Pikmin (universe): Difference between revisions

|originconsole    = Nintendo GameCube

|firstinstallment  = ''{{iw|pikipedia|Pikmin|game}}'' (2001)

|interwiki        = pikipedia

|interwikiname    = Pikipedia

==Franchise description==

Prior to the launch of the Nintendo GameCube, [[Shigeru Miyamoto]] promoted the system's processing power by releasing a tech demo entitled ''Super Mario 128'' at Nintendo's Space World trade show in August 2000, which demonstrated rapid generation techniques in order to display 128 separate [[Mario]] models on screen at once. Meanwhile, Miyamoto and his development team worked on an original project under the working title ''Adam and Eve'', which was planned to be a game where one could watch the development and proliferation of two starting characters. Eventually, this idea was found to be far too lacking in interactivity for the player and was scrapped. But then, a completely new aesthetic was brought in and incorporated into a marriage between some of the concepts of ''Adam and Eve'' and the technicalities demonstrated by ''Super Mario 128''. The now familiar ''Pikmin'' series' characters, setting, and real-time strategy gameplay style were introduced as a new Nintendo IP with the December 2001 release of ''Pikmin'' as a near-launch title for the GameCube. Incidentally, the name "Pikmin" was derived from Miyamoto's sheepdog, Pikku.

''Pikmin'' received positive reception, both for its charming aesthetics and characters and for its unique spin on real-time strategy, and quickly earned a devoted fanbase. However, Japanese sales were not enthusiastic after the first week. In an attempt to stimulate sales, the virtual band Strawberry Flower was hired to write and perform a song featured in Japanese commercials for the game. Ironically, the single, "Ai no Uta" ("Song of Love"), became incredibly popular and actually outsold the game it advertised, and it thus did its part to surge weekly sales of the game itself. This likely helped secure ''Pikmin''{{'}}s future status as an established Nintendo franchise, and the first sequel, ''Pikmin 2'', was released in August 2004 for the GameCube. ''Pikmin 2'' garnered near-universal acclaim from gaming publications and often makes appearances near the top of published lists of the best GameCube games released over the system's lifespan, due to its improvements over the original in many important aspects.

The ''Pikmin'' games are set on an uncharted planet called PNF-404, which appears to be a post-apocalyptic Earth. The player takes control of a visiting astronaut (the Hocotatian [[Captain Olimar]] in ''Pikmin'' and ''Pikmin 2'' and the Koppaites Alph, Brittany, and Charlie in ''Pikmin 3'') and is tasked to explore PNF-404's littered wilderness, take command over armies of native plant-like species that Olimar dubbed [[Pikmin]], and securely retrieve important items to the home base. A cornucopia of hostile wildlife and environmental hazards does not make things easy for the player, as they cannot directly attack these enemies in most circumstances; they must frequently sacrifice their newfound friends by hurling them at large enemies so that they whittle the enemies' health down, and must rely on the harvesting of enemy carcasses (and naturally occurring pellets) to resow their Pikmin and pluck them up to replenish their standing forces. The game takes elements from real-time strategy games by having to micromanage an army of minions, take down enemies, and complete tasks all at once within a time limit. The different colors of Pikmin lend themselves to different on-the-spot battle strategies, and are also important to solving puzzles and opening up important pathways in the environment itself.  

==In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]''==

==In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''==

===Fighter===

==Games with elements appearing in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series==

===''{{iw|pikipedia|Pikmin}}''===

**{{GameIcon|SSBU}} "'''{{SSBUMusicLink|Pikmin|Garden of Hope (Remix)}}'''": Incorporates the theme of {{iw|pikipedia|Impact Site}}, the first area of this game.

**{{GameIcon|SSBB}} "'''[[Victory theme#Pikmin Victory Theme|Victory! Pikmin Series]]'''": A sped of remix of an excerpt of this game's title theme.

===''{{iw|pikipedia|Pikmin 2}}''===

**{{GameIcon|SSBB}} "'''{{SSBBMusicLink|Pikmin|Tane no Uta}}'''": Similar to Ai no Uta, this was an image song performed by the Japanese band Strawberry Flower that was used in commercials for this game.   

**{{GameIcon|SSB4}} "'''{{SSBUMusicLink|Pikmin|Stage Select - Pikmin 2}}'''": A more upbeat remix of the world map theme from this game.

===''{{iw|pikipedia|Pikmin 3}}''===

*Spirits:

**{{GameIcon|SSBU}} Alph, Rock Pikmin, Winged Pikmin, Plasm Wraith, Peckish Aristocrab, Charlie, and Brittany appear as spirits.  

*Music:

**{{GameIcon|SSB4-WiiU}} "'''{{SSBUMusicLink|Pikmin|Mission Mode - Pikmin 3}}'''": An acoustic remix of the Mission Mode theme from this game featuring Pikmin vocals.

===''{{iw|pikipedia|Hey! Pikmin}}''===

*Spirits:

*Music:

**{{GameIcon|SSBU}} "'''{{SSBUMusicLink|Pikmin|The Keeper of the Lake}}'''": The theme that plays when fighting the {{iw|pikipedia|Long Water Dumple}}, sourced from this game.

**{{GameIcon|SSBU}} "'''{{SSBUMusicLink|Pikmin|Over Wintry Mountains}}'''": The theme of the fourth special course, sourced from this game.

**{{GameIcon|SSBU}} "'''{{SSBUMusicLink|Pikmin|Fragment of Hope}}'''": The theme that plays in the third phase of the fight against the {{iw|pikipedia|Berserk Leech Hydroe}}, sourced from this game.

==Trivia==

*Not counting {{uvm|Cubivore}} (which had yet to be released at the time), ''Pikmin'' was the newest universe to be represented in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'', with the first game releasing one month before ''Melee'''s release.

*With Olimar in ''Brawl'', ''Pikmin'' is the first series to have debuted within the 21st century to have been represented by a fighter in ''Smash'', although {{uv|Animal Crossing}} is the oldest for the 21st century overall.

*Pikmin, along with {{uv|Kid Icarus}} (and technically {{uv|Wario}}), are the only series with minor representation in ''Melee'' to have a fighter in the following installment, ''Brawl''.