Summary
While games likeThe Last of Ustry to blow players away with their fantastic stories, Nintendo’s ownPikmin 4has little interest in its storytelling. The studio is not trying to make players feel something complicated; it is simply letting them have fun. The focus is on the unique fast-paced gameplay, and that helps makePikmin 4stand apart from the crowd.
Even thoughthePikminserieshas never concerned itself with deep storytelling, that does not lessen its quality at all. Just like with a lot of Nintendo games, part of its charm is in that simple adventure. It helps give the franchise its personality, lets players enjoy a satisfying gameplay loop, and lets the studio run wild with the concept. There is no need for aLast of Usstory when the gameplay loop is so satisfying, andPikmin 4is a clear example of that.
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Pikmin 4 Shines in Its Simplicity
Ever sincethe very firstPikmingame, the series has followed a very simple story structure. The first game saw Captain Olimar crash-land on a mysterious planet filled with Pikmin and the player had to spend the entire game trying to repair his ship so that he could leave. It was not trying to tell a particularly deep story. The gameplay was where the game truly shined, and the simple story worked to prop that part of the game up.
Pikmin 2delved a bit further into the lore of the universe, but it also went for a fairly simple storyline. Players had to spend the entire game back on the same mysterious planet collecting treasures to pay off Hocotate Freight’s debt.Pikmin 3then returned to the simple crash-landing story model with a brand-new cast of characters, andPikmin 4has now continued that trendwith another simple story about a charismatic cast of characters trying to repair their ship after it crash-landed.
WhilethePikminseries may need to shake upthe crash-landed story a bit, the simple stories have helped give this franchise its charm. Instead of focusing on crafting an award-winning story, the studio has spent more time refining the fast-paced RTS gameplay the series is known for. Almost everything about the gameplay is fun, and each entry has made that core gameplay loop even stronger.Pikmin 4may have the most satisfying gameplay loop to date, and the franchise will likely only get stronger from here.
Throwing players on a mysterious planet andgiving them a group of Pikminto control is really all that the game needs.Pikmin 4’s world is beautifully realized, its gameplay is extremely satisfying, and its puzzles are as fun as ever. Nintendo has even tossed in a few new additions that have made the franchise even better. Players do not even really need to pay attention to the story to enjoy the series, but it does help provide some context for what is happening on screen. That context will only make players love this unique franchise even more, and the gameplay will keep them coming back for more.
Few Nintendo franchises sell themselves on fantastically written stories; most emphasize their charm and gameplay.Pikmin 4is no different as it presents players with easy to pick up gameplay that feels fantastic to play. While a stronger story may help these games shine brighter, there really is no need for anything more complex. The simplicity of this franchise givesPikmin 4its personality and charm, and that may be all it needs to become a household name.
Pikmin 4is available now on Switch.
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