Pikmin 4 Review – Man’s Best Friend(s)

Pikmin has always held a strange spot in Nintendo’s library of games and franchises. Its creation is credited to Mario and Zelda’s dad, Shigeru Miyamoto, which means Nintendo holds it in high esteem, but it has never quite reached the cultural ubiquity of his other works. And maybe it’s unfair to compare the adorable strategy game about dragging the corpses of defeated foes into your spaceship to the iconic plumber and the Hero of Time, but Pikmin 4 might be the one that moves the series closer to those legacies. Pikmin 4, thanks to Oatchi – the friendly dog that can transport you along with all of your Pikmin – is one of its best.

Pikmin 4 is a game that manages to please both newcomers and those who’ve been following the series from 2001. The returning characters, as well as the new storyline will charm anyone. It’s not a deep story, just to make it clear. You have to rescue yourself as well as others from an alien planet after crashing landing with Pikmin. However, all characters are unique. It also leans into the, “Are we on Earth?” subtext the series has always featured more than ever, which is an element I have always enjoyed.

Oatchi, on the other hand, is the real star. He doesn’t particularly look like a dog, but he acts like one, excitedly greeting you every morning for your daily adventure, defending you from danger, and helping your Pikmin carry objects they can’t quite handle alone. Oatchi, your assistant manager in a management game that involves managing many helpful creatures is a fantastic character. He can carry you, your Pikmin, and the entire game with just a single button press. Even though it’s visually appealing to gather dozens of Pikmin to throw at problems, this always results in annoying issues such as them getting stuck on corners or falling off bridges. Gathering all your Pikmin on Oatchi’s back eliminates this issue and makes everything so much more manageable, which lets you focus on the fun.

It’s rewarding to find and create new paths to explore in traditional Pikmin level to extend your exploration options in the time limit. And the visual differences make them easier to learn. The levels are less maze-like, and I like that.

A new feature is underground caves. The time is slowed down underground for humorous reasons. You can play Pikmin with no worries about the clock. They are short, frequent and enjoyable. The sections are never too long (except for the finale marathon, which I liked as it was the last chance to enjoy the game). They also encourage players to experiment with new tactics in areas designed to challenge them.

For the first time, players can explore at night in combat sequences. This allows you to focus on defending your base and not worry about losing Pikmin. Night sections can be repetitive, but they are not necessary for progression. The mode is one I play the least but enjoy when I want a little break.

Dandori scenes add a new dimension to action with competitive and fun scenarios. There are sections with opponents, and others where you can earn medals by collecting as many points in a short time. Both sequences have a lot of excitement and are often very intense. The latter is a good way to make you want that perfect score. Even though I had already met the requirements for many, I played them again.

Oatchi is an excellent addition to Pikmin. The caves and Dandori were also great. But the new Rewind feature was the most helpful in resolving my frustrations. You can rewind the time a bit to get a few extra minutes at the end the day, or when you are facing a tough boss. Oatchi can help you to take care of Pikmin. They are smarter than ever, but the rewind feature was useful for certain challenges. The mechanic is one I didn’t lean on a lot, but I was so happy I could when I needed it.

Pikmin 4 has the best graphics, the best controls, the best gameplay, and it’s fun. You can choose the order in which to complete the tasks. This keeps you from getting bored. I also enjoyed expanding my roster and saving survivors. Pikmin may never rise to the top of the Nintendo heap, and it’s probably unfair to expect it ever could, but the latest Pikmin is the best effort yet.