Throughout Pikmin 3, there are pieces of text written in Koppaite. The language used consists of unique symbols which, together, form words. A parallel between it and the English language can easily be made, given that characters in Koppaite can be mapped to Latin letters, and with that, a direct English message can be obtained. Although largely original, the characters used in the language are similar to Latin characters, but with some changes.
Because the text behind this language cannot be easily deciphered by players who do not know the cipher, sometimes its contents are secretive and special. For instance, on the area selection menu, when the player clicks an area, some mysterious text will appear on the top-left, with what appears to be comments from the developers. The information behind some texts does not seem to match up with reality, indicating that it was true in prerelease versions.
Character map
Each character in the Koppaite language can be mapped to one or two English letters. There are only characters for the 26 English letters plus an extra, unknown one. This unknown character only appears on the Mission Mode and Bingo Battle menus, and its meaning cannot be decided from the context alone.
These characters are obtained from the font file in the game's data.
By Koppaite symbol
Koppaite | Latin | Koppaite | Latin | Koppaite | Latin | ||
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A or F | B or J | C or O | |||||
D or Q | E | G | |||||
H | I or Y | K or Z | |||||
L | M or X | N | |||||
P | R or V | S | |||||
T | U | W | |||||
Unknown |
By Latin letter
Latin | Koppaite | Latin | Koppaite | Latin | Koppaite | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A | B | C | |||||
D | E | F | |||||
G | H | I | |||||
J | K | L | |||||
M | N | O | |||||
P | Q | R | |||||
S | T | U | |||||
V | W | X | |||||
Y | Z | Unknown |
List of Koppaite text
The following is a list of instances in which Koppaite text appears, and their translations.
Instance | Image | Koppaite | English | Notes |
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Area selection menu – general |
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Area selection menu – Tropical Wilds selected |
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Top-left corner. | |
Area selection menu – Garden of Hope selected |
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Top-left corner. | |
Area selection menu – Distant Tundra selected |
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Top-left corner. | |
Area selection menu – Twilight River selected |
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Top-left corner. | |
Area selection menu – Formidable Oak selected |
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Top-left corner. The names of the Formidable Oak and The Final Trial – 哀しき獣の塔? (lit.: "Tower of the Sorrowful Beast") and 最後の試練? (lit.: "Final Trial") respectively – are not similar at all. This indicates that the Formidable Oak's name was different during development. | |
New area scan |
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Radar |
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Pause menu | Hokotate | Repeated several times, and segmented in most of them. It's spelled with a K because it's the Romanization of ホコタテ?. | ||
Lock-on | |
Space library lite Simple dictionary in the PIPAD Just has the names |
Bottom-right corner. "PPAD" is an early name for the KopPad, so "PIPAD" might be a Romanization of it. | |
KopPad call initiating |
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GamePad screen during end of day cutscene |
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KopPad's background | |
Alf Britney[sic] Charlie |
The KopPad's background is partially visible during some transitions, like when entering the Exploration Notes screen. This pattern is also visible on the Mission Mode and Bingo Battle menus, but is much lower quality, as seen here. | |
Fruit analysis |
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Upgrade analysis | (Unknown) | Either "OPPT" or "CPPT". This appears at the top-right of the object, and the rest of the text matches the fruit analysis screen. The same label also appears for when Louie or a Burgeoning Spiderwort berry is being scanned. | ||
Bottles of juice |
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Juice shelf screen | Cold drink | |||
KopPad's frame | GPAD | "GPAD" is the Japanese name for the KopPad. | ||
KopPad's frame in prerelease versions | PPAD | |||
S.S. Drake exterior |
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SPERO's visor | |
Automatic Ultrascope |
This is impossible to see in-game, as the camera can never get close enough. This text is located on the visor-like object on the side of the ship. It is also a reference to a Nintendo toy called the Automatic Ultrascope. | |
Mission Mode and Bingo Battle screens | System start program for-Pikmin Three | Bottom-right corner. | ||
Saving screen | System | |||
Mission Mode platinum medals | Pikmin platinum |
See also