Editing Camera

{{game icons|p=y|p2=y|p3=y|p4=y|hp=y}}

During normal gameplay, the camera is above ground level, pointing down, but some [[cutscene]]s move the camera automatically, as well as some tutorials and cinematic routes in ''[[Pikmin 3]]'', such as the pathway leading up to a [[boss]]. Some [[segment]]s and levels play out on a fully 2D view, with the camera at ground level to the side of the action. Thus is the case of the [[seesaw block]] segment on the [[Garden of Hope]]. In ''Pikmin 3'', the camera may also move up if there is an obstruction in the way blocking the view, like a [[plant]], and when it needs to show a different segment of the area when switching leaders, it first fades out from the current one and then fades in on the new area; this process pauses the game slightly.{{cite youtube|wvme1KlOmE0|showing how the game pauses briefly when the camera changes area sections}}

[[File:Pikmin 2 ground camera.jpg|thumb|The camera at ground-level in ''Pikmin 2''.]]

{{button|gc|l|wii|z|switch|zl}} can be used to rotate the camera sideways. When fully pressed, the camera faces the direction of the [[HUD#Cursor|cursor]] in the GameCube games, and the direction of the [[leader]] in the Wii and Switch games. If the button is lightly or fully pressed, {{button|gc|stick|wii|stick|switch|lstick}} can also be used to rotate the camera manually. In order to rotate the camera without moving the leader, {{button|gc|stick|wii|stick|switch|lstick}} can be only partially tilted. The Switch ports also adds {{button|switch|rsticklr}} to rotate the camera without {{button|switch|zl}}.  

By pressing/tilting {{button|gc|z|wii|padu|switch|rstickud}}, the camera toggles between a 3/4 view and a top-down view. The former is preferred when the player wants to see more of what is ahead, whereas the latter is useful when there are several walls in the way.

Pressing {{button|gc|r|wii|padlr|switch|zr}} causes the camera to toggle between the three available zoom values. The closest zoom value places the camera at roughly half of the regular distance from the leader, while the farthest zoom level places it at roughly twice the distance. When the button is pressed, the camera toggles happen in the following order: normal, far, close. For the first 100 [[pluck]]ed Pikmin in ''[[Pikmin (game)|Pikmin]]'', the camera temporarily switches to the zoomed in value whenever Captain Olimar is plucking them, and stays that way for a few seconds, before returning to the previous value.

In ''Pikmin 2'', {{button|gc|r|wii|padlr|switch|zr}} can be held down to make the camera switch to a ground level of altitude, after a second. This camera mode allows the player to see a lot of what is ahead, but not much of what is behind. Because of the new cursor in ''[[New Play Control! Pikmin 2]]'', the player can call Pikmin from any place where the cursor can point on the screen. This means that, if the player uses this camera feature, they can whistle Pikmin from much farther away than normally possible. If the Pikmin are too far away to remain in the party, they will walk towards the leader when whistled, but instantly become idle when the whistle ends. The other leader, if whistled, will attempt to come to the current leader, and will only give up if he finds an obstacle.

The camera's state has a direct impact on some gameplay mechanics. During normal play, the camera's angle decides which direction the [[leader]] or [[swarm|group]] will move to when the corresponding controls are used, in that holding "up" will move to the direction the camera is facing. The exception to this is in ''Pikmin 3'', when the camera is rotated manually while a leader is moving, because the leader will continue going in the same direction until the control stick is released or held in a different direction.

In {{npcp1}}, {{npcp2}}, ''Pikmin 3'', and ''Pikmin 4'', if a leader or Oatchi is behind the area's geometry or an object, from the camera's perspective, their obscured parts will be drawn as a solid silhouette, so the player can tell that the leader is behind that. Each leader's silhouette matches the leader's main color, like red for [[Captain Olimar]], cyan for [[Alph]], etc. Pikmin do not have this silhouette. Additionally, when riding on Oatchi's back with pikmin, the pikmin do not show up in the silhouette, making it seem like the player is riding without any.

===Room transitions===

In {{p3}}, when the player's current leader finishes transitioning from one [[segment]] to another, the camera will be facing the leader from the front at a high angle and slightly to the side. After a brief moment, it quickly moves to end up behind the leader like in normal gameplay – this happens when the leader stop moving forward by themselves and the player regains control. This camera movement happens in most room transitions, unless the room has a fixed camera or an obstruction that would prevent a good view from the front or back. When the current leader is moving with [[Go Here!]], this camera movement will not happen. In {{p3d}}, almost all camera movement in room transitions is removed, and the camera will be behind the leaders from the beginning in those cases.