#pikmin really is such a unique series | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

lesbianjobutupaki · 3 months

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Art practice by trying some other artist's styles that I'm a huge fan of!

From Top Left to Bottom Right:

@ghostishere0 - the original reason I started this doodle, as I wanted to draw a "shepherd lovers squad" and their OC (who I don't know the name of F) was the perfect fit for it.

@luminesparkz - the best interpretation of Pom pikmin. If I were Mr. Nitendo, I would make them the official comic creator along with the manga comics.

@marblyso - If I was a little more unhinged and made a shrine to Erma Shepherd, it would be mostly marblyso's art of her, it's my absolute favorite Erma depiction <3

@rexscanonwife - another OC that I don't know the name of, but she makes such a cute pair with Shepherd and has such cute art that why not, let Shepherd have multiple canon wives at this point.

@citruscrisp - I think this is secretly Alph in an alternate universe where he makes comics about himself, because citrus has Alph's character SPOT ON, and also loves to put that boy in a situation (which I am happy for, I enjoy seeing that boy in a situation)

@daisythecomic - oooaaaaaaaaaa they look like little mice people they look so soft and sweet I love them so muuuuuuuuuccchhhhhhhhh

@louie-posting - I can't not include actual Louie Pikmin on this list.

@kiwilittle - the soft, the sweet, the one who makes the best family style art, really making me wish I was an inch tall so I could go to holidays with the olimar family, also their wife design is so cute that if Olimar didn't already get it I would shoot my shot for her m a a m

@pikbugz - really nails the soft aesthetic that makes pikmin such a calming series, and their coloring style is so soft and good that it gives me the ratatouille nostalgia flashback moment.

@splitster - more than just the wraith au guy, they are the one who makes incredible and funny comics; I've seen so many fics with the rescue corps where I can pick up that yes, this trait came from a splitster comic, and that's a GOOD thing. Made me actually LIKE Dingo, the nerve.

@diesaur - I can't do diesaur's incredible, unique art justice, they are amazing at using geometrics and have the best charlie (his little teefs...)

@solluxander - Cars, one of my favorite pikmin Ocs I've ever seen! Collin deserves a slightly unhinged sentient fluffball boyfriend, and I always love seeing the new ways Cars will interact with him.

@sillypikmin - all hail the best pikposter, who I'm still convinced is an actual leafling living on actual pnf-404, literally every time I have a bad day I look at drawings of Moss and feel better.

@eggpathy - thank goodness they came back to give us old man yaoi. I keep their drawing of olimar kissing the pikmin good night on my phone and look at it before I go to sleep and so far I have yet to have a single nightmare.

@the-knife-consumer - the only person I trust with Louittany, toxic yuri my beloved, I just adore their beasty brittany design so so much, I wish I could have a small brittany to live in my house...

anyway they have the best headcanons for our beloved blorbo hamster people

@natibranch - there's a voice line of Louie going "wa-ha!" in this really cute sing-song voice and every time I see any art by natibranch I hear that sound in my head as a little burst of serotonin, they just nail that exact feeling so so well.

@pikked-min - Another of my favorite Pikmin OCs, Yuva! A really interesting and unique character concept with a lot of thought put into the worldbuilding, followed by a strong unusual personality that had me looking at the pikmin world through a new perspective entirely. Please, someone, give them some sunglasses. Read the fic it's so good

@ssserf - artistic and deep while still somehow looking like official nintendo tm art, genuinely the best at the pikmin proportions, how could I resist trying my hand at the classic amazing beautiful Brittany Fruit Sweater moment, literally SO iconic

@kashi-pon - while I was working on the part of this that was just kashi's various highlife dresses there was a part of me that wanted to dedicate the rest of the space to paying homage to the joke comic of Louie lifting his skirt to show Olimar that he's wearing shorts, except this dress....well......

@diamondwerewolf - the reason we got louie in a little bunny outfit anyway, and thus why we got kashi's dress version. you single-handedly turned Louie into a tumblr sexyman, how could you

#pikmin #pikmin art #pikmin artists #pikmin 2 #pikmin 4 #pikmin 3 #my art

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seandwalsh · 3 months

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The Life Cycle of Nectar in the Pikmin World

This post contains spoilers for the entire Pikmin series.

Nectar, or “Essence of the Earth” as it’s called in Japanese, is an important but oft overlooked part of the ecology of PNF-404. It’s well known as the yellow substance that allows Pikmin leaves to instantly bloom into flowers, increasing the Pikmin's speed and strength.

“Another intriguing discovery! A local variety of grass produces a sort of yellow nectar-when the Pikmin drink this delicacy, they instantly mature into flowers! This apparent Pikmin favorite seems to be full of nutrition. Closer observation is needed to determine the strengths and peculiarities of these flower Pikmin.”

[Source: Captain Olimar, Employee of Hocotate Freight and Captain of the S.S. Dolphin, Playable Character in Pikmin 1, December 2001]

“I've noticed that when they consume nectar, a flower immediately blooms on a Pikmin's head. Yet, when they mature in the ground from a sprout, their leaf becomes a bud before a flower. Either way, the more they grow, the faster Pikmin become. That could be useful...”

[Source: Captain Olimar, Employee of Hocotate Freight and Captain of the S.S. Dolphin, Playable Character in Pikmin 4, July 2023]

Nectar is abundant in the soil of PNF-404. It seems to be the Pikmin’s favourite (and perhaps only) form of nutrition and they can get easily distracted whenever they have the chance to eat some. In Pikmin 1, they even ignore Olimar’s commands in favour of pulling up grass in an attempt to find some Nectar to drink.

“At times, these seemingly emotionless Pikmin act with a blind urgency. For instance, the Pikmin who so tirelessly dig up grass... What could be driving them to do so? Is it merely the promise of a sweet taste of nectar? Or is it some base instinct that is beyond my capacity to understand? Will I ever know?”

[Source: Captain Olimar, Employee of Hocotate Freight and Captain of the S.S. Dolphin, Playable Character in Pikmin 1, December 2001]

However, what’s less well known is that Nectar is also likely what the bodies of the Pikmin themselves are largely composed of. Nectar from the soil is absorbed by the Pellet Posies, a close relative of the Pikmin that grow sparsely all over the planet. As I discussed previously, Pellet Posies were likely created with intention by humans for the purpose of Pikmin production. Pellets from Pellet Posies are described as being unnatural. These plants grow incredibly quickly, usually near Onion landing sites, and produce pellets of pure, nutrient-rich, crystallised nectar. Their Pellets match the colour of the Pikmin in a given area. While any Onion can convert any colour of pellet into Pikmin seeds, if a pellet is fed to an Onion of the same colour it will produce even more Pikmin.

“The pellet cradled in its petals changes colors like some form of chameleon, aligning to match the color of nearby Pikmin. It's almost as though it's inviting us to come harvest it to make more. Even though it appears to be helping out, it's really just using us to spread its seeds!”

[Source: Dalmo, Sozorian Animal Enthusiast and researcher, Non-Player Character in Pikmin 4, July 2023]

“In the stem of the pellet posy, one can observe the muscle fiber unique to half-plant, half-animal species such as the Pikmin and candypop flowers, so the pellet posy is a species that can be considered a close relative.”

[Source: Captain Olimar, Employee of Hocotate Freight and Captain of the S.S. Dolphin, Playable Character in Pikmin 2, August 2004]

“Pellet Posies suck up nectar, the crystallised forms of which are the pellets they proudly display. And Pikmin, as you know, really love their nectar! Ha, the scamps!”

[Source: François, Oojian plant scholar and Research Task Force Recruit, Non-Player Character in Pikmin 4, July 2023]

“When harvesting Pellet Posies, I suggest you avoid the majestic roots and aim for the hard and unnatural pellet. That unwieldy, round pellet is much easier to detach if you think of it as an attack.”

[Source: François, Oojian plant scholar and Research Task Force Recruit, Non-Player Character in Pikmin 4, July 2023]

This Nectar is converted by the Onions into Pikmin seedlings. This explains why Pikmin become faster and stronger when they drink Nectar, as well as why buried Pikmin slowly mature - they may be absorbing more nectar from the soil through their roots while under the ground. Perhaps the fluid-like substance we see within the Onions discovered in Pikmin 3 is even a liquefied form of Pikmin seed, explaining how so many Pikmin can fit inside.

“I am always intrigued as to whether or not such vast numbers of Pikmin can truly sleep inside such a small Onion. What sort of vessel is it inside? Does it somehow transcend the laws of physics? Just once, I would like to have the chance to see for myself...”

[Source: Captain Olimar, Employee of Hocotate Freight and Captain of the S.S. Dolphin, Playable Character in Pikmin 1, December 2001]

“Whenever Onions unite, I can't help but wonder how a single Onion can hold so many Pikmin. Do they shrink back into seeds for easier packing? It makes me feel funny just thinking about it.”

[Source: Alph, Koppaite Scientist and Engineer of the S.S. Drake, Playable Character in Pikmin 3, July 2013]

On the subject of Onions, Pellet Posies and Pikmin reproduction, the recently observed Lumiknolls exist in a very interesting related position. Lumiknolls and their juvenile form Tricknolls sprout at night and produce Glow Pikmin. Glow Pikmin, while resembling Pikmin in appearance and behaviour, are not technically classified as Pikmin. Lumiknolls appear at Onion landing sites, smell like Onions and are even speculated to be Onion rhizomes of some sort. It seems that Lumiknolls and Glow Pikmin, with their degradative enzymes, exist for the purpose of breaking down deceased Pikmin into Glow Pellets and returning their Nectar to the soil for Pellet Posies to absorb and crystalise, perpetuating the life cycle of the Pikmin.

“Lumiknolls will only appear in places where an Onion was located earlier in the day, and since they propagate Glow Pikmin, one could surmise that they are rhizomes from those Onions. Perhaps, using its dissolving powers, it returns the nectar that supports the ecosystem back to the soil.”

[Source: Captain Olimar, Employee of Hocotate Freight and Captain of the S.S. Dolphin, Playable Character in Pikmin 4, July 2023]

As mentioned before, it’s highly likely that the Pikmin and their relatives were created and introduced to the ecosystem by humans. After the humans were gone, the Pikmin, Onions and Pellet Posies continued to live - and it seems they caused a major shift the planet’s ecology...

As it turns out, despite Nectar being closely linked to the Pikmin, they aren’t the only ones that primarily feed on it. In fact, almost every single creature on PNF-404 gains their necessary nutrients from a source of Nectar.

“Nectar is a vital source of nutrition that most life on this planet depends on. Whether it's in the form of an egg yolk, sap, or honey, I leave up to your imagination!”

[Source: Dalmo, Sozorian Animal Enthusiast and researcher, Non-Player Character in Pikmin 4, July 2023]

“Although the ability to crystallize nectar is unique to a small group of the pellet weed family, the fact that these plants reach maturity so quickly and that their pellets contain such high concentrations of the natural nutrients in the soil explains why the Pikmin and so many of the other indigenous species are so reliant on these pellets for sustenance.”

[Source: Captain Olimar, Employee of Hocotate Freight and Captain of the S.S. Dolphin, Playable Character in Pikmin 4, July 2023]

Various methods of Nectar intake are displayed throughout these games.

[SOURCES]

In fact we see several creatures across the Pikmin series spit up pellets they've eaten from Pellet Posies when they’re defeated, directly reflecting the Piklopedia entries. The Iridescent Flint Beetles even store up undigested pellets and nectar for the winter. This is likely why Pikmin chase them so fervently:

“Flint beetles are nocturnal, choosing to hide in the grass by day and stay active at night. These creatures keep undigested food pellets in their stomachs to sustain them through winter, but given the right stimulus they will spit them out. Recent research has revealed that these pellets are enveloped in a membrane that seals and preserves them in a sterile, airtight environment. If kept at room temperature, it seems that this pellet membrane will keep its contents fresh for up to six months. The membrane may be made from the same substance that gives the exoskeleton of the flint beetle its beautiful sheen.”

[Source: Captain Olimar, Employee of Hocotate Freight and Captain of the S.S. Dolphin, Playable Character in Pikmin 4, July 2023]

As Olimar states in his log on the Lumiknoll, the Nectar supports the ecosystem. It all comes back to Nectar, and thus Lumiknolls will break down essentially all deceased creatures into Glow Pellets come night time.

“Besides the fact that they serve as incubators and nests for Glow Pikmin, we know very little about the Lumiknoll's ecology. When nocturnal creatures die, a Lumiknoll can break them down into glow pellets through its strong dissolving enzymes.”

[Source: Captain Olimar, Employee of Hocotate Freight and Captain of the S.S. Dolphin, Playable Character in Pikmin 4, July 2023]

In short, the Pellet Posies crystallise Nectar from the soil into Pellets, which are collected by Pikmin and brought back to their Onions to reproduce with. When the creatures that feed on Nectar die, they are broken down into Glow Pellets by the dissolving enzymes of the Lumiknolls and their Nectar is returned to the soil by Glow Pikmin, starting the cycle anew.

“But since these Pikmin come from the depths of the soil, surely, to the soil they shall return. How very poetic-while it is all alien to me, the basic premise is universally beautiful.”

[Source: Captain Olimar, Employee of Hocotate Freight and Captain of the S.S. Dolphin, Playable Character in Pikmin 1, December 2001]

As a result of this fascinating ecological shift, essentially every creature native to the ecosystem can also be consumed by an Onion to have its nectarous body broken down and repurposed to produce more Pikmin seeds just as a Pellet would be. In fact, there's only one species in the entire series that doesn't get broken down and converted into Pikmin when they're fed to an Onion...

If Olimar fails to collect all of his necessary Ship Parts to escape PNF-404 at the end of Pikmin 1, he crashes the S.S. Dolphin and his life-support system fails, resulting in his death. The Pikmin carry his body back to the Red Onion, where he's absorbed by it like any other creature - however, instead of producing some Red Pikmin, Olimar is spat back out as a unique seed.

In Pikmin 4's Olimar's Shipwreck Tale, these very same events transpire. Olimar is absorbed by the fused Onion that accompanied him throughout his mission and transformed into what we now call a Leafling.

Leaflings are Leaders who've been processed by an Onion, rejuvenated and had their DNA altered to resemble that of a Pikmin, resulting in the growth of leaves all over their heads. These leaves allow them to breathe on PNF-404 without a space helmet despite the high levels of Oxygen. But for some reason, Leaflings largely retain their leader morphology and can even be cured and restored to their original forms.

Why is this? What makes the leaders so special? Well, the leaders are completely separate from PNF-404’s post-Pikmin, Nectar-based system of life. If the Onion works by breaking down and repurposing forms of Nectar into Pikmin seeds, it's going to have trouble doing so with a being that is not made of Nectar. This is also exactly why leafified individuals can be cured.

The Leafling cure developed by Yonny, the doctor of the Rescue Corps, uses Glow Sap, the condensed form of the Lumiknolls' nectar-dissolving enzymes, to break down the leaves of those who have become Leaflings...

“Let me thiiink… The primary symptom is growing of leaves, yes? If that is the case, then I believe we may be able to cure them. While stranded, I discovered a bewitching specimen called a Lumiknoll. It only appears in the dark of night. When dawn breaks, it releases a sap quite high in degradative enzymes. I believe I can make a medicine out of those secretions that can break down the newly grown leaves.”

[Source: Yonny, Member of the Rescue Corps and Doctor, Non-Player Character in Pikmin 4, July 2023]

Ingesting the enzymes in Glow Sap can have a detrimental effect on the creatures of PNF-404, causing their bodies to dissolve and leading to mutations. The primary example being the Smoky Progg, which is a larval Mamuta, malformed by the introduction of Glow Sap to the embryo in development.

“The Smoky Progg's body is constantly deteriorating, so collecting a living sample has proven difficult and research into the species has progressed at a glacial rate. However, by examining the genes adhered to the Smoky Progg's eggs, it has been confirmed that they are, in fact, Mamuta eggs! This discovery allows for the possibility that Mamuta that do not develop properly and hatch become Smoky Proggs. If, hypothetically, a Mamuta were to remain aboveground at night and absorb glow sap, that might impact the nutrient levels within its egg's yolk. That change could lead to the embryo's inviability or break down its enzymes, then...maybe...”

[Source: Captain Olimar, Employee of Hocotate Freight and Captain of the S.S. Dolphin, Playable Character in Pikmin 4, July 2023]

However, with leaders it has no ill effects whatsoever:

“This matter, when condensed, becomes glow sap. One might assume glow sap is then an extremely dangerous substance, but it has hardly any negative effects. In fact, I've had it administered to me personally as a curative medicine to break down growing leaves.”

[Source: Captain Olimar, Employee of Hocotate Freight and Captain of the S.S. Dolphin, Playable Character in Pikmin 4, July 2023]

In fact, glow sap is seemingly almost entirely potable to non-leafified individuals:

“We know glow sap breaks down leaves, and it also has remarkable healing effects. Buuut if a non-leafified individual takes the medicine, those healing benefits are virtually nonexistent. Perhaps next time you find someone badly injured, I should try turning them into a leaf person to heal them, eheheh.”

[Source: Yonny, Member of the Rescue Corps and Doctor, Non-Player Character in Pikmin 4, July 2023]

That is, of course, unless an Onion tries to convert said individuals into Leaflings. In these cases, the Glow Sap functions as a preventative, breaking down the Pikmin leaves before they have a chance to sprout. Leaders who have already recently ingested Glow Sap cannot be leafified by an Onion in the first place.

“Of course! You were ingesting nearly pure glow sap, so the leaves must have been broken down before they could sprout!”

[Source: Yonny, Member of the Rescue Corps and Doctor, Non-Player Character in Pikmin 4, July 2023]

Essentially, it seems that leaders can't become full Pikmin because they are not Nectar-based life, so instead the Onion does the next best thing - altering their DNA slightly to coat them in Pikmin leaves, AKA "leafification" - but if the leader has Glow Sap in their system, the Onion and its leaves can't take hold and instead dissolve. When a Leafling takes Yonny's cure the nectarous leaves degrade, leaving the original non-nectar body behind. Olimar's status as an alien to the environment the Pikmin call home is the very reason he doesn't become one - at least not fully.

I often think back upon Olimar from the bad ending of Pikmin 1 who, assuming he even found the Interstellar Radio, decided against using it to send out an S.O.S. Signal due to his lack of time and remote location. However, had he done so regardless perhaps he too would've been found by the Rescue Corps and restored to his original self - we can only hope that another party stumbled upon him in his future and said party also figured out the Leafling cure, however low the odds may be...

Thank you for reading, and a very special thank you to Sophie from @cartographers-office, who did the wonderful graphics featured in this post and let me talk her ear off about Pikmin nectar of all things... If you enjoyed this, check out her recent post on the Armored Cannon Beetle! But many questions remain. Why are the Leaflings so Dandori-obsessed? And what's going on with the leafification of the space dog Oatchi and his relation to Moss? Turn those Interstellar Radios on and stay tuned for future posts folks!

#pikmin lore #pikmin #pikmin theory #pikmin 4

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olistar255 · 10 months

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PIKMIN 4 STORY SPOILERS from stuff available in the demo :]

i've been reading up on some people's thoughts on 4's story and i'm kinda confused. Can people really not tell apart a retcon from an alt timeline? 4's story is very much meant to be taken with the rest of the series in mind, and i think that's only going to be more and more true as the game progresses. We can already get in the demo a Voyage log from Olimar where he dreams about 2's plot, which also directly references a log in 3 where Olimar dreams about 1's bad ending (obviously they didn't knew about 4's plot when writing that log, but there's definitely a parallel). I'm sure storywise AND gameplaywise, 4 will embrace creating parallels to the 'main' games. We've already seen in the demo how SO MANY little details pay homage to the first 3 games.

As for if it is a good decision, well that's way more personal... I definitely get being disappointed the story doesn't go further. But I see it as a great narrative choice for 2 reasons :

I always saw 3 as the finale of the main Pikmin story. For one it forms a trilogy which is just satisfying :] Second everything about it spells conclusion to me: the emphasis on story to wrap things up, playing new characters for the "new generation" trope, the stakes of the story, the role reversal of Olimar becoming the 'treasure' to rescue and the final boss itself. Not saying i would dislike seeing the story continued, but i simply think the main story arc is done. Koppai is saved and Olimar returns home safely against all odds. The shooting star at the end of 3's credits is symbolic - you get a glimpse of the story from the Pikmin's point of view : they're guardian angels always helping those in need. Even if the story repeats itself with more people crashing on the planet, this shows it'll always pan out the same - there's nothing left to explore or tell, aside from mysteries like the wraith's intentions, the nature of the Pikmin or of PNF404 itself... but the very essence of the Pikmin setting as an alien world mean we cannot get answers for everything.

i don't want the follow up to 3 to be about olimar crashlanding again lmfao. I've seen people say alt timelines like in Zelda are lazy... making Olimar crash on PNF404 after it's been shown he knows how to land there would either retcon the whole 2 arc, or tread on the old Pikmin 3 ground of "spooky mysterious force forces a crash", which imo feels way more lazy. It's also why i'd kinda really hate if it turns out it's not an alt timeline and takes place after 3... It would imply Olimar got amnesia, which is just... such a bad storytelling tool so far into a story. It's about as bad as the "conflict could get resolved if characters simply talked" story convenience. Would also not make sense since as of right now, Olimar has no reason to go back to PNF404 with the Dolphin (implied all debt would get paid back).

All these problems get solved with the alt timeline idea 4 got. We get to explore brand new ideas without having to go through redundant plot points or render previous arcs useless. We get to enjoy a new story with characters we like (hell, before the story got shown i was ready and embracing the thought of having a new game with no returning characters).

I didn't really intend to write an essay defending an unreleased game :P but more than just being inspired a lot by Pikmin, it does annoy me when people think video games can't have narratives more complex than just "repeat same story again and again" just for the sake of gameplay. I don't need deep stories (Pikmin's story is remarkably simple) but i deeply value cool set pieces, unique atmospheres and refreshing storytelling ideas.

#pikmin 4 spoilers #pikmin story #unending brainrot for the plant scrungles #one week.

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your-local-grubdog · 9 months

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I must say, I'm very excited for Pikmin 4 to come out. In particular I'm really curious about the Leaflings!

I do find it funny that they are sort of fluffy like how you draw Hocatacians.

Anyway I'm also curious about how you would do world-building for the various planets that the castaways are from. We've only had a few planets in the series before but now there are so many more!

So as you can see here, I actually did get started on unique designs for the new aliens introduced in the demo! All still very WIP and needing much refinement. Hence this ask just sitting in my inbox for so long - I wanted to make these closer to being "finished" before posting them.

However, I stopped working on them for two reasons - the first is that there is roughly 19 new planets introduced in the game. That's a lot!!! Too many, actually, for me to make unique designs for.

The second is that some canon lore details introduced in pikmin 4 have made me change my mind on how the different alien races are related to each other. I won't go into super deep detail here because I want to write out a much longer post detailing my observations. It's an interesting idea that, while I have my issues with it, does explain a lot. But again, I shall save that for the future.

But omg I'm so happy you like my silly designs enough to ask about them...! I'll probably tone down the differences with Hocotations, but I'll keep their fluff. It's cute and evidently heavily associated with my art. I'm already coming up with ideas on how to explain some of these things :3

#pikmin #pikmin 4 #borb answers #borb draws #i may also come up with a list of generic traits for all of them culture wise #we'll see

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decembermoonskz · 9 months

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for the ask game!!!

🩷🖤🔐📚☂️🍀

i love all of these questions! i actually wanted to answer the clover hehe you read my mind genie lol i hope you're doing well! i missed seeing you in my inbox <33333 this got long so i'm putting it under the cut haha

🩷 dream job i honestly haven't thought of it much. i had a lot of dreams growing up, but now i'm just... vibin lol but it'd be nice to be able to do something involving writing and art, like storytelling. <3

🖤 favorite hobbies outside of your blog since the blog used to be about writing i won't say that but it's def smth i do outside of the blog LOL instead i'll say drawing for sure. and gaming (i am currently playing zelda totk and pikmin 4 if you haven't seen genie ^^)

🔐 something no one would guess about you i really love voice acting, i do it for fun when i play games and i am no professional but i'd love to actually do it one day (this could also apply to the dream job question but i decided to put it down here)

📚 how do you come up with the fics you write they kind of just come to me. i am just hit with inspo and then i decide what ideas i want to actually develop (some ideas are best left in the brain aksfhafkh). i get a lot of inspo from the things i watch or the games i play tho

☂️ your favorite fanfic from another writer okay i have a lot but if i have to pick like my FAVORITE it's a tie between "safe haven" by rhythm (@therhythmafterthesummer) and "instinct" by fi (@fizzydrink698) some of the best stuff i've read (i read them on ao3 but they're also on here) (both are nsfw so mdni)

🍀 what is your comfort show/series and why is it your comfort show? how has it helped you? this is the one i wanted to answer for sure i love talking about my comfort shows granted i don't watch many shows anymore lol i'd have to pick full metal alchemist brotherhood, the ancient magus bride, and friends.

fmab is just one of my fave shows ever. i prefer the dub for alphonse and mustang but honestly i can play any episode and enjoy and just have it on in the bg now bc it's just one of those shows. it really relaxes me haha which is funny bc it's so dark

the ancient magus bride is one of my favorite animes of all time, the fantasy elements and the dark plot are just so magical and unique to me (i get a lot of fantasy inspo from it highkey) and the music too is just so relaxing. i often feel like despite its dark nature hahaha

i chose friends bc in spite of how i've learned many ppl hate it it's a show that i really loved and my family all watched it so we quote it so much in everyday life and laugh so much and so i think it helped me bc it's a core part of my family's dynamic HAHA

idk if these are good answers to this but yeah i love these shows a whole lot. honorable mentions to inuyasha, demon slayer, ben 10 and generator rex

#inbox mini games #genie !! 🦄

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dumbfinntales · 9 months

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I finished Pikmin 4 today, not quite 100%, but I'll get to that because honestly this game was a lot of fun. It's one of those fun surprises that you really end up liking, for days I felt like I couldn't put the game down.

My history with Pikmin as a series is brief. I was aware of it for the longest time and even watched a lets play of Pikmin 3 back when it released. I always thought the games looked neat, but I just never got around to playing them. Honestly I'm glad I finally did. Pikmins gameplay feels so fresh and unique, a bit like a cutesy RTS game.

Pikmins world is so captivating and charming. The strange world that was once inhabited by humans filled with treasures, and all the strange creatures that prowl in its depths. I especially loved all the different creatures you encounter. Especially Breadbug. Breadbug is cool. The boss monsters were interesting as well, although they didn't pose much of trouble. The final boss was exceptional and I actually had to use a lot of glow Pikmin to replace all the other ones that died. R.I.P soldiers.

The Pikmins themselves are so adorable and varied. I just love watching them run around and collect things for me. Almost makes me forget all the brutal ways they can perish. I also found all the side characters to be entertaining, although a bit one dimensional. The story was alright, but really the gameplay, exploration and the hunt for treasure were the best parts of this game.

There are also some extra modes like the night expeditions. They're essentially just little tower defense levels where you have to protect a base, sometimes two. Then there's dandori and dandori battles. I actually grew to somewhat like these, especially regular dandori. I'm bad at it as I always just get bronze medals, but it is fun trying to organize things and get things done quickly. I just need to be quicker I guess.

Despite really enjoying my experience I did feel like there were some iffy parts. The start of the game can be really annoying because the characters just won't stop talking and interrupting you. It's nonstop, but it does quiet down a little later on. There's a bit too much dialogue and loading screens for my liking. I also felt like the game was a bit too easy. Oatchi and his charge break the game and the ice Pikmin are OP. Many enemies fall really easily without having a chance to fight back. Not to mention all the different usable items that can further trivialize bosses and enemies.

Beyond that I really don't have further gripes. It's still a really fun and charming experience unlike any other. Honestly, I really want to visit the older games in the series and if I really like those too I can count myself among Pikmin fans! I'm certainly a fan of Pikmin 4.

#a review type of deal #pikmin 4

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bulletbilltime · 9 months

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PIKMIN 4 BEATEN, TIME TO GIVE SOME THOUGHTS. SPOILERS ARE A GIVEN

NOTE: I have gotten all areas 100%, but have not finished Olimar's story or finished all the side missions.

Pros:

Honestly, probably 95% of the experience

After each game giving us on average 4ish areas of gameplay per game, Pikmin 4 has SIX whole areas. SIX! And none of them are like... small pseudo areas like Impact Site, Final Trial or Formidable Oak. They're ALL genuine explorable levels!

And good god, it is FUN to just be let loose in a level and get to explore it on our own! Gone is the railroading present in Pikmin 3 (and in small parts in Pikmin 2).

Everyone Is Here! (and they get their own onions too!! Though understandably the purples and white onions are locked behind some bonus content, which I haven't gotten to experience yet)

The amount of Pikmin 1 to 3 fan service is off the charts. For the most part, every single returning boss/enemy was handled in a really cool way, and even for Pikmin 2 veterans, they do manage to make the encounters feel unique.

The caves are a massive step up from 2 IMO. Now that we're no longer forced to bow to the whims of random dungeon generation, the level designs are allowed to stand out a lot more! There's also more of a focus on puzzle solving in a good chunk of the dungeons.

THAT GROOVY LONG LEGS FIGHT FUCKING RULES. I AM PUTTING THAT SONG ON LOOP. EASILY THE HIGHLIGHT IMO (even if the boss was beaten not too long after)

So many neat little quality of life improvements (pellets not switching when pikmin are beating it down, the little pause after you throw the minimum # of pikmin on an object, and honestly so many more I can't name)

I really like the item shop providing a way for ppl who struggle to make their life easier!

I found the game to be pretty decent difficulty wise tbh. Many have said it's easy, but you could absolutely do a minimal Oatchi/no items/no death run to kick it up a notch IMO. And Pikmin as a series thrives on replaying to beat your previous best, so I don't mind the "first playthrough" being a bit on the easier side

The Night missions were really neat! I think Tower Defense style gameplay suits Pikmin very well! Some of those later missions can become pretty rough if you don't have a good plan.

THE PROGG IS BACK, I REPEAT THE PROGG IS BACK. THAT FUCKER WAS HORRIFYING IN THE NIGHT MISSIONS

The final boss was really cool! Though only getting 5 reds and yellows was... weird. And I lost almost all of them in the fight. Still, super cool boss! I liked that it was more of an endurance round!

I really love that Oatchi and the captain have different properties, which means that sometimes you might want to bring one over the other in a given situation! ex: Oatchi can't go underwater, and the captain on their own can't swim

For the most part I think the order the Pikmin are introduced in is very solid! The Pikmin that were considered more game breaking, like Purple and Winged Pikmin, are only found near the end of the game.

Mud was such an unexpected hazard, but it's really cool!!! Water that captains can't traverse, that you need to use Winged or Ice Pikmin to navigate... (and maybe blues but I haven't really tested that one)

I liked the Moss patrolling and hearth gimmicks! They added something fresh and unique! I'm surprised that Primordial Thicket didn't have a noticeable Stage Gimmick but it was definitely still enjoyable!

While the caves do still absolutely have a majority of the treasures you find, I feel like the overworlds this time around give you more than enough content to explore, and don't feel barren in comparison to Pikmin 1 & 3, like 2 did!

Some cons:

Ice Pikmin... they're lil cuties and I love how their ice ability contrasts nicely with Blue Pikmin and Oatchi's swimming... but I actively tried to avoid using them for most battle encounters because they made them so easy. From the moment I saw them in the first trailer, they felt like Bitter Spray Pikmin and that was only confirmed to be true tbh. I kinda wish they would've been nerfed a bit ngl!

Now for one of my Big Two gripes: THE ENGULFED CASTLE IS SUCH A LAZY CAVE. Waterwraith comeback is really hype and all, but why oh WHY did they feel the need to literally port the cave from Pikmin 2, almost one-to-one??? It's such a baffling decision in a game that was otherwise really good about keeping its content fresh even if it was very steeped in Pikmin 2 fan-service. But nope, it had to be a straight-up copy. Why did they do the Waterwraith so dirty 😭 Its return in Cavern for a King was genuinely more interesting than the entirety of Submerged Engulfed Castle. The entire time I was playing through the cave I was just utterly unimpressed. Surprising low point in an otherwise solid set of caves IMO. The irony of my least fave Pikmin 4 cave being a port of the best cave from Pikmin 2 is not lost on me. It has "can I copy your homework?" "sure, just change it enough so ppl don't know it's copied" energy (except they forgot to change it). I didn't even mention how the cave title is just... thesaurus'd. Like bruh. Do better pls

Now for the genuine biggest issue I have with the game: the auto lock-on, which I thought was kinda neat at first. But with each passing day, the lock-on began proving itself to be more and more of a nuisance and a weirdly implemented feature. Trying to switch away from a targeted enemy when fighting a swarm of enemies is such a crapshoot, I can't count the number of times I was trying to throw Pikmin on another enemy, only to have my captain keep throwing on the current target, or just target a treasure nearby?? This is probably not helped by joycon drift issues tbh, and I'll have to try to get a New Controller and see if that helps. But I have an issue with this feature existing to begin with tbh; we already have a lock-on feature that we can toggle at will! Why does the game require Another lock on too?? Could you imagine a Zelda game where Link auto-targets every enemy he gets within range of? It's just annoying, and the lack of a toggle for this feature is genuinely baffling.

On a similar note... why oh WHY do the small mushrooms on mold not have targets?? It's such a weird issue; none of the other hazards have this issue.

Collin honey I love you but if you tell me to whistle a Pikmin back from hazards like a second after I already did, I will lose my shit

I don't really mind the chatty captains as much as many ppl do, but I absolutely do mind them constantly telling me what to do in every single situation ever. Some of the prompts can be helpful like "did a Pikmin die somewhere??", but you don't need to tell me that the weak spot is the tail. I KNOW. I'VE DONE THIS 5 TIMES ALREADY. PLEASE LET ME DO MY JOB

They put in another treasure that takes 1000 pikmin.... It wasn't quite as bad as the Doomsday Apparatus though, since you can go directly to a sublevel with many candypop buds unlike in Pikmin 2, and you CAN get the Purple Onion too (but it's so out of the way that you're better off just grinding tbh).

That Empress Bulblax fight in the last cave genuinely felt like something out of a Kaizo hack. It felt weirdly finicky and I had to restart a bunch of times because I was too slow to get on the geyser and 90% of my pikmin got squished. It's far more difficult than any other encounter in the rest of the cave and felt out of place.

Why they make you fight ouppy :(((((((( Moss bby I'm sorry

Some things I wish had been included (which may or may not exist in the 2% of game I have left to peruse)

After the story made such a big deal of all the captains that got shipwrecked on PNF-404, I am a bit disappointed that there was no meaningful explanation as to what makes shipwrecks so frequent? Or how Olimar got leaf'd to begin with? Or what the fuck Louie was doing to begin with?? Seriously wtf Louie??? (I'm just asking Nintendo to make the Umibozu theory canon /j)

Enemies respawning in the overworld. One of the things I loved doing in Pikmin 2 as a kid was going around after 100%ing the game and clearing the whole areas of all monsters to grow Pikmin, over and over again. It would've been fun to have that again in the game.

The co-op from Pikmin 3 Deluxe, obviously. The game being only 1 captain does make this a bit tricky, but I really thought they'd at least let someone else control Oatchi since he's basically a 2nd captain! I am more lenient on that though because of just how much content we got in Pikmin 4. I certainly won't give the game 1 star over it because that just feels really pointlessly petty??

I will however give the game 1 star for not giving us a level editor of any kind because I am pointlessly petty /j (Ok but seriously Nintendo if you give us a Pikmin 4 cave creator as DLC I will never ask for anything again)

SPOILERS END HERE

tl;dr: The auto lock on is a bit of an annoyance and really detracts from the fun at times, but I think I can safely say that this was my favorite game in the series. This is what Pikmin 2 could have always been, if it had been given better hardware/intentionally designed caves. It's probably the longest game in the series though, which might make repeat playthroughs a bit tougher to go through. But with how much fun I had, I might go for it!

#pikmin 4 spoilers #pikmin 4 #long post

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jazzmandd · 2 years

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Kingdom hearts 4 Predictions.

Having recently beaten Kingdom hearts 3 after a very long lull since buying the game day 1, I’ve been thinking and thunking about what worlds are going to show up in Kingdom hearts 4.

I am an old man driven by madness that is of the anime boy and Ducks and Dogs who fight shadow blobs in the Princess worlds. This is all based on speculation, where the series currently sits and where I personally feel they’re gonna go. I can be entirely wrong or entirely right on these guesses, but if it’s a 100% success rate: Pikmin 4 is real, Banjo-Kazooie remake is happening and Crash Bandicoot Nitro fueled racing will be on PC.

Here’s what I think is gonna happen.

Star Wars

I think this one is gonna be the most obvious selection, if the Kingdom hearts 4 trailer is to go by with the shots of supposedly ‘Endor’ and the robot mech foot.

I’m not too sure if the world would be a play by play of Episode 6 or not, but it’s likely to involve a fight with Darth Vader at some point.

Moana

Moana seems like a natural fit for a Kingdom hearts world, easily workable allies with Moana and Maui, unique locales, natural fit for bosses such as the giant crab or the volcano god at the end and could probably fill the niche of pirate’y world that seems to crop up in all the mainline games (as much as I like Treasure planet, I think Normua would want to go for a world thats easier to adapt with already existing CG for).

Alice in Wonderland

Here’s a weird one, but hear me out!

Sora in KH4 is going to begin in Quadratum a world based off a video game called Verum Rex, which was in the Toy Story world in 3, its a location rested in un-reality it’s basically Sora’s ‘after life’ after the events in KH3 and yes this sounds really stupid.

The point is this world is going to be acting as a hub for Sora according to Normua and considering the whole ‘un-reality’ of it all, I think this is going to be backdoor entrance to making worlds based off live action properties, especially for anything previously visited in the games before.

Alice in Wonderland I think is the most natural fit to showcase the difference between the Cartoon Disney Wonderland and the Live action attempt, especially since the world itself in Kingdom hearts 1 was kind of....Empty? The live action movie probably has more to work with, a possible jabberwocky boss, Mad hatter being a team mate, and I think it would be fun to have a scene with Sora utterly confused at someone who looks like Jack Sparrow but isn’t in a world thats supposed to be Alice in Wonderland but very different.

Frozen 2

As much as I utterly hated this world in KH3, I think there’s going to be at least one returning world from it and it’s going to be this. Nomura loved Frozen, It’s likely going to be “the movie plot” ism just like the first one but at least we won’t be climbing up and down a mountain this time. Right?

Inside Out

I can’t see Kingdom hearts 4 not having any Pixar content going forward with the series, whether it’s a returning world like Toy Story, or something new, I think Inside Out is the most interesting idea the series would use.

“But Jazz, how can Inside out be a world when its inside a persons head” Don’t ask me, these games has several different worlds based off London and France.

I think the most likely thing is it takes place inside Sora’s head, you could have the different emotions talk about Sora’s past, and that you don’t need to be a happy go-lucky hero all the time, Dream eaters could be involved again, and you could possibly have locations based off places Sora’s been before all mish mashed together.

Considering how many times Sora and Co have been in those ‘Dive to the heart’ Stained glass areas usually at the start of the games, how could you not finally explore what the hell those are?

Coco

Another very popular Pixar movie, and also dealing with the same themes Sora is going through right now. Sora and Miguel are both characters that wind up in some sort of After life world, and both likely want to return to the world of the living, this could be yet another world to bring back the Dream eaters since the spirit animals everyone has are a great analogue.

My only contention with this being a world is the plot. Both Pixar worlds in KH3 were basically original stories, I’m not sure if Coco would really do the ‘the movie plot’ ism like a lot of Disney worlds do, This is probably my least confident pick to see show up in KH4, especially when there's some like Incredibles or Soul that deserve it more.

Maleficent

Finally to cap it all off (I’m assuming Kingdom hearts 4 will keep the 7 world structure) The Angelina Jolie Maleficent.

What better way to also showcase the un-reality worlds then Sora teaming up a different version of a character who is currently a villain? What happens if you have the Cartoon Maleficent and the live action one show up face to face? You also get another chance to expand a previous world (From Birth by sleep) to include more locales, the castle, the forest, the fairy tale knoll maybe even deal with the weird Maleficents bird species place from the sequel.

Conclusion

I very much doubt these will be all the worlds in KH4, there could be less or more worlds then these 7, the minigame world (Pooh bear?) could return or be different, and frankly if it were up to be Atlantis and Treasure planet would be there.

But considering how Sora is going to be in this weird new not tokyo location and Donald and Goofy are presumably visiting worlds with after lifes (Hercules and possibly Pirates?) I wouldn’t be surprised by some of the thematic connections some of these have.

Thanks for listing to my TED talk.

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sluxe · 26 days

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Smash Bros Future Cast Part 2

Brawl Base Meta Knight **** / ** Pit **** / ** Zero Suit Samus *** / ** Wario **** / *** Ike ** / ** Pokemon Trainer ** / ** Charizard **** / ** Diddy Kong **** / ** Lucas * / * King Dedede **** / ** Captain Olimar ****** / ***

Meta Knight and Dedede are both iconic Kirby villains, and not particularly likely to be cut, nor do they need reworks. Wario is the same for Mario, but a rework is a toss-up. Diddy is also huge, but has no guarantee.

Pit is in danger is Sakurai isn't back, with no new games in development. Still, he's got a decent chance of sticking around anyways, considering the series currently has three reps.

Ike and Pokemon Trainer both are from overcrowded series, and unlikely to stick around over new reps. Charizard could once again continue solo however, he's done it before and his popularity is still huge.

Lucas is pretty much dead, sadly. Mother is a dead IP, and Ness is rep enough for it, especially since Mother 3 is never leaving Japan.

Olimar is the base game's one guarantee, with Pikmin 4's success and his continued relevance to the franchise.

Brawl Unlockables Lucario *** / * R.O.B. ** / * Toon Link **** / * Wolf * / *

Star Fox's ill fortune makes Wolf being cut again quite likely. Lucario comes from the overcroweded Pokemon roster, but does at least have the sustained popularity to possibly make the cut. Toon Link is far more likely to stay than most semi-clones, but not a guarantee. And R.O.B. is really director's choice.

Brawl Third Parties Sonic ***** / ** Snake ** / *

Our first third parties! Sonic is the least likely of all third parties to be cut, but there's always a chance. Snake on the other hand seems quite unlikely if Sakurai isn't back to make the deal.

Smash 4 Base Villager ****** / ** Wii Fit Trainer *** / ***** (See notes) Rosalina & Luma *** / * Little Mac *** / * Greninja ** / * Mii Fighter ***** / *** Palutena ** / * Robin *** / * Shulk **** / *

We've got some interesting picks here. Villager is guaranteed to return, that one's easy. Mii Fighters allow for costume DLC so they're likely to stick around.

As for the rest… Rosalina & Luma are the most likely cuts from the crowded Mario franchise out of non-clones. But it is Mario, so maybe none? Greninja is in the same boat, and there's a ton of other Pokemon who could replace him.

Palutena is from a series that missed last gen, so she's in trouble. Little Mac missed two gens, but he's such a beginner friendly character he might be kept for that.

Robin has the saving grace of playing very uniquely among FE characters, and Awakening is still hugely influential. And XC DE + XC3 both made Shulk still quite relevant, so he's quite likely to stay no matter what the situation with XC reps.

And as for Wii Fit Trainer… I suspect either the character will be reimagined as Ring Fit Trainee or replaced with Dragaux… but most likely the former.

Smash 4 Unlockable / DLC Bowser Jr. *** / * Duck Hunt ** / * Corrin * / *

Corrin is from a much panned FE game, and there's way too many FE reps right now, and we'll likely get new ones. Bowser Jr. is in the same boat as Rosalina, while Duck Hunt is there with R.O.B.

Smash 4 Third Party / DLC Megaman ***** / * Pac-Man ***** / ** Ryu **** / * Cloud ** / * Bayonetta ****** / *

Pac-Man will only potentially get dropped if B-N isn't developing, which seems highly unlikely. Megaman and Ryu are also huge names, and Capcom's current attitude towards growing it's IPs means they'll definitely want to get them in. Ryu is more likely to be held back for DLC however. Bayonetta also is highly likely, as Nintendo is basically carrying that series. The only likely cut there I'd say would be Cloud, as Squeenix was notoriously hard to work with on adding him.

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soundofseclusion · 2 months

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Sound's Games of the Year for 2023

I know we're almost into the third month of 2024, but please bear with me for a bit as I talk about my favorite games I played in 2023. I always mean to do one of these posts but never end up doing one because I take too long. Well, I may have taken too long this time, but I'm doing it anyway. This post will explain my top five 2023 games which released in 2023 and WHICH I PLAYED. Ok here we go.

Top Games of 2023

#5. Super Mario Bros. Wonder SMBW is a phenomenal game. It pushes 2D Mario beyond the staleness of the NSMB games (all of which were really good, just kind of uninteresting): something the series has been sorely needing. I believe that Mario as a franchise really needs weirdness to thrive, and for a while, they've been playing it pretty safe (with 2D Mario at least). Wonder allows for the developers to do weird and wacky stuff, all without compromising the immaculate level design the series is known for.

#4. Jusant When I was a kid, my dad used to take me mountain climbing a lot. I always really liked it, but it was pretty scary. Jusant fundamentally understands that what is engaging about climbing is that each movement feels like a small puzzle. It also understands that climbing is a connection between the self and the environment. It also understands a lot of other things in the realm of beauty, connection, design, etcetera. It also allows for all these things without the anxiety that comes with climbing, which is both a good and bad thing. Ultimately, they knew what they were going for, which was a vibes-based puzzle-exploration game, not a high-stakes action climbing game. I'd say it's better for that.

#3. Small Saga Okay so technically I beat Small Saga in 2024, but I'm still putting it on the list because it was one of the best games of 2023. It's a fantastic approach to an RPG where the battles are well-balanced without requiring any grinding (grinding isn't even possible, it's designed that way). The story is awesome and engaging and the world is fully realized and compelling. Combat is fun and the side content is fun and the writing is fun and. The game is very very fucking good.

#2. Pikmin 4 Despite never including Pikmin 4 in my 2023 media thread, I did technically beat it. I just know it features an extensive post-game which I intended to full clear, so I never posted about it and decided to wait until that eventual full clear (a line of thinking that has changed for media threads going forward). Of course, life got in the way, and distractions happened, and I put my return to the game on hiatus, but that won't stop me from saying Pikmin 4 is the second best game of 2023. I don't think I could really add much to the existing discussion about why this game is great, but I'll attempt to do so whenever I do fully complete it.

#1. Chants of Sennaar Sometimes a game comes along that manages to accomplish something so beautiful in a way I would have never considered. This is one of those games. With a wholly unique gameplay concept that it fully fucking nails, Chants of Sennaar deserves to be played and completed. It's one of those games I wish I could experience for the first time again.

Bonus! These are the best games I played to completion for the first time in 2023 from a different release year.

#5. Trek to Yomi (2022) A very cinematic game with satisfying combat, a really cool setting/story, and a good flow overall. I felt very engrossed during my time with the game, and constantly found myself impressed by the visual spectacle and atmosphere. I feel like maybe it doesn't quite live up to its potential, but it was still one of my favorite games I played in 2023.

#4. Co-Open (2021) A delightful and short experience where you are given the option to interact with as much or as little of the world as you like. The game can be beaten in like 5 minutes, but my playtime was about 2 hours. Whether or not you'll enjoy this game depends on whether you can allow yourself to view the mundane as exciting through the lens of a young person. Personally, I quite enjoyed doing that.

#3. Eastward (2021) As time has passed, I've grown more and more fond of Eastward. Its world and story are so compelling, and it's a game that you can obviously see an immense amount of compassion was put into. When I completed it, I stated that it was marred by a lot of minor issues that made the final experience less than satisfactory. And at this point, I don't think I care about the gripes so much, because I can only think of this game's world with total adoration.

#2. Red Dead Redemption (2010) I wrote a pretty lengthy thing about Red Dead last year, but the gist of it is that this game does a lot of things very right.

#1 MetaWare High School (Demo) (2020) One of the most interesting games I've ever played and which I refuse to speak on further.

#media thread 2023 #games writing #goty

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darkdragon768 · 4 months

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My Top 5 of new games I've played in 2023!

1st Place: Mother 3 (GBA (Emulator))

Amazing story. I've never played a game that made me cry THAT hard. I had a lot of fun playing it. Battles are fun and not too easy nor too hard. Sure, I had to farm some exp at some point but it wasn't that awful (as other games I've played). The characters are lovely, all have their own backstory and baggage to carry. I've binge played through the whole Mother Series at once and was immensely positively surprised. Definitely a hidden gem I can recommend to anyone. Bonus points for becoming a hyperfixation. 5/5

2nd Place: Pikmin 4 (Switch)

A loooong while ago I started Pik3dx but never finished it. This year as they were announcing the fourth game I at first wasn't that interesting but somehow the switch clicked and I binge played through the whole series too. Being made very easily as every game (except Hey! but that seems like a game everyone pretends doesn't exist. It can't be that bad, can it?) is available on Switch now. Anyway, I really enjoyed it. Compared to the other games it was sadly a tad bit too easy for me (even tho I wasn't using some features they added that'd help you through it (rewinding time, calling Dingo for help)) but mostly the lovely characters and collecting all the treasures made it for me. Bonus points for becoming a hyperfixation. 4.5/5

3rd Place: WarioWare: Move It! (Switch)

I only own this game for like a month by now but boy do I and my mom have fun with this one! A really nice change to constant mario karting. It was my first WarioWare game so I was really impressed by the game having an amazing art style, animations and especially voice acting in so many languages! I'm loving all the different controller poses (except one perhaps...) and the microgames. All the different characters are so lovely and unique and special in their own way, they've already grown dear to me. Seeking out the other titles because I'm invested now. Bonus points for becoming a hyperfixation. 4.9/5

4th Place: Super Paper Mario (Wii)

It may not have got me gameplay wise because jumping on 2d enemies in a 3d world is kinda... shit, as an example, but the story made it for me. The third game that made me cry this year so of course I had to include it. The story was stretched quite long but it never felt rushed or boring or not important. So amazing storytelling here! I loved that a lot! 3.5/5

5th Place: Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (Remake, 3DS)

My first M&L game and I, here too, was positively surprised by its amazingness. The game felt so warm because of their brotherly love, it got silly humor here and there, a neat battle system, some tough bosses but an enjoyable time all together. Looking out for more M&L games! 4.6/5

Honorable mentions:

Luigi's Mansion (GCN) 4/5

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story (DS) 4/5

The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (GBA) 4/5

Super Mario RPG (Remake, Switch) 4.9/5

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Switch) 3.8/5

My resolutions for 2024:

Main goal is to grow my collection. I hope I can find some more Wario Land games, so that I can binge play through this whole series. Omori will be released on Switch soon so I want to try that one out too. Maybe I'll take a look at the Kid Icarus, Bayonetta or Donkey Kong series. And whatever new things Nintendo comes up with this year. And maybe get an NES. The only main Nintendo console I'm missing.

#dragon's stupid thoughts #dragon is gaming #boy this took me a while to write #but it was fun!#I'm not the greatest at feedbacks and maybe not the greatest at ratings too #but I still think it's reliable #(<-I think that's the word?)#have a great year filled with games and joy ✌️

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transgirl-gaming-thoughts · 8 months

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My Thoughts On: Nintendo for $70

Being a Nintendo fan is getting harder and harder for me. Don't get me wrong, I love a lot of Nintendo IPs, but when I think about Nintendo games and consoles I love, I don't generally jump to the Switch... Not to mention, Nintendo consoles have always been underpowered compared to the competition, but now that they're aiming at this hybrid console thing, while it's still a neat idea, it's very very hard to justify paying industry standard prices for games that are comparable to the Xbox 360 and PS3... from more than 15 years ago.

(thoughts continue under the cut)

This only gets worse when I see them charging $70 for Tears of the Kingdom. Sony and Microsoft are charging $70 for their biggest current-gen games because they're bigger than any games of the past have been, but Nintendo charged $60 for WiiU ports of games that weren't that impressive to begin with, and retailed for $40 at release on the WiiU. A lot of the best PS3 and Xbox 360 games resell online now for $10-$30, and I'm buying games of the same power and scope from Nintendo for $60... soon, that could be $70. Am I the only one that feels weird about that? Does this feel wrong to anyone else?

The sequel to the Switch is rumored to be on par with a PS4/Xbox One, which is a big step up and could lead to not only great Nintendo originals, but also better third party support. However, PS4 games sold $60 MSRP. It feels right for Nintendo to start making games on that level, and charging on that level... but instead, their prices are trying to compete with the scope of PS5/Xbox Series games at $70.

In my mind, and take this with a grain of salt as my opinion only, I want Nintendo to properly justify their game prices. Return to the home console/handheld console split, and make a home console on par with the competitors, plus a handheld that is probably weaker, costs less, etc. but still offers unique gaming experiences! Make home console games that run on comparable hardware and offer comparable experiences to what people from Sony and Microsoft are giving us, and then I'll be more willing to pay $70 for it.

OR, if Nintendo wants us to accept that some games are just worth more, they need to accept that some games are just worth less. So many Nintendo games come out with little content or unfinished/unpolished aspects, and they charge us full price regardless. Not to mention, these games rarely go on sale, so this is essentially the "new" price forever. Lots of games, including ports and smaller remasters, deserve a $40-$50 price point, and just don't earn the full $60.

I haven't bought a new Switch game in a long time, mostly because I just can't tell if it's going to be worth my $60. I didn't buy Tears of the Kingdom (at $70!!); I didn't buy Kirby and the Forgotten Land; I didn't buy Pikmin 4. I love all of these series! And in hindsight, I really want to play Pikmin 4, but I'm still torn on TotK and Forgotten Land. I wasn't willing to risk that much money at launch, and I'm still not sure if I'm willing to pay that much, and will most likely buy these games at a discount, used. I love Nintendo games and consoles, they're the reason that I'm as in love with games as I am, but if they can't rectify their content versus their prices... well, they won't be seeing much money from me outside of console purchases.

#assorted gaming thoughts #nintendo #nintendo switch #game industry #game analysis #long post

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orphancookie69 · 10 months

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Nintendo Direct: June 2023

I have been catching the last couple of Nintendo Directs, and I was super psyched to see the most recent one. The one before gave us old handheld systems playable on the Nintendo Switch. So I was hoping for good news in games coming up...

Now, I watched it on 6/25 so days after. If you have a switch, you can still watch it. Or maybe Youtube? Here are some of my thoughts on the games I saw:

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet DLC: I have been out of the pokemon loop for while but the DLC’s look good.

Sonic: same thing with pokemon, but glad to see it still alive. It has been around a while.

Palia: looks like a neat real life simulator.

Persona 5 Tactica: Cute characters in chibi form! Happy to see a title that has only one other title on switch to have more titles.

Mythforce: this is such a nostalgia trap, but it looks real fun! I would totally play this!

Splatoon 3 Splatfest: This game seems like COD but kid version. I never really got into this. But this looks like DLC.

Detective Pikachu Returns: The movie was great, the game was good. I love this as a direction for Pokemon.

Super Mario RPG: This is a remake of an older game of the same name. It looks like a refreshing take on mario games, which are classic.

New Nintendo Switch Peach Game: This looks like another remake of an older game.

Luigi’s Mansion 2 Dark Moon: Another old remake, I do love the Luigi games and hope that this is to appease the players as they make a new one.

Batman Arkham Trilogy: This was supposed to be one of the better batman games and comics, and this looks dope-I am looking forward to playing this for the first time on switch.

Gloomhaven: Good looking game, card based.

Just Dance: nice active game, nice to see it continuing.

Silent Hope: Anime game. meh.

Fae Farm: this looks good, I kind of think there are too many simulators out, but it is supposed to be one of the better ones.

Hot Wheels Unleased 2: Looks ok for a racing game, but I also kind of feel like there is a lot of competition in this genre.

Manic Mechanics: This game looks like overcooked, and the builder game. I love games like this, this one is happening.

Mario + Rabbids Spark of Hope: Mario doesn’t do well in turn based games, in my opinion, but its an interesting game.

Dragon Quest Monsters: This looks like a pokemon wannabe, but it looks not bad.

Pikmin 1, 2, 4: I have never played this series but it looks cute and I would not mind this as a multiplayer family game.

Metal Gear Solid Master Collection: this is an old game, I might even try it if it goes on sale.

Vampire Survivors: This game looks really fun, simple but oh so deceptively hard. I do really want to try this game.

Headbangers Rhythm Royale: I am getting this game, its a beat game with birds. Yes.

Penny’s Big Breakaway: It looks like a hodgepodge of many games but unique in its own way.

Mario Kart Booster Course Pass Wave 5: I should be more excited but I am not.

Star Ocean The Second Story R: Meh, another anime game.

WarioWare Move It: This looks like 1 2 switch but mario, I mean wario. Might be nice for an active game.

The Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom Amiibo: Amiibos are still a thing? This game looks good, but there are so many zeldas out at one time right now.

Super Mario Bros Wonder: Looks like a new direction for the mario side scroller.

For those that want to read more about this: https://www.nintendolife.com/features/nintendo-direct-june-2023-every-announcement-and-game-reveal

There were so many games revealed, that I had to reference the list to make this post. Obviously, ones that did not stick with me means I was not the intended customer but there are so many gaming customers these days! Games I am looking forward to are: Headbangers Rhythm Royale, Vampire Survivors, Manic Mechanics, Batman Arkham Trilogy. What games are you looking forward to?

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iloveabunchofgames · 1 year

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#JakeReviewsItch

Anarcute

by Plug In Digital (Anarteam)

Price (US): $14.99

Included In: Bundle for Racial Justice and Equality

Genre: Action, Adventure

Pitch: Cute anarchy. Adorable animals rise up against robo-fascists, throwing anything they can lift at cops, toppling buildings, and smashing the state any way they can in the name of liberation. Your power is the group's power. You control not one character, but an entire mob, kind of like Pikmin or The Wonderful 101, but not really. It's its own thing, with short, action-packed levels that are meant to be replayed to get better speed and efficiency ratings.

My expectations: Played it. Loved it. But if I have to play a little more for this review, I guess I will...

Review:

Let’s start with the bad: Aracute has major controller issues on PC. Known, widespread problems.

I quickly remembered that they’re the reason I quit playing this game. After literally hours of trying every conceivable solution, I discovered (entirely by accident!) that holding the Alt key while launching the application (or immediately after, depending on your launch method) brings up the Unity configuration tool, which fixed my problems. My advice: Play Anarcute on console.

Because PC-specific issues aside, this game is a delight. There’s a primal, Katamari thrill to seeing the mob of cute, li’l critters grow larger and more capable of toppling fascism. Alone, we are weak. Together, we drop buildings on cops and throw cars at their helicopters.

It plays almost like a hybrid brawler/strategy strategy game. The mass of animals rolls and attacks like a single character. Charging headlong into battle without a plan is a viable approach if you simply want to reach the end of each stage, but the real fun is in mastery. S-ranks are reserved for those who learn the level. Each mission has been carefully crafted so that all enemies can be defeated with minimal losses in two or three minutes.

+ A physics-y, strategic brawler thing! Familiar and unique, all at once, it's a joy simply to tear this stupid city down. + Cute, cute, cute! And anarchy! At the same time! It's not some fake-out, Happy Tree Friends thing. It's anarchy, and it is very, very cute. In a just world, Anarcute toys would be everywhere. In our wicked world, I can't even find knock-offs on Etsy. + Score chasing that's actually fun and highlights just how much thought went into each level's design. Scores are given for mob size, enemies defeated and time. Get an S in any two, and you get an S for the level, no matter how bad the other score is. I love that. + A soundtrack that sounds like someone took The Go! Team and made it cuter.

– Awful, awful controller issues. – Controlling a mob is hard. Obviously. But it would be nice if my guys didn't keep bumping into the deadly lasers. I need healthy rioters! – Some of the special moves are a little finicky. By the time I'm ready to stomp, I don't need it, or it happens so quickly that I waste it trying to dodge an attack

🧡🧡🧡🧡🤍 Bottom Line: PC isn't an ideal way to play Anarcute, but the game is such a joyful mix of fresh ideas, familiar ideas, strategic planning, anarchic action, and cuteness that I was willing to waste half my day trying to make it work. There's something here for everybody. Play it on a console if you can.

#JakeReviewsItch is a series of daily game reviews. You can learn more here. You can also browse past reviews...

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your-local-grubdog · 2 years

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Just a Few Interesting Lore Connections in Pikmin

Intro

There’s a lot of points in Pikmin’s lore that connect in interesting ways. Unfortunately, there’s not enough information to connect them in a solid theory. There’s just too many blanks in what we’re given. It’s almost like Minecraft’s quasi-lore (to borrow the term from the YouTube channel Minecraft Ideas Academy), just more frustrating sense this isn’t a sandbox game with infinite possibilities but rather a series that seems to be trying to tell a specific story. So instead of proposing a theory, I’d just like to show off and discuss some of the interesting connections I’ve noticed. In particular, a thread of connections between four enemies encountered across all three mainline games. This will thus be regurgitating a lot of information you may already know, and for that I apologize, but I think it would help theorists to have it all in one spot.

I’ve done my best to organize this by topic, but as some of these connections are circular this proved difficult. I hope the order these are in at least makes some sense.

These connections are made mostly with information that is indisputably canon, coming from the main three games themselves. I also utilize the direct translations of creatures’ Japanese names where relevant. The only disputable points of information are ones obtained from the Prima Guides. These guide books often share information not in the games themselves. They have the Nintendo seal of approval but also contain many errors, leading to fans questioning how canon their unique information is. These points of information will be clearly stated to be Prima material so that those who wish to disregard them can do so easily.

Lastly, I’m heavily relying on the Pikipedia for information I cannot easily find on my own. While it is a high quality source, if there are any errors presented in its information regarding these topics then they may have been repeated here. This is especially true for translations of Japanese text, which I do occasionally utilize here.

The Mamuta

The Mamuta is an optional boss in Pikmin, who can be fought at the Impact Site on even-numbered days starting on day 8. This rock-like beast will pound pikmin into the ground, planting them and immediately converting them all into flowers. The enemy reel in Pikmin states that it likes flowers “… only for their decorative properties”, and in Pikmin 2 Olimar states that “...the mamuta is the only species so far known to actually cultivate fields of plants.” In Pikmin, Olimar also states that “[The mamuta] seems to be a gentle, flower-loving creature…” (all maybe implying higher-level thought? Maybe???) In line with this, the mamuta found in Pikmin is neutral towards Olimar and the pikmin, attacking only if attacked first (it will also attack Olimar if he attempts to pluck any buried pikmin sprouts). However, the mamutas in Pikmin 2 are more hostile and will attack any pikmin or leaders it sees. It is unknown if this is a retcon made for game play reasons, a retcon from writers wanting to tell a different story, or a canon occurrence of the creatures’ nature changing between games.

The most interesting thing about these creatures is that the pattern displayed on their wrists is somewhat similar to the one wrapping around the onions. (The Pikipedia states them to be identical, but after looking at them myself that doesn’t seem to be the case – far from it, actually.) Lastly is a point pulled from the Prima Guide, so the canonicity is debatable, but the guidebook states its technical name to be “The Great Protector (God of All Pikmin)”.

Image Credit: https://www.pikminwiki.com/Mamuta#Gallery

Image Credit: https://www.pikminwiki.com/Onion#Gallery

That went from 0 to 100 really fast, but I mention all of these because they indicate a relationship between the Mamuta and the pikmin. One that was once positive, though it’s unclear if it changed in the actual timeline of the Pikmin series or if the developers decided they wanted to tell a different story after Pikmin was already released. Unfortunately, it is hard to discern anything else from the pikmins’ normal relationship to the Mamuta as there isn’t enough points on this thread to give a clear answer. I specify “normal relationship” because the next point on this thread leads to the Smoky Progg.

The Smoky Progg

The enemy reel in Pikmin states that the Smoky Progg is “Thought to be a malformed larval Mamuta.” There’s a lot that can be debated regarding that point alone, to the point I feel including it would make this post longer than it needs to be. All I’ll say in regards to this is that the Pikmin series is one that values fun and interesting ideas over scientific accuracy, and if players can suspend their disbelief at the impossibility of Planet Hocotate’s rings then we can do the same for how possible it really is that the Progg may indeed be the offspring of a Mamuta. The Prima guide also supports a connection of some kind at least, as the book labels this beast as the “Piku-Lord (Lord of Pikmin)”. Again the title is… extreme, but it is also interesting if nothing else.

The Progg is an aggressive optional boss found in the Distant Spring before day 15, able to instantly kill pikmin with its poisonous gas. It can also use its roar to uproot pikmin from the ground just to kill them, a complete inverse of what the Mamuta does for the pikmin. Its egg if found in the center of a group of islands shaped like a flower, potentially calling back to the Mamuta’s love of flowers. When killed, it drops a golden pearl-like object that is able to create 100 pikmin – rather ironic in a way, given how the Mamuta cares for the pikmin and the Progg is a malformed Mamuta. From here, we can connect the Smoky Progg to two other points, though I’ll admit the threads connecting them are rather weak (which is why I’m merely pointing out their existence and not trying to craft a theory out of this).

One: The Waterwraith. The Waterwraith is a technically optional boss (required only for the true ending of the game) found in the Perplexing Pool, which is heavily implied (if not stated, but I don’t feel like going through Olimar’s treasure notes right now) to be the Distant Spring after a series of rapid changes. Upon the wraith’s death it drops the plukaphone, an upgrade that allows you to pick pikmin from the ground using your whistle. In this way the pluckaphone is similar to the Progg’s roar. Because the plukaphone is merely dropped by the wraith and does not reflect any of its own abilities, it is entirely possible that this connection is a coincidence caused by the devs attempting to balance what bosses drop what upgrades (or in better wording, the upgrade and boss may have been developed separately, and the pluckaphone was assigned to the wraith later on based on the usefulness of the upgrade compared to the difficulty of the cave). This is where the direct connections between these two enemies end, however we will next discuss an enemy both the Smoky Progg and Waterwraith have connections to.

Two: The Plasm Wraith. The Plasm Wraith is the final boss of Pikmin 3, a monster that obsesses over Olimar for unknown reasons. Its arena has rocks embedded in the floor in the rough shape of a flower, somewhat similar to the islands of the Smoky Progg. However I will admit the resemblance is rather weak. The wraith itself seems to be made of gold, much like the pearl that the Progg drops. However, once again this is where the direct connections end.

Image Credit: https://www.pikminwiki.com/The_Distant_Spring#Gallery

Image Credit: https://www.pikminwiki.com/Formidable_Oak#Gallery

While these are very weak connections, their existence is very interesting with a lot of lore and theory possibilities.

The Wraiths

Quite obviously, both the Plasm Wraith and Waterwraith are classified as, well, wraiths – spirits or ghosts. The relevance of the fact there is a space in “Plasm Wraith” and not “Waterwraith” is unclear. The Waterwraith is stated by Olimar in Pikmin 2 to be a “...ectoplasmic incarnation of a kind of psychic phenomenon”, a psychic phenomenon being “phenomena that appear to contradict physical laws and suggest the possibility of causation by mental processes” as defined by The Free Dictionary (tossing that definition in there mostly because I find it fascinating). However, in Pikmin 3 Deluxe Olimar states that “[The Plasm Wraith] reminds me very much of the Waterwraith, and at first I wondered if it was also an ectoplasmic incarnation. However, enough others have seen and encountered it to dispel this theory.” What does this mean? Again, I’m just gathering interesting points of information.

Now, a quick note on how the Japanese names seem to work before I move on. Each enemy is listed on the Pikipedia as having a “Japanese name” and a “Japanese nickname”, effectively giving us more names (and in turn, more information) to work with. Most English speaking players are more familiar with enemies’ Japanese nicknames, so I’ll be sure to distinguish them as needed.

The Plasm Wraith and Waterwraith have similar Japanese nicknames. The Plasm Wraith’s nickname is アメニュウドウ (Ame Nyuudou), translating directly to “candy bald head”. To be more specific, ニュウドウ/Nyuudou/”bald head” is used to refer to bald-headed yōkai (put very simply, a type of Japanese spirit). The Waterwraith’s nickname is アメボウズ (Ame Bouzu), which also translates to “candy bald head”, though this time ボウズ/Bouzu refers to monks, meaning “candy monk” is another possible translation of its nickname. The katakana for bouzu is also similar to the katakana for umibōzu, a particular type of yōkai said to live in the ocean. In fact, I’m pretty sure that “umibōzu” can be translated as “sea monk”, but I don’t really know any Japanese. I’ve only been able to share this much thanks to the Pikipedia. I mention all of this mostly to confirm that the association between wraiths is indeed intended by the original writers (see how the Crammed Wraith has a name connection to the Plasm Wraith and Waterwraith in English, but no such connection is found in the original Japanese name or nickname for the Crammed Wraith – instead, the Japanese version connects the Crammed Wraith to the more common Hermit Crawmad enemies). Also, these names have already given rise to the “umibōzu theory” as to why the wraiths do… wraithy things. I’m not getting into that here though.

It is also worth noting that the katakana for “candy”, “ame”, is also the katakana for “rain”. The game is programmed to force rain on days you are fighting the Plasm Wraith, while the Waterwraith is… water. Just a neat note.

I also find it noteworthy that the Waterwraith is the only wraith to have a scientific name, as the Plasm Wraith was never given one in Pikmin 3 DX. The Waterwraith’s scientific name is Amphibio sapiens, implying a connection between it and humans – Homo sapiens. Both it and the Plasm Wraith take on oddly humanoid forms. While it has no scientific name, Olimar does state the following regarding the Plasm Wraith: “It's currently unknown what caused the hole in its torso—some sort of manifested psychic wound?—but the search for this cause may lead us down the path to unraveling the history of evolution on this planet.” The Plasm Wraith’s Japanese name is セイヨウコガネアメビト/Seiou Kogane Amebito, which translates directly to “Western European Golden Rain Man”. This isn’t necessarily a direct connection between those two points, but let’s be real: it’s too interesting not to at least mention them in the same paragraph.

And while we’re here: the Japanese name for the Waterwraith is ヤマトアメビト(Yamato Amebito) which translates to "Yamato Rain Man". Just strengthens previous connections pointed out, but probably worth mentioning.

The Plasm Wraith Specifically

Time to use music to make connections. As a result these are fairly loose, but worth mentioning anyways.

In its “mysterious life-form mode”, the Plasm Wraith has a dynamic track. That is to say, the music changes to reflect the situation. This is most noticeable when it gets too close to Olimar: a warning tone will slowly get louder and louder based on how close it is to the captain. But if it does manage to capture Olimar, it’s not yet over! You can attack the beast to make it relinquish him. After successfully defeating it, it will enter a “cool-down” state where you’re given a chance to get away from it. You can listen to the entire track here, with the “cool-down” song starting at the 3 minute mark. This “cool-down” song uses bells, similar to the ones that the Formidable Oak’s sunset theme (links to song) uses. Thus it is possible that these bells and the wraith are associated in some way.

The Oak’s rainy theme also references The Final Trial’s theme (each link will take you to the area’s respective song). The Final Trial from Pikmin has two parts: the “creepy” part and the “hopeful” part which overlap with one another to give a vibe fitting for this final area. As the Formidable Oak’s theme is usually just creepy, I find it rather charming that the hopeful half only comes into play when it rains in the desert. And then sunset hits (once again, a link to the song). The hopeful tune of The Final Trial is instead played with the bells I mentioned earlier, making the once hopeful part sound distorted and creepy. I’m mostly mentioning this because it’s super cool and has a lot of implications on its own, but it is yet another way the Plasm Wraith is able to link back to the first Pikmin game.

I’ll also mention that the final boss of Olimar’s Comeback is a golden monster (or rather two golden monsters) that isn��t the Plasm Wraith (maybe??? Probably not but possible I guess) but fought in its arena and whose boss theme references a song from the first Pikmin game – this time the title theme. I don’t think mentioning this adds much, but it may still be worth it to bring up.

The Goolix

The Goolix is an optional boss in Pikmin who appears in the Impact Site on odd-numbered days starting on day 9. It is hard to say if it really has any connection with the Mamuta as it simply just seems to share one habitat with it. This creature is made entirely of water and has two nuclei suspended in its gel-like mass. Its watery composition makes many to connect it to the Waterwraith, but no further connection can be made. It looks like an amoeba, a creature that the Plasm Wraith’s and Waterwraith’s Japanese nicknames may be referencing with “ame” (note that in katakana “amoeba” is spelled “ameba”).

The connections are there. I’m just not sure how to make them fit in with the rest of this odd web I’ve found, as it leads to its own dead end.

What About the Geiger Counter?

This thing is just too broad, and can be applied to so many things in Pikmin in so many ways. But these applications rely on so many headcanons due to the large blanks in Pikmin lore.

Okay, lets step back a bit. The Geiger Counter is an item from Pikmin that is a required part of Olimar’s spaceship. He states that he doesn’t know what it really does (as he never read the manual), just that it’s always going off. Indeed, we do see it constantly detecting something and can hear it making noise whenever we go near it. He may want to read that manual at some point, as in real life Geiger counters are used to measure radiation levels. The fact that it is always going off indicates that there are large amounts of radiation on PNF-404 (at least in the areas Olimar explores). An equally possible (if boring) answer is that it simply broke during the crash landing. I have also seen people propose that Hocotations use it to measure oxygen levels given how deadly oxygen is to them and that it always going off is because PNF-404 has deadly levels of oxygen.

However, that's it. There might be radiation on PNF-404. What caused it to be so abundant, we don’t know. Nuclear bombs is the most common cause applied, both by Pikmin fans and in post-apocalyptic media in general. But it doesn't have to be the only answer – after all, Olimar did explore only a small portion of PNF-404 with the Geiger Counter in tow. How do we know its not just that part of the planet that is irradiated? What if the radiation is from an abandoned nuclear power plant? The truth is that we don’t know. All we know is that PNF-404 is Earth after the humans vanished for an unknown reason, leaving behind their ruins and garbage and maybe even radiation… and maybe possibly wraiths but that’s theory territory.

And this isn’t even getting into the fact that the ways in which radiation are used in media are often super unrealistic, resulting in radiation being a sort of “cure all” for plot holes and plot conveniences. This could mean literally anything Nintendo needs it to so long as it exists within the suspension of disbelief.

Conclusion: What Does This All Mean?

I don’t know. That’s my point in making this: there isn’t enough here to craft a super solid theory regarding the relationship between these four enemies. There’s only enough to indicate that there is (probably) a relationship. I mostly just wanted to gather my thoughts here in one space so that more daring folk could have a crack at this. And who knows, if we get a Pikmin 4 it may give us more points to make a theory. Or maybe just more loose ends, who knows. Either way, I wish well to anyone who decides to try and tie these threads together, and I hope this has been useful. Or at least entertaining.

#pikmin #pikmin 2 #pikmin 3 #pikmin theory #i guess? how the fuck do I tag this #anyways enjoy this seven page essay on my favorite game series #er six and a half

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