Pikmin in other media
Elements from the Pikmin series have appeared in several other Nintendo games. The Super Smash Bros. series in particular is well-known for having references to multitudes of Nintendo series and, more recently, those of other companies.
Super Smash Bros. Melee
Of this game's nearly 300 trophies two are based on Pikmin. One features a group of standing Pikmin of the three colors that are present in the first game in the series, while the other is a trophy of Captain Olimar that can only be obtained if you have a Pikmin save on your memory card.
Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour
If the player hits the ball into a Flower Bed, the three Pikmin types from the first game will fly out.
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Olimar is featured as one of the playable characters in the third game of the series, and is on the starting roster (as opposed to being a secret character that needs to be unlocked). Nearly all of his moves involve the Pikmin, making him dependent on them. Even the simple "grab", in which the player holds an opponent, requires Pikmin. Up to six of these can be plucked from the ground, the color is randomly determined (however, the type of ground is a factor in the probability of picking each color). The range of Pikmin covers all of those that are found in Pikmin 2 except Bulbmin. The Pikmin are immune to attacks when they are with Olimar but if they are away from him they can be killed rather easily. Olimar does not take damage when this happens, and each dead one allows one more to be pulled from the ground.
There is a stage based on the Awakening Wood, named the Distant Planet. Red Bulborbs appear on occasion, which can eat players, and some human-made objects are visible, such as an empty drinks can. Pellet Posies are seen too, and can produce Pellets that, when be thrown into Pikmin onions, produce items.
Brawl also features a fair number of Pikmin trophies, the majority being various beasts. A number of music tracks from both Pikmin games are included and are played in the various levels and cutscenes.
Olimar's moves
Olimar's moves differ in damage, knockback and range depending on the type and number of Pikmin he has following him.
- Neutral special attack – Pikmin Pluck
- This move allows Olimar to pluck a Pikmin, of which there can exist up to six for one player. The type of Pikmin plucked is not noticeably dependent on the area picked in. This move can only be performed on the ground, and using it while running with five or fewer Pikmin stops Olimar instantly.
- Side special attack – Pikmin Throw
- Olimar throws Pikmin, which stick to the opponent and do damage, much as they would to enemies in the Pikmin games. Purple Pikmin, however deliver knockback to the foe instead of clinging to the opponent. White Pikmin are particularly effective in this attack because they do three times the damage of any other Pikmin. It should be noted that the high-angled throw of Yellow Pikmin is preserved from the Pikmin games, but that their motion is also slow. White Pikmin move quickly and horizontally when thrown, and Purple Pikmin land short.
- Down special attack – Pikmin Whistle
- Olimar calls any idle Pikmin to him, which are then organized by color. If this is already the case, the move cycles through the Pikmin, and the the order is the same as in Pikmin 2. During the few frames before blowing his whistle, Olimar is invulnerable to knockback, though he can still take damage and be grabbed. The benefit, then, is that a counter attack can be made more quickly than if Olimar had shielded.
- Up special attack – Pikmin Chain
- Olimar releases his Pikmin all together at an angle that can be somewhat varied. The move has a high range, proportional to the number of Pikmin at Olimar's side, and fair knockback. Its speed suits the purpose of a surprise attack. Its main purpose is as a form of recovery from off the stage, but it cannot grab an edge that an opponent is hanging onto.
Complete List of Pikmin References
- Characters
- Olimar, Red Pikmin, Blue Pikmin, Yellow Pikmin, White Pikmin, Purple Pikmin, Louie, President, The Ship, Bulborb.
- Music
- Main Theme, World Map, Stage Clear, Title Theme, Forest of Hope, Ai no Uta, Tane no Uta, Environmental Noises.
- Trophies
- Pikmin & Olimar, End of Day, Red Pikmin, Blue Pikmin, Yellow Pikmin, White Pikmin, Purple Pikmin, Louie, The President, Hocotate Ship, Onions, Creeping Chrysanthemum, Red Bulborb, Empress Bulblax, Careening Dirigibug, Fiery Blowhog, Burrowing Snagret, Iridescent Flint Beetle, Wollywog,
Swooping Snitchbug, Pellets.
- Stages
- Distant Planet.
- Stickers
- Crimson Candypop Bud, Red Pellet Posy, Blue Pellet, Yellow Pellet, Reclining Red Pikmin, Red Pikmin, Blue Pikmin, Yellow Pikmin, Purple Pikmin, White Pikmin, Onion, Louie, President, Bulborb, The Ship, Olimar's Daughter, Olimar's Son.
Super Mario Galaxy
In the Space Junk Galaxy, there is a ship that bears great resemblance to The Ship in Pikmin 2. It serves no purpose other than as a planetoid between planetoids, part of the level. It is not a precise recreation, and there has been debate over whether it is indeed modelled on the Pikmin ship or whether any similarities are coincidence. The main features that allow a connection to be drawn are the colors, three fins and two bubble-shaped cockpit windows.
Warioware: Smooth Moves
The Empress Bulblax makes a cameo appearance in the game WarioWare: Smooth Moves, wherein the player must tilt the Wii-mote to roll the beast from side to side in an endeavour to squash Pikmin. This mini-game is called "Pikmin 2".