All views are that of the author and are not influenced by any copies of games provided by publishers for review purposes.
About the Game
Gameplay
Right off the bat, it's worth noting that Pikmin 4 does something no other Pikmin game had done yet: character customization! It's not as expansive as most other character creators out there, but it certainly doesn't need to; the game allows you to customize the character's various features as well as colors. It's unexpected for the franchise and a much welcome surprise.
The main gameplay obviously comes in the form of controlling the Pikmin in grab-and-throw scenarios. The small, plant-like creatures you start off with are easy to navigate between thanks to a very detailed tutorial. Whether you are tasking Red Pikmin to attack enemies, Blue Pikmin to assist in water-based puzzles, Yellow Pikmin to carry electric objects or Ice Pikmin to freeze enemies for you, Pikmin 4 offers a smooth and casual experience. You don't need to have played any of Pikmin game before this to be able to get through Pikmin 4, something that needs to be celebrated nowadays.
There is a decent amount of exploration that comes with the game, all of which includes a variety of different environments, challenges and rewards similar to bubbleshooter.com. The underground sub-levels, in particular, are some of the most entertaining aspects of Pikmin 4. They come with their own set of challenging puzzles and platforming shenanigins, such as conveyor belts and freezers. It's all silly fun and extremely charming from start to finish with enough expeditions to keep you walking alongside your fellow Pikmins for over 20 hours, at least.
One particularly interesting thing about the game is how much it rewards you for strategizing. You can't go into a boss battle without having thought of what Pikmin to bring with you (as you can only have 3 types on you at once), so knowing what you're going up against allows players to come up with a plan that feels both smart and fun. I usually defaulted to having Purple Pikmin with me at boss battles since they are the strongest against enemies, but I also find the Ice Pikmin so adorable and handy when you need to freeze some enemies to allow other Pikmins to make a move!
This is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful Pikmin games that have ever existed. The world is rich in color and a level of detail that is especially impressive whenever your eyes dart to the water effects in the game. There is also a fluidity in how the Pikmins move that is both hilarious and visually striking as the art style in the game feels incredibly expressive and comical.
The sound effects in Pikmin 4 are charming and well done with a variety of different pitches used for the various types of Pikmin. The voice acting in the cutscenes are solid and keep the story progressing at a reasonable pace without particularly standing out in any way alongside the upbeat and often entertaining music.
The main gameplay obviously comes in the form of controlling the Pikmin in grab-and-throw scenarios. The small, plant-like creatures you start off with are easy to navigate between thanks to a very detailed tutorial. Whether you are tasking Red Pikmin to attack enemies, Blue Pikmin to assist in water-based puzzles, Yellow Pikmin to carry electric objects or Ice Pikmin to freeze enemies for you, Pikmin 4 offers a smooth and casual experience. You don't need to have played any of Pikmin game before this to be able to get through Pikmin 4, something that needs to be celebrated nowadays.
There is a decent amount of exploration that comes with the game, all of which includes a variety of different environments, challenges and rewards similar to bubbleshooter.com. The underground sub-levels, in particular, are some of the most entertaining aspects of Pikmin 4. They come with their own set of challenging puzzles and platforming shenanigins, such as conveyor belts and freezers. It's all silly fun and extremely charming from start to finish with enough expeditions to keep you walking alongside your fellow Pikmins for over 20 hours, at least.
One particularly interesting thing about the game is how much it rewards you for strategizing. You can't go into a boss battle without having thought of what Pikmin to bring with you (as you can only have 3 types on you at once), so knowing what you're going up against allows players to come up with a plan that feels both smart and fun. I usually defaulted to having Purple Pikmin with me at boss battles since they are the strongest against enemies, but I also find the Ice Pikmin so adorable and handy when you need to freeze some enemies to allow other Pikmins to make a move!
Visuals
This is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful Pikmin games that have ever existed. The world is rich in color and a level of detail that is especially impressive whenever your eyes dart to the water effects in the game. There is also a fluidity in how the Pikmins move that is both hilarious and visually striking as the art style in the game feels incredibly expressive and comical.
Sound
The sound effects in Pikmin 4 are charming and well done with a variety of different pitches used for the various types of Pikmin. The voice acting in the cutscenes are solid and keep the story progressing at a reasonable pace without particularly standing out in any way alongside the upbeat and often entertaining music.
Performance
The sound effects in Pikmin 4 are charming and well done with a variety of different pitches used for the various types of Pikmin. The voice acting in the cutscenes are solid and keep the story progressing at a reasonable pace without particularly standing out in any way alongside the upbeat and often entertaining music.
Accessibility
While there isn't a straightforward difficulty setting, the game does have a Rewind Time feature if you make a mistake with a Pikmin or two and wanted to retrace your steps, something that came in handy at least once or twice for me. Subtitles are also on by default for the cinematics as well as during gameplay, but unfortunately the text is pretty small. The settings are surprisingly lacking in font size slider and other color-related options, preventing Pikmin 4 from being the most accessible game.
Verdict
Gameplay/Story: 9/10
Visuals: 8/10
Sound: 7/10
Performance: 6/10
Overall: 8/10
