@@androidoficeandfire9667it permanent theirs five stages of addiction which the last turbo charges them and tives them the oatchi rush so toddlers can play too!
For me Distant Spring is the essential Pikmin area. The peaceful but unnerving ambient music, the weird geometric stone structures, the mossy overgrown look of the place, the random-ass giant mammalian skeleton off on some little beach across the water, it's got this perfect vibe of "things are serene right NOW, but something weird and scary is gonna happen if you mess around here too much." And the only thing better than the fact something WILL, is that you can also just completely miss it if you dawdle too long and don't find it in time.
I appreciate that you don't overuse the lost media joke, every time he occasionally appears it's like seeing a friend you don't see often but every time you do get to hang out with him it's a great time
I’d honestly argue the Impact Site deserves a better ranking, it’s easily the best tutorial area that acts like a sandbox for the player to collect their bearings when first playing, moreso than the ones found in 2-4. Plus it’s replenishing pellet posies, secret bosses, & the Pearly ClamClamps are even better editions to an already solid first area.
Maybe at the bottom is a bit too low, I do like it more than Valley of Repose as a first stage cause it's designed to be a simple stage for restoring pikmin numbers while Valley of Repose has you visit it 3 times just to explain how to play the game and the third time you visit it's like "Oh, here's a bit more of the level, a few more caves on some snowy hills." If the stages were ranked by the quality of the caves then yeah Valley of Repose has some challenging caves that make up for the tutorial, but without the caves factoring in, Impact site at least has a purpose beyond getting that one ship part.
Pikmin 1's general ambience really helps with Distant Spring, in the mornings when it's dawn, the fog and lighting help sell waking up at 6am in february/march and taking a deep, cold breath. One thing I really love about Pikmin 1 is at the end of the countdown the music cuts completely for a second, for one moment before you leave you get a look at the place before the monsters come out of the shadows, I really like Pikmin 1's aesthetic and I don't think it's been properly replicated since.
I always thought if there was gonna be a man-made area in pikmin it would be something like a plane that crashed in the in forest or an old, abandoned cottage. I hope my idea doesn't become *gulp* lost media!
Yeah and let the pikmin actually interact wtih the man made objects too. Like Giant's hearth, it'd be really cool if you actually had to light the stove to solve a puzzle. There's TONS of potential for these man made stages, but they kind of stopped short of making them anything more than an aesthetic.
I actually did like Giant's Hearth as a level, I'd have placed it higher personally. I think docking it cause it's "another grassy backyard level" was a bit harsh cause it made Red pikmin's fire ability really shine and the level design feels like there's a lot going on. Plus the music having that "grilling on a lazy summer hot day" feel kind of slaps. I'd also give Suspeckled Terrace a BIT more credit for being the ONLY moment in pikmin 4 where you have a complex puzzle to solve that's really rewarding, early blue onion. It's SO satisfying to get the blue onion cause it's a genuine brain scratcher. Plus Sun speckled is the only tutorial level where you can actually get a lot done on day 1 before you need Oatchi to jump and carry you and the ability to build things with materials, so it doesn't feel like it ends because you did ONE thing. but I think Pikmin 3 handled the tutorial better by not making it part of the main game and the intro area with Collin shouldn't have really bled into sun speckled terrace. I guess I get keeping Oatchi young limits what you can do, so new players don't get overwhelmed and you CAN explore 50% of the level without needing materials so I can't complain too much. If anything I'd argue Pikmin 2's levels are a bit worse, but Pikmin 4 just needed heavier items and more dangerous enemies and to encourage people to split up from Oatchi more like Pikmin 3 did.
Perplexing Pool is definitely my favourite because of the music, and how you can tell that the map is above a buried house. There are small details on the map that imply this but the caves are a dead giveaway.
The Pikmin 4 areas got kinda repetitive, but Serene Shores is one of my favorite areas in the series and definitely the best one in that game. Such a unique aesthetic, and all the elements in the level felt set up and utilized well. Also Groovy Long Legs and its a fun Shipwreck Tale level
Pikmin 3’s maps are so great. As a kid it always felt like I was about to stumble upon a part of the map I never knew existed. 3 had the best exploration IMO.
i can understand why, i recently replayed the game and honestly a lot of the area's i think are just "okay", the ones i'd say are actually alright are Serene Shores, Giant's Hearth and Primordial Thicket, Hero's Hideaway feel's like wasted potential and could have been better then it ended up being, and the first 2 area's are honestly pretty bland
Hero’s hideaway feels nostalgic to me. I like the idea of being tiny in a nice bright single family home, with lots of fun stuff for the kids. It makes me feel like I’m back in my childhood.
Yeah I just wish you could interact with the objects more. like use pikmin to move toys around or open books to access more areas. That's really the only issue with it, there's tons of missed potential for some excellent and unique puzzles. Sadly the ONLY thing you can interact with that's environmental is draining the sink and the cave over the burning stove top. Everything else is just general objects brought in that warp you around but aren't actually part of the environment, just set pieces for gameplay purposes. Really missed potential. (and no I'm not counting the safe either cause it also feels more like a set piece than a natural part of the stage given the only thing in there is Olimar's base)
1 and 3 just have the best areas because the whole area is designed with multitasking in mind due to the time sensitive nature of the games. 2 and 4 have the weaker areas because they just feel like vehicles to get you to the caves. Its interesting though, if the enemies just respawned in 4, I feel like the “big and empty” argument would be somewhat addressed.
I think the reason the enemies don’t respawn in 4 is that they want you to 100% each area in one go, but they definitely should’ve still respawned. Putting in more enemies would’ve also made each area feel much less barren.
I think Hero's hideaway would be better if more enemies and objects were placed, since it makes sense that its square and really big since its a human house, just needs junk on the floor to make gameplay interesting
Personally, Serene Shores is my favorite area in the entire Pikmin series. It’s a beautiful, almost tranquil area that fits Pikmin’s vibe, it also mixes both natural and man-made ideas (with the sand castle) very well. And the sunset on the map and music are stunning. Beautiful area 10/10
Good list. The Forest of Hope is probably always going to be my favorite area in the series. I think it perfectly communicates the feeling of Pikmin. The music, the pacing, the aesthetic, the atmosphere, it all just perfectly blends together for me. Even now I still get chills when I replay the map
Forest naval was initially an area I didn't like but it's really grown on me over the years. It's the one area where I feel like I still don't fully understand the most efficient route, but I appreciate the options it presents the player and the challenge it gives in a pretty easy series. Learning to turn what was a 5+ day area into a 2-3 day area feels good.
I love that the hype is finally wearing down and we are seeing the flaws of Pikmin 4. A good game is always a good game, but aknowledging its flaws is equally as important as enjoy the good
Fair list, especially pikmin 4. I think that if you asked a random pikmin fan for their area ranking of 4 9/10 would say what you’ve said, expect for maybe placing hero’s hideaway but I think most people are kinda past the phase of being wowed by it being a house and are being more critical towards it. Personally would put primordial thicket higher but that’s just my love for autumn and mushroom, speaking objectively I agree.
lowkey the Giants Hearth is the only area in Pikmin 4 that i really like. I definitely enjoy hero’s hideaway and serene shores but like you get what i mean man
Giants Hearth was my favorite area initially, because I really loved the firestarters But then I played olimars story and got pissed they didn’t use them more lol
i think arcadia, terrace and hearth are all pretty distinct thematically- the terrace is your standard first area just like the other games, but the arcadia is a kindergarten playground with cherry blossom trees while the hearth is a giant camping site with campfires and a giant grill, it has a bit of a "country" feel I think. My only problem is that i think it would be better if one area was snowy, maybe the giant's hearth to fit with the fire theme it has
I really don't get the complaint of 4's areas being too samey, I really liked the Blossoming Arcadia and Giant's Hearth, the former feeling much more serene and nice, the other feeling very rustic and muddy. Though I can't defend the Sun-Speckled Terrace lol
Idk why but i kinda feel like (excluding Hero's Hideaway, obviously) the areas in Pikmin 4 feel a bit more consistent than various areas from past games Of course i'm not saying Sun-Speckled Terrace is better than the Perplexing Pool, but for example the Giant's Hearth does feel like an actual location you're exploring, in contrast with things like Garden of Hope. Like, in Giant's Hearth i can actually imagine it being an old camping site, being seen from the pov of an insect-sized character, but Garden of Hope is supposed to be a garden (obviously), but with stuff like the broken vases and the elevator platforms, it feels like were's ants trapped in a terrarium who's been carefully crafted by a human Idk if people would agree, but for the most part the areas in Pikmin 4 are okay. The only annoying part is the fact that yes there are 3 garden-themed maps, and there's not even rain to compensate the repetition.
One thing that needs to be said about Pikmin 3 still to this day has the best fire effects I’ve seen in a game (4’s a re good just more cartoony artstyle)
i'd like to see a video ranking the "remixed" areas, since you mention it. something including the pikmin 1 challenge modes, pikmin 3 remixed areas, and pikmin 4 shipwreck tale.
I was initially thinking the Pikmin 4 areas were kinda low in ranking considering the game was a lovely time for me through and through, but after taking a moment it does make sense even though I loved that game myself. Most of my enjoyment was from going through the caves and moment to moment fighting things, the overworld just seems more like a series of hub worlds than actual levels in and of themselves. Hope they fix that in Pikmin 5 if this is gonna be the new formula.
The Formidable Oak that low is heresy. Sure it's just a boss area but man the atmosphere, aesthetic, music and the way the enmies turn into goop and the whole almost creepy vibe with Olimas logs in that area is dope as hell
6:31 woah! that Sovereign Bulblax really looks like it is with you in the game and fighting against you! isn't it handy that Pikmin 4 has creature respawning in areas?
Honestly Pikmin 1s Final Trial area is still really cool to me as it acts like a huge gauntlet of all the skills you should've learnt on your journey. It really challenges the player, goes out on a high note, and truly feels like a trial.
Honestly, I think Giant's Hearth and Primordial Thicket are actually my favorite areas. There's something viscerally satisfying about the dichotomy of calm atmosphere in Giant's Hearth, with the difficulty ramping up. Primordial Thicket has a genuinely creepy atmosphere that really makes me anxious about what's around the next corner. I just wish the damn enemies would respawn.
Same, but as a kid, I was scared to trigger him to jump down in its arena. So I always had my dad do it for me and then pass the controller back to me 😂
I actually thought Forest Navel should be higher. Placing you in the middle and letting you branch out to do so many different things always felt incredible to me.
Long as Tropical BOP is in the top 3 I'm happy! XD That's my favorite stage, I could listen to that theme forever and it's the only "tutorial" stage that actually rewards you for returning to it by opening up a whole level, rather than just being a little extra snippit that you only couldn't reach because you need blues or something. Yeah I pretty much agree with this list, the level order and general placements are all solid. Yeah we can agree the Olimar versions of every Pikmin 4 stage blow the main game versions out of the water by far, funny how they're exactly the same but without the "moving base" gimmick but actually make the levels more fun cause the more centralized location of the ship and less need to build everything allows you to focus on just the dandori aspect. Though I do kind of wish you had to find larger ship parts, a common problem wtih pikmin 3 and 4 in general, most of the parts were really light and barely strained your pikmin counts while most of the items in pikmin 1 were really heavy and pikmin 2 had the difficulty spike and actually useful blues and limited purples and whites so numbers were kind of a strain to keep track of. Overall I'd say PIkmin 3 has the best level design, and it's REALLY a shame the game is so story linear. this is doubled in the fact that Pikmin 3's dandori missions (or challenge mode) is far harder and more fun than Pikmin 4 as the levels are longer, but it's still difficult to platinum, while Pikmin 4 is so bite sized, most of them can be platinumed first try (BUT Pikmin 4 perfected multiplayer so that's something. The dandori battles are them figuring things out). I digress, but Pikmin 3 really is how you expand the level design while still making it FEEL like pikmin, as those levels were massive to accomodate for 3 captains and captain throwing, yet they all still felt like there was a ton to do. and yeah...Pikmin 2 literally making the stages 50% smaller did not do the overworld any favors as without the caves, you can easily cover the whole map with plenty of time to spare. Heck they actually combined impact site and Final Trial for Wistful Wild. Probably why Forest Navel is so memorable, it wasn't remade at all. Also shoutouts to Forest Navel and Distant Tundra naturally integrating "caves" into the level design. That's why Distant Tundra feels like such a great level.
One thing is that there is not canon confirmation that humans are extinct in Pikmin, we don't see any humans but they've never been confirmed as extinct
When I first saw how clean Hero's Hideaway looked, I genuinely thought Nintendo must've just retconned the whole 'human extinction' thing. Like how the fuck is there a working stove and freezer?
All of Pikmin 4's areas would be a lot better if the enemies respawned. The first time going through them it feels alive with all the creatures doing their thing, then you go through them again and it's just a desolate wasteland. They should've done what they did in the older games, where taking too long would increase the difficulty, like in the Blossoming Arcadia that one part with the Snagret and babies they should've made it so that after a while 2 Snagrets spawn or something, to make it feel like the babies grew up or that after going through there last time and killing everything there are now 2 Snagrets to protect the babies.
I think one of the subjects that wasn’t really talked about all too often was the linearity of each level, because I think pikmin 4 areas really shine in being able to take on an area backward or cut through what first seem like walls using oatchis jump, makes it fun to replay an area and skip parts that previously took a while to get through. Not to mention being able to complete every area in a single day, it’s like the positives of valley of repose without the negatives, and more challenging to boot because of the lack of time freezing in caves. I feel like conversely Pikmin 2 areas are extremely linear, the awakening wood especially is a really bad example of this, you’re basically forced to go through the set hole of beasts > white flower garden > spherical atlas path without glitches and there’s basically no room for exploration outside of it, and at that point the map is mostly done, you also end up having to do a lot of waiting because of this (like the epic gameplay of waiting for a poison wall to go down so you can get the spherical atlas), not to mention the field area at the starting point of the map has practically nothing to do but like fight 1 bulborb, makes multitasking basically impossible when there’s so little options for the player. Other areas in Pikmin 2 really fall into doing similar stuff and it just makes them feel like lesser versions of the Pikmin 1 areas they’re based off of. Pikmin 3 ironically despite having linear story progression, in my opinion has far less linear maps than 2 did. You always have the choice to catch up on 100 percent fruits early on that makes replaying fun as you can complete the story goal while doing a bunch of optional stuff on the side using the extra 2 captains (although obviously the final stage is basically completely linear which makes it feel less good to go through)
Linear =/= bad, Formidable Oak is meant to be linear and benefits from it, same with The Final Trial in Pikmin 1. Also being able to 100% every area in one go without having to ever return to it in Pikmin 4 is a negative, not a positive and one of the many reasons Pikmin 4 has the worst areas in the series imo. One of the best parts about the areas in the previous 3 games was how they implemented backtracking and made it interesting, 4 not having any backtracking just makes the areas feel more shallow and forgettable.
I like: The Forest Navel and Distant Spring from 1; The Wistful Wild and the Perplexing Pool from 2 (especially after 30 days); The Tropical Wilds and Garden of Hope from 3; Primordial thicket and Serene Shores (apart from the lack of respawning enemies) from 4.
As a veteran and as much as I love the Pikmin series, I feel like 4 sort of fell flat. 4 is the only game out of them with maps that I don’t really remember well (design and where stuff is-wise), and it feels just off. I miss all the various areas, music, the feeling of actual exploration of the previous games’ areas, and most importantly, how enemies eventually respawned over time.
honestly I could see hero's hideaway originally being an area exclusive to olimar's shipwreck tale and I could waffle on about why but in context of this video the bottom more boring wooden square is just a 'tutorial' section and then the gildemander boss on the floor before moving to the last stretch of the kitchen which is pretty well made. I would say they guessed how good a house area would be for marketing and just quickly made it a maingame level as well to round out the main game areas
Kinda sad to have some of my favorite areas not even break top 10 (Formidable Oak and Twilight River), but I suppose that more speaks to the mostly strong area design of the games in general. The lily pads are a fun mechanic that make you think about your multitasking in terms of cycles instead of raw speed, and it's something I'd love to see return in a future game, just to spice things up.
me personally, wistful wilds is my favourite areas out of all, cuz i like the autumms season vibe it gives, too bad the water is not blue tho. Edit: good video btw
Honestly I love how I can clear out the wistful wild overworld in a single day, it’s the only area you can do that with and it’s so satisfying to get almost everything done (Curse you doomsday apparatus!) I also love the music and atmosphere really selling the fact that Olimar and the Pikmin’s journey is coming to a close, and finally the environmental storytelling is a nice way to reuse area designs with your landing site being the emperor bulblax’s area and the dream den’s location being where the main engine was located in the first game, Olimar’s journey on the planet ends where it begins. Also I would like a video on the weaker aspects of Pikmin 4 outside of the difficulty, I think there’s a lot of issues I feel come out when the honeymoon phase with the game is over.
Wistful wild is best when playing blind any% just trying to get to Louie but doing a boss rush instead. too bad some have both bad skill and weird fixation of completing any game, I hate the apparatusgate you were so dumb for that cartoon crab guy
@@pikminologueraisin2139 You don’t see the credits in Pikmin 2 without paying off the debt or collecting every treasure. The only way to see the Wistful Wild is after paying off the debt, so at that point, the goal isn’t “save Louie,” it’s “game completion.” That’s not a “weird fixation,” that’s a conscious decision by the developers, otherwise saving Louie would be enough to beat the game again. Don’t get mad because other people didn’t make up the same parameters you did for the final area and found issue with the game design when they played it that way.
@@pikminologueraisin2139 1. The credits play after collecting every treasure, not saving Louie. Saving Louie can be done first thing in the Wistful Wild and it changes nothing. 2. The entire reason the president goes back to the planet, not to save Louie, but to collect all the remaining treasure. Louie is not the goal, the treasure is, and the game explicitly says this. The fact that Louie himself IS A TREASURE should be evidence alone of this. 3. You don't have to do ANYTHING after paying the debut, including saving Louie. That argument doesn't mean anything.
@@meko750 the reason why they return to pnf is so to find Louie who is missing and for that you have to beat the final boss and when done the day end with a final cutscene. the company is rich at this point and i'm pretty sure the first thing Olimar wanted to do after saving the company is to see his family
Number 20 is like saying that the tutorial isn't a good level, this is a tutorial level meant to teach you about caves, the day system, Oatchi upgrades, castaways, Dandori battles, onions, flarics, etc. THIS IS STILL THE TUTORIAL (also what is that final trial placement, it's what the game is hyping you for the last treasure, it's mainly a boss arena, it's not a normal stage (also is your house a circle?)
5:10 Amen there. It reminds me of a theory I have the Pikmin takes place in a timeline where the Eastern Bloc never collapsed as seen by the Spherical Atlas and ended in a bio warfare driven WW3 akin to the movie The Omega Man. Id imagine that along with nukes would explain why a majority of the fauna encountered evolved the way they did.
I have to disagree with your placement of the impact site. I think it gets points for being one of the most satisfying and effective introductions and tutorials of a game in its franchise. as soon as you move that box, you get a sense of what this game is about and why it's so satisfying.
The lost media joke never becomes lost media
Hopefully it does ❤
*happy luigi*
W-w-WHAT IF IT DOES..?!
Maltigi
@@thatnectar-NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Next pikmin game they should definitely add a crackhouse area where theres a cocaine mechanic that increases your pikmins speed
For the pikmin itd be fertilizer
Is that not just nectar and ultra spicy spray
You mean Addict's Alleyway? Yeah they announced that in the Pikmin 5 teaser
@@SammyTheOrange goddammit Olimar I new it was the end when he tried that Arboreal Frippery (Ja/USA only) never bee the same after
@@androidoficeandfire9667it permanent theirs five stages of addiction which the last turbo charges them and tives them the oatchi rush so toddlers can play too!
I loved watching 33 pikmin get absolutely eliminated in 1 short stomp by the emperor bulblax. A certified Pikmin 1 moment.
You love to see and hear that. So many memories 💀
The next logical step is ranking every hey pikmin stage
Subnautica peak
For me Distant Spring is the essential Pikmin area. The peaceful but unnerving ambient music, the weird geometric stone structures, the mossy overgrown look of the place, the random-ass giant mammalian skeleton off on some little beach across the water, it's got this perfect vibe of "things are serene right NOW, but something weird and scary is gonna happen if you mess around here too much." And the only thing better than the fact something WILL, is that you can also just completely miss it if you dawdle too long and don't find it in time.
I remember the first time I accidentally opened the smoky progg egg, mistakes were made 💀
Olimar’s shipwreck tale was probably one of the best parts of pikmin 4 imo.
Finally, someone else who liked olimar's shipwrecked tale.
I've only had Pikmin 4 for a few months and I've already replayed that mode like 8 times. It's literally just pure fun
@@Schwilliammoss solos oatchi
Never cared to finish it tbh. Just found it boring
I felt more for the fans while the main story is for newcomers
I appreciate that you don't overuse the lost media joke, every time he occasionally appears it's like seeing a friend you don't see often but every time you do get to hang out with him it's a great time
woah, i guess that unused area from pikmin 3 is LOST MEDIA
😱😱😱😱😱😱😱
AAAAAAAARGR
the used areas are just media
It was before pikmin unearthed was made
I’d honestly argue the Impact Site deserves a better ranking, it’s easily the best tutorial area that acts like a sandbox for the player to collect their bearings when first playing, moreso than the ones found in 2-4. Plus it’s replenishing pellet posies, secret bosses, & the Pearly ClamClamps are even better editions to an already solid first area.
Maybe at the bottom is a bit too low, I do like it more than Valley of Repose as a first stage cause it's designed to be a simple stage for restoring pikmin numbers while Valley of Repose has you visit it 3 times just to explain how to play the game and the third time you visit it's like "Oh, here's a bit more of the level, a few more caves on some snowy hills." If the stages were ranked by the quality of the caves then yeah Valley of Repose has some challenging caves that make up for the tutorial, but without the caves factoring in, Impact site at least has a purpose beyond getting that one ship part.
i like how serene shores is near universally agreed upon as the best area in pikmin 4
That tide mechanic goes so hard and it's not just a beach. It's a jungly beach with tide pools.
Its just cozy
It's fine I guess
Except for the fact that the house is overrated by many fans… :((
@@SammyTheOrangeshut up white boy
Pikmin 1's general ambience really helps with Distant Spring, in the mornings when it's dawn, the fog and lighting help sell waking up at 6am in february/march and taking a deep, cold breath. One thing I really love about Pikmin 1 is at the end of the countdown the music cuts completely for a second, for one moment before you leave you get a look at the place before the monsters come out of the shadows, I really like Pikmin 1's aesthetic and I don't think it's been properly replicated since.
I love that morning mist so much
"do the cannon beetles just have cillit bang?" is an amazing string of words
Bang and the dirt is gone
Fuck that makes a 2000s uk child feel old
I always thought if there was gonna be a man-made area in pikmin it would be something like a plane that crashed in the in forest or an old, abandoned cottage. I hope my idea doesn't become *gulp* lost media!
Yeah and let the pikmin actually interact wtih the man made objects too. Like Giant's hearth, it'd be really cool if you actually had to light the stove to solve a puzzle. There's TONS of potential for these man made stages, but they kind of stopped short of making them anything more than an aesthetic.
If Schaffrillas is the ultimate Pikmin 2 “hater” then ImonlyhereforPikmin is the ultimate Pikmin 4 “hater”
I actually did like Giant's Hearth as a level, I'd have placed it higher personally. I think docking it cause it's "another grassy backyard level" was a bit harsh cause it made Red pikmin's fire ability really shine and the level design feels like there's a lot going on. Plus the music having that "grilling on a lazy summer hot day" feel kind of slaps. I'd also give Suspeckled Terrace a BIT more credit for being the ONLY moment in pikmin 4 where you have a complex puzzle to solve that's really rewarding, early blue onion. It's SO satisfying to get the blue onion cause it's a genuine brain scratcher. Plus Sun speckled is the only tutorial level where you can actually get a lot done on day 1 before you need Oatchi to jump and carry you and the ability to build things with materials, so it doesn't feel like it ends because you did ONE thing. but I think Pikmin 3 handled the tutorial better by not making it part of the main game and the intro area with Collin shouldn't have really bled into sun speckled terrace. I guess I get keeping Oatchi young limits what you can do, so new players don't get overwhelmed and you CAN explore 50% of the level without needing materials so I can't complain too much. If anything I'd argue Pikmin 2's levels are a bit worse, but Pikmin 4 just needed heavier items and more dangerous enemies and to encourage people to split up from Oatchi more like Pikmin 3 did.
Perplexing Pool is definitely my favourite because of the music, and how you can tell that the map is above a buried house. There are small details on the map that imply this but the caves are a dead giveaway.
The fans, buttons, stools, plates, and tunnels are round. I guess that bathroom break has become LOST MEDIA.
The Pikmin 4 areas got kinda repetitive, but Serene Shores is one of my favorite areas in the series and definitely the best one in that game. Such a unique aesthetic, and all the elements in the level felt set up and utilized well. Also Groovy Long Legs and its a fun Shipwreck Tale level
Well, you can see the Sun in the Hero's Hidaway, and as we know, that shit is circular, therefore the employee's bathroom break is truly LOST MEDIA
Pikmin 3’s maps are so great. As a kid it always felt like I was about to stumble upon a part of the map I never knew existed. 3 had the best exploration IMO.
three pikmin four maps in the bottom five is completely unhinged 😭😭😭
i can understand why, i recently replayed the game and honestly a lot of the area's i think are just "okay", the ones i'd say are actually alright are Serene Shores, Giant's Hearth and Primordial Thicket, Hero's Hideaway feel's like wasted potential and could have been better then it ended up being, and the first 2 area's are honestly pretty bland
Hero’s hideaway feels nostalgic to me. I like the idea of being tiny in a nice bright single family home, with lots of fun stuff for the kids. It makes me feel like I’m back in my childhood.
Yeah I just wish you could interact with the objects more. like use pikmin to move toys around or open books to access more areas. That's really the only issue with it, there's tons of missed potential for some excellent and unique puzzles. Sadly the ONLY thing you can interact with that's environmental is draining the sink and the cave over the burning stove top. Everything else is just general objects brought in that warp you around but aren't actually part of the environment, just set pieces for gameplay purposes. Really missed potential. (and no I'm not counting the safe either cause it also feels more like a set piece than a natural part of the stage given the only thing in there is Olimar's base)
Pikmin 4's good level design is......luh-luh-luh-luh.....l-l-l-l-l-.... LOST MEDIA?!?!?!?!?!?
1 and 3 just have the best areas because the whole area is designed with multitasking in mind due to the time sensitive nature of the games. 2 and 4 have the weaker areas because they just feel like vehicles to get you to the caves. Its interesting though, if the enemies just respawned in 4, I feel like the “big and empty” argument would be somewhat addressed.
I think the reason the enemies don’t respawn in 4 is that they want you to 100% each area in one go, but they definitely should’ve still respawned. Putting in more enemies would’ve also made each area feel much less barren.
@@puggysmall3136 It's actually the opposite it's so you don't have to stick to one area until you 100% it.
I think Hero's hideaway would be better if more enemies and objects were placed, since it makes sense that its square and really big since its a human house, just needs junk on the floor to make gameplay interesting
I have never touched a pikmin game in my life, why are these videos so addicting, I've consumed them all, I'm haunted by Lost Media Luigi.
Personally, Serene Shores is my favorite area in the entire Pikmin series. It’s a beautiful, almost tranquil area that fits Pikmin’s vibe, it also mixes both natural and man-made ideas (with the sand castle) very well. And the sunset on the map and music are stunning. Beautiful area 10/10
Pikmin 5's areas should just be 4 exact copies of the distant spring.
How did they drop the ball so hard on Pikmin 4's maps. You had TEN YEARS
Good list. The Forest of Hope is probably always going to be my favorite area in the series. I think it perfectly communicates the feeling of Pikmin. The music, the pacing, the aesthetic, the atmosphere, it all just perfectly blends together for me. Even now I still get chills when I replay the map
literally the first ever exploration of pnf 404 by Olimar as he seek the parts he need to return to his home
The lost media bit is peak
Serene Shores is definitely S tier
Definitely SS tier if we're being real.
iamonlyhereforlostmedia
Forest naval was initially an area I didn't like but it's really grown on me over the years. It's the one area where I feel like I still don't fully understand the most efficient route, but I appreciate the options it presents the player and the challenge it gives in a pretty easy series. Learning to turn what was a 5+ day area into a 2-3 day area feels good.
after i fight the smoky progg my pikmin become lost media
I love that the hype is finally wearing down and we are seeing the flaws of Pikmin 4. A good game is always a good game, but aknowledging its flaws is equally as important as enjoy the good
IMO one of the biggest flaws in Pikmin 4 is lack of enemy respawn.
Can't wait for the top 10 hottest pikmin characters video!!!
i'll stand by the fact exploring a human sized house being the size of a ant is really fun
Fair list, especially pikmin 4. I think that if you asked a random pikmin fan for their area ranking of 4 9/10 would say what you’ve said, expect for maybe placing hero’s hideaway but I think most people are kinda past the phase of being wowed by it being a house and are being more critical towards it. Personally would put primordial thicket higher but that’s just my love for autumn and mushroom, speaking objectively I agree.
The Avocado and Raspberries part of Tropical Wilds just hits different
4:30 … wow. you havent used that joke in so long, i thought it was UNDISCOVERED ARTISTRY
lowkey the Giants Hearth is the only area in Pikmin 4 that i really like. I definitely enjoy hero’s hideaway and serene shores but like you get what i mean man
14:12 I guess we’ll just go hide in the caves and live as bulbmin for the rest of our days.
This is absolutely a stretch but in comparison to the rest of the series, Pikmin 4's areas are like worlds in the Banjo-Kazooie Nut & Bolts
Giants Hearth was my favorite area initially, because I really loved the firestarters
But then I played olimars story and got pissed they didn’t use them more lol
Blud put out the best pikmin rank list and thought we wouldn't notice
I’ll probably be cancelled on Twitter for this, but I don’t get the Impact site hate
i think arcadia, terrace and hearth are all pretty distinct thematically- the terrace is your standard first area just like the other games, but the arcadia is a kindergarten playground with cherry blossom trees while the hearth is a giant camping site with campfires and a giant grill, it has a bit of a "country" feel I think. My only problem is that i think it would be better if one area was snowy, maybe the giant's hearth to fit with the fire theme it has
I really don't get the complaint of 4's areas being too samey, I really liked the Blossoming Arcadia and Giant's Hearth, the former feeling much more serene and nice, the other feeling very rustic and muddy. Though I can't defend the Sun-Speckled Terrace lol
Idk why but i kinda feel like (excluding Hero's Hideaway, obviously) the areas in Pikmin 4 feel a bit more consistent than various areas from past games
Of course i'm not saying Sun-Speckled Terrace is better than the Perplexing Pool, but for example the Giant's Hearth does feel like an actual location you're exploring, in contrast with things like Garden of Hope.
Like, in Giant's Hearth i can actually imagine it being an old camping site, being seen from the pov of an insect-sized character, but Garden of Hope is supposed to be a garden (obviously), but with stuff like the broken vases and the elevator platforms, it feels like were's ants trapped in a terrarium who's been carefully crafted by a human
Idk if people would agree, but for the most part the areas in Pikmin 4 are okay.
The only annoying part is the fact that yes there are 3 garden-themed maps, and there's not even rain to compensate the repetition.
One thing that needs to be said about Pikmin 3 still to this day has the best fire effects I’ve seen in a game (4’s a re good just more cartoony artstyle)
"if i catch a single elipse your union mandated bathroom break is lost media" is fucking crazy
I could binge for a lifetime on vids trashing Pikmin 4, keep going boss
Putting literally anything under The Valley of Repose is crazy. It’s literally just a hallway
Can't wait for pikmin's found media
Yeah the first area in Pikmin 4 really is a walking sim
I want to play a new save of pikmin 4
Difficulty: the first area with its lame 20 max pikmin and boring tutorial
A really bad walking sim only saved by its announcement trailer being hype.
i'd like to see a video ranking the "remixed" areas, since you mention it. something including the pikmin 1 challenge modes, pikmin 3 remixed areas, and pikmin 4 shipwreck tale.
My biggest gripe with the pikmin 4 maps are that the enemy’s don’t respawn it makes it feel barren after you do everything
I was initially thinking the Pikmin 4 areas were kinda low in ranking considering the game was a lovely time for me through and through, but after taking a moment it does make sense even though I loved that game myself. Most of my enjoyment was from going through the caves and moment to moment fighting things, the overworld just seems more like a series of hub worlds than actual levels in and of themselves. Hope they fix that in Pikmin 5 if this is gonna be the new formula.
With all this pikmin 4 slandering (which i do agree with don't get me wrong), I think you should just do a full on cold raw review.
7:55 I wonder why we cut away from that clip 🤔 lolol
The Formidable Oak that low is heresy. Sure it's just a boss area but man the atmosphere, aesthetic, music and the way the enmies turn into goop and the whole almost creepy vibe with Olimas logs in that area is dope as hell
6:31 woah! that Sovereign Bulblax really looks like it is with you in the game and fighting against you! isn't it handy that Pikmin 4 has creature respawning in areas?
Honestly Pikmin 1s Final Trial area is still really cool to me as it acts like a huge gauntlet of all the skills you should've learnt on your journey. It really challenges the player, goes out on a high note, and truly feels like a trial.
Serene Shores is definitely in my top 5, I love its beach aesthetic, the giant sand castle and all the water areas to explore with Blue Pikmin.
Honestly, I think Giant's Hearth and Primordial Thicket are actually my favorite areas. There's something viscerally satisfying about the dichotomy of calm atmosphere in Giant's Hearth, with the difficulty ramping up. Primordial Thicket has a genuinely creepy atmosphere that really makes me anxious about what's around the next corner. I just wish the damn enemies would respawn.
As a kid the beady longlegs would always scare me I would turn off the sounds and look away because it was so loud
Same, but as a kid, I was scared to trigger him to jump down in its arena. So I always had my dad do it for me and then pass the controller back to me 😂
@@unknwnghstmy brother did this with the Snagret in White Flower Garden
I actually thought Forest Navel should be higher. Placing you in the middle and letting you branch out to do so many different things always felt incredible to me.
Long as Tropical BOP is in the top 3 I'm happy! XD That's my favorite stage, I could listen to that theme forever and it's the only "tutorial" stage that actually rewards you for returning to it by opening up a whole level, rather than just being a little extra snippit that you only couldn't reach because you need blues or something.
Yeah I pretty much agree with this list, the level order and general placements are all solid. Yeah we can agree the Olimar versions of every Pikmin 4 stage blow the main game versions out of the water by far, funny how they're exactly the same but without the "moving base" gimmick but actually make the levels more fun cause the more centralized location of the ship and less need to build everything allows you to focus on just the dandori aspect. Though I do kind of wish you had to find larger ship parts, a common problem wtih pikmin 3 and 4 in general, most of the parts were really light and barely strained your pikmin counts while most of the items in pikmin 1 were really heavy and pikmin 2 had the difficulty spike and actually useful blues and limited purples and whites so numbers were kind of a strain to keep track of.
Overall I'd say PIkmin 3 has the best level design, and it's REALLY a shame the game is so story linear. this is doubled in the fact that Pikmin 3's dandori missions (or challenge mode) is far harder and more fun than Pikmin 4 as the levels are longer, but it's still difficult to platinum, while Pikmin 4 is so bite sized, most of them can be platinumed first try (BUT Pikmin 4 perfected multiplayer so that's something. The dandori battles are them figuring things out). I digress, but Pikmin 3 really is how you expand the level design while still making it FEEL like pikmin, as those levels were massive to accomodate for 3 captains and captain throwing, yet they all still felt like there was a ton to do. and yeah...Pikmin 2 literally making the stages 50% smaller did not do the overworld any favors as without the caves, you can easily cover the whole map with plenty of time to spare. Heck they actually combined impact site and Final Trial for Wistful Wild. Probably why Forest Navel is so memorable, it wasn't remade at all. Also shoutouts to Forest Navel and Distant Tundra naturally integrating "caves" into the level design. That's why Distant Tundra feels like such a great level.
As someone who unabashedly adored every second of pikmin 4……….. yeah you brought up a lot of good points about the maps lol.
One thing is that there is not canon confirmation that humans are extinct in Pikmin, we don't see any humans but they've never been confirmed as extinct
Wake up, pikmin 4? Skibidi toilet? You’ve been asleep for a while, you should get some water
When I first saw how clean Hero's Hideaway looked, I genuinely thought Nintendo must've just retconned the whole 'human extinction' thing. Like how the fuck is there a working stove and freezer?
I love the part in the forest navel where the beady long legs caught me off guard and turned half my squad into lost media
All of Pikmin 4's areas would be a lot better if the enemies respawned.
The first time going through them it feels alive with all the creatures doing their thing, then you go through them again and it's just a desolate wasteland.
They should've done what they did in the older games, where taking too long would increase the difficulty, like in the Blossoming Arcadia that one part with the Snagret and babies they should've made it so that after a while 2 Snagrets spawn or something, to make it feel like the babies grew up or that after going through there last time and killing everything there are now 2 Snagrets to protect the babies.
I think one of the subjects that wasn’t really talked about all too often was the linearity of each level, because I think pikmin 4 areas really shine in being able to take on an area backward or cut through what first seem like walls using oatchis jump, makes it fun to replay an area and skip parts that previously took a while to get through. Not to mention being able to complete every area in a single day, it’s like the positives of valley of repose without the negatives, and more challenging to boot because of the lack of time freezing in caves.
I feel like conversely Pikmin 2 areas are extremely linear, the awakening wood especially is a really bad example of this, you’re basically forced to go through the set hole of beasts > white flower garden > spherical atlas path without glitches and there’s basically no room for exploration outside of it, and at that point the map is mostly done, you also end up having to do a lot of waiting because of this (like the epic gameplay of waiting for a poison wall to go down so you can get the spherical atlas), not to mention the field area at the starting point of the map has practically nothing to do but like fight 1 bulborb, makes multitasking basically impossible when there’s so little options for the player. Other areas in Pikmin 2 really fall into doing similar stuff and it just makes them feel like lesser versions of the Pikmin 1 areas they’re based off of.
Pikmin 3 ironically despite having linear story progression, in my opinion has far less linear maps than 2 did. You always have the choice to catch up on 100 percent fruits early on that makes replaying fun as you can complete the story goal while doing a bunch of optional stuff on the side using the extra 2 captains (although obviously the final stage is basically completely linear which makes it feel less good to go through)
Linear =/= bad, Formidable Oak is meant to be linear and benefits from it, same with The Final Trial in Pikmin 1. Also being able to 100% every area in one go without having to ever return to it in Pikmin 4 is a negative, not a positive and one of the many reasons Pikmin 4 has the worst areas in the series imo. One of the best parts about the areas in the previous 3 games was how they implemented backtracking and made it interesting, 4 not having any backtracking just makes the areas feel more shallow and forgettable.
one of my favorite things about you is when im in a pikmin mood i know just where to look
Apart from The Forest Of Hope, and The Landing Site,
Every Pikmin 1 area gives me PTSD from stress of playing it for the first time
I like:
The Forest Navel and Distant Spring from 1;
The Wistful Wild and the Perplexing Pool from 2 (especially after 30 days);
The Tropical Wilds and Garden of Hope from 3;
Primordial thicket and Serene Shores (apart from the lack of respawning enemies) from 4.
12:36 “Pikmin Tree”
Maybe that's why Pikmin 3 is my favorite, and 4 is the one I like the less.
I like exploring cool areas and multitasking.
Me personally i dislike all of pikmin 4s maps and the caves i just think every other game did it better
As a veteran and as much as I love the Pikmin series, I feel like 4 sort of fell flat. 4 is the only game out of them with maps that I don’t really remember well (design and where stuff is-wise), and it feels just off. I miss all the various areas, music, the feeling of actual exploration of the previous games’ areas, and most importantly, how enemies eventually respawned over time.
wait did he rate primdorial thicket?
imonlyhereforpikmin's video feed is my favorite area 🌻
My least favorite part from pikmin 4 is the lack of enemy respawn that causes them to become lost media
Before watching the video if Serene Shores isn’t 1st place your becoming lost media
Losing my media to this video right now
honestly I could see hero's hideaway originally being an area exclusive to olimar's shipwreck tale and I could waffle on about why but in context of this video the bottom more boring wooden square is just a 'tutorial' section and then the gildemander boss on the floor before moving to the last stretch of the kitchen which is pretty well made. I would say they guessed how good a house area would be for marketing and just quickly made it a maingame level as well to round out the main game areas
Kinda sad to have some of my favorite areas not even break top 10 (Formidable Oak and Twilight River), but I suppose that more speaks to the mostly strong area design of the games in general. The lily pads are a fun mechanic that make you think about your multitasking in terms of cycles instead of raw speed, and it's something I'd love to see return in a future game, just to spice things up.
me personally, wistful wilds is my favourite areas out of all, cuz i like the autumms season vibe it gives, too bad the water is not blue tho.
Edit: good video btw
Pikmin Three ❌
Pikmin Tree ✅
Honestly I love how I can clear out the wistful wild overworld in a single day, it’s the only area you can do that with and it’s so satisfying to get almost everything done (Curse you doomsday apparatus!) I also love the music and atmosphere really selling the fact that Olimar and the Pikmin’s journey is coming to a close, and finally the environmental storytelling is a nice way to reuse area designs with your landing site being the emperor bulblax’s area and the dream den’s location being where the main engine was located in the first game, Olimar’s journey on the planet ends where it begins.
Also I would like a video on the weaker aspects of Pikmin 4 outside of the difficulty, I think there’s a lot of issues I feel come out when the honeymoon phase with the game is over.
Wistful wild is best when playing blind any% just trying to get to Louie but doing a boss rush instead. too bad some have both bad skill and weird fixation of completing any game, I hate the apparatusgate you were so dumb for that cartoon crab guy
@@pikminologueraisin2139 You don’t see the credits in Pikmin 2 without paying off the debt or collecting every treasure. The only way to see the Wistful Wild is after paying off the debt, so at that point, the goal isn’t “save Louie,” it’s “game completion.” That’s not a “weird fixation,” that’s a conscious decision by the developers, otherwise saving Louie would be enough to beat the game again. Don’t get mad because other people didn’t make up the same parameters you did for the final area and found issue with the game design when they played it that way.
@@meko750 the goal is literally to save Louie and you don't have to collect any treasure after paying the debt
@@pikminologueraisin2139 1. The credits play after collecting every treasure, not saving Louie. Saving Louie can be done first thing in the Wistful Wild and it changes nothing.
2. The entire reason the president goes back to the planet, not to save Louie, but to collect all the remaining treasure. Louie is not the goal, the treasure is, and the game explicitly says this. The fact that Louie himself IS A TREASURE should be evidence alone of this.
3. You don't have to do ANYTHING after paying the debut, including saving Louie. That argument doesn't mean anything.
@@meko750 the reason why they return to pnf is so to find Louie who is missing and for that you have to beat the final boss and when done the day end with a final cutscene. the company is rich at this point and i'm pretty sure the first thing Olimar wanted to do after saving the company is to see his family
Tropical wilds is so good for multitasking on repeat playthroughs, 100% agree with you there
next video: ranking every individual pixel in the hey pikmin logo
Number 20 is like saying that the tutorial isn't a good level, this is a tutorial level meant to teach you about caves, the day system, Oatchi upgrades, castaways, Dandori battles, onions, flarics, etc. THIS IS STILL THE TUTORIAL (also what is that final trial placement, it's what the game is hyping you for the last treasure, it's mainly a boss arena, it's not a normal stage (also is your house a circle?)
Completely agree with you on the pikmin 4 area stuff, most of the areas are probably the weakest part of the game unfortunately
Formidable oak is the GOAT area
5:10 Amen there. It reminds me of a theory I have the Pikmin takes place in a timeline where the Eastern Bloc never collapsed as seen by the Spherical Atlas and ended in a bio warfare driven WW3 akin to the movie The Omega Man. Id imagine that along with nukes would explain why a majority of the fauna encountered evolved the way they did.
I have to disagree with your placement of the impact site. I think it gets points for being one of the most satisfying and effective introductions and tutorials of a game in its franchise. as soon as you move that box, you get a sense of what this game is about and why it's so satisfying.