Alright, so I finally got my hands on Pikmin 4 and dove right in, eager to see what these little critters were all about this time. You know how it is, a new Pikmin game, gotta see the lineup.
First off, the game eased me in with the classics. Red Pikmin, obviously. Got a bunch of those little guys following me around pretty quick. Threw ’em at the first fiery blowhog I saw, and yup, still fireproof. Good old reliable Reds, always the grunts you need for a fight or taking down those pesky flame walls. I just started by chucking them at anything that looked remotely flammable or needed a beating.
Then, not long after, I managed to sprout some Yellow Pikmin. Higher throws, that’s their jam. I was immediately scouting for high ledges, bomb rocks tucked away, anything I could lob them at. And those electric gates? Yellows walked right through ’em. Super handy for puzzles, and they dig like mad too, which I used a ton.
Naturally, Blue Pikmin showed up. The moment I saw a body of water, I knew it was time to get some Blues. Started guiding them through underwater tunnels, grabbing stuff from the bottom of ponds. No more worrying about my little guys drowning, which is always a relief.
But then, things got interesting. I stumbled upon Ice Pikmin. Man, these guys changed how I approached stuff. First thing I did was toss a bunch into a pond, and boom, frozen solid! Walked right across. And enemies? Freeze ’em, then smash ’em. I spent a good while just experimenting, freezing every enemy and puddle I could find. Made some tricky encounters way more manageable.
And speaking of new, the night expeditions introduced Glow Pikmin. Totally different vibe. These little green dudes are a blast. You’re not plucking them, they just sort of appear. Leading them to defend those Lumiknolls felt pretty intense. They can form a big ol’ glowing charge, which is super effective. Plus, they’re immune to pretty much everything at night, which is wild.
Of course, some other familiar faces made a comeback. I was happy to see Rock Pikmin again. Found a crystal wall, and I knew what to do. Tossed those chunky boys at it, and smash! Great for breaking hard stuff and they hit enemies with a real thud. Very satisfying.
Then I got my hands on Winged Pikmin. Oh yeah, these pink flyers are lifesavers. Any treasure teetering on a high branch or across a chasm? Sent the Winged ones right over. They’re also great for bypassing annoying ground-based obstacles or swarming airborne baddies. Pulled up a lot of those stubborn rooted items with them.
Later on, I managed to find Purple Pikmin. Still the absolute units of the Pikmin world. Ten of these heavyweights have the carrying power of 100 regular Pikmin! Soon as I saw a super heavy treasure or a tough enemy, I was whistling for my Purple squad. They also stun enemies when you throw them, which is a nice bonus. I’d just hurl a few at a big baddie to give myself some breathing room.
And can’t forget White Pikmin. Found these little speedsters eventually. Fast, poison-resistant, and they poison enemies that eat them. Sent them into toxic areas without a second thought, and they’re great for digging up buried stuff super quick. Sneaky little guys.
So yeah, there’s a whole bunch of ’em to manage. It got to the point where I was constantly back at the Onion, swapping Pikmin types, trying to figure out the best crew for whatever cave or area I was tackling next. Sometimes I’d go in, realize I had the wrong setup, and have to hoof it back. A bit of a juggle, but that’s part of the fun, figuring out who does what best and when to use ’em. Each type really had its moment to shine, and I definitely found myself using all of them throughout my playthrough.
