Pikmin 4 Review

 What are pikmin if not tiny swarming dogs

I'm not gonna dwell much on the core Pikmin gameplay at this point, it's a well trod system that's perhaps a touch bloated with mechanics, and has a completely unnecessary and annoying auto-lock on mechanic added in. But maybe I'm just complaining about those cause I'm an old fogey who thought of the stick aiming as part of the challenge, not a limitation of the controller.

What Pikmin 4 offers however, is an amazing experience that touches on one specific aspect of the Pikmin gameplay loop, and sort of uses it as a base for most of it's challenges and theming. The oft namedropped "Dandori." In essence, a less intimidating word for micromanaging and hyper-optimizing. The ol Pikmin staple of leaving your little leaf fellas to whack away at a wall while you wander the wilds fighting foes and taking treasure. So that by the time you clear an area you come back and hey, the wall is already destroyed and you can smoothly move along!

This is something that I think is core to Pikmin and it's identity as a series, but can be a little hard to grasp and intimidating for newcomers due to things like the time limit. Thus, Pikmin 4 equips you with an overpowered doggo to help barrel through some of the combat and always have at least one good beat stick in combat. While also being an excuse to cut out the often frustrating pathfinding of the pikmin AI by letting them grab on to his bum for dear life.

That's not to say Pikmin 4 is without challenge, the caves and overworlds serve as more of a tutorial and place for experimentation. While this game puts in the main story what was previously considered a side mode. Timed challenges and VS battles. Where you really put your skills to the test trying to clear out a map as fast as possible, or collect more treasures and trinkets than your foe can while sharing the same map. These were always delightful in previous games and seeing them take center stage is an absolute treat, and gives Pikmin 4 the challenge and identity it kind of desperately needed.

This also makes it the absolute perfect game for newcomers to the series, not only is it relatively light on the lore nods compared to 2 or 3, but the lack of time limit in the days while featuring it heavily in the actual gameplay allows new players the opportunity to improve and grow as pikmin commanders. With the strength of the dog companion serving as a particularly strong crutch on that front and the auto-lock on being basically a non issue to newcomers.

What few gripes I have about the balance, design, or not having a toggle for the auto lock on pales in comparison to the good accomplished by the game. I just finished the main story, and not wishing to spoil, just knowing what modes and possible challenges await me in the post game fills me with excitement. Let alone all the wonderful and creative caves and areas up to this point.

It may still rank as my least favourite in the series, but that's like having a least favourite bar of gold. It's still absolutely stellar and a massive recommend to newcomers and old fans alike.

UPDATE: Game Cleared 100% aside from what is explicitly a side mode. 27 hours. Feel comfortable calling this a 30 hour game and take that as you will.

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