Pikmin 3

Pikmin 3[lower-alpha 1] is a real-time strategy 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 13, 2013 and in all other regions within the following month. Shigeru Miyamoto announced Pikmin 3 on July 16, 2008 for the Wii console, later stating at E3 2011 that it had transitioned to Wii U.

Pikmin 3
Packaging artwork released for all territories
Developer(s)Nintendo EAD
Publisher(s)Nintendo
Director(s)Shigefumi Hino
Yuji Kando
Producer(s)Hiroyuki Kimura
Designer(s)Atsushi Miyagi
Takafumi Kiuchi
Takuro Shimizu
Artist(s)Keisuke Nishimori[1]
Writer(s)Kunio Watanabe
Makoto Wada
Composer(s)Asuka Hayazaki
Atsuko Asahi
Hajime Wakai
SeriesPikmin
Platform(s)Wii U
Nintendo Switch
ReleaseWii U
  • JP: July 13, 2013
  • EU: July 26, 2013
  • AU: July 27, 2013
  • NA: August 4, 2013
Nintendo Switch
  • WW: October 30, 2020
Genre(s)Real-time strategy
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

It builds upon the Pikmin series with more player characters, more Pikmin types, Off-TV Play, and downloadable content. In the single-player campaign, the player controls three alien captains, who explore the surface of a planet they name PNF-404 in search of cultivable fruit seeds to save their home planet, Koppai, from famine. They befriend the Pikmin who assist them in combat, solving puzzles, and in amassing resources.

Pikmin 3 Deluxe is an enhanced Nintendo Switch version scheduled for October 30, 2020, including new missions, cooperative play options, and all downloadable content from the Wii U version.

Gameplay

The player controls a captain which commands a horde of up to 100 plant-like creatures called Pikmin, and uses their unique abilities to explore the world, combat enemies, solve puzzles, and amass treasures. Pikmin can be directed to accomplish various tasks, such as building bridges, destroying barriers, collecting spoils and defeating enemies. They come in various colors and different physical features that signify their special abilities or immunities to hazards. For example, Red Pikmin are immune to fire and can fight harder, Yellow Pikmin are immune to electricity and can be thrown farther, and Blue Pikmin are immune to water.

Alongside the returning red, yellow, and blue Pikmin from previous Pikmin games, Pikmin 3 introduces two Pikmin types: grey-colored Rock Pikmin, which can destroy tough barriers, and are immune to being crushed by heavy objects; and pink-colored Winged Pikmin, which can attack airborne enemies, carry items through the air, and travel over water.[2]

The player controls up to three new different captains over the Pikmin, one more than in Pikmin 2. The player can instantly switch between these groups in order to accomplish tasks more quickly or solve certain puzzles.

The initial release of Pikmin 3 offers three control schemes: the Wii U GamePad, Wii U Pro Controller, or Wii Remote (Plus) with the Nunchuk accessory. In all cases the Wii U GamePad gives the player an overhead map of the game environment, visible on its touch screen. A downloadable update on May 30, 2014, adds stylus control on the GamePad. The GamePad is used to access the similar-looking KopPad, which the captain uses to view the map and other statistics, and for communication with the other squad members. The KopPad allows players to map the captains' routes, and to take photographs with detailed camera controls, which could be uploaded to the now-defunct Miiverse.

Aside from a single-player story campaign, the game features a split-screen, competitive, two-player multiplayer mode called Bingo Battle. In this mode each player has a 4 by 4 grid of items to collect, and must compete to get four-in-a-row on their board.[3][4] The game has Mission Mode: a single-player or cooperative multiplayer experience where the players are presented with a task based on Pikmin fundamentals, which must be completed in a limited amount of time. There are three trials present within Mission Mode: Collect Treasure, where the players must collect all the fruit and enemies on the map using a set amount of Pikmin before time runs out; Battle Enemies, where the players must kill all the enemies on the map as quickly as possible; and Defeat Bosses, which allows the players to re-encounter the boss creatures from Story Mode.

Plot

As with the previous Pikmin games, Pikmin 3 is set on the mysterious and previously unnamed planet, now called PNF-404. Five different areas on PNF-404 are accessible for the player to explore, each with diverse topography. The narrator explains that the inhabitants of the planet Koppai are suffering from famine as a result of a "booming population, booming appetites, and a basic lack of planning".

Having scouted multiple planets with their SPEROS ships, the planet returns positive with abundance of cultivable food. Three Koppaite explorer captains, Alph, Brittany and Charlie, are sent to explore and retrieve food sources. Their ship, the S.S. Drake, malfunctions and crash-lands, separating the three. Captain Charlie falls to the Distant Tundra and meets the Yellow Pikmin, but is eaten by a monster. Alph wakes up in the Tropical Wilds and meets the Red Pikmin, who help him recover their ship. Alph learns that the "cosmic drive key" is required to warp back to Koppai. Alph finds Brittany in the Garden of Hope, and rescues her with the help of Rock Pikmin. The two captains rescue Captain Charlie, after the S.S. Drake crashes and Brittany discovers Yellow Pikmin. They retrieve some fruits for the food supply and harvest the seeds on their journey. The S.S. Drake and the Pikmin Onions ascend into low orbit each evening to avoid voracious nocturnal creatures. The trio recover one of Captain Olimar's lost data files, and suspect that he has the key and explore in his pursuit. Later, they mistakenly rescue Louie, who steals all of their food supply and escapes to the Garden of Hope. After retrieving them both, they restrain and interrogate Louie, who tells them that Olimar is at Formidable Oak. There, the captains and the Pikmin defeat a mysterious life form known as the Plasm Wraith, to save Olimar, who had taken the cosmic-drive key, thinking it is a treasure, and he gives it back. Though Louie is absent, the explorers use the key for the ship and they return home, while the Pikmin say goodbye to them.

The narrator speaks at the game's ending, which varies based on the number of fruit the player retrieved during the game. If the player collects a minimum amount of fruit, the narrator states the explorers feel "unease" over the possibility the seeds collected will not be enough to save Koppai. If the player collects a respectable amount of fruit, it is stated that careful planning will be required to save Koppai. If the player collects all fruits, the narrator states that the three have successfully completed their mission to restore life in Koppai and that the cause of the S.S. Drake's crash-landing may be on purpose.[5] In a post-credits scene, the Pikmin see a flaming object falling to the ground and some Pikmin run to it.

Development
Concept art of Pikmin 3 characters Alph, Brittany, Charlie, (each labeled 'A', 'B', and 'C', respectively) a Pikmin, and an unnamed fourth character (labeled 'D') who was removed during development.

Shigeru Miyamoto first 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."[6] 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."[7]

A new Pikmin game was confirmed at E3 2008 during Nintendo's developer roundtable, in which Miyamoto stated that his team were working on a new entry in the series.[8][9] Details concerning gameplay and development were left unmentioned.[10] At Miyamoto's roundtable discussion at E3 2011, Miyamoto stated that Pikmin 3 development was moved to Wii U, the Wii successor.[11] He said that the Wii U's HD graphics and secondary-screen GamePad would work better for it.

On June 5, 2012, Pikmin 3 was shown at Nintendo's press conference at E3. Some of the new gameplay aspects were demonstrated, including rock Pikmin and the GamePad controls.[12] The company said that it would be released around the same time as the Wii U,[13] but its release was later delayed until mid-2013. When questioned about the presence or absence of the purple and white Pikmin types featured in the second game, Miyamoto stated that "They're in there somewhere, just hidden...". A video released from Nintendo Direct confirmed that they would in fact be in the game, but only in the game's Mission Mode and Bingo Battle.[14]

In a Polygon interview, Miyamoto stated that he plans to have a series of animated Pikmin shorts released on the Nintendo 3DS prior to Pikmin 3's launch.[15] The shorts went unheard of for months after the game's initial release, were eventually mentioned by Miyamoto a year later, and were announced to be released on November 5, 2014 on the Nintendo eShop.

Release

Pikmin 3 was released in Japan on July 13, 2013.[16] The game was released in Europe on July 26, Australia on July 27, and North America on August 4.[17][18][19]

The Collect Treasure stage pack downloadable content (DLC) added four missions on October 1, 2013.[20] Battle Enemies stage pack DLC added four missions on November 6, 2013. Released with the DLC was an update adding GamePad stylus control.[21] A third DLC pack of new stages (rather than remixes of old stages as in previous DLC) was released on December 2, 2013. Four new Collect Treasure and four new Battle Enemies stages have been announced. An update added one free Collect Treasure and one free Battle Enemies mission.[22]

Pikmin 3 Deluxe

On August 5, 2020, Nintendo announced Pikmin 3 Deluxe, an enhanced Nintendo Switch version for release on October 30, 2020.[23][24] It includes an epilogue and prologue featuring Captain Olimar and Louie, co-operative play in the story mode, the reintroduction of the Piklopedia from Pikmin 2, and the DLC from the Wii U version.[25][26]

Reception
Reception
Aggregate scores
AggregatorScore
GameRankings86.59%[27]
Metacritic87/100[28]
Review scores
PublicationScore
4Players85/100[29]
Destructoid9.5/10[30]
Edge8/10[31]
EGM[32]
Eurogamer9/10[33]
Famitsu37/40[34][35]
Game Informer9/10[36]
GameRevolution4.5/5[37]
GamesRadar+[38]
GamesTM9/10[39]
GameTrailers8.8/10[40]
Giant Bomb[41]
Hardcore Gamer4.5/5[42]
Hyper80/100[43]
IGN8.8/10[44]
Joystiq[45]
Nintendo Life9/10[46]
ONM90%[47]
Polygon8/10[48]
Shacknews7/10[49]
The Guardian[50]
VideoGamer.com9/10[51]

The game received generally favorable reviews. Most reviewers praised its well designed levels, high-quality graphics, and gameplay. The Japanese video game magazine Famitsu scored the game 37/40, with four reviewers awarding three 9s and one perfect 10.[34][35] The Sunday Times gave it 5 out of 5 stars.[52] IGN scored the game 8.8/10, praising its design but also stating that it was too short.[53] ITF Gaming gave it a 9/10 for its lush, well-crafted environments.[54] Ben Croshaw of The Escapist praised the graphics, controls, and incentive for urgency, but critiqued the Wii U itself for not initially utilizing the touch screen as a means of individually selecting targets.[55] This feature was added in a later software update.

Sales

In Japan, Pikmin 3 is the best selling game of its launch week, with around 93,000 copies in two days and helping to sell 22,200 Wii U systems.[56] In the UK, the game debuted at number 2 in the all-formats chart, behind the retail version of Minecraft for Xbox 360.[57] In the US, it is the best selling game of its debut week, and according to the NPD Group, 115,000 units were sold in its first month, entering the all-formats chart at number 10.[58][59] According to a later report, around 210,000 units were sold in the US as of December 31, 2013.[60]

Notes
  1. ピクミン3 (Japanese: Pikumin 3)
gollark: I'm not against them, I'm against what they're doing.
gollark: If it's something there's any interest in, of course.
gollark: At best, as Wojbie said, you can make it annoying for people, but then one person will do it and share how.
gollark: You just *cannot* give people access to a thing in one way and expect them to not be able to access it in some other way. Basically every DRM scheme - which this really sounds like - has *failed, inevitably*.
gollark: As Grim Reaper said: if there is *any* important data there or something, *people will get it out* eventually.

References
  1. "機能を表現するデザイン手法。キャラクター、ブキ、ギアのデザインに迫る、『Splatoon（スプラトゥーン）』開発スタッフインタビュー【デザイン編】 - ファミ通.com". ファミ通.com (in Japanese). Retrieved August 10, 2018.
  2. "E3 2012: Flying Pink Pikmin Join Pikmin 3". IGN.
  3. "There Can Be Only One In This Pikmin 3 Multiplayer Battle".
  4. "Pikmin 3 Hype Reel".
  5. Nintendo (July 13, 2013). Pikmin 3. Nintendo. Narrator: And so the intrepid explorers successfully complete their mission! [...] Under their guidance, the seeds they've recovered will be used to kick off a sustainable cycle of cultivation and harvesting, thus bringing new life to Koppai. [...] What was the cause of the accident that sent the SS Drake hurtling to PNF-404's surface? Perhaps it wasn't an accident after all...
  6. Casamassina, Matt (July 12, 2007). "E3 2007: Miyamoto: We Haven't Seen the Last of Pikmin". IGN. Retrieved June 3, 2009.
  7. Bakalar, Jeff (April 18, 2008). "Up close with Shigeru Miyamoto and 'Wii Fit'". CNET.com. Retrieved June 3, 2009.
  8. Orland, Kyle (July 16, 2008). "Liveblog from Nintendo's 2008 E3 Developer Roundtable". Joystiq. Retrieved June 3, 2009.
  9. Sinclair, Brendan (July 16, 2008). "E3 2008: Miyamoto conducts Wii Music, confirms Pikmin". Gamespot. Retrieved June 3, 2009.
  10. Bozon, Mark (July 16, 2008). "E3 2008: Miyamoto Confirms Pikmin". IGN. Retrieved June 3, 2009.
  11. "Pikmin Coming to Wii U". Nintendo World Report. June 7, 2011.
  12. Little, Riley (June 7, 2012). "New Flying Pink Pikmin Spotted". Game Rant.
  13. Claiborn, Samuel (June 5, 2012). "E3 2012: Pikmin 3 Doesn't Need Your Fancy New Controller". ign.com. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  14. Thomas, Lucas M. (December 5, 2012). "Dissecting the Latest From Pikmin 3". Retrieved March 11, 2013.
  15. Crecente, Brian (March 11, 2013). "Nintendo tests the waters for new cartoon series based on Pikmin". Good Game. Polygon. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
  16. "ピクミン3".
  17. "Get the latest on upcoming and future titles with Nintendo Direct @E3!". Los Angeles: Nintendo UK. June 11, 2013. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
  18. "New Adventures in the Super Mario, Donkey Kong, The Legend of Zelda, Luigi, Pokémon and Pikmin Franchises All Coming This Year for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS". Nintendo Australia. June 12, 2013. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
  19. Malina, Tom (April 17, 2013). "Pikmin 3 Out in August, New Pikmin Species Shown". Nintendo World Report. Retrieved April 17, 2013.
  20. Suszek, Mike (October 1, 2013). "Pikmin 3 getting paid DLC". Joystiq. AOL. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
  21. Jose Otero (November 6, 2013). "New Pikmin DLC [Battle Enemies] Available Now". IGN. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
  22. Suszek, Mike (November 13, 2013). "Guide Captain Olimar through new Pikmin 3 DLC". Joystiq. AOL. Retrieved November 19, 2013.
  23. "Launch Sequence Initiated: Pikmin 3 Deluxe Lands on Nintendo Switch on Oct. 30" (Press release). August 5, 2020. Retrieved August 5, 2020 – via Business Wire.
  24. Barbosa, Alessandro (August 5, 2020). "Pikmin 3 Deluxe Coming To Nintendo Switch This October". GameSpot. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  25. "Pikmin 3 Deluxe for Nintendo Switch includes extra Olimar missions". Eurogamer. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  26. "Pikmin 3 Deluxe Officially Announced For Switch, Includes All DLC And New Content". Nintendo Life. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  27. "Pikmin 3 for Wii U". GameRankings. July 22, 2013. Archived from the original on December 9, 2019. Retrieved July 22, 2013.
  28. "Pikmin 3 Reviews". Metacritic. July 22, 2013. Retrieved July 22, 2013.
  29. "Test: Pikmin 3 (Taktik & Strategie)". 4Players.de. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  30. "Review: Pikmin 3". Destructoid. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  31. "Edge Pikmin 3 review". Edge. July 22, 2013. Retrieved July 22, 2013.
  32. "Pikmin 3 review". Electronic Gaming Monthly. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  33. "Eurogamer Pikmin 3 review". Eurogamer. July 22, 2013. Retrieved July 22, 2013.
  34. "NEW GAME CROSS REVIEW - ピクミン3". Famitsu (1284): 44. July 25, 2013.
  35. "Famitsu Reviews Pikmin 3". My Nintendo News. July 9, 2013. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
  36. "Pikmin 3 Review". August 4, 2013. Retrieved August 4, 2013.
  37. "Pikmin 3 Review". Game Revolution. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  38. "Gamesrader Pikmin 3 review". GamesRadar. July 22, 2013. Retrieved July 22, 2013.
  39. "Pikmin 3 review". GamesTM. Archived from the original on July 31, 2020. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  40. "Pikmin 3 - Review". GameTrailers. Archived from the original on August 6, 2013. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  41. "Pikmin 3 Review". Giant Bomb. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  42. "Review: Pikmin 3". Hardcore Gamer. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  43. "Pikmin 3". Hyper. No. 239. Future Publishing. September 2013. p. 72.
  44. "IGN Pikmin 3 review". IGN. July 22, 2013. Retrieved July 22, 2013.
  45. Kubba, Sinan (July 31, 2013). "Pikmin 3 review: To boldly go". Retrieved July 31, 2013.
  46. "Pikmin 3 for Wii U". Nintendo Life. Retrieved July 22, 2013.
  47. "Official Nintendo Magazine Pikmin 3 review". Official Nintendo Magazine. July 22, 2013. Archived from the original on July 31, 2013. Retrieved July 22, 2013.
  48. "PIKMIN 3 REVIEW: PLANT A SEED". Polygon. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  49. "Pikmin 3 review: juiced up". Shacknews. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  50. "Pikmin 3 – review". The Guardian. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  51. "Pikmin 3 Review". VideoGamer. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  52. David Phelan (July 14, 2013). "Pikmin 3". The Sunday Times. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
  53. Keza MacDonald 22 Jul 2013 (July 22, 2013). "Pikmin 3 Review - IGN". Uk.ign.com. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
  54. Darryl Linington (July 30, 2013). "Pikmin 3 Review". ITF Gaming. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
  55. Croshaw, Benjamin (September 4, 2013). "PIKMIN 3". Escapist Magazine.
  56. Ishaan . July 17, 2013 . 1:00pm (July 17, 2013). "This Week In Sales: Pikmin 3 And Luigi Lift Wii U Sales". Siliconera. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
  57. "Pikmin 3 UK Debut Sales". Nintendo Life. July 29, 2013. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  58. Pickles, Fuzzy (September 12, 2013). "Madden, Saints Row Top August 2013 NPD Charts, 3DS Sales Strong - News". www.GameInformer.com. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
  59. Makuch, Eddie (September 12, 2013). "Pikmin 3 US sales reach 115,000 units". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved October 4, 2013.
  60. "LTD Nintendo Games Numbers". Nintendo Everything. January 17, 2014. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.