Pikmin 4: A Game of the Year for 2023

A decade ago, I penned an article for USgamer, where I referred to Pikmin 3 as "the greatest war game I've ever played." Although USgamer is no longer in operation, the article was relocated to VG247 for those interested in reading it. If you prefer a brief summary, I admired Pikmin 3 for its thought-provoking portrayal of the moral complexities of military command. The game puts you in charge of hundreds of obedient Pikmin, who you will order to attack and kill enemies, sometimes unintentionally putting them in fatal situations. The game keeps track of the number of Pikmin you've lost, and when you retreat at night, it shows you the ones you failed to rescue as they fall prey to the local wildlife. What's more disturbing is the option to revisit previous days to try and save them all, but this task is so daunting that you'll likely accept a certain number of casualties, acknowledging that the lives of your Pikmin are mere tools for achieving your objectives. This experience is haunting. Pikmin 4, on the other hand, is a stark contrast. The previous games in the series presented a charming exterior, only to surprise players with the harsh realities of combat and the traumatic consequences of failing to protect the cute and trusting Pikmin. Pikmin 4 appears to be an attempt to align the gameplay with its comforting appearance. One notable feature is the rewind option, which allows you to skip back a minute or two of gameplay, perfect for when you accidentally put your water Pikmin in harm's way or fumble with the controls. This feature reduces the stress of combat, as you can try different approaches and easily undo any mistakes. The game also introduces the dog-like Oatchi, who can be upgraded to become a primary method of attacking enemies. When battles become challenging, you can even leave the Pikmin behind and ride Oatchi into battle, combined with the game's various weapons, making it possible to win without putting your Pikmin at risk. Additionally, there are Dandori battles, a multiplayer Pikmin race against the computer, and nighttime tower-defense levels where you use ghostly glowing Pikmin to protect their resource-producing anthills. While these levels can be frustrating or difficult, you have the option to skip them by asking an NPC teammate for help. It's worth noting that Pikmin deaths in Dandori battles or night levels do not count towards your overall death total. Initially, I was concerned that these changes would dilute the experience, making it less impactful than Pikmin 3. And, to be clear, they did. However, I had already experienced Pikmin 3, and I didn't feel the need to go through it again, especially considering the current state of the world, with its wars, layoffs, fascism, and overall negative atmosphere. A game like Pikmin 4, which is welcoming, forgiving, and adaptable, is precisely what I needed this year.