Eurogamer's hands-on preview of Pikmin 4, a streamlined sequel with a scene-stealing pup.
For those new to Pikmin, the series has always offered a cute-looking experience with a deeper layer of strategy underneath - one that requires planning and skill to maximise both your time and available Pikmin reserves in order to explore garden-like environments, defeat bug and bird-like enemies, collect resources and treasures - and crucially to do so within a limited time frame.
Perhaps most radical of all, however, is the apparent ditching of Pikmin 3's fiddly three-character management, replaced with a single hero and a rather different partner, Oatchi the space dog. Whether you've already been won over by this pup's prominent introduction to the series here or not, you'll be spending a lot of time with Oatchi regardless. He's a friendly face for the game's marketing, and a handy assistant whose abilities can ease gameplay.
Looking at the game's selection of upgrades, it's clear Oatchi will continue to become more useful, with later talents including the ability for Oatchi to gather up stray Pikmin that might otherwise be picked off by predators or left behind at sundown. At this stage it's perhaps too early to judge Oatchi's overall impact - I've only met Red, Yellow and the new Ice Pikmin. But I have, on occasion, sometimes wondered if this should be called Oatchi 1 instead of Pikmin 4.
While there's more scope for adventuring and your character is out in the field without another humanoid partner, you're hardly left to feel lonely. You're here to rescue Olimar, but first begin finding members of another rescue squad that arrived in the area before you. Once gathered up, these characters recur in a new hub area, a small explorable section you strike out from each day, but where you can check in with allies first on your progress.
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