Pikmin 3 prerelease information
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Pikmin 3, like other games, went through several iterations that never made it to the public. Some of these had content that was changed or removed for the final release. In addition, there is unused content inside the disc that also hints at what type of content was meant to be in the final release, at one point.
Characters and Pikmin
Character D
There was one character that never made it into the game in any footage whatsoever, and was scrapped early in development. He was showed off at E3 2012 in a bit of concept art, and all that was underneath him was the letter "D". With an interview with Shigeru Miyamoto[source needed], he stated that there were three leaders playable in the game, suggesting Character D was scrapped early on, since he was never shown in any footage. Since Alph, Brittany, and Charlie all had the first letter of their name under their art at E3 2012, it is speculated by fans that the character's final name was meant to be Drake, but this name was eventually moved to the game's ship, the S.S. Drake. A possible reason for the scrap could've been due to the fact that controlling and switching between four leaders would have been considered too chaotic.
Alph
In a prototype version, Alph had smaller eyes and pupils.
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Alph on an early bridge. His small eyes can be seen easily here.
Brittany
In a prototype version, Brittany's suit was yellow, both in-game and on concept art. In the final version, her suit was changed to pink. Her original concept art also lacked glasses, which she has in the final game.
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Early concept art of Brittany, showed off at E3 2012.
Brittany in her yellow suit in a prototype version of the game.
Different image of the prototype Brittany.
The full concept art piece.
The final version of Brittany.
Rock Pikmin
In the earliest footage shown of Pikmin 3, Rock Pikmin had a slightly different appearance, with slightly darker coloration and dark-colored limbs. They also made different sounds that sounded like lower-pitched versions of common Pikmin sounds. Each Rock Pikmin was also shaped slightly differently (e.g. some were shorter but wider). This made them seem more like real rocks, but the feature was eventually removed in the final game. Also something to note, Rock Pikmin in the E3 demo have blue bulbs on their heads, instead of purple like the final game.
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The original concept art for Rock Pikmin.
The Rock Pikmin's final look.
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Rock Pikmin in the E3 2012 demo. Some are shaped differently.
Enemies
- Main article: Unused content in Pikmin 3.
There are unused files inside the game for a handful of enemies, both new and returning. These got removed for reasons unknown.
- An unknown purple leech-like enemy.
- A version of the Wollywog with a crystal on its stomach. It is possible that it would've stomped with its crystal, and only Rock Pikmin could destroy it.
- A version of the Beady Long Legs with its round head replaced with a foot. It likely would've stomped with its head as well.
- A version of the Male Sheargrub that is rounder.
- An alternate-colored Ravenous Whiskerpillar.
- The Honeywisp.
- The Emperor Bulblax.
- The Wollywog.
- The Breadbug.
- Several Armored Cannon Larva variants.
Moreover, while in the final version, a Whiptongue Bulborb releases any Pikmin caught in its tongue if it's hit in the eye, in an early version of the game, it would eat the Pikmin before shaking.
Mechanics
Lock-on
In an early build of the game, the lock-on feature would cause the camera to enter a tilt-shift mode to focus only on the creature, which would be highlighted in blue. The name of said creature was then displayed in simple blue text above it. This was greatly changed for the final game, which displays the name in a box in the lower right corner. This name is surrounded by Koppaite text stating "Space library lite", "Simple dictionary in the PIPAD", "Just has the names". With the update released on May 29th, 2014, the lock-on mechanic featured two new images on the left side of the screen. One shows which control makes the Pikmin charge, and the other shows how to cancel the lock-on.
The prototype version of the lock-on mechanic on a Skitter Leaf.
The same prototype version, but on a Skutterchuck.
The lock-on interface in the final game.
Whistle
Originally, the whistle in Pikmin 3 had a smaller radius than in the past two games, and lasted for a shorter length of time. This was later changed to be slightly larger and longer, and included the ability for the whistle to call Winged Pikmin by raising off the floor after fully expanding to create a cylindrical beam of light.
Throwing leaders
In the early footage shown of the game, the leaders were first shown to have the ability to toss one another to access new locations. At this point in development, the leaders were thrown much higher than they are in the final game. This change was most likely made to rid the game of some areas where players could easily break the barriers.
Others
- While in the final version, a Whiptongue Bulborb releases any Pikmin caught in its tongue if it is hit in the eye, in the E3 trailer of the game, it is seen eating the Pikmin before flinching.
Stats
- In the 2012 demo of Pikmin 3, the Insect Condo was shown as one of the fruits returning from Pikmin 2. In this footage, it required only 8 Pikmin to carry it, as opposed to the 10 required in the final game.
- In the E3 2012 demo, the Medusal Slurker required 7 Pikmin to carry, while in the final game, it can be carried by 6.
- In the E3 2012 demo, the Whiptongue Bulborb required 10 Pikmin to carry, while in the final game, it needs 12 Pikmin.
Names
- In the 2012 demo for Pikmin 3, the Golden Sunseed was referred to as the "Combustion Berry", sharing the same name as a fruit treasure that appeared in Pikmin 2.
- In early footage, the Pyroclasmic Slooch was one of the first new enemies revealed, and its name was instead "Pyroplasmic Slooch", a one letter difference from its current name.
Areas and missions
One early screenshot of the game shows the snow pile with an iron ball that resembles the President. On top of this pile lies a Cupid's Grenade that is not in this location in the final game. It is likely that the Cupid's Grenade behind the sculpture is where this one was moved, as it is the closest to the earlier location.
In the Nintendo Direct on April 17th, 2013, it's possible to see a Swooping Snitchbug in the Tropical Wilds. In the final game, the Swooping Snitchbug is placed somewhere else in the map, and in this part of the area, a Red Bulborb and three Dwarf Red Bulborbs appear after day 1.
It should also be noted that some Mission Mode areas contained certain types of Pikmin that are no longer available in these maps today.
The Cupid's Grenade in a different place.
The early location of the Swooping Snitchbug in the Tropical Wilds.
In the final version of the Twilight Hollow, the Sunseed Berry is located elsewhere and the pile of Nuggets in the right corner of the screenshot is absent (there is an egg instead).
The Citrus Lump is replaced by a Face Wrinkler in the final version. Also, it's not possible to get Red Pikmin, Yellow Pikmin or White Pikmin in the final version of the area.
In the final version, there is no Blue Pikmin. Instead, it's possible to find Winged Pikmin in this place. Also, the Cupid's Grenades are replaced by a Golden Sunseed in the final version.
These Winged Pikmin are located elsewhere in the final version. They are replaced by a group of buried Purple Pikmin instead.
There is no Dwarf Red Bulborb here in the final version of the Shaded Garden.
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An early version of the Tropical Forest showing that it was possible to get Red, Yellow and Blue Pikmin in the area, which is not possible in the final version.
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Desiccated Skitter Leafs are shown here in the Tropical Forest, but in the final game, this area is home to Pyroclasmic Slooches.
Audio
- The idea for a different end of day theme depending on how profitable the day was, like in Pikmin 2, might have been considered seeing as how there are unused files for a "happy" and a "sad" version of the Pikmin 3 song.
Other changes
Title screen
In an early version of the title screen, the logo contained a "3" made of violet flowers, to resemble the flowers of the Rock and Winged Pikmin. In the final game, these flowers were changed to orange, possibly to represent ultra-spicy spray. In addition, the earliest footage of the game showed that it was originally much dimmer than the final version, although this was possibly due to the fact that the lighting engine wasn't complete at the time it was shown.
Pikmin 3's original logo and darker setting.
Pikmin 3's final logo and more lit-up design.
Crystals
In the earliest footage of Pikmin 3, crystals were much more opaque. In the final game, they were changed to be completely transparent.
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Crystals, as they looked in the game's early production.
Crystals, as they appear in the final game.
HUD elements
- In the Nintendo Direct on May 17th, 2013, the juice counter was seen for the first time. However, unlike the final version, which has an orange colored juice in the bottle, this version has a silver colored juice.
- In the May 17th, 2013 Nintendo Direct, the pause menu was shown. The last option says "To Ship's Log", which was later changed to "To Earlier Day" in the final game. In addition, the menu received some minor appearance tweaks, mostly on the "
Back" label. - In the first trailer of Pikmin 3, it's possible to see the early design used for the Mission Mode timer. The figures used for it look a bit different and they are in a blue rectangle, in the final version.
- It's possible to see a previous version of the Collect Treasure! counter in the E3 2012 trailer of Pikmin 3. The design of the medals and figures look a bit different from that of the final version.
- In the E3 2012 trailer, it's possible to see an early version of the Pikmin counter.
The juice counter in an early version.
The juice counter in the final game.
The pause menu in an early version.
The pause menu in the final game.
A screenshot showing the timer used in a previous version of Pikmin 3.
The final timer.
A screenshot showing the Collect Treasure! counter as it appeared in a previous version of Pikmin 3.
The final counter.
The early version of the Pikmin counter used in Pikmin 3.
The current Pikmin counter used in Pikmin 3.
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In the final game, there is no "Day 1" icon in the part where the player plays with Captain Charlie.
There is also gameplay of an unknown build of the game that takes place in Tropical Forest, but the HUD's positioning is different from anything in the final game or other demos of Pikmin 3. Particularly: the health meter for the current leader is next to the left edge of the screen, a bit above the center, and the Pikmin counter is at the bottom of the screen, centered horizontally. There is one recorded image of the gameplay, but it's not clear if this is single-player gameplay, or if it is the left screen in co-op mode.
Locking-on to the Face Wrinkler in a version of the game with a different Mission Mode HUD.
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Appearance changes
- In an earlier versions, bridges shards were a different shade of blue.
See also
| Prerelease information | |
|---|---|
| General info | Pikmin • Pikmin 2 • Pikmin 3 • Pikmin 4 • Hey! Pikmin |
| Unused content | Pikmin • Pikmin 2 • Pikmin 3 • Pikmin 4 • Hey! Pikmin |
| Unreleased games | Adam and Eve • Patent US7762893 • Stage Debut |