Editing The Distant Spring

'''The Distant Spring''' ({{j|大水源|Dai suigen|Big Spring}}) is the fourth [[area]] in {{p1}}. It is set in a vast wetland, with sandy and grassy terrain, many lakes and islands, and several hollow tree stumps. It contains 10 [[ship part]]s and is unlocked by collecting 12 ship parts in the previous areas. The [[Enemy|enemies]] in this area are challenging and are often found in [[water]], with several [[Spotty Bulbear]]s, [[Water Dumple]]s, and [[Yellow Wollyhop]]s. This area was re-used in {{p2}} as the [[Perplexing Pool]].

An optional boss, the [[Smoky Progg]], can be fought if this area is visited before the 15th day. While one of the most dangerous enemies in the game, defeating it will grant a pearl that can be turned into 100 Pikmin at an Onion, the most out of any enemy.

In the main story mode, the area is laid out with Spotty Bulbears, Dwarf Bulbears, [[Yellow Wollywog]]s, and Water Dumples. After day 4, two [[Swooping Snitchbug]]s survey the area, looking for Pikmin to capture and throw into the ground.

In Challenge Mode, [[Bulborb|Spotty Bulborb]]s are found all over the land area, instead of Spotty Bulbears. [[Pearly Clamclamp]]s are also found in different locations, and two [[Puffstool]]s walk around in different areas.

*{{icon|Puffy Blowhog|y}} × 4 (one only appears starting day 5; the one carrying [[Interstellar Radio]] and the one by the Blue Onion never return when defeated; if not defeated, the one next to the landing site will disappear after day 15)

*{{icon|Spotty Bulbear|y}} × 6 (only the one by the yellow 10-pellet and the one by Massage Machine return when killed; the one closest to the landing site will disappear after day 15 if not killed before then)

The Distant Spring is the hardest stage in [[Challenge Mode (Pikmin)|Challenge Mode]], giving the player 18 minutes and 54 seconds to reach a maximum score of 752 Pikmin. The maximum score is extremely difficult to reach, due to the large number of dangerous [[Enemy|enemies]] compared to the other Challenge Mode stages, and the fact that most enemies drop randomly-colored [[pellet]]s which have to be carried to the right [[Onion]] to get the most Pikmin. The maximum score has never been reached by a human in the GameCube and Wii versions, and has only been done as a [[tool-assisted superplay]].{{cite youtube|_p1wH5CkmkM|of a tool-assisted superplay of The Distant Spring in Challenge Mode in which 752 points are reached}} Due to the much lower frequency of the [[Glitches in Pikmin#Crushing glitch|crushing glitch]] in the [[Pikmin 1 (Nintendo Switch)|Nintendo Switch port]] making enemies much less threatening, the challenge is significantly more feasible and has been successfully been done by a human.{{cite youtube|R_8yqJhVTI4|of the first The Distant Spring Challenge Mode attempt by a human to reach 752 points}}

DS texture.png|The [[radar]] pattern of The Distant Spring.

The Distant Spring P1S map.png|The radar pattern of The Distant Spring in [[Pikmin 1 (Nintendo Switch)|the Nintendo Switch version of ''Pikmin 1'']].

*The [[enemy reel]] in the Gamecube and Wii versions shows The Distant Spring having different enemies, ship parts, and being more plain, without the hollow tree stumps. This is most likely a [[Pikmin prerelease information|prototype version]] leftover.