For the first time in series history, Pikmin 4 will feature night expeditions. Pikmin 4 is the next big Nintendo Switch exclusive game on the horizon, with the Big N set to release it in July. After the acclaim that the previous Pikmin games have earned, hopes are high that Pikmin 4 will keep the momentum going strong.
Based on what's been shown so far, Pikmin 4 certainly seems to be looking to deliver yet another high quality Pikmin experience. It will retain the franchise's core gameplay, but it's also introducing some interesting new features at the same time. For example, Pikmin 4 gives players a dog companion that they can use to better explore the environment, but the loop will still revolve around collecting Pikmin of different types and utilizing them to overcome obstacles.
The latest trailer for Pikmin 4 has confirmed another new feature for the game in the form of the aforementioned night expeditions. Previous Pikmin games made it so players had to return to their ships at night, but Pikmin 4 will let players explore under the cover of darkness. However, the enemies in Pikmin 4 are much more dangerous at night. Players will need to utilize the newly-revealed neon green Glow Pikmin if they hope to stand a chance.
Some other interesting details players may notice after watching the latest Pikmin 4 trailer is that some of the levels take place inside buildings, whereas the vast majority of the games have taken place in outdoor locations. The buildings look like they're filled with modern items, which has interesting implications for the Pikmin franchise lore. Needless to say, exploring these areas should be especially exciting for fans of the Pikmin franchise.
Another interesting wrinkle shown off in the latest Pikmin 4 trailer has players competing in what are called "Dondori Battles" to rescue castaways who then populate the base camp and offer various activities and services. An example shown in the trailer sees one of the rescued castaways train the Pikmin 4 dog creature to teach it new skills, in turn giving players more option when they're out exploring the game world.
While some of the other big announcements at the Nintendo Direct may take up most of the attention, Pikmin 4 still looks extremely promising and should make for a fine new addition to the Switch lineup when its release date rolls around next month. Fans are still waiting for word on how Pikmin 4 multiplayer works, but those answers should come with the game's launch.
Pikmin 4 launches July 21, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.
