Pikmin games
Want to know about the Pikmin? The adorable and obedient Pikmin have been part of a Nintendo series of sci-fi adventure games since 2001. Landing on a strange planet, you befriend an army of small, colorful creatures that are so strange and unique, they’re worth understanding.
These strange creatures have been part of the Nintendo landscape for two decades, despite the Pikmin games being little known outside of fan circles. That’s because Pikmin are so unique, so different, and so wonderful, that even people who don’t play Nintendo games know of them. They’re a rare treasure in the platform holder’s library, and we’re here to give you an introduction to them and their games.
Pikmin games
Pikmin are a unique hybrid of plants and animals, with plant-like qualities such as reproduction from seeds, growing leaves and flowers, and being docile until provoked. They also have animal-like abilities such as movement, vocalization, and the ability to eat food and sleep. The Pikmin are not based on any real-life creatures or plants, but their design may have been influenced by Mandrake Roots.
The Pikmin games all follow the same consistent theme: you are a space captain who has crashed on a strange planet, and in order to get off it, you befriend an army of small, colorful creatures called Pikmin and use them to complete tasks. These tasks vary from game to game, but they usually involve building structures and managing resources, while also defeating enemies by having the Pikmin attack them first.
The Pikmin were originally referred to as “ippiki” by the development team, but the protagonist of the first game, Olimar, named them “Pikmin” due to their resemblance to a carrot of the same name and their similarities to “men.” Olimar also uses items and machines from his home planet of Hocotate.
The planet PNF-404 is uncharted in the game’s universe, and is home to gigantic plant life and relics of a past civilization. There is a theory that PNF-404 is actually Earth and that Olimar and the Pikmin are extremely small compared to humans, but this has not officially been attributed by the developers.
Pikmin themes and mechanics
Pikmin are unique in that they are highly cooperative and follow the protagonist for safety and the ability to collect nutrients and defeat enemies. The relationship is more symbiotic than forced servitude.
The Pikmin games playfully reference real-world objects and creatures, and the Pikmin are described as being about an inch tall. The developers of Pikmin have not officially attributed the Mandrake as the inspiration behind their design, but they do represent a variety of colors, which is reminiscent of the Mandrake’s ring of color around their root.
There are nine varieties of Pikmin, each with unique abilities. Blue Pikmin are immune to water and lethal electricity, Yellow Pikmin can be thrown high into the air and are resistant to attacks, and Rock Pikmin are heavy and can attack enemies from a distance.
The Pikmin games have a unique blend of real-time strategy elements, requiring you to manage resources and balance your Pikmin army, alongside creative and imaginative world-building. The environments are lush and beautiful, and the creatures are bizarre but realistic.
There is a rich lore behind the Pikmin games that has been filled out over the years through supplementary media.
