Pikminis one of Nintendo’s most often overlooked IPs, but with the success ofPikmin 4, that may be beginning to change. Despite the failure of the series’ first spin-off title, Nintendo shouldn’t be afraid to take new chances with thePikminfranchise.
ThePikminseries debuted later than most of Nintendo’s popular titles. WhileMario,Zelda, andMetroidwere among the first major successes for the company,Pikminwouldn’t surface until the GameCube era in 2001. Despite its late arrival on the scene though,Pikminhas gradually become accepted among the company’s most loved IPs, and with good reason. Despite there only being6Pikmingames, fans praise the series for its unique spin on classic genres and innovative design choices. The only low point in the franchise’s history might be the release ofHey! Pikminon the 3DS, the first of the series’ two spin-off games. At the time, fans knewPikmin 4was in the works, so they were upset that the next entry in the series wasn’t the highly awaited mainline game. But years later, it seems that Nintendo may be ready to take another stab at givingPikminmore time in the spotlight.
Pikmin 4 Gives Nintendo the Green Light for Spin-Offs
With well over a year since the release ofPikmin 4, some are beginning to wonder what may be next. Their answer may have come in the form of a leak from industry insider, Nash Weedle.According to Weedle’s leak, a newPikminSpin-off is in the worksafter the success ofPikmin 4. While this is unconfirmed, it may not be a bad decision for the future of the IP.Hey! Pikmin, though unappreciated upon release, is looked back on as a fun experiment in changing the gameplay formula of thePikminseries.Pikmin Bloom, the mobile spin-off, did the same, and has seen a sizable player base. Nintendo’s president, Shuntaro Furukawa, has even stated that he seesPikminas a ‘flagship IP’ for Nintendo, signaling that it may see more attention in the future.
Nash Weedle’s leak also came with some unexpected news though. If true, it appears that the upcoming spin-off may change the series’ formula in not only gameplay style, but art style as well. While the series’ art has evolved over time due to improvements in graphical capabilities, its general style has always remained consistent. There hasn’t been any word about how the appearance would change, butany alteration toPikmin’s design is unusual.
This begs the question of what this new spin-off might be like tonally if the design team feels that the original art style doesn’t fit. Nintendo has had success with art style changes, notably changingThe Legend of Zelda’s realistic style into the toon style on occasion. This works because the toon-styled games are generally more lighthearted than the realistic ones. If thePikminformula is changing, the art style alteration may be a reflection of that change. After all, no series grows if it stays the same, soa change-up forPikminmight be a good thing.
What Could a New Pikmin Game Be Like?
Although there aren’t many, the twoPikminspin-offs share several qualities. The major one is that they both took on gameplay styles that are different from the source material.Hey! Pikminturned the series into a side-scrolling puzzle/platformer, keeping the essence of controllingPikminto help the explorer, but altering the way in which the player and their Pikmin move.Pikmin Bloomis an AR walking gamein the style ofPokemon GO. The app encourages players to explore their surroundings to find Pikmin in the ‘real world.’
“Nintendo’s president, Shuntaro Furukawa, has even stated that he sees Pikmin as a ‘flagship IP’ for Nintendo, signaling that it may see more attention in the future.”
All three forms ofPikmingames seem to have one core element that remains the same. The importance of exploring the world around the player feels very important in all instances. The mainlinePikmingames takea strategy approach to gameplay, something Nintendo excels at,Hey! Pikminhas a stronger puzzle emphasis, andPikmin Bloomencourages exercise, but they all flavor the experience by encouraging players to explore. Whatever the new potential spin-off may be, whatever it may look like, it’s incredibly likely that the nextPikmingame will also ask players to uncover their surroundings, likely in a brand-new way.
Pikmin 4
WHERE TO PLAY
Guide pint-sized creatures in an endearing expedition! Meet Pikmin: small, plantlike creatures with distinct abilities that you can grow, pluck, guide, and overpower enemies with! Use your Pikmin’s miniature might (and a bit of strategy) to explore this mysterious planet in search of your crew—and treasure.Lead your loyal and curious squad To succeed, you’ll have to balance caring for the Pikmin with leading them into dangerous situations. Do your best out there!Pikmin grow from pellets and wildlife that you can bring to your ship. Pluck them from the ground to have them join you. Go team!Lead your squad through vast explorable areas to find treasures, discover new paths, and battle enemies of all sizes. You can also direct the Pikmin to collect and carry resources that are helpful for your mission. Up to three Pikmin types can be with you in the field at a time—the rest will hang back until you need them.When their task is done, the Pikmin will wait in place for you. Get close and blow your whistle to summon them to your side! This handy action can also help you protect the Pikmin from danger, do a headcount, or simply bring them with you to your next task.
