Pikmin 4 Hands-On Preview

Pikmin, in my opinion, is one of the unsung IP’s of Nintendo. It’s a magical and beautiful setting with gameplay that sits somewhere between a puzzler and a platformer. I was delighted when I got a sneak peek at the latest iteration, Pikmin 4, which is set to release later next month on July 21st. Here are my thoughts so far.

After a brief recap of the previous Pikmin titles, Pikmin 4 heads inside to show off the more freeform exploration aspect of the game. You ride around on your faithful alien dog companion and recruit Pikim who grab on making the dog look like a fluffy armoured personnel carrier of this strange new world. I thoroughly enjoyed these new aspects of exploration, and I loved the new inside environment, however, it did make me miss the more colourful garden setting of the previous entries.

This separation anxiety was short-lived however, as I was suddenly prompted into creating a new avatar to be a part of the Rescue Squad who are in search of Captain Olimar. I don’t remember much of the previous entries (although I’m working my way through 1&2 at the time of this preview) but I really warmed to the idea of not playing as the main hero, Olimar, who has become somewhat of a legend to the rescue squad. Playing as the newest Rescue squad member, you discover other members of the rescue squad who are also trapped on the planet and who bring different skills and abilities to the fray such as an expert on organic matter, and a technical specialist who can help repair technology.

So begins the real meat of the game and demo, which is to collect technology and treasure to help upgrade your ship to enter new areas. It was really cool finding a Gameboy Advance which was then carried away by my faithful squad of Pikmin to scrap it for parts and a special treasure dust currency, to assist with getting our frigate back in the air. There are small puzzles scattered galore, and while the game may seem simple, there are plenty of interesting mechanics at play that make it a great world to explore.

Fan favorite “dungeons” make a welcome return and players can dive underground for extra treasure and parts. Boss battles also make a comeback and provide some additional depth to combat which makes tangling with an enemy exciting. I never felt overwhelmed while playing, and despite combat aspects, I would say the game more aligns with the cozy genre. Exploring the overworld is a delight and the new graphics engine helps build a world of miniature wonder.

If you would like to test the waters before the release date, a demo of Pikmin 4 is now available on the E-shop and is well worth a look for fans of the series, and people wanting to see what it’s all about. There’s some continuation from previous entries in the series, but with a brief exposition dump before you step into the boots of Olimar, and clever storytelling mechanics from the eyes of the Rescue Squad, Pikmin 4 is the best place to start.

All in all, I’m very excited to further explore the world of Pikmin 4, and cannot wait to find the rest of the Rescue Squad and continue my journey. Will we find the legendary Captain Olimar? Time will tell… But I cannot wait to find out on July 21.

Check back for more great content, and keep your eyes peeled for our review of Pikmin 4, closer to the release date.