at least the twenty-five required parts by the final day results in the normal ending: Olimar quickly departs, while one of each type of Pikmin run toward his ship to watch him depart. Lastly, failing to reclaim the twenty-five required parts by the final day results in the worst ending: Olimar crash-lands back onto the planet, succumbs to oxygen poisoning, and is taken by a number of Pikmin to be placed into an Onion, which converts him into a Pikmin-Hocotatian hybrid.
''Pikmin'' was ported to the Wii in 2009 as a New Play Control!
is a series of first-party GameCube titles porting, ported over to the Wii by Nintendo. Games in the ''New Play Control!'' series feature a number of enhancements, most notably the implementation of the Wii's unique motion controller, motion co ...
title, which was made available on the Wii U
The Wii U ( ) is a home video game console developed by Nintendo as the successor to the Wii. Released in late 2012, it is the first eighth-generation video game console and competed with Microsoft's Xbox One and Sony's PlayStation 4.
Th ...
's Virtual Console
A virtual console (VC) – also known as a virtual terminal (VT) – is a conceptual combination of the keyboard and display for a computer user interface. It is a feature of some Unix-like operating systems such as Linux, BSD, illumos, Uni ...
service in North America in 2016.
''Pikmin 2'' (2004)
''Pikmin 2'', released in 2004, takes place immediately following the events of ''Pikmin''. When Olimar returns to his home planet Hocotate, he discovers that his employer, Hocotate Freight, has gone into severe debt. When the company's president discovers that the souvenir that Olimar has brought back with him is significantly valuable, he orders Olimar and Louie, another employee, to journey back to the Pikmin planet and gather treasure to pay off the debt.
The main objective of ''Pikmin 2'' is to collect human garbage that is referred to as treasure on Hocotate, including bottle caps and gadgets. The player controls both Olimar and Louie, alternating between the two characters in order to divide and accomplish more tasks during a single day. Unlike the first game, ''Pikmin 2'' has no deadline, so the player can spend as many days as desired to collect all the treasure.
Like its predecessor, ''Pikmin 2'' was ported to the Wii in 2009 (or 2012 in North America) as a New Play Control! title, which was made available on the Wii U's Virtual Console service in Europe in 2016.
''Pikmin 3'' (2013)
Shigeru Miyamoto hinted about the possibilities of a new ''Pikmin'' game in a July 2007 interview with IGN, saying "I certainly don't think we've seen the last of ''Pikmin''. I definitely would like to do something with them, and I think the Wii interface in particular is very well suited to that franchise." A later CNET.com interview in April 2008 reported that "For now, Miyamoto looks ahead to other projects for the Wii, mentioning his desire to continue the ''Pikmin'' series."
A new ''Pikmin'' game was confirmed at E3 2008
E3 (short for Electronic Entertainment Expo or Electronic Entertainment Experience in 2021) is a trade event for the video game industry. The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) organizes and presents E3, which many developers, publish ...
during Nintendo's developer roundtable, in which Miyamoto stated that his team were working on a new entry in the series. Miyamoto confirmed that ''Pikmin 3'' would be released on the Wii. He also stated that the Wii's controls were "working well" with the game.
The announcement in October 2008 of a re-release of the first two ''Pikmin'' games on the Wii with updated motion controls, raised concerns about whether ''Pikmin 3'' was in fact in development. However, in a subsequent interview with IGN, it was made clear that the re-releases of ''Pikmin'' and ''Pikmin 2'' under the New Play Control! brand were separate from ''Pikmin 3''. The game was not shown at E3 2009, 2010, or 2011, but Miyamoto confirmed in June 2010 that the game was indeed still in development.
At Miyamoto's roundtable discussion at E3 2011
The Electronic Entertainment Expo 2011 (E3 2011) was the 17th E3 held. The event took place at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California. It began on June 7, 2011, and ended on June 9, 2011, with 46,800 total attendees. E3 201 ...
, Miyamoto stated that ''Pikmin 3'' development was moved to Wii U
The Wii U ( ) is a home video game console developed by Nintendo as the successor to the Wii. Released in late 2012, it is the first eighth-generation video game console and competed with Microsoft's Xbox One and Sony's PlayStation 4.
Th ...
, the Wii successor. He said that the HD graphics for the next system and its special screen-based controller would work better for it.
On April 15, 2012, Miyamoto said in a Spanish interview that a new ''Pikmin'' game and a new ''New Super Mario Bros.'' game will both be showcased for the Wii U
The Wii U ( ) is a home video game console developed by Nintendo as the successor to the Wii. Released in late 2012, it is the first eighth-generation video game console and competed with Microsoft's Xbox One and Sony's PlayStation 4.
Th ...
at E3 2012
The Electronic Entertainment Expo 2012 (E3 2012) was the 18th E3 held. The event took place at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California. It began on June 5, 2012, and ended on June 7, 2012, with 45,700 total attendees. It was ...
. He also added the comment "Anyone who played the original ''Pikmin'' games will enjoy playing it."
On June 5, 2012, at Nintendo's E3 press conference, ''Pikmin 3'' was announced and featured a trailer that revealed the inclusion of the new Rock Pikmin. Six days later, a second trailer was released that revealed the new Winged Pikmin and other aspects of the game. Although originally intended to be released within the Wii U's launch window, ''Pikmin 3'' was delayed and instead released in mid-2013.
On August 5, 2020, Nintendo announced ''Pikmin 3 Deluxe'', an enhanced port of ''Pikmin 3'' for the Nintendo Switch, for release on October 30, 2020 via Twitter.
''Hey! Pikmin'' (2017)
A Nintendo 3DS entry in the series was announced in a Nintendo Direct in September 2016 as a side-scrolling action game due for release in 2017. In another Nintendo Direct in April 2017, the game's title was announced as ''Hey! Pikmin'' and its release date was announced to be July 28, 2017. The game was developed by Arzest
Arzest Corporation (Japanese: アーゼスト, Hepburn: Āzesuto) is a Japanese video game development company that develops games for video game consoles. It was formed on June 25, 2010 by key members of Artoon, which was also founded by Execu ...
.
''Pikmin Bloom'' (2021)
On March 22, 2021, Niantic Niantic may refer to:
* Niantic people, tribe of American Indians
* Niantic, Inc., mobile app developer known for the mobile games ''Ingress'' and ''Pokémon Go''
Ships
* ''Niantic'' (whaling vessel), relic of San Francisco Gold Rush
*USS ''Ni ...
, known primarily for the mobile game ''Pokémon Go
''Pokémon Go'' (stylized as ''Pokémon GO'') is a 2016 augmented reality (AR) mobile game, part of the ''Pokémon'' franchise, developed and published by Niantic in collaboration with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company for iOS and Android ...
'', announced a Pikmin game for mobile devices. Little was known at the time of announcement, except that it will feature similar gameplay to ''Pokémon Go'', using AR technology. A playable prototype was released for select users in Singapore the same day the game was announced. On October 26, 2021, the game was revealed to be titled ''Pikmin Bloom'' and launched immediately in Australia and Singapore.
''Pikmin 4'' (2023)
In September 2015, Miyamoto said that ''Pikmin 4'' was in development and "very close to completion". At E3 2017
The Electronic Entertainment Expo 2017 (E3 2017) was the 23rd E3, during which hardware manufacturers and software developers and publishers from the video game industry presented new and upcoming products to the attendees, primarily retailers a ...
, he said that its development was still progressing. ''Pikmin 4'' was officially announced in a Nintendo Direct on September 13, 2022, with the game set for release in 2023 on the Nintendo Switch.
Characters
Protagonists
The main protagonist of the series is Captain Olimar, an employee of the Freight Company, who flies a ship known as the S.S. Dolphin, a reference to the GameCube's developmental code name. He has a wife, son and daughter. ''Pikmin 2'' introduces Louie, a co-worker of Olimar, who places the Hocotate Freight Company in debt after losing a shipment of gold pikpik carrots to a "ravenous space bunny". The names "Olimar" and "Louie" are based on Mario
is a character created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. He is the title character of the ''Mario'' franchise and the mascot of Japanese video game company Nintendo. Mario has appeared in over 200 video games since his cre ...
and Luigi
is a fictional character featured in video games and related media released by Nintendo. Created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto, Luigi is portrayed as the younger fraternal twin brother and sidekick of Mario, Nintendo's masc ...
, who were also created by Shigeru Miyamoto.
In ''Pikmin 3'', three new characters succeed Olimar as playable leaders: Alph the engineer, Brittany the botanist, and Captain Charlie.
All three characters come from Koppai, a planet whose inhabitants are similar to the Hocotations, and they interact with each other through in-game dialogue. Though not playable during the game's story, Olimar and Louie both appear later in the game's story and become integral to its plot, are playable in Bingo Battle Mode and five of the downloadable mission levels, and Olimar's expedition logs are later discovered by the crew and offer helpful advice regarding PNF-404.
Pikmin creatures
After becoming stranded on the unknown planet in ''Pikmin'', Olimar becomes acquainted with the species of plant-like beings that he names "Pikmin" because they resemble the "Pikpik" brand of carrots on his home planet of Hocotate. They are small, brightly colored creatures who are each as tall as a US dime
The dime, in United States usage, is a ten- cent coin, one tenth of a United States dollar, labeled formally as "one dime". The denomination was first authorized by the Coinage Act of 1792.
The dime is the smallest in diameter and is the thinnes ...
. They follow any command: from attacking enemies and defending Olimar to retrieving large artifacts. Pikmin are generally very weak, unless they are used in hordes, as the Pikmin are excellent at working together. Pikmin speak with strange, squeaking noises. Simple commands can, however, be communicated to them by the use of a whistle or any other device capable of producing high-pitched noises.
Pikmin come in several colors, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. In ''Pikmin'', there are three types of Pikmin: Red Pikmin, who are better in combat and can withstand extreme heat and fire; Yellow Pikmin, who can be thrown higher, can use bomb rocks (''Pikmin'' only), are immune to electricity (''Pikmin 2'', ''Pikmin 3'', and ''Hey! Pikmin''), and can dig faster (''Pikmin 3'' only); and Blue Pikmin, which have gills and can walk in water (or get splashed with water-based attacks) without drowning. There are also Mushroom Pikmin who attack the other types of Pikmin. They are created when regular Pikmin are infected by spores let out by the Puffstool.[
In ''Pikmin 2'', three new species of Pikmin were introduced: Purple Pikmin, White Pikmin, and Bulbmin. Purple Pikmin move slower than normal Pikmin, but have ten times the strength and weight of other Pikmin, giving them the ability to pick up much heavier objects and attack and destroy obstacles and other enemies with fewer numbers. They also have the potential to stun enemies when they land near or on them.][ White Pikmin, when ingested by enemies, damage the enemy through being toxic. White Pikmin themselves are immune to poison, can locate buried treasure with their special eyes, and can run faster than other Pikmin.][ Bulbmin are a subterranean parasitic species of Pikmin that infect Bulborbs (the most common enemy found within the ''Pikmin'' series) and take control of them. These Pikmin are found exclusively within certain cave systems in the game, usually as a pack of up to 10 juvenile Bulbmin and a single adult Bulbmin. While the adult forms of these Pikmin are hostile towards Olimar, the juvenile Bulbmin will follow Olimar like regular Pikmin once the adult is killed. They are immune to most hazards (save explosions, being eaten, being crushed, and bottomless pits), and will not follow Olimar when he leaves the cave they are found in. The only way to "keep" them is if they are transformed into other Pikmin species by Candypop Buds.
''Pikmin 3'' introduced two new species of Pikmin: Rock Pikmin and Winged Pikmin. The gray-colored Rock Pikmin look like small rocks and can smash through glass, crystals, ice, and the carapaces of large creatures. These Pikmin can also survive crushing attacks from boulders and enemies, and are invulnerable to piercing attacks as well. Rock Pikmin also cause more initial damage when thrown at an enemy, though they are unable to latch onto them.][ The pink-colored Winged Pikmin are the smallest species of Pikmin and hover in the air using their small wings. They can fly over hazards such as water and pits, and can carry items in the air.][
]
Other characters
Another main character in ''Pikmin 2'' is the President of Hocotate Freight, a large man that runs the company and keeps debt collectors away. The president is forced to sell the Dolphin, and it is replaced by an unnamed ship that is able to speak, name and value the treasure on the planet.
Reception
The ''Pikmin'' series has received generally positive reviews, and has sold over 6 million units, with the Nintendo Switch port of ''Pikmin 3'' being the best seller at 2.04 million units. The series has been praised for its strategic gameplay based on time and resource management, as well as its graphics; Philip Kollar of Polygon
In geometry, a polygon () is a plane figure that is described by a finite number of straight line segments connected to form a closed ''polygonal chain'' (or ''polygonal circuit''). The bounded plane region, the bounding circuit, or the two to ...
described ''Pikmin 3'' as "one of those rare pieces of evidence that a modern Nintendo can still produce something wholly unique."
Legacy
Olimar was introduced as a playable character in the '' Super Smash Bros.'' series beginning with 2008's ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl
''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' is a 2008 crossover fighting video game developed by Sora Ltd. and published by Nintendo for the Wii. The third installment in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series, it was announced at a pre-E3 2005 press conferenc ...
'', and has appeared in every subsequent entry. He commands the Pikmin in battle and, like in the ''Pikmin'' series, he is almost entirely dependent on them. Olimar is able to pluck new Pikmin from the ground at any time unless he has the maximum number of Pikmin allowed; he can command up to six in ''Brawl'', and three in subsequent games. The Pikmin, as in the ''Pikmin'' series, are fragile and can be defeated easily, but new ones can be plucked from the stage immediately after. Olimar's Final Smash, a signature one-use technique, shows him getting into his Hocotate Spaceship and flying off into the sky, while Red Bulborbs attack the other players on the ground. The ship then plummets to the ground and causes an explosion, dealing damage and knockback to opposing players as Olimar is ejected from it. ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl
''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' is a 2008 crossover fighting video game developed by Sora Ltd. and published by Nintendo for the Wii. The third installment in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series, it was announced at a pre-E3 2005 press conferenc ...
'' also features a playable stage called Distant Planet, based on the general setting of the Pikmin's home planet featured in the first three ''Pikmin'' games. The same stage returned in '' Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS'', while ''Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
and (colloquially and collectively referred to as ''Super Smash Bros. 4'' or ''Smash 4'') is a group of two 2014 crossover fighting video games developed by Bandai Namco Studios and Sora Ltd. and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS ...
'' added a stage based on ''Pikmin 3
''Pikmin 3'' is a real-time strategy and puzzle video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii U video game console. It is the sequel to the GameCube games ''Pikmin'' (2001) and '' Pikmin 2'' (2004), and was released in Japan on July ...
''; both stages returned in ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'' is a 2018 crossover fighting video game developed by Bandai Namco Studios and Sora Ltd. and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. It is the fifth installment in the '' Super Smash Bros.'' series, succeed ...
''. Alph from ''Pikmin 3'' appears as an alternate costume for Olimar beginning with ''3DS'' and ''Wii U''.
Pikmin appear in the Nintendo 3DS built-in application ''AR Games
AR, Ar, or A&R may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
Music
* Artists and repertoire
Periodicals
* ''Absolute Return + Alpha'', a hedge fund publication
*''The Adelaide Review'', an Australian arts magazine
* ''American Renaissance'' ( ...
''. Pikmin also make a cameo during the process of transferring downloadable content from a Nintendo DSi
The is a dual-screen handheld game console released by Nintendo. The console launched in Japan on November 1, 2008, and worldwide beginning in April 2009. It is the third iteration of the Nintendo DS, and its primary market rival is Sony's ...
to a 3DS, (or transferring from a 3DS to another 3DS or 2DS) with various types of Pikmin carrying the data over. A similar animation occurs when transferring save data and other information from a Wii to an SD card using the Wii U
The Wii U ( ) is a home video game console developed by Nintendo as the successor to the Wii. Released in late 2012, it is the first eighth-generation video game console and competed with Microsoft's Xbox One and Sony's PlayStation 4.
Th ...
transfer application, and a second animation, picking up where the first one leaves off, appears when completing the transfer from the SD card to a Wii U
The Wii U ( ) is a home video game console developed by Nintendo as the successor to the Wii. Released in late 2012, it is the first eighth-generation video game console and competed with Microsoft's Xbox One and Sony's PlayStation 4.
Th ...
.
''Nintendo Land
is a party video game developed and published by Nintendo as a pack-in launch title for the Wii U home video game console in 2012. The game was first announced at E3 2012 during Nintendo's press conference.
''Nintendo Land'' features twelve m ...
'' includes the series in a team attraction titled ''Pikmin Adventure'', where players' Miis fight robotic versions of familiar Pikmin foes. ''Pikmin Adventure'' utilizes the Wii U GamePad
The Wii U GamePad is the standard game controller for Nintendo's Wii U home video game console. Incorporating traits from tablet computers, the GamePad has traditional input methods (such as buttons, dual analog sticks, and a D-pad), touchscre ...
and Wii Remote
The Wii Remote, also known colloquially as the Wiimote, is the primary game controller for Nintendo's Wii home video game console. An essential capability of the Wii Remote is its motion sensing capability, which allows the user to interact wi ...
; the former controls Olimar, whereas the latter allows other players to play as Pikmin. On the Game Boy Advance
The (GBA) is a 32-bit handheld game console developed, manufactured and marketed by Nintendo as the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001, in North America on June 11, 2001, in the PAL region on June 22, ...
, the card-based Nintendo e-Reader
The Nintendo e-Reader, stylized as ereader, commonly abbreviated as e-Reader, known in Japan as the is an add-on manufactured by Nintendo for its Game Boy Advance handheld video game console. It was released in Japan in December 2001, with a ...
peripheral included Pikmin minigames exclusive to Japan following the release of ''Pikmin 2
is a 2004 real-time strategy puzzle video game developed and published by Nintendo for the GameCube home video game console. It is the direct sequel to the 2001 game ''Pikmin (video game), Pikmin'' and is the second game in the ''Pikmin'' series. ...
'', titled ''Pikmin 2-e''. In the various minigames, players control either Olimar or the Pikmin to complete various puzzles.
Several red, yellow and blue Pikmin can be found across the land on ledges of Super Nintendo World
is a themed area at Universal Studios Japan, and under construction at Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Studios Singapore and the upcoming Universal's Epic Universe at Universal Orlando Resort. A result of a partnership between Nintendo ...
at Universal Studios Japan
is a theme park located in Osaka, Japan. Opened on March 31, 2001, it is one of six Universal Studios theme parks worldwide and was the first to open outside the United States. The park is owned and operated by a wholly owned subsidiary of NB ...
, with some carrying objects like coins and a berry.
Short films
On November 5, 2014, three short animated ''Pikmin'' films were released on the Wii U
The Wii U ( ) is a home video game console developed by Nintendo as the successor to the Wii. Released in late 2012, it is the first eighth-generation video game console and competed with Microsoft's Xbox One and Sony's PlayStation 4.
Th ...
and Nintendo 3DS eShop, after being shown at the Tokyo International Film Festival
The is a film festival established in 1985. The event was held biennially from 1985 to 1991 and annually thereafter. Along with the Shanghai International Film Festival, it is one of Asia's competitive film festivals, and is considered to be the ...
. The short films, "The Night Juicer", "Treasure in a Bottle", and "Occupational Hazards", each feature Captain Olimar and groups of Pikmin. To commemorate the films, puzzles related to them were made available in the Puzzle Swap game mode of '' StreetPass Mii Plaza''. The films were later uploaded to YouTube
YouTube is a global online video sharing and social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by Google, and is the second mo ...
to promote ''Pikmin 3 Deluxe''.
Notes
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pikmin (Series)
Nintendo franchises
Post-apocalyptic video games
Puzzle video games
Real-time strategy video games
Science fiction video games
Video game franchises
Video game franchises introduced in 2001
Video games developed in Japan
Video games produced by Shigeru Miyamoto
Video games set on fictional planets
BAFTA winners (video games)