Pikmin fans are no strangers to the concept of waiting. With nine years separating the second and third Pikmin games and a further seven passing since the release of the latter, they’ve done their fair share of it. Although Pikmin 3 Deluxe may not be the return that fans had been hoping for, it’s an indication that the series is still very much in the thoughts of Nintendo. It’s a cause for hope.
Hope and overcoming insurmountable odds are themes that are present throughout the Pikmin games. Whether it be Olimar rebuilding his spaceship before his life support system runs out or the tiny Pikmin working together to take down far bigger foes, it’s their belief that keeps them going. The series itself is about triumphing through perseverance and cooperation; it is also one with many interesting facts.
Disclaimer: In this case, “anatomy” refers to both the physical structure of the Pikmin and the inner workings of the series.
10 There Are 8 Different Types Of Pikmin
The number of different types of Pikmin has increased with each additional game. In the series’ first entry, there are only three different types which are based on the three primary colors. Each also has an elemental affinity, with Red Pikmin able to withstand fire, Yellow Pikmin invulnerable to electricity, and Blue Pikmin impervious to water.
Pikmin 2 introduced two additional types (Purple Pikmin and White Pikmin) and a further two were added in the most recent Pikmin game (Rock Pikmin and Winged Pikmin). It’s also possible to control juvenile Bulbmin if the player defeats a Bulbmin leader and has fewer than 100 trailing Pikmin, although they cannot leave the dungeons in which they are found.
9 There Are Inconsistencies With Their Strength
In Pikmin 2, it’s possible to find a 1KG dumbbell which requires 100 Purple Pikmin to carry. This suggests that each Purple Pikmin is able to carry a maximum of 10 grams each. Given that they are ten times stronger than a regular Pikmin, it would also indicate that a non-Purple Pikmin can only carry around one gram. Unfortunately, though, this doesn’t quite add up with evidence found elsewhere throughout the series.
Pikmin also contains several different types of Duracell batteries, all of which can be carried by the little Pikmin. Looking at the real world weights of these batteries, it’s again possible to calculate how much weight the Pikmin can carry. There’s some variance, but doing so suggests that a single Pikmin can carry anywhere between four and seven grams.
8 Olimar Weighs Less Than 35 Grams
Olimar may look fairly similar to a human in terms of his anatomy, but there are some key differences – the most notable of which is his height. According to the manual for the original game, the Hocotatian is around three-quarters of an inch tall. Not only does this make Olimar the shortest character in the Super Smash Bros. series (a title that had previously been held by Kirby), but it also makes him incredibly light.
Although a canon weight has never been provided for Olimar, it’s possible to get a rough idea through his adventures with the Pikmin. It takes four or five regular Pikmin to carry him depending on the game, which, given their ability to carry between four and seven grams each, would mean that Olimar can weigh no more than 35 grams. He is not quite as light as a feather, but it does explain how the game’s Puffy Blowhog enemy is able to blow Olimar away so effortlessly.
7 Some Of The Series’ Characters Were Named After The Phonetic Alphabet
Although Olimar is the only playable character found in the first Pikmin game, subsequent titles have introduced many additional protagonists. In Pikmin 2, players are able to control Olimar, Louie, and The President, whilst Pikmin 3 introduces three brand new protagonists in Alph, Brittany, and Charlie.
As well as their names beginning with the first three letters of the alphabet, both Alph and Charlie’s names are based on the International Phonetic Alphabet. Much like the Pikmin, each of the new characters also has their own distinct color.
6 There Are Several Connections Between Pikmin & Animal Crossing
Although Olimar was silent during the first Pikmin game, he is voiced by Kazumi Totaka in the game’s sequel. Those who are big fans of Animal Crossing‘s K.K Slider will know that the musical mutt is both based on and named after Totaka, who also composed much of the series’ music. This isn’t the only link between the two franchises either.
In Animal Crossing: City Folk, players can receive a message from Captain Olimar during their playthrough. His letter details his adventures with the Pikmin and, after reading it, the player receives a Red Pikmin Hat. Olimar’s ship, the Dolphin, also appears in the game as one of the many pieces of furniture and features again in Animal Crossing: New Leaf.
5 The Dolphin Was Named After The GameCube
During its development, the Nintendo GameCube’s codename was Dolphin. Although it was eventually renamed, references to the codename can still be found in several Nintendo titles. These include Super Mario Sunshine, Super Smash Bros. Melee, and Pikmin. In the latter game, “Dolphin” is the name given to Olimar’s ship.
The appearance of the ship varies depending on how many of the ship’s parts the player has collected, with the two lights on the front being the most obvious differences. The flight pattern of the Dolphin also changes as more parts are located. Once completed, its final form greatly resembles the ship shown when using the Wii U’s transfer tool.
4 It’s Possible To Complete The Game Without Losing A Single Pikmin
Although some of the development team are able to complete the game without losing any Pikmin, it’s something that the series’ creator, Shigeru Miyamoto, cannot do himself. Like Miyamoto, it’s unlikely that many players will be able to accomplish this feat due to Pikmin‘s many hostile creatures. In fact, some may even end up facing a Pikmin extinction.
If all of the player’s Pikmin are lost or killed, the day will immediately end and an extinction message will appear on the screen. The next day, Olimar will have written a journal entry lamenting his poor leadership skills, calling himself a disgrace. Players will then be given one of each type of Pikmin so they can rebuild their forces from scratch.
3 Olimar Appeared In Smash Less Than One Month After Pikmin’s Release
Although Olimar would not become playable in Super Smash Bros. until Brawl, his first appearance in the series actually came many years earlier in Melee. He features as a trophy in the game, although the only way to unlock it is by having a Pikmin save file on the memory card. Interestingly, this is the only time in the history of Super Smash Bros. when a trophy has been unlocked using this method.
Subsequent titles have included significantly more Pikmin-related trophies, with each Pikmin type having their own trophy in Brawl. There are also trophies for many of the game’s enemies as well as Pikmin 2‘s other playable characters, Louie and The President.
2 Pikmin Was Inspired By Mario 128
Nintendo wowed the world when they unveiled the Mario 128 tech demo at the Nintendo Space World trade show in 2000. Although the game failed to materialize, it went on to inspire several other Nintendo titles including Super Mario Galaxy and Metroid Prime. The game’s defining mechanic, however, served as the inspiration for Pikmin.
At first, the team struggled to figure out how to incorporate more than 100 characters into a video game. After stumbling upon the carry mechanic, however, they were able to craft a game around it. The idea drew obvious comparisons to ants and other insects that can carry more than their own body weight and, together with Miyamoto’s love of gardening, led to the creation of Pikmin.
1 Pikmin May Take Place on A Future Version Of Earth
Although it has never been implicitly stated, it seems incredibly likely that the events of Pikmin take place on earth. The existence of man-made items like Duracell batteries all but confirm this and there are some other tell-tale signs. The image of the planet at the end of Pikmin 2 strongly resembles Earth while the oxygen-rich atmosphere also lines up.
It is assumed humans have gone extinct in this reality. How exactly the human race perished is unclear, although Olimar remarks that his Geiger Counter “goes wild and lets out a lot of noise,” which could point towards some sort of nuclear apocalypse.
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