Pikmin 4's streamlined gameplay gives the series a fresh start | Digital Trends

  • 📰 DigitalTrends
  • ⏱ Reading Time:
  • 91 sec. here
  • 3 min. at publisher
  • 📊 Quality Score:
  • News: 40%
  • Publisher: 65%

Entertainment Entertainment Headlines News

Based on over an hour of playtime, Pikmin4 seems like the best entry point yet for the oddball strategy series.

This story is part of the Digital Trends Summer Gaming Marathon series With Immortals of Aveum getting a last-second delay, July belongs to Pikmin 4. Nintendo’s next big Switch exclusive looks to bring one of the company’s more eccentric franchises to a console that’s done wonders for oddball GameCube contemporaries like Animal Crossing. It may be the fourth installment of the series, but there’s a good chance it’ll act as an entry point for a fair amount of Switch owners.

Quality-of-life changes My demo would begin shortly after the full game’s tutorial introduction. I’m already in control of a bite-sized astronaut, I have a ship full of red Pikmin, and my dog companion, Oatchi, is happily bounding alongside me. My overarching goal is to find Captain Olimar, though my first task will be saving a few other lost astronauts scattered around the first explorable area, Sun-Speckled Terrace.

That stays pretty easy even after I start finding some new friends. It’s not too long until I meet one of the game’s two new creature types: ice Pikmin. These handy creatures can freeze enemies by attacking them , giving me a chance to send in more powerful Pikmin to safely attack. Not long after, I discover yellow Pikmin, which can withstand electricity. With a quick tap of the Joy-Con’s right bumper, I can select what type of Pikmin I want to command and start throwing.

Aside from crafting materials, I found all the usual Pikmin staples scattered around the world, from fruits to trinkets. The progression hook is that every object brought back to the ship grants players with a sort of universal material, and getting enough of it unlocks the next area. There are more specific quests within each area, but that straightforward gameplay loop made perfect sense by the end of my hourlong demo.

Like Pikmin 2 and 3, underground areas also mix things up. During my adventure, I find two different mini-dungeons full of additional treasures. These are shorter, bite-sized challenges that will put my knowledge of each Pikmin type to the test if I’m going to grab every treasure from them. In one fire-themed area, I need to use my red Pikmin to create walkable paths over magma and toss yellow Pikmin to grab high-up objects that only they can reach.

 

Thank you for your comment. Your comment will be published after being reviewed.
Please try again later.
We have summarized this news so that you can read it quickly. If you are interested in the news, you can read the full text here. Read more:

 /  🏆 95. in ENTERTAİNMENT

Entertainment Entertainment Latest News, Entertainment Entertainment Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Detective Pikachu Returns: release date, trailers, gameplay, and more | Digital TrendsDetectivePikachu is back in action and solving a brand new mystery in Ryme City. Will they be able to stop whatever Mewtwo is plotting this time around?
Source: DigitalTrends - 🏆 95. / 65 Read more »

Asus vs. Alienware: a battle of OLED gaming monitors | Digital TrendsThe Asus ROG Swift OLED 27 and Alienware 34 QD-OLED are two of the best gaming monitors you can buy, but who claims the OLED crown?
Source: DigitalTrends - 🏆 95. / 65 Read more »

See and hear Stephan's Quintet in a whole new way | Digital TrendsData from the James Webb Space Telescope has been combined with data from other telescopes to create a new way to see and hear a famous galaxy group.
Source: DigitalTrends - 🏆 95. / 65 Read more »

See seasonal changes on Mars in stunning images from MAVEN | Digital TrendsTwo images from the MAVEN spacecraft, taken six months apart, show how the environment of Mars changes with both season and the planet's orbit.
Source: DigitalTrends - 🏆 95. / 65 Read more »

The best Apple Watch bands in 2023: our 20 favorite ones | Digital TrendsThese are the best Apple Watch bands and straps to stylize your timepiece. We've got a veritable feast of wristwear for every budget.
Source: DigitalTrends - 🏆 95. / 65 Read more »

Best electric cars in 2023 | Digital TrendsElectriccars are finally here to stay. From super-quick performance cars to spacious SUVs, we've picked the battery-powered models worth paying attention to.
Source: DigitalTrends - 🏆 95. / 65 Read more »