<p>Whenever anyone says you can’t do a real-time strategy game on consoles, the obvious answer to that is “Pikmin.” Nintendo’s series about Lilliputian spacefarers who crash land on an Earth-like planet has been captivating fans since the GameCube.</p>
<p>The plots are generally the same. Explorers end up as castaways on a mysterious planet dubbed PNF-404, and they have to find a way to return home. That’s easier said than done, though, because the environment is hostile from the fauna all the way to the air, with oxygen levels toxic to the space travelers.</p>
<p>The solution for the explorers is Pikmin, diminutive creatures that are a cross between a sprout and an ant. Spacefarers can control them and they quickly find out that alone they’re weak, but under a leader, they become a formidable swarm capable of taking down bigger creatures and lifting heavy objects.</p>
<p>The materials can be used for making bridges or inventing items. The original “Pikmin” laid a solid foundation and each iteration has offered improvements. Developers adapted the RTS gameplay elegantly on consoles by simplifying the controls and giving players direct control of the action.</p>
<p>With “Pikmin 4,” that changed. Nintendo has broadened the scope, adding new types of Pikmin, offering bigger maps and new wrinkles to the gameplay, but at the same time, the developers refined the mechanics so that commanding Pikmin now feels both effortless and more precise.</p>
<p>Players can click on a clump of Pikmin and they won’t accidentally stop their comrades from jobs they’ve been assigned. The X button sends Pikmin on an all-or-nothing charge against foes while players can toss specific types at enemies with quick presses of the shoulder buttons.</p>
<p>Nintendo added customizable shortcuts on the D-pad allowing players to instantly disband all Pikmin so they can select the types they want. They can activate a survey drone to see scout what’s ahead or give their Pikmin a boost with Ultra-Spicy Spray. Combine all of this with smarter artificial intelligence and “Pikmin 4” has responsive controls that are superior to past games while also giving players more on-the-fly granularity for command. The creatures move better and are less likely to be trapped or end up idle. It leads to a level of management that’s just perfect.</p>
<p>In “Pikmin 4,” players will need it as they explore six maps as the rookie member of the Rescue Corps. The organization has received Capt. Olimar’s distress call and have come to planet PNF-404 to save him, but in the process, they’ve crash landed and scattered.</p>
<p>As the lone remaining rescuer, the protagonist, who is player-created, heads off to be the hero. They’ll have to save the Rescue Corps crew, Olimar and other castaways who have also crash landed. The must also powerup the spaceship by gathering Sparklium contained in treasure. The valuables look like everyday objects including old Nintendo machines.</p>
<p>Thankfully, the rookie has help in the form Oatchi, a space dog that the hero can ride. It lets players speed across the enormous maps and gives players that extra bit of zip when they need to outmaneuver foes. The good boy serves as a Pikmin carrier, and as a deployable second character that can access out-of-the-way areas. Oatchi can even lift heavy objects or attack foes. The only thing he can’t do is climb ropes or walls. Knowing how to deploy him is key to solving puzzles and improving the survivability of players’ Pikmin.</p>
<p>Part of the magic of “Pikmin 4” is that each species have unique properties that make them suited to defeating certain foes or overcoming an obstacle. Ice Pikmin can freeze water so that other Pikmin can cross without drowning. They can also freeze enemies. Red ones are immune to fire and are perfect for attacking fire slugs or venturing in hotter zones.</p>
<p>Purple Pikmin are heavy and strong. They can damage enemies that are seemingly immune while Rock Pikmin can break glass and are nearly invulnerable. Nintendo does a beautiful job of layering the enormous maps so that players will have to think how each Pikmin can access different areas.</p>
<p>The developers play around with the format and have crafted new types of scenarios. Players come across Leaflings who test a player’s Dandori, that is how they best organize tasks and execute plans. These opponents essentially test how well players can micromanage Pikmin to squeeze the most out of the swarm.</p>
<p>They’re a form of zombie-defense missions. Players use Oatchi and the new Glow Pikmin to fend off wave after wave of amped-up foes. Glow Pikmin are one of the newest varieties in ‘Pikmin 4’. With limited resources in these stages, upgrading the rookie and Oatchi is a must. Players do that buy picking up Raw Materials, which can be cashed in for upgrades.</p>
<p>Lastly, players will find Caves that are essentially multilevel dungeons. These are areas that will test players’ puzzle-solving skills as well as their command of Pikmin. These tend to be long and at times difficult but Nintendo offers a rewind option if players make a disastrous mistake or they can exit the Cave and continue on later if they want to do something else. It’s just another layer of thoughtful convenience for a game that does everything right.</p>
Credit: The Star : Tech Feed
