Introduction
Today we are going to look at a very new game called Pikmin 4, it has been a long wait, but finally I get to have my hands on some new Pikmin action, and even better, it has co-op! Now, I want to see what the co-op entails in this game, how much gameplay is there? How will the story pick up after Pikmin 3?
What did I think before playing Pikmin 4?
Pikmin 4 adds two new types of Pikmin, ice Pikmin and glow Pikmin. It also promised expeditions while it was nighttime. This all sounded epically awesome! Mostly I was wondering how Olimar plays into this, the main character from the previous Pikmin games. Without further ado, we are going to check the Nintendo Page.
The Nintendo Page
https://www.nintendo.com/store/products/pikmin-4-switch/
The Nintendo page is very big, it has loads of information, even on all the Pikmin. I also learned there will be a dog that you can guide, ride and even learn skills. It all sounded very fun, along with the co-op, this seems like it could be a Pikmin for young and old. I mean, I played the original Pikmin, I even pre-ordered, you know, back when you had to pick up your pre-order in the store. The good old days.
Rating
I rated Pikmin 4 with a 9.5 before playing.
Holy moly, finally a new Pikmin!
Story
The story is kind of vague, but it starts with Olimar crashing on PNF 404. Or, as we call it, earth. This time the rescue corps needs to save him, and you play as your own avatar. The story was very vague on when this Pikmin story takes place.
Rating
I rated the story of Pikmin 4 with a 5.5.
On one hand, it looks like the story continues, but then Olimar seems to have the original Dolphin, did he buy it back after losing it in Pikmin 2? We see the food crisis mentioned we solved in Pikmin 3. We get all kinds of hints that it’s a new story or even a reboot. Then, on the other hand, we get clues it continues. I have no idea what is going on, but in my opinion, it might take place right after Pikmin 3, before the three main characters return home to solve or help with the food crisis. Since they were crashed for a while, it could explain the other three of their race, York is most likely Alph’s brother, to come to this planet to rescue them. This is all conjecture and I have no idea what is truly going on. I also had the idea, this might have been a Pikmin 2 if the bad ending of Pikmin 1 truly happened. The ending where Olimar dies and loses his life support and the Pikmin drag him into the onion, and he grows leaves on his head.
Gameplay
The gameplay of Pikmin 4 is definitely not for old-school gamers like me. The difficulty is so low that the first run we did, we let no Pikmin die. The monsters can all be cheesed with items, the gates can be cheesed with bombs. The ice Pikmin can swim, but not carry items through water, which made no sense at all to me. If you could have 100 Pikmin from the beginning, this game would have been even more of a cakewalk.
You can take all the time you need to clear the small caves, most of the caves are not even more than five floors. The areas can be cleared insanely fast, it might be because I have good dandori, yeah, if you dislike cringy dandori lines, then you might get annoyed since you will need to battle with leaflings. These battles and challenges are extremely simple. And the worst part that I heard from someone who could not complete it, you can just skip them.Ā
While I do like Oatchi the dog, it makes the game trivial as he can carry for 100 pikmin, he can kill all the mobs on his own. Do you have a difficult boss? Just bite it with Oatchi, want to clear the cave floor? Do it with Oatchi, did you get hit? Just heal with a bone. While I did like the game a lot, the difficulty was just, much too easy. There has to be some kind of hard mode for old-school players. You know, like back in Pikmin 1, a single monster could take out your entire squad if you fucked up. Damn those frogs! Ah, the good old stressful days of Pikmin 1. This is just a chill game with Pikmin, take it easy, take a mint and enjoy the ride.
Rating
I rated the gameplay of Pikmin 4 with an 8.1
The biggest problem was the difficulty, as in, this was way too easy. Even the armored cannon beetle got nerfed, he does not even kill the Pikmin if it is only a leaf Pikmin. You needed to use flower Pikmin and hope for the best, oh man, he ruined my no Pikmin death runs in Pikmin 1 the most, not even the final boss was that mean.
Sound and Graphics
Graphics
The graphics of Pikmin 4 are superb, it is the best it has ever been. I love the bulborbs, we even have plush bulborb at home. There are six big areas to explore, and this time we finally get to see an indoor house. I had really hoped to see the orange and green Pikmin that were hinted at in the ending of Pikmin 1. Maybe in Pikmin 5?
Sound
The music is great in this game, there are a lot of different tunes. I really like the music when fighting the final boss, who was a bit mean, but when I got the hang of it, he was a pushover, just time it right and kabam, the stupid thing dies. It did look epic, though. There are good sound effects in this game as well.
Rating
I rate the sound and graphics of Pikmin 4 with a 9.8.
Superb, this is one of the strongest points in this game!
What did I think after playing Pikmin 4?
Did I mention the smoky progg comes back in this game? The horrible, creepy specter of the grim reaper in the form of a frog? Yeah, he is no longer as menacing as in Pikmin 1 either. Just stun him with the Glow Pikmin when you have about fifty of them, when he moves, use lighting, and the sucker is dead. Or you could just break the egg before he wakes up. The Smoky progg only appears on night expeditions.
Oatchi can learn new skills as you rescue castaways, he can become such a powerhouse, It’s not even normal anymore. Add the armor you can buy from the lab with raw material, Oatchi becomes invincible! Once you have cleared all content, you get an infinite super rush attack. And the line trumpet to swarm enemies, the thing I loved most in other Pikmin games is something you only unlock after the game in this one, ugh.
Rating
I rated Pikmin 4 with a 7.0 after playing.
I did enjoy the co-op, player two can throw stones, items, bombs everywhere. It makes the game more fun but even easier.
What are my personal thoughts about Pikmin 4?
Pikmin 4 was insanely fun, but due to the easy difficulty, I don’t think I will be replaying this game anytime soon. If you are new to Pikmin, this game might be more fun compared to if you know the old games as the story, and the gameplay caters to people of the new generation. Oh my god, I just sounded old, I might have to remove some gray hairs from my beard.
Rating
My personal Rating of Pikmin 4 is a 6.4
Pikmin!
Last Words
Pros
- Fight against new enemies in many areas
- There are two new Pikmin, even if the ice Pikmin are dumb
- Play many dandori challenges and battles
- Great for casual gamers as the difficulty is very low
- There are caves to explore
- You can find onions for each Pikmin
- There is a small bonus game mode called Olimar's tale
- You can play in co-op
- You have a dog to help you along the way
- You can gain new skills for your dog and craft armor in the lab
- There are even sidequests to complete!
Cons
- Pikmin 4 is way too easy
- The caves are very small
- The story is extremely confusing and unclear
- You can cheese the whole game if you have enough patience
- The enemies, including the horrifying water wraith have become pushovers
- You only gain the ability to swarm enemies after completing the game
- The Piklopedia contains some errors, either telling Pikmin 1,2 and 3 have happened already, and others contradict this
- Olimar acts a bit too vague on if he knows the Pikmin or not, how did he get his ship back?
- Multiple bases in one level makes the game even more easier
- Collect enough raw material and stunlock every enemy, including the final boss
- You can kill almost all creatures with just Oatchi, or cheese them with items like ice blasts
- Why in god's name are there multiple onions of the same color?
Well, this game has brought up quite some emotions in me, am I disappointed? Yes, I am, mostly in the story telling. Pikmin was one of the few Nintendo games that had continuity, and they fucked it up. They fucked up the difficulty, ignoring old-school gamers. Introducing Oatchi made the game a dog game. They also changed personalities, like from Louie and Olimar. It is that I like the gameplay, or I would have dropped this game just for how the story is handled.
Final Rating
8
Please let me know what you think of Pikmin 4in the comments!
I hope you enjoyed reading this review, I hope to see you in the next review!
If you liked reading this review, maybe you would like to share this review with your friends!
Jaromir Krzyszczak
even if it is way too easy (or maybe it it only way too easy to you Sven, cause youre experienced and that good in gaming, recently a friend of mine told me the same thing when i said to him that Steelrising is too easy) it looksw like TONS of fun!
supersven
Thanks for the compliment!
It was tons of fun, but this game could have had more polish, knowing that development started in 2015 or 2016.
Silentrets
It would more fun with FPS game.
Nicole
I've never been able to play any Pikmin games, but I think I would really love them! The graphics look amazing, the scenery is really cool and it's such a unique gameplay idea! It's too bad the game is too easy with no difficulty settings! I feel like it's hard to get new players into the 4th installment of a franchise, cause most wanna play the first games to understand the story!
supersven
This could easily be solved by having an intro with, This is not the first time I crash-landed, the first time, the Pikmin saved, then I came back for treasure. Now, I needed more money to buy back my ship, or I wanted to visit the Pikmin. You can also use dialogue inside the game to tell about other games. š
rezonono
A very fine opus in the series, which delights young and old alike, with good gameplay and impeccable graphics.
supersven
The graphics are great!
metalhead8489
looks like fun
EMPERORU
Sadly game is not in steam
supersven
Nintendo only has games on the console.
Patrick
wow
DonCarlos
We need a veteran mode!!!
supersven
A hardcore mode!
fano23
Haven't tried any Pikmin yet, they look great
Myr
Pikmin seems to be super popular by players of the old games. I've never played one myself. Nice Review. Bad thing that it is too easy. Propably for newbies to get into it rasiert.
Myr
... easier (not rasiert) ... autocorrect
supersven
This is for the new generation, you know, the ones who grew up with save buttons.
Twigas_Hobbes
looks cute ^^
Alamar
"You have a dog to help you along the way" - A cute helpful dog, this is what i always like ;]