Topic: Any other Pikmin fans disappointed by Pikmin 4?

Pikmin 4 has been my most anticipated game for years before it was officially announced. However, while I have seen a lot of people saying this is the best Pikmin game yet, I strongly disagree. I was REALLY enjoying it for a while, but overall it has left a bad taste in my mouth.

The QOL improvements are great and so is Oachi. However, the level layouts are NOT interesting, the puzzle element is all but gone, there are almost no bosses, and the main thing I feel the game has going for it is that there is SO MUCH content. But IMO it's very much quantity over quality.

Let me first explain where I'm at in the game. Just minutes ago I finished the final boss and finished exploring all levels in the campaign 100%. I haven't started Olimar's quest or the sage leaf trial. Also, I have loved the Dandori challenges but was waiting to re-attempt them for platinum until I get through the core stages 100%. I'm super excited for Dandori platinums, Olimar's quest, and Sage Leaf trial. This content I'm now ready to begin is content I fully expect to love, and maybe it will fully redeem the game for me.

However, the main game is a slog and has really sucked some of the joy out of Pikmin for me. I feel like I've pushing myself through dozens of hours of mostly boring content just so I can reach the parts of the game I know I'll like. I certainly won't ever play the main campaign again, which is sad considering how much I adore Pikmin 1-3 and have replayed them many times. Currently, I'd rank them 3>1>2>>4. However, if the post-game content is as good as I expect, then 4 might beat 2 for me.

Am I the only one who feels this way? The praise has felt so universal for this game, and while I'm glad Pikmin is finally getting attention, I'm disappointed that this least interesting entry will now likely set the tone for future games in the series.

(Just to clarify, I HAVE had fun with this game. Even a "bad" Pikmin game is better than most video games, IMO. My disappointment is mostly relative to how much I adore the rest of the series and feel that this entry falls short).

....I dunno, I enjoyed most of the game, if anything the beginning of the game felt a bit slow...only other problem I had is that the days/nights felt a bit shorter than past games. Was also hoping for a couple of caves similar to the last ones from Pikmin 2, kinda enjoyed some of those where you re-fight some bosses in a new tougher environment. lol

Dunno if it's my #1 game, but I think it's up there with 2. Curious to see if it'll get any DLC, and still hoping for a Cave Creator, make it happen Nintendo! lol

Yeah, the intro/tutorial section was definitely slow, which made me excited once the game picked up steam. However, once I realized how much less interactive the environments felt, my enjoyment started to really go down.

Finally getting to explore at night seemed like such a cool idea, but the fact that those missions weren't all that threatening was quite a disappointment as well.

One thing I surprisingly did enjoy was having to gradually work up to 100 Pikmin, rather than having that from the jump. Gave the game a bit more sense of progress.

I liked the night parts, it just felt like they ended too quickly, kinda wished there was an "endless mode" where you could see how long you could last. lol

Night expeditions were easily my least favourite part, being too short and them all feeling the same, but overall I think this is my favourite pikmin game. I can get why you didn't like it too much though...

I mean, at least some nights introduced some stuff like the Jumbo Bulborb or the return of the Smoky Progg, but yeah, was hoping for it to last a bit longer. Was also hoping for it to be like more of the common PvE tower defense modes where you defend against multiple waves, and the last wave could be a boss wave or something.

Having the smoky progg show up was a real treat. It both surprised and terrified me. Too bad it wasn't a bit more threatening to face.

I enjoyed 4, but playing 2 before kind of knocks it off my list of favorites. Some people hate 2 because of the RNG, but I really liked 2. While 4 had caves that were hand-crafted, so that the layouts were more puzzle-oriented, I wish they made the caves deeper than what they had. 2 had some really really decently sized caves, especially in late game, but 4 had only one long cave, that being the final dungeon. 4 did have bosses though.. just not on the level that 3 had them. Most of the bosses are more akin to how they are in Pikmin 2, with most of the bosses straight up returning from 2. There's like one or two actual new bosses, but they're pretty meh.

Caves are definitely the weaker part of 4 for me.

Funnily enough, my rankings would be the opposite. 4>2>1>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>3. Pikmin 4 is basically what I wanted Pikmin 3 to be.

@BenAV Haha, well that's really good to hear. Obviously different people get different things out of the Pikmin experience.

I definitely think one thing that hurt 4 for me was the generic building material that can be used everywhere. I missed having to hunt for the right items to use in building, something 3 did quite well.

I wish I knew how to articulate what made level design in 4 so bland to me. In previous games (Pikmin 3 especially), the level design makes me think of Dark Souls 1, with multiple shortcuts and clever intertwining of paths. Everything felt intentionally crafted. In 4, most of the time the levels felt like big open spaces that AI could have generated.

I do love having the mild time pressure of 1 and 3. 2 and 4 giving you all the time in the world makes me approach the games more casually and I don't like that, but I can't force myself to pick up the pace. That's why I like Dandori battles so much because it forces me to play efficiently. Just wish the whole game felt more like that.

I am having fun with P4 and less gaming stress compared to BOTW/TOTK during game play. Also of fore thought is needed for this game and you can ReWind OPS as well nice feature. But camera panning and drone is great. It makes your challenge yourself to beat yourself to the end as well. LOVE the dog wish they existed.

@SwitchForce Have you played the first 3 Pikmin games? And if so, how would you compare them with 4?

...I liked the Groovy Long Legs. >.>

I just remembered I never got around to the final two night stages (on the last level). The first one was simple, but the second one is an amazing challenge and I'm loving it. I think I've attempted it 10 times so far and still haven't managed to beat it. I've gotten so close though! Anyway, it's a blast.

@sketchturner, I've only played the 4 so far but I do have number 3 hidden somewhere in the game storage but not sure where I have it buried now. But I do like the P4 gameplay and game management of all the Pikmins can be challenging til you level to get the all call signal that helps alot. I am looking to preorder P1&2 when they come to collect them and I recall I have on 3DS but haven't cracked open that game yet.

Last night I played Olimar's Shipwreck Tale and it was a blast. Went by super quick though! I beat in one sitting (3 hours). Took me 11 days to get all the parts. It wasn't all that hard but it FELT stressful in a good way.

The funny thing to me was that I didn't recognize/ remember the second level layout AT ALL going through it with Olimar. It was such an un-memorable level in the main campaign, and it has been weeks since I was at that point. However, I actually quite liked the level layout in this context.

I think and suspect Pikmin 4 Olimar is the leafing guy just from the looks of it.

The Dandori levels and the Sage Leaf Trial are so stinking good.
There was one Dandori level in particular (Cliff-Hanger's Hold) that was a blast to get platinum. It took me hours to get it just right, but it was really satisfying.

I’ve never played the other games yet.