After seven years of waiting,Pikmin 4has finally been announced for real. The game was first stated to be far along in development back in 2015 by Shigeru Miyamoto himself, and updates for it came out over the next couple of years. However, news ofPikmin 4quickly dried up, and fans were left with the initialPikmintrilogy andHey! Pikminto keep them occupied. The community wasn’t thrilled whenPikmin Bloomwas announced to capitalize onPokemon GO’s success, butPikmin 3 Deluxewas a real sign of life. It turned out to be a meaningful one, as the return ofPikmin 4came only a year later.
The development history ofPikmin 4is strange and rather unique, but it’s good to see that the series is finally moving again. The teaser trailer and accompanying screenshots gave fans precious little to go off of. A clock on a tiny fence could indicate that something is changing with the day cycle, and the new low camera angle could suggest thatPikmin 4is open world. No one knows for sure yet, but in the meantime the old games are still around to help kill time. At least, they are if one is willing to reach for a Wii or GameCube controller.
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Pikmin 1 and 2 Are In Need of a Re-Release
Pikmin 1and2were released a few years apart on the Nintendo GameCube. They both later gotNew Play Control!releases for the Nintendo Wii that made use of the console’s Wii Remote to direct the cursor. These versions were well-received, and helped keep the relatively smallPikminseries relevant in discussions.Pikmin 3came outalmost a decade afterPikmin 2, and was initially a Wii U exclusive. However, Nintendo decided to port it to the Switch with several upgrades, and thisDeluxeedition proved to be the best-sellingPikmingame yet.
It’s clear what needs to be done here.Pikmin 1andPikmin 2have been left behind on old consoles, whilePikmin 3receives the benefits of the Switch’s large user base and modern convenience. A modern re-release ofPikmin 1and2could potentially sell more than either game did back on the GameCube or Wii. TheGameCube and Wii eras have received less attentionfrom Nintendo than prior generations, and there’s still several games from the era likeF-Zero GXand theMetroid Primetrilogy that should be brought forward. With more eyes on thePikminfranchise than ever, people may be able to better appreciate the games that started it all.
How A Pikmin 1 + 2 Collection Could Enhance The Series
There are plenty of ways that Nintendo can sweeten the deal when releasingPikmin 1and2again. First and foremost, the games should be bundled together.Pikmin 1is less than ten hours long on a successful run, andlacks content compared toPikmin 2and3. Having the two games together cover their weaknesses, especially considering how differentPikmin 2is from the other games.
Other things could be done to make the experience as good as possible on modern hardware. Aside from a remaster for these already good-looking games,Pikmin 2could potentially receive enhanced multiplayer features. Online co-op is a possibility, and it would be great ifPikmin 3 Deluxe’s campaign co-opwas back ported intoPikmin2.Pikmin 1could also benefit with improved Pikmin AI, at least reaching the level ofPikmin 2. In fact,Pikmin 1could even receive its own Piklopedia, leaving every game in the trilogy with the fan-favorite bestiary. There’s a lot that could be done withPikminre-releases, and fans both old and new would be happy to see them.
Pikmin 4will be released in 2023 for the Nintendo Switch.
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