After a long time without a true sequel, the Pikmin franchise is back. Pikmin 4 is on its way in 2023, and hype is building now that fans are armed with a first proper trailer from the February 2023 Nintendo Direct. A mix of new and old elements are coming to Pikmin 4, with old favorites like returning Pikmin types meshing with fresh additions like Oatchi the alien dog. Even more expansive elements like Pikmin 2's caves seem to be coming back as well, standing alongside the brand-new nighttime gameplay.
Of course, it wouldn't be a new Pikmin title without some new Pikmin variants, and so far Pikmin 4 has delivered with Ice Pikmin serving as the first, and so far only, new Pikmin type of this entry. They are light blue in coloration, with their flowers sporting a yellow color in comparison to the white flowers of Pikmin 1's trio, the pink flowers from Pikmin 2's original types, and the purple flowers in 3. The amount of interactions that Ice Pikmin have with their environment may outstrip the rest, and who knows what this means for other Pikmin types.
Pikmin 4's Ice Pikmin are Extremely Versatile
Although Blue Pikmin could always cross water and Winged Pikmin could navigate over it, Ice Pikmin and Oatchi have almost cut water out of the equation entirely. Oatchi swimming with Pikmin on its back is huge on its own, but Ice Pikmin do something much more extreme, causing the surface of a pool to instantly ice over when enough are thrown in. This probably has size limits, but it's still a powerful traversal tool. If Ice Pikmin turn out to be exclusively found in caves like White and Purple Pikmin prior, they will be a limited but precious resource for players to speed up their exploration.
Ice Pikmin are presumably immune to frigid hazards, but they can serve as freezing weapons themselves. Throwing Ice Pikmin at enemies will build up a meter around their health bar, increasing sharply if an Ice Pikmin is eaten. Once this meter is filled, the affected creature will freeze solid in a manner similar to being hit by the Ultra-Bitter Spray from past games. Foes defeated like this will shatter, leaving no body but potentially drops of nectar. Purples could stun enemies, White Pikmin would damage foes if eaten, and Rock Pikmin can break armor, but the new ice mechanic works with a more lethal purpose while being more balanced than Pikmin 2's Purples and Ultra-Bitter Spray together.
Ice Pikmin Could Bring More Elemental Powers To Pikmin 4
On a whole, it feels like Ice Pikmin are in-touch with their element, more so than any other Pikmin type. Red Pikmin have simply been immune to fire, while Yellows used to handle Bomb Rocks with no electricity in sight. The pink Winged Pikmin entirely revolve around their ability to fly, and Purples are practically non-elemental. With so much versatility available to Ice Pikmin, it feels like the other Pikmin types will need buffs to keep up.
By that line of thinking, Ice Pikmin may set the speed for mechanics in Pikmin 4. Fans have already begun theorizing that Red Pikmin are needed to heat the clay used for climbable walls, giving them both more gameplay relevance and a sensible new power. Yellow Pikmin gained the ability to conduct electricity in Pikmin 3, so more Pikmin could now begin channeling their elements or using their characteristic strengths in gameplay. Whatever the case, Ice Pikmin look like a strong addition to the cast, and fans can't wait to see what else Pikmin 4 has in store.
Pikmin 4 launches July 21, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.
