Announced in August of 2020, Nintendo is bringing its quirky, real-time strategy title Pikmin 3 Deluxe to the Nintendo Switch. Originally released on the Wii U, this marks the first time fans will be able to embark on an adventure with the Pikmin on the Nintendo Switch.
Pikmin 3 was first released in 2013 to fairly high acclaim from fans and critics alike. Although Pikmin has never been a massively popular series on the level of Super Mario or Zelda, fans have always welcomed each entry with open arms and this enhanced port is certainly no exception.
In a trailer that was dropped by Nintendo today, fans get a closer look at the various abilities each of the Pikmin have at their disposal. A base trait that nearly all of these plant-like critters share is the ability to carry objects to various destinations determined by the player. The trailer shows Pikmin helping out by carrying fruit to the players ship, which helps the main character, Alph, and his cohorts survive. We also get a glimpse of the Pikmin building a bridge with chipped bits of pottery.
There are five species of Pikmin that players will come across in Pikmin 3 Deluxe. Yellow Pikmin have the ability to conduct electricity to help reconnect various electronic devices as well as being able to safely battle electricity enhanced enemies. Red Pikmin can traverse through fire, fight fire enemies, and are also the strongest fighters in general. Blue Pikmin are the only ones that can survive in water, a dangerous terrain that will mean certain death for any other color.
Two new Pikmin make their debut in this Wii U port: Winged and Rock Pikmin. The pink Winged Pikmin are gifted with the ability of flight, which will allow them to lift gates for the player to enter, as well as reach objects resting on platforms that might be too high for the player to reach. Just don't expect them to be particularly useful in battles as their damage is quite low. Finally, there are the Rock Pikmin. Rock Pikmin are slow, blocky little guys with the ability to smash through various obstacles like glass, ice, and crystals as well as certain armored enemies. Rock Pikmin also carry objects much faster than other Pikmin, due to their enhanced strength.
While fans might be missing the White and Purple Pikmin from previous entries, the new Pikmin actually have similar abilities with some slight tweaks, so their disappearance shouldn't cause too much grief.
Pimin 3 Deluxe will be released on Nintendo Switch on October 30.