Though most updates surrounding Pikmin 4 have focused on new features such as Ice Pikmin and the dog-like Oatchi, hidden at the end of its latest trailer was the reveal of new night levels that seem reminiscent of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword's Silent Realms. Pikmin 4's addition of night levels is huge, as the series' traditionally gameplay has geared itself around a day-night cycle with players needing to manage their time to keep themselves and their Pikmin safe. Whether this will expand general systems or introduce new levels altogether, Pikmin 4 could be revolutionary for the series.
While the recent trailer didn't confirm any specifics about how these night levels or modes will work, this hasn't stopped fans from analyzing every detail they can ahead of Pikmin 4's release. The transition between day and night is signified by enemy eyes suddenly turning red, and the example Bulborb appears to stop dead in its tracks before abruptly heading in a new direction - presumably toward the player. This affords Pikmin 4 some similarities to the intense, haphazard stealth segments of Skyward Sword's Silent Realms.
How Pikmin 4 Could Rework The Day-Night Cycle
From the first Pikmin onwards the adherence to a day-night cycle was integral, with players unable to keep going after the sun had set. The general reasoning is that dangerous nocturnal predators emerge in greater numbers, posing a threat to the diminutive Hocotatians and Pikmin. The vagueness of how they act at night could now work in Pikmin 4's favor, as these "predators" could be either existing Pikmin enemies or all-new creatures.
The new night levels will likely be implemented in one of two ways. The first is that they allow players to go beyond sunset at their own risk, with enemies becoming smarter, faster, or more aggressive - with the benefit of extra rewards or giving players more time to complete complex levels. Alternatively, dedicated night levels could either be a harder option for veteran players or to capitalize on complex level designs in Pikmin 4. Both of these could then offer rewards, bonuses, or even secrets for those prepared to gamble on playing after dark.
How The Silent Realms Could Influence Pikmin 4's Nighttime
Despite being regarded by some fans as one of the Zelda series' lesser entries, hindsight has led to a general conclusion that Skyward Sword's poor execution let down the good ideas and concepts behind its design. While Skyward Sword HD attempted to address some of its original flaws, the Wii-era title still has fans divided thanks to various gameplay features. One such feature was its mandatory Silent Realm sections, which abruptly switched up gameplay to time-sensitive stealth. Aggressive, stalking enemies in these sections led to some of the most heart-pounding levels in Zelda history.
With what little has been shown so far about night levels in Pikmin 4, there are already several parallels that can be drawn, from red-eyed enemies homing in on the player to the sudden shift toward stealth. It seems unlikely Pikmin 4 would require players to collect a Sacred Tear equivalent so that they can avoid alerting enemies, but other elements such as Waking Water or Watchers could help inform night gameplay and level design. This could even accommodate Pikmin's canon about dangerous nighttime predators, where night levels finally reveal who or what these "predators" are as substitutes for Watchers and Guardians, maybe even returning to the technological terrors of Pikmin 2.
Pikmin 4 is set to release on July 21, 2023, exclusively for Nintendo Switch.
