Nintendo has done an exceptional job at creating characters and developing franchises that have gone on to become landmarks of the video game industry. There are so many Nintendo properties out there that it’s inevitable that some slip through the cracks. Pikmin doesn’t get the most love, but it’s a series with a dedicated audience and Captain Olimar has even found his way into Super Smash Bros.
Pikmin is an inventive take on the real-time strategy genre and while many people missed Pikmin 3 on the Wii U, the new Pikmin 3 Deluxe for the Switch allows gamers to right that wrong. However, there are some things to be aware of before landing down on Planet PNF-404.
10 All The DLC Is Included
It’s important for a game to feel like a full and complete experience right out of the box and not be reliant on gradual updates to flesh out the experience. Nintendo is quite good in this department and their DLC usually feels like fun and justified additions. Pikmin 3 featured additional DLC material to prolong the game and thankfully all of that is packaged right into Pikmin 3 Deluxe. This could be especially advantageous to people who played the original Pikmin 3, but didn’t check out its DLC.
9 The Control Scheme Has Been Changed
Nintendo has a reputation for creating very specific control schemes for their games that perfectly fit the unique play style that their new console pushes. Accordingly, the Wii U is very different than the Switch and so the controls in Pikmin 3 Deluxe get altered as a result. The Lock-on and charging aspects both change in big ways, as does the way in which the game’s radar functions. The KopoPad also becomes a much less important tool. The control scheme where both gyro and pointer controls are enabled creates the experience that’s most similar to the original Wii U game.
8 Progress In The Demo Can Unlock Content
It’s become an increasingly common practice for demos of big games to get released ahead of time in order to help build enthusiasm and give players a taste of what’s to come. Demos are often very helpful, but sometimes it’s frustrating for players to then have to repeat that content in the real game.
Pikmin 3 Deluxe offers a unique scenario where not only will progress from the demo transfer over to the game, but if players beat the Armored Mawdad in the demo then they’ll begin Deluxe with Ultra-Spicy Mode and additional Mission Mode content already unlocked.
7 There’s Couch Co-Op, But No Online
The Pikmin titles are typically featured as a single-player experience, but Pikmin 3 Deluxe has added more versatility to the package by including a co-op mode for the game’s story mode and new material. The game truly opens up in new ways when it’s played with a partner and it really adds to the strategy aspect of the title. Pikmin 3 Deluxe in couch co-op mode is a lot of fun, but unfortunately there’s no online co-op or multiplayer that’s offered, which could be a deal breaker for some people.
6 It Adds A Piklopedia
Pikmin 3 Deluxe is the type of game that can be played at a leisurely pace to relax, but it also offers deeper challenges for the gamers that are more curious. A beloved feature from Pikmin 2 is the Piklopedia, which offers up data entries and cataloguing of all the creatures that have been discovered as well as their respective stats. This was initially absent in Pikmin 3, but this new version brings it back and even features entries from all five of the captains, which adds some humor to their diverse perspectives.
5 The Difficulty Has Been Changed
Another change in Pikmin 3 Deluxe is the inclusion of both a Hard Mode and an unlockable Ultra-Spicy Mode that’s even more difficult. It’s important to know that the game’s normal mode has been re-balanced in a way where it’s much easier. Days are longer, enemies are weaker, and there are more nectar locations.
It seems like the game’s Hard Mode is actually the original difficulty from the Wii U version and the new Ultra-Spicy Mode limits the player’s amount of Pikmin and re-balances enemies and Pikmin in a way that’s more punishing.
4 Achievement Badges Have Been Added
It’s always nice when re-released and upgraded video games like Pikmin 3 Deluxe can offer something extra for the people who vigorously cleared every corner of the previous version. Pikmin 3 Deluxe incorporates some new modes and content, but it’s still a rather short game and so the presence of achievement-based badges really goes a long ways. There are 50 badges that correspond to the completion of various tasks. Players can rank up from Beginner class to higher statuses like Second Class, First Class, and Special Class, but it’s purely for aesthetic purposes and bragging rights.
3 There’s An After Hours Mode For Missions
Pikmin 3 is divided into different gameplay modes that prioritize contrasting areas of the game. Pikmin 3 Deluxe’s Mission Mode is perfect for those that just want pure, quick bursts of the game. Mission Mode distills the gameplay and has players work against a ticking deadline. Pikmin 3 Deluxe offers the new ability to go into “After Hours” mode when a player’s time runs out and they fail the mission. They’re allowed to continue to play it through and while their results won’t be recorded, their completion still allows players to advance to the more difficult missions.
2 There’s New Music
Pikmin 3 Deluxe alters a number of gameplay features, but there are also lots of aesthetic changes. There’s tons of fantastic music to come out of Nintendo titles, but the Pikmin songs have a very distinct style and they’ve been featured well within the Super Smash Bros. franchise. Pikmin 3 Deluxe doesn’t do the bare minimum in this re-release and it adds some new music tracks into the game’s many new modes. Additionally, there are also new themes in many areas of the game on Olimar’s Assignment, like the Garden of Hope or Twilight River. It’s a nice touch.
1 The Location Of Data Files And Area Layouts Are Different
Pikmin 3 Deluxe has a clear goal where players can beat the game without exhausting themselves to find every piece of fruit or hidden data file that are dispersed throughout the game. There are 120 data files hidden in the game and Pikmin 3 Deluxe switches up many of their locations, which makes the collecting process new again for more seasoned players. Furthermore, the layout and aesthetics of certain areas in the game are also re-worked, so players shouldn’t expect an identical experience to before.
NEXT: 10 Other Games That Could Come From Nintendo In 2020
