Pikmin 3 Deluxe Review

At this point, almost four years into the Switch’s life cycle, Nintendo has repackaged almost all of the Wii U’s most notable games for the system’s successor, with only a handful of leftovers making the jump. Pikmin 3 is the recent Wii U gem to be dusted off and repurposed for Switch, and like other “luxury” offerings, it’s coming to the hybrid console with all of its original DLC and new content-in this matter, a handful of additional missions featuring series stalwarts Olimar and Louie-making it the final version of the Wii U console to be

Although the side story missions are the main selling point, Pikmin 3 also received many other improvements during the Switch switch. There are new difficulty options, a hint system that helpfully points wayward players in the right direction and other additions such as badges – unlockable achievements that are awarded after completing certain tasks or reaching certain milestones. These pinches and drops do not radically change the experience of returning players, but they help to make the game more welcoming for beginners, especially those who may not yet be familiar with the series.

Even without spectacular retouching, Pikmin 3 remains as attractive as it was more than seven years ago, thanks to its wonderfully idiosyncratic mix of strategy and adventure. At the heart of the package is the story mode, which-just like in previous games – begins with an emergency landing. This time you take control of three new explorers named Alph, Brittany and Charlie, who embark on an expedition through the cosmos in search of food for their hungry planet. Along the way, your spaceship is hit by a meteor that crushes the crew on the planet Pikmin, and it’s up to you to gather the explorers, master the harmful of the planet and get enough food to save your homeworld.

The next adventure follows the same rhythm as the previous Pikmin games. They land on the planet’s surface at the starting of each day and spend the next 15 minutes collecting treasures from the environment and returning their Pikmin to the base before sunset and the return of the crew to orbital safety. The astronauts you command in Pikmin 3 are largely powerless in themselves; to complete each task, you must rely on your Pikmin, and this is where the game’s strategy elements appear. Like its predecessors, Pikmin 3 is a game that essentially consists of managing units. You have to build a Pikmin army and use your ability to achieve your goals.

Each Pikmin variety has its own unique characteristics that make it suitable for certain situations. The Red Pikmin, for example, are resistant to fire and fierce fighters, while the rock Pikmin – one of the two new races presented here – are more robust and can break crystals. Although Pikmin are supposed to be plants, they are more like ants; only one is powerless against the other fauna of the planet, but in sufficient numbers they can defeat predators several times, overcome environmental obstacles and bring fruits and other treasures back to the camp.

Although the general framework of the series remains unchanged, Pikmin 3 finds a middle ground between the rushed tension of the original Pikmin and the quieter pace of its sequel. Just like in the first title, you can’t explore the planet indefinitely in Pikmin 3. The duration of your trip is determined by your food supply. The crew uses a bottle of juice at the end of each day, so you should always have at least one Ration on hand to continue your expedition.

Fortunately, there are a lot of fruits. You’ll find strawberries, plums and other oversized delights all over the world, and every morsel you find is turned into juice, making it easy to build up an abundant supply and give you more than enough time to explore. Some of these fruits will be waiting for you in sight, but most of them require a little ingenuity to reach them, and this is where the joy of Pikmin 3’s game systems is most felt. To find the fruits, you must explore the environment with the ability at your disposal, with more open areas as you discover new species of Pikmin. There is a feeling of progress towards the fast Metroid adventure. For example, in one of the first levels, you will discover a fragile fruit or a door out of reach of a river, which will encourage you to come back after after acquiring the funds to access it. There is also a comfortable promenade to explore; as you progress through the levels, you will discover and create shortcuts that offer a more efficient path to your base that is worth it all the time.

The challenge and joy of the game is to plan your goals and use the Pikmin in the best possible way. Multitasking is essential in Pikmin 3, especially after having gathered the entire crew and having the opportunity to switch spontaneously between the three explorers. The feeling of accomplishment that you get by dividing your troops and collecting several pieces of fruit from different corners of the map in a single day is extremely satisfying. This emphasis on multitasking also makes the newly added ability to play the story mode cooperatively a pleasure, as you can divide and complete tasks much more efficiently if a second player controls one of the other captains-although, like the other modes in Pikmin 3, this is limited to local play, which limits its usefulness.