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, July 26th in Europe, and July 27th in Australia. New elements to the series include 2 new Pikmin types, the ability to throw captains, and using 3 captains at a time. 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

Warning: The Text here is roughly translated from the Japanese Pikmin 3 website and may not be entirely accurate.

Before I crash-landed on this planet...
Year 20XX on the astrometric calendar. In the end of the space, (planet Koppai) is facing a serious food crisis caused by explosive population growth and the unplanned temperament of inhabitants. To find a planet with food, I launched an unmanned space probe and discovered a promising planet (PNF-404). I and two other experts were sent in to investigate deeper, but we had an accident, and made an emergency landing in (PNF-404)....

Charlie is in a silver world...
Charlie awoke in a snow-filled landscape. He started looking for Alph and Brittany, but found something else...

Alph wakes up in the water...
I met a mysterious creature. After recovering the communication terminal (GPAD), I continued searching the planet alone...

Where's Brittany...!?
Brittany calls for Alph's help through his communication terminal (GPAD). She seems to be in some remote area...

Will the captains reunite, and what's the fate of planet Koppai?

The story will also tell of how Alph, Britanny, and Charlie somehow get involved with Olimar.^[1]

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.)

Another new feature is Scanning. The player can press Z on the Wii Remote and Nunchuck to scan an object the name of the object will appear. By shaking the Nunchuck, the Pikmin will swarm the object.

Challenge Mode and Bingo Battle Mode

Main Article: Mission Mode:

In Pikmin 3, Challenge Mode now called Mission Mode, which features three modes to play: Collect the Fruit, Battle Enemies, and Defeat Bosses. Each challenge is 7-10 minutes long and provides the player with a set number of Pikmin.

Main Article: Bingo Battle:

Bingo Battle mode is Pikmin 3's version of the 2-P Battle Mode from Pikmin 2. In this mode, Two players, who play as Alph and Olimar, are each given a bingo card filled with enemies, fruit, and marbles. The players must strategically find ways to not only collect the items needed to make a bingo, but also to ensure their opponent cannot win.

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.^[2] Captains can easily be switched around by using the touch screen on the GamePad.^[3]

Miiverse Support
File:Spec ico.jpg

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 mor

e.

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 type.

Nintendo E3 Presentations and Trailers

E3 2012 Trailer Presentation

File:Wii U - Pikmin 3 E3 Trailer

Pikmin 3 E3 Trailer.

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

Pikmin 3 Demonstration

E3 2013 Trailer Developer Direct

File:Pikmin 3 Developer Direct

File:E3 2013 Trailer

Trivia

The music in Pikmin 3's E3 2012 trailer is a remix of the main theme of Pikmin.
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", much like the Pikmin's flowers when under the effect of the Ultra Spicy Spray.