The Impact Site

The Impact Site is the first area in. It is set in a sandy forest and, as its name suggests, is the site where the S.S. Dolphin crash-lands at the start of the game, serving as a tutorial area since it is where Captain Olimar first discovers the Pikmin. The area contains only two ship parts, one of which is collected in the tutorial. Red Pikmin are discovered in this area and it contains few enemies, though two bosses, the Mamuta and the Goolix, do appear on alternating days from day 8 onwards. This area was reused in as part of the Wistful Wild.

General layout
This area features lush green grass terrain and natural environments, giving it a forest-like vibe. The level consists of a small pool of water that is not accessible on day 1, a number of tree stumps, and a few relatively small grassy clearings. It is not very large in size, since it is mostly meant to teach the player how the game works. The main defining parts of the area are quite open, but the paths between them are very narrow, which helps split the area into well-defined sections. This, combined with the area progression's linear nature, makes it an easy level to navigate. Even so, it manages to incorporate slanted terrain and a fair amount of vertical variation, which helps the player understand that the ground is not flat all the time.

The Impact Site contains only two ship parts, one of which is collected on the first day in the tutorial-like beginning of the game. After day 1, the amount of Pellet Posies increases, and some enemies appear: the large amounts of pellets from then on make this area arguably the best place for boosting Pikmin population. The only hazard in the area is water, but it cannot be reached on day 1, which stops the player from having Pikmin killed before they are ready to understand the consequences.

There are two main sections to this area: the grassy plain where Olimar lands, to the south, and the beach section with a large tree trunk to the north. To reach the trunk, the player must first push the cardboard box out of the way on day 1. Reaching the beach requires breaking a stone wall, with the help of Yellow Pikmin.

Starting on day 8, the large tree stump near the water becomes the only location of the Goolix and the Mamuta in this game, with the former being found on odd-numbered days, and the latter on even-numbered days.

To note is that the Pellet Posies, Pearly Clamclamps, and Iridescent Flint Beetles will be there every day, making this area one of the best to increase the Pikmin population. The highest amount of Pikmin one could raise in The Impact Site in one day is 301 (unless one were to hit the Flint Beetles more than eight times – hitting each nine times would produce 307, hitting each one twelve times would produce 322 – but this is highly unlikely).

Crash site
This is the landing site for the area. The terrain is quite open and flat, except for the tree stumps that have small paths curving upwards, some higher tree stumps that cannot be reached, and one or two higher ledges that help show the importance of throwing Pikmin. There are a few Pellet Posies here, as well as a 10 pellet of each color on the large stump. To the north, this area connects to the Main Engine room, but is initially blocked off by a cardboard box.

Main Engine room
This is the small area that holds the Main Engine. It is quite crowded and small, serving mostly to suggest the importance of navigating an area and utilizing the objects scattered around for the player's advantage. There is a ramp at the center of this room that can be used to access the stump arena, after the cardboard box has been pushed to create a bridge. On later days bomb rocks can be found inside the box, which may be used to destroy the reinforced wall with the help of Yellow Pikmin.

Stump arena
This large open stump is where the player fights either the Goolix or the Mamuta, depending on the day. It has walls stopping the player from walking out of it, except to the east, where the access cardboard box is, and to the west, where there is a reinforced wall leading to the pond. Some of the walls surrounding the arena have high ledges with pellets on them.

Pond
This section has a beach and a large pond. The beach connects all the way to the south, where it curves and leads back down to the crash site, although it is blocked by a white bramble gate. This is a one-way path, since the beach is at a higher level. This section houses three Pearly Clamclamps, as well as a red 20 pellet and a blue 20 pellet. One of the Clamclamps also holds the Positron Generator, and must be defeated in order to obtain it.

Ship parts

 * (day 1 only)
 * (Blue and Yellow Pikmin required)

Tools

 * &times; 1
 * &times; 1

Guide
After gaining control of Captain Olimar, head towards the Red Onion and pluck the newly sprouted Red Pikmin. Using Pikmin, gather all of the pellets, pluck all Pikmin, and push the cardboard box. Continue collecting all the pellets on the stump and finish the day by collecting the Main Engine.

Once Blue Pikmin and Yellow Pikmin have been discovered, the final part in this area can be collected. Start by taking some Blue and Yellow Pikmin into the area where the Main Engine was located, and collect at least 3 bomb rocks from inside the box. Head up the slope to the stump and, using the bomb rocks, break the white reinforced wall. Be careful on the stump as a Mamuta or Goolix can spawn depending on what day you are on. Once you enter the pond, head to the farthest left Pearly Clamclamp and use Blue Pikmin to free the Positron Generator. Pikmin must be thrown and whistled in bursts to avoid them being eaten by the Clam. Break the white bramble gate and retrieve the part to complete the area.

In Challenge Mode
The Impact Site is the simplest and shortest Challenge Mode stage, giving the player 10 minutes and 48 seconds to grow up to 278 Pikmin. The area is filled with pellets of all types, and the only enemies are a Breadbug near the Onions and a harmless Iridescent Flint Beetle.

Trivia

 * A Spotty Bulborb enters Olimar's base during the end of day cutscene, even though there are no Bulborbs present in the area during daytime.
 * In the New Play Control! version, the white gate leading to the beach with the Clamclamps can be broken down on day 1 by throwing Pikmin onto the ledge as far as possible and getting onto the stump.
 * The Impact Site is one of two areas with an optional boss, the other being The Distant Spring.
 * The Impact Site's music has inspired multiple tracks in later games:
 * Alph's crash site's theme in.
 * The most common Bingo Battle theme.
 * The tutorial stage theme from.
 * The music for the Sun-Speckled Terrace in Olimar's Shipwreck Tale.