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Pikmin 3 to bring 'stress' back to series

Shigeru Miyamoto says it's "back to basics" for upcoming Wii U entry in real-time strategy series.

Pikmin 3 for Wii U will be a "back-to-basics" Pikmin game that aims to return "stress" to the series. That's according to designer Shigeru Miyamoto, who told United Kingdom magazine GamesMaster (via Official Nintendo Magazine) that Pikmin 3 aims to capture the essence of the first game.

"First of all, by looking at Pikmin 1 we noticed that it wasn't a very easy game for people to play, and from time to time they had to feel some stress," Miyamoto said. "Our main aim in Pikmin 2 was to get rid of any stress as much as possible, so that it would be very user-friendly. Well, I myself couldn't agree with that direction perfectly. That kind of nature of Pikmin 1 was exactly what I wanted to reproduce and I was actually intentionally doing so, so that Pikmin 1 could be a strategic game."

Miyamoto explained that when Nintendo began to conceive Pikmin 3, he gathered the core developers from Pikmin 2 and instructed them that it was important to return to the basics of Pikmin 1. This did not come easy, he said.

"Or I should say that half of my job at that time wasn't just to talk, but rather to persuade them to understand what I intended to do and to agree to my idea," Miyamoto said.

Pikmin 3--recently delayed to the April-June quarter--was announced during Nintendo's 2012 Electronic Entertainment Expo briefing in June. It is a direct sequel to 2004's GameCube title Pikmin 2 and introduces new features like a Rock Pikmin, which can be used to destroy hard objects.

The game is fully playable with just the Wii U GamePad, but can also be directed with a Wii MotionPlus controller. Miyamoto previously explained that the game skipped online multiplayer because having numerous small creatures onscreen at once would present problems when syncing up over an Internet connection.

For more on Pikmin 3, check out GameSpot's preview from E3 2012.

Eddie Makuch
By Eddie Makuch, News Editor

Eddie Makuch (Mack-ooh) is a News Editor at GameSpot. He works out of the company's Boston office in Somerville, Mass., and loves extra chunky peanut butter.

86 comments
londenbridges05
londenbridges05

"the game skipped online multiplayer because having numerous small creatures onscreen at once would present problems when syncing up over an Internet connection." 

something that can be fixed later right?

The_Dragon_Born
The_Dragon_Born

Another reason not to get a Wii U till a price drop

FLEEBS
FLEEBS
FLEEBS
FLEEBS

 @The_Dragon_Born Because of the delay? That's actually old news. The system is lots of fun as it is, though. I don't think many people realize this.

SlimeSwayze
SlimeSwayze

@FLEEBS @The_Dragon_Born The Wii U is fun because games are fun. But why get a Wii U when there are so many other options out there that have far more fun games, and the system is clearly overpriced right now?

Rickystickyman
Rickystickyman like.author.displayName 1 Like

What I would like to see in Pikmin 3 is some actual strategy. Don't get me wrong, I love Pikmin (that's why I own the games) but as far as a strategy game goes it is extremely simplistic and is very shallow in terms of gameplay. The atmosphere is what makes the game good and enjoyable but I feel like the gameplay might need some improvements. But that's just my opinion.

Lamesy
Lamesy like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

It's far preferable if the sense of stress comes from overwhelming enemies or harsh environmental puzzles. Time limits feel tacked-on.

Stesilaus
Stesilaus like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

 @Lamesy

 A major problem with the first game's time limit was the UNCERTAINTY attached to it: Even when I had more days remaining than I had parts to collect, I was never really sure whether or not I was running out of time because, after all, it was conceivable that some critical parts that I hadn't found yet could take several days to collect.

 

So a lot of the "stress" came from not knowing whether I was just wasting a whole lot of real world time on a game that I might fail to finish anyway.

justinka777
justinka777

@Stesilaus @Lamesy im prity sure thats the "stress" he mentioned, i kinda found it exciting.

Falru
Falru

FTL was the most stressful game I've played recenetly, god damn excellent game.

 

Next up was Ys: Origin I bought on Steam, another really fun game that is also rather hard (playing on Hard diffculty first time through).

 

It's okay for games to be hard people...

tgwolf
tgwolf

I wish this mentality would apply to the industry such that weak games that make me want to cry and insult my NES background of spitefully-hard games get boot camp and their developers get rehab.

This comment has been deleted

tgwolf
tgwolf like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 3 Like

 @ABEzilla116 LOL, well NES is the marine corps for breaking in gamers...

Rovelius
Rovelius like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

Ohhhh fuck, not the 30 days limit again? -_-

WolfeKuPo
WolfeKuPo like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @Rovelius I would like that, although I would like that to be an option like normal is no time limit while hard has the time limit

Zignoff
Zignoff

Bad idea honestly, my life is stressful enough, why in the world would I want it in a game? I'll pass, honestly limiting game mechanics are the sign of somebody who can't come up with an original idea Miyamoto. 

There are betters ways then by removing the fun factor by designing tedious mechanics that force people to rush and their by unable to full appericate the game you made, Time limits are a poor designs crotch, just like QTE, and removing combat.

I won't buy this for sure, now if it was  OPTIONAL then yea maybe, the reason I never played the first one was because of the time limit, same reason i never played luigi's machine, the second one though was fun and I enjoyed it, it still had the day and night time, time limit, that's more then enough, you still had a time limit, but not on the overall game. So you still had to plan out your day, figure out the best way to use your team, who to take and what amount, having the added mess of rushing isn't fun.I hope you decide to balance it, cause doing that mechanic also removes a lot of replay value in my thoughts. Should focus on making the world more unique, and more exploration material to make it so there is more to look forward to instead of bottlenecking us into trying to get the game completed the quickly and failing to allow us to explore that unique world.

FLEEBS
FLEEBS like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @Zignoff Dude, are you seriously saying Miyamoto can't come up with an original idea?!? Get real, man.

hochstreck
hochstreck like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @Zignoff Please don't use the term "poor design" for something you might not understand. It's perfectly fine, if you think a game should be like a movie, a book or something that actually isn't a game, but just don't go around and write and say stupid things about games, which actually try to be games.

 

Just because you think your oh-so-important life has to be stressful and lead to games, which act merely as dumb relaxation tools to fondle a sheep's soul, it doesn't mean others think the same way.

 

For me there isn't much point in exploring a world, which is merely a theme park, with no danger or "a will of its own". There is no adventure without "danger", as the decisions you make or how you play a game is of no importance and therefore not affecting you or the world you play in. Why searching a world for things you don't need? Why exploring a world you can't affect?

Supabul
Supabul

@Zignoff

I don't think they'll go that route again, it didn't make the game any more harder, you could get 2 or 3 pieces pretty quickly and spend the rest of the day harvesting more pikmin, you could even spend a whole day harvesting them, if you screwed up you could replay without any penalty

 

There was no rush or stress it was short and you'd probably finish with a few day's to spare

 

Klikandclick
Klikandclick

The Pikmin games are classics. Can't wait for the new one.

da_chub
da_chub

pikmin 2 was def easier, but they both are great games that deserve a sequel. its a shame more people dontplay this series.  maybe it wouldnt have been 7+ years since sequel.

Lamesy
Lamesy

 @da_chub LOL, that's not the problem.... Nintendo originally started talking about a Pikmin 3 on Wii. They just dragged their heels.

cellblock1138
cellblock1138 like.author.displayName 1 Like

Huzzah Huzzah... loved how the first played a little more than the 2nd... that said they were both good...

 

This is the reason I bought a wii U that... and zelda....  OOOOO LA LA

Architeuthis
Architeuthis

I loved the first two Pikmin games, and I have to agree with Miyamoto that the "stress" dynamic of the first game did make it more challenging, and ultimately, better.

Halloll
Halloll

the horror of pikmin1. you finally get the ship part you're looking for but decimate your pikmin population in the process. it felt like going to work after that relief my stress of playing the game.

Carpetfluff
Carpetfluff

It's a tricky balance to get right; too many restrictions and time limits can really destroy the sense of fun and discovery.

FandomTheory
FandomTheory

Is it just me, or does that crab enemy look like Jigsaw?

00Joseph00
00Joseph00 like.author.displayName 1 Like

Nintendo does not want to do online multiplayer. I'm fine with that because they never needed online with Super Nintendo, N64, GameCube, and barely used it with Wii. I'm still a huge fan.

itchyflop
itchyflop

this looks so good i dunno if adding a little "stiffer" gameplay will have a positive effect. Obviously a game should be challenging, some of my most memorable games have been but not forgetting its a "game" for recreational fun. I look forward to the result

StellaLunaris
StellaLunaris

I'm sorry, as soon as I heard "get rid of any stress" in Pikmin 2 I can only call bull. Waterwraiths. Just...Waterwraiths. Those were my biggest cause of stress in the series! D:

smoothyplum26
smoothyplum26

Just what everybody wants while gaming, Stress; one of the most harmful chemicals to us which causes heart problems, depression, anger and many other negative issues. I usually play games to relieve stress, not add stress. Really bad wording by Miyamoto.

Grovilis
Grovilis like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @smoothyplum26 Not everyone plays games for the same reason you do. What is considered "fun" is incredibly subjective.

HiroArka
HiroArka like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 5 Like

 @smoothyplum26 I think what he really means is he wants you to feel a little on edge and think a little more on the fly or something. Kind of like you would in Contra.

rpvarela
rpvarela

As many already said here, Pikmin 2 was far more stressful. Remember when you were busy in a dungeon and then a gattling groink would sneak up on you when you are next to water/bottomless pits? Better haul that carcass back into the ship right now! It's regenerating health already! Oh, here comes another one!

 

And lets not forget the first time you'd encounter the waterwraith or that huge lobster without a clue about what to do. Pikmin 1 was a walk in the part by comparison.

 

That said, I have some fond memories of both games. On with Pikmin 3! :)

Frostblade727
Frostblade727 like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

Dear lord, Pikmin 2 was meant to be user-friendly?! It stressed the hell out of me!

 

Maybe I'm just bad at Pikmin... 

abHS4L88
abHS4L88

 @Frostblade727 

I just started the game, but haven't continued it (other games I've been meaning to finish first). I was pretty damn good at The Little King's Story so I hope I can handle Pikmin 2 well, need training for Pikmin 3!

RabidBurp
RabidBurp

Isn't the Rock Pikmin just a re-skin of the Purple Pikmin from the second game?

hailthorn
hailthorn

 @RabidBurp No. You throw them at walls and they break certain walls. Purple Pikmin didn't do that. They stunned enemies and equaled 10 Pikmin. But that's about it. I believe they dealt the most damage as well.

Metronoid
Metronoid like.author.displayName 1 Like

I waiting for this game, RTS is a great way to test the non capacitive display that N put.

pizzamuncher
pizzamuncher like.author.displayName 1 Like

Honestly I thought Pikmin 2 was far more stressful. I mean, The Waterwraith was WAY more stressful than any time limit. I'm still looking forward to Pikmin 3 quite a bit.   

rhymebomb
rhymebomb

I rented Pikmin when it first came out. As soon as I found out that there was an overall time limit, I immediately returned it for something else. I liked what little I experienced but I cannot endure that kind of gameplay. It would be nice if they made the time limit just an optional challenge, but oh well.

Bangerman15
Bangerman15

I only played pikmin 1 whe nthe gamecube first came out and I didn't like it and just the other day i picked up pikmin 2 re release to play and give it another shot.  I like the game a lot, but it's kinda hard IMO how some of the monsters just destroy your pikmin and then you're stuck in a deep sublevel to a cave with only like 20 pikmin left :/

 

It's a good game and I ay want to pickup the first pikmin re release.. but idk cuz if it's supposed to be harder than the second I might just skip lol :/

Megavideogamer
Megavideogamer

I have Pikman 1 for the Gamecube. I didn't find it stressful? I haven't played Pikman 2 for the Gamecube. Or the Pikman 2 re-release for the Wii. to make a comparison.

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