Pikmin series
The Pikmin series is a video game series owned by Nintendo that focuses on using Pikmin to perform various tasks, such as carrying objects and fighting enemies. It consists of 3 main games, 3 re-releases, 2 spin-off games, and various other media.
Media
Release timeline:
2001 | Pikmin |
2002 | |
2003 | |
2004 | Pikmin 2 |
2005 | |
2006 | |
2007 | |
2008 | New Play Control! Pikmin |
2009 | New Play Control! Pikmin 2 |
2010 | |
2011 | |
2012 | |
2013 | Pikmin 3 |
2014 | |
2015 | |
2016 | |
2017 | Hey! Pikmin |
2018 | |
2019 | |
2020 | Pikmin 3 Deluxe |
2021 | Pikmin Bloom |
2022 | |
2023 | Pikmin 1 (Nintendo Switch) Pikmin 2 (Nintendo Switch) Pikmin 4 |
Main games and re-releases
- Pikmin (GameCube) – Captain Olimar must gather thirty ship parts before his life-support system fails.
- New Play Control! Pikmin – Re-release for the Wii. Notable for introducing motion controls.
- Pikmin 1 (Nintendo Switch) – Re-release for the Nintendo Switch. features updated graphics and sound.
- Pikmin 2 (GameCube) – Olimar and Louie must gather treasures to repay Hocotate Freight's debt.
- New Play Control! Pikmin 2 – Re-release for the Wii. simlar to New Play Control! Pikmin, it features motion controls.
- Pikmin 2 (Nintendo Switch) – Re-release for the Nintendo Switch. Similar to pikmin 1 on Nintendo switch, it features updated graphics and sound.
- Pikmin 3 (Wii U) – Alph, Brittany and Captain Charlie must gather fruits in order to solve Koppai's hunger crisis.
- Pikmin 3 Deluxe – Re-release of pikmin 3 for the Nintendo Switch that adds more content to the base game and features some other minor improvements among other chages.
- Pikmin 4 (Nintendo Switch) – Upcoming title. To release on 7/21/23.
Spin-offs
- Hey! Pikmin (3DS) – Olimar must collect Sparklium via treasures in order to power his ship.
- Pikmin Bloom (Mobile devices) – An augmented-reality walking-themed application.
Secondary media
- The Wii U launch title Nintendo Land has a Pikmin-themed attraction, called Pikmin Adventure.
- The Pikmin Short Movies are a trio of Pikmin animated shorts.
- Pikmin.com SpaceForce was a browser game made to promote Pikmin. In early 2002, it was discontinued and taken offline.
Main characters
- Captain Olimar – main character of the first two games and Hey! Pikmin, and original discoverer of the Pikmin.
- Louie – Olimar's partner during his voyage in Pikmin 2.
- The President – president of Hocotate Freight, the company Olimar works for, and alternate partner in Pikmin 2.
- Alph – one of the explorers in Pikmin 3, the ship's main engineer.
- Brittany – one of the explorers in Pikmin 3, a botanist.
- Captain Charlie – one of the explorers in Pikmin 3, the captain.
Reception and sales
The main three games have been scored well by critics. Pikmin 2 scores generally higher than Pikmin (e.g. scores of 90[1] and 89[2] on review aggregator Metacritic, respectively). Pikmin 3 scores were closer to those of Pikmin 2.[3] Hey! Pikmin received average reviews, with criticism aimed at its simplistic puzzles.[4] The total number of sales for the series is approximately 5.93 million as of March 2021,[5] with the best-selling game in the series being Pikmin 3 Deluxe.
In other games
- Main article: Pikmin in other media.
Elements from the series also play parts in a number of other Nintendo games, most notably Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, in which Olimar is a playable character, and two Pikmin-themed stages appear – Distant Planet and Garden of Hope. There are also multiple soundtracks and trophies.
Pikmin have made cameo appearances in games like WarioWare: Smooth Moves and the Nintendo DSi/3DS software transfer animation, while Pikmin-themed items have appeared in Nintendogs and the Animal Crossing series.
Gallery
See also
External links
- Official website
- Official website (European)
References
- ^ Pikmin 2 on Metacritic
- ^ Pikmin on Metacritic
- ^ Pikmin 3 on Metacritic
- ^ Hey! Pikmin on Metacritic
- ^ Pikmin games search on VGChartz, retrieved on March 22nd, 2021
Games | |
---|---|
Main games | Pikmin • Pikmin 2 • Pikmin 3 • Pikmin 4 |
Spin-off games | Hey! Pikmin • Pikmin Bloom |
Re-releases | New Play Control! Pikmin • New Play Control! Pikmin 2 Pikmin 3 Deluxe • Pikmin 1 (Nintendo Switch) • Pikmin 2 (Nintendo Switch) |
Web games | Pikmin.com SpaceForce • Pikmin Treasure Hunt • Pikmin Finder |
Super Smash Bros. series | Brawl • for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U • Ultimate |
Others | Pikmin Adventure (Nintendo Land) • Stage Debut |