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Pikmin (universe)

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Pikmin (universe)
New pikmin logo
PikminSymbol.svg
Developer(s) Nintendo
Publisher(s) Nintendo
Designer(s) Shigefumi Hino
Shigeru Miyamoto
Genre(s) Real-Time Strategy
Console/platform of origin Nintendo GameCube
First installment Pikmin (2001)
Latest installment Hey! Pikmin (2017)
Article on Pikipedia Pikmin (universe)

The Pikmin universe (ピクミン, Pikmin) refers to the Super Smash Bros. series' collection of characters, stages, and other properties that hail from Pikmin, the popular Nintendo series of colorful real-time strategy games. The series was personally developed by Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto and is one of the Nintendo GameCube's notable standout franchises.

The series, which contributed minor content in Super Smash Bros. Melee, was established as a major universe within the Super Smash Bros. series beginning in Super Smash Bros. Brawl due to the inclusion of its main characters, Captain Olimar and the Pikmin, as team-based playable characters. Olimar and the Pikmin returned for Super Smash Bros. 4, while Alph, one of the three playable protagonists from Pikmin 3, made his SSB debut as an alternate costume for Olimar.

Franchise description

The previous logo of the franchise.

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 to the Nintendo brand 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 an image 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.

Despite the series' glowing track record and its status as a major Nintendo franchise being cemented with its protagonist Captain Olimar and its titular creatures appearing collectively as team-based playable characters in 2008's Super Smash Bros. Brawl, the Pikmin series would experience a nine-year hiatus that would only end with the August 2013 release of its third installment, Pikmin 3. Like its predecessors, Pikmin 3 was positively received and proved popular enough to receive downloadable content. A fourth installment of the series, Pikmin 4, was announced by Shigeru Miyamoto on September 7th, 2015, who stated that the game is "actually very close to completion. Pikmin teams are always working on the next one." However, there is currently no information in regard to when the game will be released, nor which platform will it be released on.

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; oftentimes, they must willingly 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 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 Pikmin, Captain Olimar hails from the planet Hocotate and is taking a vacation on his spaceship, the S.S. Dolphin, in outer space when a comet hits his ship and causes him to crash land onto the uncharted planet, PNF-404. Due to oxygen being poisonous to Hocotatians, Olimar cannot breathe on PNF-404, which is further compounded by his life support system only lasting for thirty days. As a result, he is forced to use that time in order to befriend and take command of the native plant-like creatures he calls Pikmin to help him gather all the scattered pieces of the S.S. Dolphin so that he can make a return flight back home. Pikmin 2 takes place immediately after Olimar returns home, in which he finds that the company he works for, Hocotate Freight, is in severe debt. As a result, the company president sends Olimar and his co-worker Louie to scavenge valuable goods from PNF-404.

Pikmin 3 introduces the Koppaites, another space-faring alien race that is highly similar to the Hocotatians. The three new playable protagonists - Alph, Brittany, and Charlie - are Koppaites and arrive at PNF-404, where they enlist the aid of the Pikmin to help them harvest fruit seeds to save their starving homeworld, Koppai.

In Super Smash Bros. Melee

Pikmin, having been released right before Melee in Japan, cameos as a pair of collectible trophies, but is not a full-fledged universe. However, in fact, the original Pikmin is the only title in existence that Melee actually features connectivity with; the Captain Olimar trophy is acquired only if there is Pikmin save data on the same Memory Card with Melee saved data.

Trophies

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Some content of the Pikmin series from Brawl include: one playable character, a stage, some music, and a number of trophies.

Character

  • OlimarIcon(SSBB).png
    Olimar: The protagonist of the Pikmin series, Captain Olimar has been greatly graphically enhanced, like the other characters of Super Smash Bros. Brawl. However, he is quite weak on his own - without Pikmin, he cannot even do a smash attack. All his special moves involve the Pikmin that he plucks from the ground. There are five different types: Red (which have high attack power, burning properties in their attacks, and immunity to all fire-based attacks), Yellow (which have a slightly larger range of attack, making it easier to hit opponents with, travel in slight arcs when thrown, and have electrical properties in their attacks, as well as being immune to electrical attacks), Blue (which are stronger when thrown and slightly more durable than average, and the only Pikmin type that can enter water without dying), Purple (which are heavy and slow, impeding flight distance, have high attack power, and slam into opponents instead of latching on to them), and White (which are light and quick, as well as poisonous to opponents when latched on). He can have up to six different Pikmin at once. He can use them to attack and latch on to opponents, draining their health, use them as a life-saving tether recovery, and call them back if separated. He can also alter their order by whistling. Whichever Pikmin is following him first is the one he will use first in combat. Olimar is among the top 3 characters in Brawl, as he currently ranks 3rd on the Brawl tier list, placing him in the A+ tier and being surpassed only by Meta Knight and the Ice Climbers.

On the final character select screen (after all characters are unlocked), Olimar joins the Kirby characters as part of the fifth column. These characters have "Gourmet Race" playing when their dark forms are fought in The Great Maze.

Stages

  • Icon-distantplanet.gif
    Distant Planet: Based off The Forest of Hope and Awakening Wood from Pikmin and Pikmin 2 respectively. Technically, all the fighters will be under an inch tall when they are fighting on this stage. The stage has a slope on the left hand side, three leaves in the center which act as platforms, and another larger platform beneath the leaves, which is bouncy. A gigantic Bulborb appears at the right hand side of the stage, serving as both a platform and stage hazard. It occasionally rains, and the slope on the left hand side becomes a hazard as water gushes down it. Characters can also pick up pellets that fall from Pellet Posies and throw them into Onions that appear on the stage to get Items.

Music

See List of SSBB Music (Pikmin series)

  • Main Theme (Pikmin) - Taken directly from Pikmin, it is the title screen music from said game. It is used on the Distant Planet stage.
  • World Map (Pikmin 2) - A remixed track featuring elements of both the map screens of Pikmin and Pikmin 2. It is the theme of the Distant Planet stage.
  • Stage Clear/Title (Pikmin) - A medley of both End of Day from Pikmin, as well as a remix of the title screen theme. It is used on the Distant Planet stage. This track is also played during Olimar's Classic Mode credits.
  • Forest of Hope - Taken directly from the original Pikmin, this was the background music to the Forest of Hope, the second area that Olimar could explore. It is used on the Distant Planet stage.
  • Ai no Uta - A promotional image song performed by the Japanese band Strawberry Flower that was used in commercials for the original game. It is used on the Distant Planet stage.
  • Ai no Uta (French version) - A French version of the previously mentioned image song. It is used on the Distant Planet stage.
  • 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 the second title, Pikmin 2. It is used on the Distant Planet stage.
  • Environmental Noises - Not an actual song, per se, but rather a collection of basic environmental noises giving the impression of being in a vast wilderness. It is used on the Distant Planet stage.
  • Olimar's victory theme - The tune the Pikmin hum in Pikmin 2 when all the treasure has been acquired in an area.

Trophy

Stickers

In Super Smash Bros. 4

The Pikmin series also offers a stage for Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, as well as the return of Olimar as a playable character.

Characters

  • OlimarIcon(SSB4-U).png
    Olimar: Olimar returns as a playable character for Super Smash Bros. 4, using all five Pikmin he used in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Though, this time he can only have three Pikmin follow him at once rather than six, and instead of plucking Pikmin at random, pluck them in a fixed order of Red, Yellow, Blue, White, Purple, Red, etc. Olimar also has a new recovery move that uses Winged Pikmin to carry him.
    • Alph: Four of Olimar's alternate costumes switch him with Alph, one of the three playable protagonists of Pikmin 3. Due to using the same base model as Olimar, Alph is slightly taller in SSB4 compared to his appearance in Pikmin 3.

Stage Hazard

  • Peckish Aristocrab: A large enemy from Pikmin 3. It appears on the Garden of Hope stage and moves across the stage. Any fighter that touches it will receive damage and will be knocked back. At 80% or above, the Aristocrab has the potential to KO most fighters that it hits. It also destroys the Climbing Stick and the pot on the stage. If the bridge in the center of the stage is out, it will fall down the gap in the stage. It can enter from either side of the stage, and the camera will pan out slightly when it is about to come. Bubbles will appear on the side of the stage where the Aristocrab appears.

Common Enemy

  • Bulborb: Red Bulborbs appear as large enemies in Smash Run. Like other large enemies, it has many devastating moves and takes many hits to take down. Its main attacks consist of running toward the fighter, snapping their jaws towards the fighter, and jumping up and hitting the fighter with their head if they are below them. In addition, the Bulborb has an attack where it can attack a fighter from behind. Arguably the easiest way to deal with it is to attack it from above periodically, and counter if possible.
  • Iridescent Glint Beetle: Iridescent Glint Beetles appear as enemies in Smash Run. They are even rarer than Souflees, and usually are only found in specified bonus rooms. Iridescent Glint Beetles do not present any harm, and when hit, will drop gold. It can be hit about 4-5 times before scuttling back underground. Iridescent Glint Beetles also appear in Smash Tour, and any player that bumps into them will get some extra fighters. In Smash Tour, they usually appear two at a time.

Stages

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

  • GardenofHopeIconSSB4-U.png
    Garden of Hope: Set in the second area in Pikmin 3 in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U only. The layout of the stage is mostly the same, aside from the waterfall. It consists of two large platforms, a Climbing Stick, a pot, and a set of Elevator Platforms on the side, which function as scales. A small bridge appears to connect the two large platforms. Fighters can destroy the pot and the Climbing Stick, and can stand on top of both. Wild Pikmin will come onto the stage to fix any damage done, such as rebuilding the bridge and the pot. Fighters can get stuck in the pot if they stand in the middle while Pikmin are rebuilding it. The Peckish Aristocrab is a major stage hazard here, and a Bulborb will appear in the background.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS

  • DistantPlanetIconSSB4-3.png
    Super Smash Bros. Brawl Distant Planet: This stage returns from Brawl and is almost entirely unchanged.

Items

  • Hocotate Bomb: A miniature version of a Hocotate Ship, that, similarly to End of Day, launches upwards and comes back crashing down, creating an large explosion that damages anyone nearby. It can fly up if thrown by a player, but can also fly up if it is attacked. If it was thrown, it will not harm the one who threw it. It can also take fighters up with it, similar to Mega Man's up aerial. If it gets attacked enough, it will immediately explode.

Music

  • Main Theme (Pikmin):

Trophies

This is a list of trophies from the Pikmin series.

Both Versions

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

In addition to the ones above, there are many more trophies in this version.

  1. ^ Known as "Yellow Wollyhop" in PAL versions.

In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

The Pikmin series and all of its previous characters and stages return for Ultimate.

Characters

  • Olimar: He returns as an unlockable fighter.
  • Alph: He returns as an alternate skin for Olimar.

Assist Trophy

  • Burrowing Snagret: The Burrowing Snagret appears as the first Assist Trophy from the Pikmin series. It appears with its design from Pikmin 3. When summoned, it emerges from the ground and rapidly pecks in front of itself. It will then burrow back into the ground and reemerge somewhere else to repeat its attack, even on soft platforms.

Stages

Both Pikmin stages from the last two games return.

  • Super Smash Bros. Brawl Distant Planet: Pikmin's first stage from Brawl returns as a retro stage.
  • Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Garden of Hope: Returning from the Wii U version of Smash 4, this garden returns as a retro stage.

Item

Music

  • A new arrangement of "Garden of Hope" from Pikmin 3 played during Olimar's showcase trailer.
  • A new arrangement of the Main Theme from Pikmin was made available on Ultimate's website.

Games with elements from or in the Super Smash Bros. series

Pikmin

  • Captain Olimar appears as a trophy in Melee.
  • Pikmin also appear as trophies in both games.
  • The main character, Olimar, is a playable character in Brawl alongside the Pikmin.
  • Distant Planet appears as a stage, and incorporates elements of the Forest of Hope from Pikmin, along with the Onions and Bulborb enemies.
  • Various Songs are also taken from this game, such as the Forest of Hope, the main theme from the game, and a remix of the main theme incorporating the Stage Clear tune.
  • There are numerous trophies from the series.
  • Olimar's Final Smash, End of Day, reflects the feature in the game of when Olimar had to leave the planet at the end of each day to avoid him and the Pikmin being eaten.

Pikmin 2

The White and Purple Pikmin introduced in this game are two of the Pikmin that Olimar can pick using his Pikmin Pluck move.

In addition, the spaceship Olimar and Louie use to fly in this game is part of Olimar's Final Smash, End of Day, and as a part of Olimar's on-screen appearance, as well as the inspiration for the Hocotate Bomb item in SSB4. Olimar's partner, Louie, was first introduced in this game and appears in SSBB and SSB4 as a trophy.

Iridescent Glint Beetles, which appeared in this game, reappear as enemies in Smash Run.

Pikmin 3

Olimar uses his appearance from Pikmin 3 in Super Smash Bros. 4, and the second area in the game, the Garden of Hope, appears as a stage in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. Winged Pikmin also debuted in this game.

Alph, one of the three main protagonists of this game, is also a playable character in Super Smash Bros. 4. However, only appears as four of Captain Olimar's eight alternate costumes.

Trivia

  • Not counting 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 Animal Crossing is the oldest for the 21st century overall.

External links