Pikmin 3

Pikmin 3
File:Pikmin3Boxart.png
Pikmin 3
Console	Wii U
Developer	Nintendo EAD
Publisher	Nintendo
Genre	RTS
Players	{{{players}}}
Release date
Japan	N/A
North America	N/A
Europe	N/A
Australia	N/A
South Korea	N/A

Pikmin 3 is the upcoming third installment in the Pikmin franchise. It will be released on the Nintendo Wii U console on July 13th for Japan, August 4th for America, and July 26th in Europe. It is the first original entry in the Pikmin franchise in 9 years, since the original release of Pikmin 2 on the Gamecube in 2004.

Plot

File:3 Leaders.jpg

The three leaders we have seen so far in-game.

The planet of Koppai is facing an inevitable doomsday due to a lack of sustenance. Because of this, a Captain named Charlie, a girl named Brittany, and a young boy named Alph, have departed their homeworld in search of a reliable food source.

Due to an accident, the trio crash lands on a familiar planet, where they meet the Pikmin creatures. After a reunion, Brittany calculates the planet is covered with fruit. However, because the fruit are gigantic compared to them, the 3 explorers must rely on the Pikmin to help them retreive the gargantuan fruit and take them to their ship, which will convert the fruit into various types of juices for them to use as food, while the seeds are stored to be brought back to Koppai in hopes of ending the food crisis.

Gameplay

While Pikmin 3 will contain many elements that have already composed the Pikmin series, it will also be introducing some new, complex mechanics that make it stand out from its predecessors:

Pikmin 3 will give a complete overhaul to the series' battle mechanics; rather than simply throwing Pikmin at targets, the player must analyze a target and determine exactly how it should be brought down. For example, some walls will be more easily broken if Pikmin attack them from the top and work their way down, and some enemies may react differently if attacked in sensitive areas, such as their eyes. Also, the throwing cursor's throwing path is always visible, and changes length and color depending on which type of Pikmin will throw next. Next to the cursor is a small number which counts the ammount of pikmin of that color left in the captain's group. To accompany this feature, rather than a single bubble displaying what pikmin type will be thrown next, 3 bubbles will be shown at a time, showing the next 3 pikmin types in the order they will be thrown, and how many of each are present.

Pikmin 3's graphical design will be much more realistic thanks to the enhanced resolution and processing power of the Wii U console, and will also sport a slight exaggeration to character designs. Unlike in the past games, the Pikmin will be slightly larger and each one is capable of moving independently, making them feel like a realistic swarm rather than an organized group that marches simutaneously, as in the past 2 games.

Another feature that has been changed is the Fraction System; in Pikmin 3, the fractions over an item when it's being carried (such as 3/6 for a Snow Bulborb) is now switched so that the number of Pikmin carrying an item goes on top (so it would now be 6/3). 

In addition to these, several new actions can now be performed by captains, such as a move which will cause them and their pikmin swarm to quickly drop and roll side-to-side, which can be used to quickly evade danger, such as falling objects or stampeding animals.

Another new action is one that can be used with the Gamepad (referred to ingame as the KopPad); players can use the touch screen to move the camera into a bird's-eye veiw to see the game world. (to prevent cheating, only currently-explored areas are made visible). During this action, the game is automatically paused, and can then be unpaused to see the world in real time. This action allows for supervising multiple groups of pikmin preforming different tasks. Also, using this action, the player can plan routes for captains to automatically follow, where they will be able to preform tasks while another captain is manually controlled.

Also, unlike in the past 2 games, where the characters were mostly silent, Pikmin 3's characters will be able to speak in real time, to both themselves and each other. (Their voice acting is composed of gibberish rather than an actual cohesive language.) 

File:Gamepad.jpg

The Wii U gamepad as the map screen.

Controls

Pikmin 3 will feature a total of 5 different control schemes.

Wii U Gamepad+TV

With this control scheme, the player can play the game using the gamepad as a controller while using the TV for the game's display. This control scheme will allow the player to play in a similar fashion to the original Gamecube port of the first game. The HUD will be displayed on the Gamepad's screen.

Wii U Pro Controller

The Wii U Pro Controller will allow for a more "traditional" feel to controlling the game. It will work the same way as the Gamepad + TV scheme, but the HUD will be displayed on the TV. It will play similar to the GameCube controller from the GCN versions of Pikmin 1 and 2.

Wii Remote Plus+Nunchuk+Gamepad

This control scheme uses the Wii Remote Plus and Nunchuck for motion controls, while the HUD and overhead map is displayed on the Gamepad's screen. In this scheme, the gamepad acts as a monitor that the player can configure and utilize to better accomodate themselves with the game's areas.

Wii Remote Plus+Nunchuck

The game's main controls use the Wii Remote Plus and Nunchuck. The Wii U Gamepad will always display a full overhead map and a HUD, allowing for a less-cluttered screen. Using the precise movements of the Wii Remote Plus, the cursor can be aimed specifically at enemy's weak points.

Wii U Gamepad

The game can also be played entirely off-screen using only the Wii U GamePad. Using this control scheme, the game can be played in a more mobile, wireless form. The left analog stick can be used to walk while the right one will move the cursor, which will make the gameplay similar to the original Gamecube ports of the first 2 games. Captains can easily be switched around by using the touch screen on the GamePad.

Miiverse Support

Like all Wii U Software, Pikmin 3 will have a Community for Nintendo Network Users to make posts about the game. All users can make posts, even those who don't own the game.

Using the KopPad, it is possible to take highly-detailed pictures from the perspective of a Pikmin using the Wii U GamePad. You can then share your pictures over Nintendo's Miiverse service, on the Pikmin 3 Community.

New Pikmin

The new Pikmin features in Pikmin 3 have lavender-colored flowers, and are unique in the sense that they are named after their abilities and appearance, rather than their color. Currently, two new Pikmin types have been confirmed.

• Rock Pikmin- Grey Pikmin that take on the form of small polished pebbles, rather than plants. Their rock-hard bodies allow them to smash through glass, crystals, ice, and the carapaces of large creatures. These Pikmin can also survive crushing attacks like boulders fromArmored Cannon Beetle Larva, Crystal Nodules that Skutterchucks throw and presumably more.

• Winged Pikmin- Small, pink, bee-like Pikmin that fly with small, white wings. They can fly over hazards such as water and pits, and can carry items in the air. They are notably smaller than all other known Pikmin types. 

Nintendo E3 Presentation

File:Wii U - Pikmin 3 E3 Trailer

Pikmin 3 E3 Trailer.

File:Pikmin 3 - E3 2012 Gameplay Presentation & Trailer HD

Pikmin 3 Demonstration

Pikmin 3 was the very first game Nintendo presented at E3 on June 5th, 2012.

Trivia

• The music in Pikmin 3's E3 2012 trailer is a remix of the world map theme from Pikmin 2.
• Originally, the "3" in the game's logo was lavender, much like the color of the flowers seen on the Winged and Rock Pikmin. However, in Janurary 2013, the logo was changed to have orange flowers compose the "3". It is unknown whether this means a new type of pikmin or is for some other reason. 

Gallery

• Pikmin 3 characters.png

  The three new Captains, as well as an unknown Captain.

• Pikmin 3 Japan Art.png

  An expanded image from Pikmin 3's box art, shown on the Japanese Nintendo website.

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  The map of the playable area in the E3 demo.

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  Artwork of the game.

• WiiU Pikmin3 1 illu01 E3.png

  More artwork.

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  Old logo for the game.

• Pikmin 3 logo (red).png

  The game's logo.

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  European box.

• Pikmin3Boxart.png

  American Box.

• Pikmin 3 1.png

  The three main playable Captains featured in Pikmin 3.

References

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