Pikmin (universe)

Pikmin (universe)
	;
Developer(s)	Nintendo
Publisher(s)	Nintendo
Designer(s)	Shigeru Miyamoto; Shigefumi Hino
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. A spin-off title, Hey! Pikmin, featuring vastly different gameplay from the mainline series, released for the Nintendo 3DS in 2017.

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

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

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

Blue Pellet
Blue Pikmin
Bulborb
Crimson Candypop Bud
Louie
Olimar & Louie's Ship
Olimar's Daughter
Onion
Reclining Red Pikmin
Red Pikmin
Red Pellet
The President
Yellow Pellet
Yellow Pikmin

In Super Smash Bros. 4

Between the releases of Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. 4, the third entry in the Pikmin series Pikmin 3 was released in 2013. A significant amount of its content was incorporated into Smash 4, including Pikmin 3's Alph as a alternate character swap for Olimar and a new stage - Garden of Hope. The first Pikmin item (sans the Distant Planet-exclusive Pellets) was introduced in Smash 4. Much of the Pikmin content from Brawl was carried over into Smash 4, including the Distant Planet stage. Music pieces used in Brawl by the group Strawberry Flower did not return in Smash 4.

Characters

Olimar: a captain from the Hocotate Freight who has learned to command altruistic plant-like aliens called Pikmin. He was the first playable character announced for Smash 4 after E3 2013, being confirmed on July 12, 2013 to coincide with the Japanese release of Pikmin 3. His whistle from Pikmin 3 has been incorporated into his design, and the finer details of his spacesuit from Brawl have been downplayed. His neutral attack is now the one-two combo from Pikmin 2. All five Pikmin from Brawl return. Olimar can only have three Pikmin follow him at once rather than six. Instead of plucking Pikmin at random, Olimar plucks them in a fixed order of: Red, Yellow, Blue, White, Purple, and back to Red. He has a new recovery move where Winged Pikmin from Pikmin 3 carry him and his Pikmin to safety. Four of the eight alternate costumes replace Olimar with Alph, a blue-haired engineer and one of the three protagonists in Pikmin 3, but the change is purely cosmetic. At some point in late development, Alph was going to be "promoted" into a playable clone that utilized Rock Pikmin, but this never came into fruition.

Items

Main article: Items

Bold italics denotes an item or Assist Trophy new to the Smash Bros. series.

The Pic of the Day introducing the Hocotate Bomb as a new item.

Pellet (throwing): a colorful, crystallized disc of nectar from the original Pikmin only accessible on the Distant Planet stage. A pellet is held in the disc of a tall flower called a Pellet Posy and will be dropped if the Posy is struck. The pellet can either be picked up and tossed as a projectile weapon, or it can be thrown at an Onion. The Onion will use the procured pellet to create items.
Hocotate Bomb (throwing): an explosive rocket that resembles the Hocotate Ship from Pikmin 2. Similar to End of Day, the bomb launches skyward and comes back crashing down, creating a large explosion that damages nearby opponents on impact. Being tossed or attacked trigger its launch. If it was tossed, it will not harm the wielder. It can also take fighters up with it as it ascends, similar to Mega Man's up aerial. If struck enough times, it will explode immediately. This bomb is not in any of the Pikmin games.

Smash Tour items

Yellow Wollywog (Blue): a yellow amphibian from the original Pikmin. It nullifies traps on the board that the user steps on.
Plasm Wraith (Red): a gelatinous beast from Pikmin 3. It heals the user when they block attacks with their shield.

Enemies

Main article: Enemies

Enemies that appear in both Smash Run in the 3DS version and Smash Tour in the Wii U version.

Iridescent Glint Beetle (Pilli auricus): a subterranean species of beetle from Pikmin 2. In Smash Run, it is usually only found in bonus rooms. It does not present any harm. When struck, it drops gold. It can be hit about 4-5 times before it scuttles back underground. In Smash Tour, any player that bumps into one on the board is awarded extra fighters.

Smash Run enemies

Enemies exclusive to the 3DS version. They appear in Smash Run.

Bulborb (Oculus kageyamii russusa): a large, red subspecies of grub-dog from the original Pikmin. It is a large enemy that does not flinch from most attacks and cannot be grabbed. It takes many hits to take down. It will lumber towards the opponents and snap at them with their mandibles, or slam into them with its colorful backside. For aerial opponents, it will jump up and try to headbutt them.

Stages

for Nintendo 3DS

Distant Planet: staged in the Forest of Hope from the original Pikmin. Pellet-bearing posies and Onions are found on this stage. Striking a posy causes it to drop its pellet, which can either be thrown as a projectile or brought to an Onion. The Onion uses the pellet to create items. The number of items created is dependent on the number on the face of the pellet (1, 5, or 10) and if the pellet matches the color of the Onion it is brought to. Distant Planet is subject to changes in weather: rain causes flash floods that carry fighters off of the lowest platform. An enormous Bulborb occasionally walks in stage left and can be used as a platform. However, it will eat fighters that stay on its back too long. It is one of the possible stages to appear in Level 6 of All-Star Mode as a home stage for Olimar and Alph. Its Ω form takes place on a tree stump.

for Wii U

Garden of Hope: staged in an alien garden from Pikmin 3. It is a large stage that is made up of two large columnar 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. An enormous creature called the Peckish Aristocrab will occasionally lumber across the stage, destroying structures and damaging fighters in its wake. If fighters have ≥80% damage, making contact with the Aristocrab can result in an instant KO. A Bulborb and the S.S. Drake appear in the background. The Garden of Hope large enough to accommodate 8-Player Smash. It is one of the possible stages to appear in Level 2 of All-Star Mode as a home stage for Olimar and Alph. Its Ω form is columnar. The organization of trophies in the trophy gallery suggests that Alph's co-workers, Brittany and Captain Charlie, were originally going to appear on this stage in some capacity.

Music

See List of SSB4 Music (Pikmin series)

Original tracks

Arrangements and remixes unique to SSB4.

Stage Select (Pikmin 2): an arrangement of "World Map Theme" from Pikmin 2. It plays on Distant Planet and Garden of Hope.
Mission Mode (Pikmin 3): an arrangement of "Mission Mode" from Pikmin 3, itself an arrangement of "Pikmin" from the original Pikmin. It features singing Pikmin. It plays on Garden of Hope.

Returning tracks

Arrangements and remixes from Brawl.

Stage Clear / Title (Pikmin): an arrangement of "Night Comes" and "Pikmin" from Pikmin. It plays on Garden of Hope.
Environmental Noises: an environmental-inspired interpretation of the wildlife audio samples used to establish the atmosphere of Pikmin. It plays on Garden of Hope.
World Map (Pikmin 2): an arrangement of "World Map Theme" from Pikmin 2. It plays on Garden of Hope.

Source tracks

Compositions and arrangements directly sourced from Pikmin games with no alterations.

Main Theme (Pikmin): plays on Distant Planet and Garden of Hope.
Forest of Hope: from Pikmin. It plays on Garden of Hope.
Garden of Hope from Pikmin 3. It plays on Garden of Hope.

Victory fanfares

Victory! Pikmin: an arrangement of the first few notes of the "Pikmin motif", a derivative of the eponymous title theme from Pikmin. It is sourced from Brawl.