Pikmin: Distant Planet
Pikmin: Distant Planet is a non-canon game that represents a short departure from the rest of the series, which generally takes the form of an RTS (real-time strategy) because it is actually an RPG (role-playing game). Part of the feel of the game is similar to the Pokemon: Mystery Dungeon series because the titular Pikmin are the main characters of the game instead of captains from Hocotate. This marks the first time the player is able to understand what the Pikmin are actually saying, along with certain other species able to converse with Pikmin. More than anything else, the game borrows heavily from the Japan-only Mother 3 and is in fact a tribute to both the Pikmin and Mother series.
Controls
The game is on Wii, and similarly to Mega Man 9 it uses 2-D graphics that look like a much sharper and more colorful version of Super Nintendo graphics.
- Control Stick- Move/Select
- A Button- Examine/Talk/Select/Attack
- B Button- Run/Stop Running
- Z Button- Pause, Bring up Menu
- C Button- Quickly View HP/DP
- + and - Switch Party Leader
Story
The story takes place nearly 3 centuries after the events of Pikmin 2. It's literally been hundreds of years since any Hocotatians have visited the Pikmin planet whatsoever, and the Pikmin have actually adapted quite well to the world they once fought to survive in. Although there are not vast armies of Pikmin across the planet and their groups are considerably smaller they treat themselves more like individuals than a group. Now, the Onions are used more as caravans rather than machines for mass producing Pikmin, although of course Pikmin are still grown there. They make their actual homes in huts of leaves, sticks, sometimes stone and other materials. The time when Pikmin were led by alien leaders has been long forgotten. In a Pikmin village situated nearby The Impact Site, a Red Pikmin is told by an Ancient Pikmin Sage that a new age is beginning and that in order to prepare for this time, this Red Pikmin must seek out the other Destined Pikmin- a yellow, a blue, a purple and a white. During the events of the quest, changes start taking place as the supposed "new age" draws closer and closer. Although not much of the plot can or should be revealed at this point, it is hinted that the "new age" is an age of technology.
Gameplay
As mentioned earlier, there is RPG gameplay instead of RTS gameplay. The game starts off with a Red Pikmin, and as it progresses more Pikmin will join its party. Battles are entered by getting a close encounter with an enemy or enemies in the field, in which case your party will appear on the battle screen. During these fights you can choose to attack, defend, use a Distant Power or item- or you can try to run away. Sometimes that's a wise option as well. You don't want to mess with an enemy far stronger than you unless there's a good reason. Winning battles is all about making sure you have plenty of health, good knowledge of the weapons and items you've equipped, and a good supply of Distant Power, which is used for elemental-based moves. The more fights you win, the more EXP you'll gain (experience) and after you gain a certain amount of EXP you'll go up a level, growing stronger in all categories (HP, DP, Attack, Defense, Speed) making it easier for you to defeat enemies that might have given you a hard time before.
Characters
Not too much can or should be revealed about the characters at this point, but here's a brief list.
- Red Pikmin- You name this Pikmin at the start of the game. It relies on fiery DP and stick/needle attacks.
- Yellow Pikmin- You name this Pikmin at the start of the game. It relies on electric DP and explosive attacks. It's ears let you hear the beating of the enemy's heart so you can perform music combos during battles very easily!
- Blue Pikmin- You name this Pikmin at the start of the game. It relies on watery and icy DP and standard attacks. It doesn't need to eat Bubble Gum in order to breather underwater, as it has gills.
- Purple Pikmin- You name this Pikmin at the start of the game. It relies on heavy, physical attacks... usually. It has slow speed and lower accuracy attacks, but when it connects it really hits hard.
- White Pikmin- You name this Pikmin at the start of the game. It relies on poison DP and standard attacks. It has high speed and can tell enemy weaknesses.
- The Seven Ancients- A mysterious group that's been around for centuries. The Red Ancient saw the need to gather five Destined Pikmin. Legends tell of Seven Ancients, but the legend never states whether or not all of them are Pikmin.
- Bulbmin- Small Bulbmin, though they are strange creatures, have supposedly made a town of their own somewhere in the world.
- P. Stool- A traveling Puffstool that has been preaching in different Pikmin villages. Puffstools haven't been seen since Olimar's time, so nobody remembers what the originals were like. Maybe that's a good thing after all, right?
- Shroomasks- Are they from Hocotate? Or from somewhere else? Maybe they're not from another planet at all. There are rumors of these secretive "spacemin" hiding out somewhere on the planet. Nobody really knows their intentions. Maybe we'll learn more about them later.