Pikmin 3 is surprisingly short. Like really surprisingly short. However it's one of the best games i've ever played. The visuals are gorgeous, it has immense replay value, memorable level design, it's a solid title to have on your Switch. But wait a little for the price to drop, it's great just not £50 great.
Played the entire thing in co-op with my friend and we beat it in one day. And this is it. This is finally the Pikmin game for me. And the reason for that: it finally works. The camera works, the controls work, the AI works, enemies don't wipe out your entire party instantaneously, and there are dozens of QoL fixes from 1 and 2. It's going to be very hard to go back after playing this.
And the best part is, it's a good game on its own, not just because it's better than the first two. The core gameplay of exploring levels and multi-tasking/micromanaging your units to gather collectibles as efficiently as possible is there like always, and the levels are humungous this time. I think the smallest level here is bigger than the largest level from the previous games, which makes exploration so much fun. The new Pikmin (rock and winged) are incorporated very well, and this game probably has the best balance of all the Pikmin, so you use them all almost equally.
The dungeons from Pikmin 2 have been removed, which may be disappointing if you enjoyed them (and I think they could have tried to improve the dungeons rather than eliminate them entirely, or maybe have dungeons show up in a new game+ or something), but personally, I'm glad they're gone so that the focus can be on the world itself.
And the world itself is good too. It has the same allure of Pikmin 1, where the mystery of the planet and the creatures within it are the focus, but also follows up on the more elaborate story of 2 very well. I also really like the new captains, all of them more than Olimar in fact.
And the last thing to mention is that the game is absolutely gorgeous. From the moment you land on the planet in the morning and see the incredible establishing shot of each level, to watching the delicious fruit juice you've gathered by the end of the day, every part of this game is nothing short of beautiful.
The game is perfect though. The most notable thing, and the thing that I dislike the most, is how tutorial heavy it is. The game tells you how to do everything, including (but not limited to) how the controls work, what each pikmin does, the weakness of every notable enemy, the very basic mechanics that you can easily figure out on your own, and sometimes it tells you the same things twice. The game is also a lot more cinematic, treating bosses like actual bosses, compared to the first two games where bosses were given the same spectacle as regular enemies (which might sound like a weird thing to complain about, but let me explain). Pikmin 1 told you nothing. Sure, the game was really frustrating, but most of that frustration wasn't due to not understand what to do or how the game worked. Embarking on a journey for survival on an alien planet, knowing almost nothing about the circumstances you've found yourself in; that was the best part about Pikmin 1, and that is lost here because you never get to learn anything. Even the bosses are more lackluster. Running into them in Pikmin 1 felt amazing because of how much tension it brought in a split-second. It's good that they're unlikely to wipe out your entire battalion all at once, but they're are so lame now. They feel less like menacing creatures and more like bosses from a video game, and that lack of immersion really sucks.
But even with that fairly big complaint, that didn't stop me from having a lot of fun or feeling a lot of tension going up against harder enemies. We played on normal, which was way too easy, so I think I will play on hard next time to hopefully enjoy it more. The amount of streamlining and focus put into the core gameplay, as well as all of the new mechanical and lore introductions make this my favorite Pikmin game thus far.
Here's to Pikmin 4. Let's hope that it's even better and that it exists.
And the best part is, it's a good game on its own, not just because it's better than the first two. The core gameplay of exploring levels and multi-tasking/micromanaging your units to gather collectibles as efficiently as possible is there like always, and the levels are humungous this time. I think the smallest level here is bigger than the largest level from the previous games, which makes exploration so much fun. The new Pikmin (rock and winged) are incorporated very well, and this game probably has the best balance of all the Pikmin, so you use them all almost equally.
The dungeons from Pikmin 2 have been removed, which may be disappointing if you enjoyed them (and I think they could have tried to improve the dungeons rather than eliminate them entirely, or maybe have dungeons show up in a new game+ or something), but personally, I'm glad they're gone so that the focus can be on the world itself.
And the world itself is good too. It has the same allure of Pikmin 1, where the mystery of the planet and the creatures within it are the focus, but also follows up on the more elaborate story of 2 very well. I also really like the new captains, all of them more than Olimar in fact.
And the last thing to mention is that the game is absolutely gorgeous. From the moment you land on the planet in the morning and see the incredible establishing shot of each level, to watching the delicious fruit juice you've gathered by the end of the day, every part of this game is nothing short of beautiful.
The game is perfect though. The most notable thing, and the thing that I dislike the most, is how tutorial heavy it is. The game tells you how to do everything, including (but not limited to) how the controls work, what each pikmin does, the weakness of every notable enemy, the very basic mechanics that you can easily figure out on your own, and sometimes it tells you the same things twice. The game is also a lot more cinematic, treating bosses like actual bosses, compared to the first two games where bosses were given the same spectacle as regular enemies (which might sound like a weird thing to complain about, but let me explain). Pikmin 1 told you nothing. Sure, the game was really frustrating, but most of that frustration wasn't due to not understand what to do or how the game worked. Embarking on a journey for survival on an alien planet, knowing almost nothing about the circumstances you've found yourself in; that was the best part about Pikmin 1, and that is lost here because you never get to learn anything. Even the bosses are more lackluster. Running into them in Pikmin 1 felt amazing because of how much tension it brought in a split-second. It's good that they're unlikely to wipe out your entire battalion all at once, but they're are so lame now. They feel less like menacing creatures and more like bosses from a video game, and that lack of immersion really sucks.
But even with that fairly big complaint, that didn't stop me from having a lot of fun or feeling a lot of tension going up against harder enemies. We played on normal, which was way too easy, so I think I will play on hard next time to hopefully enjoy it more. The amount of streamlining and focus put into the core gameplay, as well as all of the new mechanical and lore introductions make this my favorite Pikmin game thus far.
Here's to Pikmin 4. Let's hope that it's even better and that it exists.
An extremely fun, gorgeous, funny, and relaxing experience marred by a really short main campaign.
My only point of comparison here is Pikmin 1, and this game is a MASSIVE improvement over that in every regard. Everything about the gameplay systems feels very smooth, polished, and well thought out. The game gives you everything you need to succeed, when even a single Pikmin dies I think "damn, I could've prevented that if I did x."
I find it really weird that my main complaint about this game is the length, but it's perfectly paced all the way up to the final boss and then it just kinda ends abruptly. The Deluxe release does have some extra content on offer to make the $60 price tag sting a bit less though.
My only point of comparison here is Pikmin 1, and this game is a MASSIVE improvement over that in every regard. Everything about the gameplay systems feels very smooth, polished, and well thought out. The game gives you everything you need to succeed, when even a single Pikmin dies I think "damn, I could've prevented that if I did x."
I find it really weird that my main complaint about this game is the length, but it's perfectly paced all the way up to the final boss and then it just kinda ends abruptly. The Deluxe release does have some extra content on offer to make the $60 price tag sting a bit less though.
I've played a few games that linger on past their welcome. Pikmin 3 does the opposite; I reached the final part of the story and was shocked at how quickly it arrived. Luckily, there is an ample amount addition fruit to collect and side content to complete, some of which is new in this version. My one real complaint is that I never found a control layout that fully satisfied me.
I really loved this game. I usually uninstall stuff after I beat it to clear space but I keep playing missions for fun
Within minutes, you can tell that this is the technical leap forward for Pikmin that graduates the franchise from cult oddity to potential juggernaut. The quality of life improvements in this one are a masterclass.
And yet....
As hard as it is to go back to the first Pikmin's engine, there's something that neither of its sequels have recaptured. How much of this is my own nostalgia, I won't quantify right now. But there's something to be said for the "set quantity of treasures, set quantity of time" mechanic. I really enjoyed how Pikmin 3 integrated its plot, but the drawback was that it really made you feel how short the campaign is.
And yet....
As hard as it is to go back to the first Pikmin's engine, there's something that neither of its sequels have recaptured. How much of this is my own nostalgia, I won't quantify right now. But there's something to be said for the "set quantity of treasures, set quantity of time" mechanic. I really enjoyed how Pikmin 3 integrated its plot, but the drawback was that it really made you feel how short the campaign is.
The last Wii U game to make it's way over to switch, and thank god. Pikmin is a Nintendo franchise that I feel never got fair love, because Pikmin 3 on Switch is truly one of the greatest RTS games of the generation. I know when people see RTS they think Starcraft, CnC, ect. But the more I think about Pikmin, the more it fits that RTS bill. And by being cute, low risk, yet still challenging, I think Pikmin is the best gateway into RTS.
Super solid game for anyone who wants to have a fun romp while activating their brain. I continued to play it into the CP2077 release because I just had to finish those last few bonus missions before putting the controller down.
Super solid game for anyone who wants to have a fun romp while activating their brain. I continued to play it into the CP2077 release because I just had to finish those last few bonus missions before putting the controller down.
The improvements made in the switch port are all amazing and improve on what is already the best feeling Pikmin game. Story is short however and the lack of 1080p in a full priced port does hurt it for me.
Pikmin 3 is the natural evolution of the Pikmin series. While there are a few hiccups to long time players, such as the lack of a Pikmin swarming mechanic and the loss of dungeons from Pikmin 2, Pikmin 3 should quickly win both old and new fans over. The control scheme allows for much faster gameplay, easily controlling Pikmin of only a certain color for both throwing and charging. The use of three captains is actually excessive for splitting tasks as the game becomes much harder to monitor three separate squads instead of one or two, though the puzzles that require all three captains are solid.
Pikmin 3's multiplayer features are exceptional. All game modes can be played multiplayer organically thanks to the presence of multiple captains, and this can allow for great fun with friends or family as they explore PNF-404 with Pikmin. Bingo Battle is a highlight of the Pikmin 3 experience, allowing players to go head-to-head to collect treasure, Pikmin, or just try to eliminate the other player. It's a genuinely fun multiplayer mode. The main issue with Pikmin 3 multiplayer is a lack of an online feature, and especially as Pikmin 3 released in troubled times having local only multiplayer may not benefit all players.
The Deluxe version is well worth it for those who have already played or owned Pikmin 3 on the WiiU. The main draw is the new Side Story mode, allowing players to take control of Captain Olimar and Louie as they go through 14 unique missions from the main game. Some of these missions have the duo collect treasure, some involve pulling a certain number of Pikmin, and others have the two escort ship parts around a map. While not a full side game, this mode gives nostalgia for Pikmin 1 and 2, doing a good job at emulating the feel of those games. Deluxe also introduces an achievement system which provides good incentive to explore every aspect of the game. Deluxe also adds Ultra-Spicy Mode, a difficulty that heavily changes how the game plays with shorter days and fewer Pikmin. Pikmin 3 Deluxe is a gorgeous game and a must-play for any hardcore Nintendo fan (assuming they aren't busy breaking down Nintendo's door for Pikmin 4).
Pikmin 3's multiplayer features are exceptional. All game modes can be played multiplayer organically thanks to the presence of multiple captains, and this can allow for great fun with friends or family as they explore PNF-404 with Pikmin. Bingo Battle is a highlight of the Pikmin 3 experience, allowing players to go head-to-head to collect treasure, Pikmin, or just try to eliminate the other player. It's a genuinely fun multiplayer mode. The main issue with Pikmin 3 multiplayer is a lack of an online feature, and especially as Pikmin 3 released in troubled times having local only multiplayer may not benefit all players.
The Deluxe version is well worth it for those who have already played or owned Pikmin 3 on the WiiU. The main draw is the new Side Story mode, allowing players to take control of Captain Olimar and Louie as they go through 14 unique missions from the main game. Some of these missions have the duo collect treasure, some involve pulling a certain number of Pikmin, and others have the two escort ship parts around a map. While not a full side game, this mode gives nostalgia for Pikmin 1 and 2, doing a good job at emulating the feel of those games. Deluxe also introduces an achievement system which provides good incentive to explore every aspect of the game. Deluxe also adds Ultra-Spicy Mode, a difficulty that heavily changes how the game plays with shorter days and fewer Pikmin. Pikmin 3 Deluxe is a gorgeous game and a must-play for any hardcore Nintendo fan (assuming they aren't busy breaking down Nintendo's door for Pikmin 4).
This is the fucking Pikmin ever
Lacks true pointer controls but also doesn't have forced GamePad controls so there's no true definitive version of this game.
A solid Pikmin title.
Have not played the original but it looks to be a good remake.
Have not played the original but it looks to be a good remake.
yo they got the piklopedia
Perfect game. Rerunning the main story over and over is a blast, the Rock Pikmin are amazing. The mission mode is extremely fun. Bingo Battle is the prefect balance of a chaos and calculated strategy. Every gameplay mechanic is so insanely fine tuned to perfection. People say the game is short, which it is but through replaying the main story and the mission mode I've gotten well over 160 hours from it. One of the best games of all time.
Pretty delightful game. Manages to be pretty engaging. Bogged down a bit by excessive dialog and other gameplay interruptions.
Ultra-Spicy difficulty is a blast
THIS GAME IS SO DAMN GOOD, GET IT IF YOU DON’T HAVE IT
I love pikmin so much. The gameplay loop in these games are so satisfying once you figure out how to optimize your days. turning the concept of time management as a central gameplay mechanic is still a fresh concept even after about 20 years of the 1st one being on the market. The series is unlike anything I've played and the 3rd one still manages to make it fresh after all this time by allowing you to play as 3 different leaders, making the game more complex, yet deeper and more rewarding to get daily goals done.
Pikmin is my favorite franchise. There’s nothing quite like it.
Pikmin is the mix between an RTS and an adventure/exploration game. The graphics are great and the creature designs are brilliantly made, looking both alien and yet very familiar.
Every pikmin games puts it’s focus on something different. Pikmin 1 is the funnest for speedrunning and is quite difficult. Pikmin 2 is all about exporation. Pikmin 3 puts a bigger focus on telling a story, and is also very fun to speedrun. Pikmin 3 was the easiest of the 3, but adding difficulty modes is a very good way to get the best of both world.
The levels are brilliantly crafted expansive sandboxes that allow for experimantation and exploration. This games story wraps up nicely and if this ends up being the last pikmin game ever, we couldn’t have asked for a better finaly.
Now woth the story out of the way we can discuss the meaty side-modes.
Missions are fun speedrunning tasks, for these challanges you’ll need to hone your skills to an amazing level if you want to get platinum on every level.
Bingo battle is a hillarious vs mode. 2 people need to fill out their bingo chart collecting all the items/ enemies on it while the other player needs to prevent this from happening while filling out his own chart. This was the best multiplayer experience on the wii u, and is still amazing on the switch.
Amazing game, I recommend this to everyone.
Pikmin is the mix between an RTS and an adventure/exploration game. The graphics are great and the creature designs are brilliantly made, looking both alien and yet very familiar.
Every pikmin games puts it’s focus on something different. Pikmin 1 is the funnest for speedrunning and is quite difficult. Pikmin 2 is all about exporation. Pikmin 3 puts a bigger focus on telling a story, and is also very fun to speedrun. Pikmin 3 was the easiest of the 3, but adding difficulty modes is a very good way to get the best of both world.
The levels are brilliantly crafted expansive sandboxes that allow for experimantation and exploration. This games story wraps up nicely and if this ends up being the last pikmin game ever, we couldn’t have asked for a better finaly.
Now woth the story out of the way we can discuss the meaty side-modes.
Missions are fun speedrunning tasks, for these challanges you’ll need to hone your skills to an amazing level if you want to get platinum on every level.
Bingo battle is a hillarious vs mode. 2 people need to fill out their bingo chart collecting all the items/ enemies on it while the other player needs to prevent this from happening while filling out his own chart. This was the best multiplayer experience on the wii u, and is still amazing on the switch.
Amazing game, I recommend this to everyone.
this might be my favorite game of all time I love everything about it. i am having exceptional trouble with the plasma wraith however
it's both the best Pikmin game and the best WiiU game and I'm so glad that it got the Switch port treatment.
My only problem is that this is not a 60 dollar US game and I think Nintendo needs to stop pricing their rereleases as full price games.
That's it that's my only complaint go play it please I need a Pikman 4.
My only problem is that this is not a 60 dollar US game and I think Nintendo needs to stop pricing their rereleases as full price games.
That's it that's my only complaint go play it please I need a Pikman 4.
It's Pikmin what more can i say?
a decent lot actually,
something about 3 in particular just doesn't sit right with me. It just doesn't quite capture the same charm the original game has. Don't get me wrong, its still pikmin, it's still a damn good game but it just doesn't have the magic of the first 2, and I cant quite pinpoint it.
a decent lot actually,
something about 3 in particular just doesn't sit right with me. It just doesn't quite capture the same charm the original game has. Don't get me wrong, its still pikmin, it's still a damn good game but it just doesn't have the magic of the first 2, and I cant quite pinpoint it.
I just love this game so so much.
Without a doubt the best game in the Pikmin series and one of my all time favorite games of all time. It is pretty short but the game still manages to be amazing in that short amount of time, the new Pikmin are excellent additions to the roster, the maps are really big (though playing the game as much as I did does start to make them feel smaller), the gameplay is fun, the game looks beautiful, and its just a blast to revisit. Not to mention the amount of changes the switch version added, good lord it made the game so much better.
I highly recommend adding this to your collection
I highly recommend adding this to your collection
I didn't know they had alf in this
piklopedia hype
Co-op is an absolute game changer for Pikmin 3, maybe the single best thing they could've added and frankly I'm surprised it wasn't in the original version. I do think it's the weakest of the three main Pikmin games, but I still love it quite a bit. The cast of characters is great and varied, I love their dynamic, but I do miss Olimar and it's a shame that he's primarily a macguffin rather than a character in this one. At least he's got plenty of data files and the new side missions. I think Pikmin 3 mainly suffers from being just a bit short... I was excited to see if the world would open up a bit more when we got blue Pikmin, but you get them so late that they're pretty much just the cleanup crew for a game that's rapidly approaching its conclusion. The final mission was also super tense and fun, so it's a shame that it's actually a normal timed scenario with a typical day-night cycle... really takes you out of the chase when nighttime hits and you just sorta abandon Olimar only to find that he's just miraculously fine the next day. Really should've put the Pikmin 2 cave mechanic in that last level to make it a one day event... maybe that was just too hard to manage for a solo player, requiring it to be done in one attempt.
On a side note, the side content is excellent. Bingo Battle, the mission mode, and the new Olimar storyline... it's amazing how much all of it adds to the overall package. Hell of a game, and to make it even better, the Piklopedia is back! The writing is always so charming and fun in Pikmin, so adding in more of it is absolutely what I wanted out of this port.
On a side note, the side content is excellent. Bingo Battle, the mission mode, and the new Olimar storyline... it's amazing how much all of it adds to the overall package. Hell of a game, and to make it even better, the Piklopedia is back! The writing is always so charming and fun in Pikmin, so adding in more of it is absolutely what I wanted out of this port.
An improved version of the Wii U, most things in this game are changed for the better than it's an excellent experience to play on the go. The extra Olimar side missions are so fun and I just wish there were more of them.
Probably the best pikmin game, the only thing holding me back from bumping this up to 5 stars is the length. Love the new pikmin, love the new focus on plot, hate that as soon as it feels like it starts to get going the campaign ends. So much potential lost by it's 4 hour runtime!
Much like Alph and crew, I too could survive 45 days on nothing but strawberry juice.
Much like Alph and crew, I too could survive 45 days on nothing but strawberry juice.
it's still Pikmin 3, which is an excellent and oft-overlooked game, but there's a bizarre amount of little changes I don't like. The "hard mode" is easier than the Wii U's normal mode, the mission mode features extremely nerfed enemies, and the whistle takes up the ENTIRE SCREEN. Pikmin can be thrown no matter how far behind you they are. The new lock-on system is absolutely broken and trivializes most of the game. All of these so-called quality of life '''''improvements''''' serve no purpose but to make Pikmin 3, a game that was already not very difficult nor very long, an absolute cakewalk. What's the point? Was Pikmin obscure because it was too hard for most people? I doubt it. Maybe because of all the three Pikmin games, they came out originally on the two worst-selling Nintendo consoles in history? Considering that Pikmin 3 Deluxe is now the highest selling game in the series, I'd wager that's why.
So, I should be happy that they've introduced a new super-hard mode, right? Well, the new "ultra spicy" mode doesn't actually make the game harder. For whatever reason, their idea of making a Pikmin game harder was to cut the number of Pikmin in the field from 100 to 60. This absolutely doesn't make the game harder, outside of maybe boss fights, it just limits the amount of multitasking the player can do.
but I mean, I guess it's still Pikmin 3, and on a platform people actually own, so that's cool.
So, I should be happy that they've introduced a new super-hard mode, right? Well, the new "ultra spicy" mode doesn't actually make the game harder. For whatever reason, their idea of making a Pikmin game harder was to cut the number of Pikmin in the field from 100 to 60. This absolutely doesn't make the game harder, outside of maybe boss fights, it just limits the amount of multitasking the player can do.
but I mean, I guess it's still Pikmin 3, and on a platform people actually own, so that's cool.