Music in Pikmin 4
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The music of Pikmin 4 accompanies every part of the game, from menu screens to areas to Dandori Battles.
Leitmotifs
These are small gestures that reappear throughout the game suggesting ideas or setting moods.
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 The "Pikmin motif", denoting Pikmin themselves. |
Menus
- Title screen
| Title screen | |
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| Internal name | 806003557.wem
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| External links | |
The music for a title screen has the important role of establishing what the musical style of a game will be, as a listener's first impressions of a soundtrack are likely to be made here; the title screen of Pikmin 4 immediately demonstrates its brand new emphasis on ambience and subtlety, which are two regularly occurring themes throughout rest of the game. This piece is almost entirely solo piano, with an occasional strike of a large standing bowl for bass; the piano is also notably cinematic in style and very high-fidelity. A high-pitched fanfare played by this piano briefly introduces the title of the game, and then begins the main looping section of the piece in a 6/8 time signature. While the chords are mostly consonant, occasional out-of-key notes add an uneasy feel to the piece. A minute into the loop, a delicate performance of the Pikmin 2 motif can be heard.
Cutscenes
- Red Pikmin discovered
| Red Pikmin discovered | |
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| External links | |
Heard when the first Red Pikmin is plucked. In Pikmin 4, each new type of Pikmin that is discovered will introduce itself with its own variation of the Pikmin 2 motif. Each of these variants is identical in structure, with various acoustic instruments like clarinet, violins, and a shaker making up the accompaniment (a glockenspiel also helps invoke the Pikmin as a whole). The motif, however, will be played on an instrument that is characteristic of the Pikmin it is associated with. Red Pikmin, for example, use a synthesizer for their theme.
- Ice Pikmin discovered
| Ice Pikmin discovered | |
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Heard when the first Ice Pikmin is discovered. This arrangement of the Pikmin 2 motif is played in a high-register on synth bells, indicating the frosty nature of the Ice Pikmin.
- Yellow Pikmin discovered
| Yellow Pikmin discovered | |
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Heard when the first Yellow Pikmin is discovered. Accenting this Pikmin's electrical capabilities is the sound of a singing Tesla coil, playing the Pikmin 2 motif.
- Blue Pikmin discovered
| Blue Pikmin discovered | |
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Heard when the first Blue Pikmin is discovered. As with the other Pikmin types, this arrangement of the track features an instrument that is characteristic of Blue Pikmin and the water they inhabit. This instrument is a synthesizer with a low-pass filter and vibrato; the vibrato invokes a sort of gargling or bubbling, while the filtering of higher frequencies mimics how sounds become muffled when underwater.
- Purple Pikmin discovered
| Purple Pikmin discovered | |
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| External links | |
Heard when the first Purple Pikmin is discovered. This arrangement of the Pikmin 2 motif is played on timpani, an instrument that is also used as the sound effect for the Purple Pikmin's thud in Pikmin 2.
- White Pikmin discovered
| White Pikmin discovered | |
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Heard when the first White Pikmin is discovered. This version of the theme uses a synthesizer that is wind-like, invoking the airiness of the toxic gas that White Pikmin boast an immunity to.
- Rock Pikmin discovered
| Rock Pikmin discovered | |
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Heard when the first Rock Pikmin is discovered. This version of the theme is played on a metallic drum, reflective of the Rock Pikmin's tougher appearance.
- Winged Pikmin discovered
| Winged Pikmin discovered | |
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| External links | |
Heard when the first Winged Pikmin is discovered. This version is scored with a piccolo, fitting for the tiny Winged Pikmin. Their ability to fly is also referenced with an additional trill.
- Glow Pikmin discovered
| Glow Pikmin discovered | |
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| External links | |
Heard when the first Glow Pikmin is discovered during a night expedition. This variant of the Pikmin discovery theme takes an uneasy turn due to the unique circumstances it takes place in, though a glockenspiel is kept in this version since the Glow Pikmin are still a very helpful type of Pikmin. A theremin is also present, playing upon their ghost-like appearance.
- New Pikmin type discovered
| New Pikmin type discovered | |
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Heard right after any of the Pikmin discovery themes. A simple, quirky waltz on pizzicato violins loops during the Rescue Corps members' discussion on the newly discovered Pikmin, with some more brief references to the Pikmin 2 motif played on an alto recorder.
- Enter cave
| Enter cave | |
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| External links | |
Heard when a cave is entered. A new rendition of the equivalent theme in Pikmin 2, it is a new arrangement of the Hocotate motif, also setting an adventurous mood for exploration.
Areas
- Rescue Command Post
| Rescue Command Post | |
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| External links | |
The theme of the Rescue Command Post is one with short snippets of melody which sets the mood to prepare for an expedition and talk with the rescued castaways.
- Sun-Speckled Terrace
| Sun-Speckled Terrace | |
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The base layer of the Sun-Speckled Terrace's theme is very sparse, with various piano notes, some of which are repeated for a while or have a delay effect.
- Blossoming Arcadia
| Blossoming Arcadia | |
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| External links | |
The Blossoming Arcadia's theme is quite calming and peaceful. Mostly in a slow triple meter, this piece hangs around F major and features lush strings above bouncy mallet percussion, with flutes playing a simple supportive ostinato between the two.
- Serene Shores
| Serene Shores | |
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The music of the Serene Shores uses lots of space and is more textural rather than melodic; pedal steel guitar swells make up one of these textures. It plays in a moderate 12/8 time, with a shekere accenting the second beat of every measure.
- Hero's Hideaway
| Hero's Hideaway | |
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Hero's Hideaway's theme is very lively, with various piano notes, pots and pans clanging, and an accordion, some of which are repeated for a while. Being noticed by and battling Moss will add some additional layers to the music.
- Giant's Hearth
| Giant's Hearth | |
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The music of the Giant's Hearth makes strong use of acoustic guitar. The presence of slide guitar particularly is reminiscent of Southern country music, further accented by the outdoor fire pit and camp equipment.
- Primordial Thicket
| Primordial Thicket | |
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| External links | |
The theme of the Primordial Thicket combines low woodwind sounds with both pitched and non-pitched percussion to drive motion forward. A bright-sounding aerophone carries the tune above the other instruments.
Bosses
- Boss battle (Olimar)
| Boss battle (Olimar) | |
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| External links | |
This boss theme is heard when battling any boss as Olimar, such as during the tutorial, or during Olimar's Shipwreck Tale. This is the same song used for mid-bosses in Pikmin 3, itself a rendition of the one used for most bosses in Pikmin 2.
- Boss battle (drumline)
| Boss battle (drumline) | |
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| External links | |
A boss battle theme often used for bosses found aboveground. This song is actually a drumline; it makes use of various percussion instruments from a marching band, and it is organized precisely like one, with chromatic instruments being totally absent in the main mix. When the boss is defeated, a "boss defeated" cue plays.
Each type of boss will also add its own instrument to the music that is characteristic of the creature. The Porquillion, for example, adds a thumb piano to the music.
- Boss battle (cave)
| Boss battle (cave) | |
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| External links | |
A boss battle theme often used for bosses found in caves. This theme is played on African percussion instruments. Like the previous boss theme, each type of boss will add its own instrument to the music.
- Groovy Long Legs battle
| Groovy Long Legs battle | |
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| External links | |
This theme can be heard when battling the Groovy Long Legs at the last sublevel of Below-Grade Discotheque. It is played by techno noises and an air-horn. It also plays a "boss defeated" cue when the enemy is defeated. Uniquely, it is the only boss theme that plays when engaging a boss in the Piklopedia, supplementing the idea that the Groovy Long Legs itself is producing the music.
- Giant Breadbug battle
| Giant Breadbug battle | |
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| Composer | Kazumi Totaka |
| External links | |
This theme can only be heard when battling the two Giant Breadbugs on the last sublevel of Plunder Palace. It is identical to the theme heard in Pikmin 2. Unlike in that game however, this theme will stop playing after both of the Giant Breadbugs have been defeated.
Waterwraith
As in its appearance in Pikmin 2, the Waterwraith has a unique dynamic boss theme. All cues are reorchestrated versions of the ones present in Pikmin 2, except the vulnerable theme, which has been replaced with a more abstract theme.
- Waterwraith appears
| Waterwraith appears | |
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| External links | |
Heard when the Waterwraith first appears in the story mode of Pikmin 4, in the background of an introductory cutscene. Like Pikmin 2, the cutscene begins with the normal Pikmin 2 boss battle intro, but then lapses into a looping music bed as Collin warns of the Waterwraith's threat. This bed contains echoing textures of dissonant marimba, percussive underpinnings from a gong and bell, and most importantly, atonal drones from a double bass with extension. The combined effect sounds quite alien, like the mood set by the Waterwraith.
- Waterwraith attacks
| Waterwraith attacks | |
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When the Waterwraith appears in the Engulfed Castle on sublevels 1-4, the music changes drastically. In 5/4 time signature and including a full string section and brass stabs, the soundtrack is reminiscent of thriller soundtracks with #9 chords and tri-tones in the bass. The music now conveys a great intensity and sense of urgency, and is not dynamic since there is no way to attack the Waterwraith at this time.
- Waterwraith vulnerable
| Waterwraith vulnerable | |
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| External links | |
A new theme that replaces the vulnerable theme heard in Pikmin 2. When the Waterwraith appears on the Engulfed Castle's final sublevel, the normal boss theme plays as long as the Waterwraith has its rollers; the special attack cue chimes in whenever the Waterwraith shakes Pikmin off. But when the rollers are defeated, the music suddenly shifts to an abstract theme with crotales signaling that the threat of this boss has been nullified. Further attacking the Waterwraith will add various latin percussion instruments to the music.
Ancient Sirehound
- Ancient Sirehound (first phase)
| Ancient Sirehound (first phase) | |
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| External links | |
Heard when battling the Ancient Sirehound at the last sublevel of Cavern for a King. It is played mainly by an electric guitar and intensely graduates the farther you are in the battle.
- Ancient Sirehound (ice phase)
| Ancient Sirehound (ice phase) | |
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| External links | |
Heard when battling the Ancient Sirehound at the last sublevel of Cavern for a King.
- Ancient Sirehound (electricity phase)
| Ancient Sirehound (electricity phase) | |
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| External links | |
Heard when battling the Ancient Sirehound at the last sublevel of Cavern for a King.
- Ancient Sirehound (fire phase)
| Ancient Sirehound (fire phase) | |
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| External links | |
Heard when battling the Ancient Sirehound at the last sublevel of Cavern for a King.
- Ancient Sirehound (gloom phase)
| Ancient Sirehound (gloom phase) | |
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| External links | |
Heard when battling the Ancient Sirehound at the last sublevel of Cavern for a King.
- Final battle (vulnerable)
| Final battle (vulnerable) | |
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| External links | |
Heard when battling the Ancient Sirehound at the last sublevel of Cavern for a King. It is played mainly by an electric guitar, drums, a xylophone and intensely graduates the farther you are in the battle.
Olimar's Shipwreck Tale
In general, the area themes in the prologue assume an energetic style compared to the quieter tracks used in the main game. This change in music contributes to a greater degree of urgency in the mode, where Olimar has little time for leisurely exploration during the fifteen days he has to collect his lost ship parts.
- Serene Shores (Olimar)
| Serene Shores (Olimar) | |
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| External links | |
The theme for Serene Shores during Olimar's Shipwreck Tale is reminiscent to The Distant Spring's main theme from Pikmin (game), using similar instruments to play similar parts from The Distant Spring in combination with the Serene Shores theme, as if both songs are being mixed together.
- Hero's Hideaway (Olimar)
| Hero's Hideaway (Olimar) | |
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| External links | |
This area theme reuses many sounds from the its main story mode counterpart; it even uses a melody similar to the one heard during the game's initial tutorial with Captain Olimar.
Minor jingles
- Obstacle removed
Heard when an obstacle, such as a gate or bridge, is overcome. It is similar to the same jingle in previous games, filling a similar purpose.
Trivia
- When the player is walking with Pikmin alone or while riding on Oatchi, they may sing a short song. These songs include the brief passages from the Awakening Wood, the Garden of Hope, the Waterwraith's chase theme, the Dandori Battle theme, the same humming from Pikmin 2, or a new unique song.
Enemy/Combat Mixes
| Icon | Name | Description | ||||||
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Breadbug | This Combat mix plays when the Breadbug wanders a sublevel looking for treasure to bury.
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