Pikmin 4 is a Hit Among Critics
The First critic reviews for Pikmin 4 have just been dropped after the embargo was lifted earlier today and- in case you had any doubt- its looking fantastic for the little plant guys. Sitting at an impressive 88 score on Metacritic, its clear that the enduring appeal of Pikmin hasn’t wavered since its initial release on the Gamecube over 20 years ago. This is yet another notch in what is becoming a very successful year for Nintendo.
With the demo from last month being very well received by fans and critics alike, it’s no surprise to see that the best parts were only amplified in the main game. Review site Eurogamer had nothing but praise in their glowing 10/10 review- stating that it elevated the series to a new standard while preserving the quirks that make the Pikmin series so charming:
“Pikmin 4 fills itself and your time with a rich array of things to do, things to find, goals to chase and places to explore. It may start slow, but when it all comes together, it really does sing. It preserves the series' oddities - it doubles down on them in some regards - and yet opens the series up in a way Pikmin has never managed previously.”
Trusted Reviews were also huge fans- with the accessibility and modernisation of certain features being a standout point in their 9/10 review:
“This is a great Pikmin entry to delve into as a newcomer and all the new features and characters should offer enough of a change to seasoned Pikmin players. The animation is incredibly endearing and creates a wonderful atmosphere throughout the game…If you don’t mind a breezy game that doesn’t offer up much of a challenge, I implore you to check out Pikmin 4 and see what these cutesy little creatures have to offer.”
While most critics had little negatives to say about Miyamoto’s passion project, Gamespot offered a rare 7/10 review where they recognised the charm but felt that the game was held back by more complex mechanics:
“The more Pikmin 4 leans into fashioning itself after a more traditional game, with competition and fail-states, the more prone it is to getting in its own way. Sometimes, it's enough to simply have a relaxing activity.”
Overall, however, a Metacritic score of 88 and current Opencritic rating of 87 (with 100% of sites currently recommending), Pikmin 4 is a resounding success. Whether you are a veteran of the series or a complete newcomer to Pikmin’s loveable world, this latest entry is well worth diving into when it releases later this week on July 21st. If Nintendo’s year continues to have this much consistency (with Tears of the Kingdom, Metroid Prime: Remastered, and Super Mario Bros. Wonder yet to come) in the final year of the console, this may be one of the greatest swansongs ever.
