Music in Pikmin 3

The music of accompanies every mode of the game, from themes and cues during gameplay to scores of cutscenes and menus, in order to enhance the various moods of the game and to direct gameplay. Generally, the textural style of the music reflects either the technology of Koppai, the scenic environment of PNF-404, or the progression of the story and the quirky nature of Pikmin. In the spirit of compositions for the Pikmin series, this installment features dynamic music that adapts to what occurs in the game, using parameters such as what tasks Pikmin are carrying out, the time of day, and the weather in a particular area. Between gameplay, pre-rendered cutscenes are scored by a Hollywood-style orchestra, and in-game cutscenes are textured by varied loops and cues of music. Compared with the music of the previous games, this game's music is much more atmospheric and ethereal; melody is only germane in establishing s in the game. This game's music also contains many more original synthesized instruments, to heighten the theme of futurism and to give the soundtrack personality.

The soundtrack to Pikmin 3 was composed by Asuka Hayazaki, Atsuko Asahi, and Hajime Wakai, under no official name. Like the previous soundtracks in the series, all the sounds are synthesized or samples attempting to mimic real instruments. This installment of the series features the most advanced sound technology yet, producing very realistic representations of real instruments. However, unlike the music in the previous game, this game's music is all pre-rendered, not played note-by-note in real time; this allows for new instruments, new textures, and new experimentation with sound, at the cost of a less flexible soundtrack.

The initials of the composer that worked on a particular song are usually present in the internal name, such as "w" for Hajime Wakai, "aa" for Atsuko Asahi, or "as" for Soshi Abe. It also should be noted that all titles for Pikmin 3 music in this article and elsewhere are conjectural, as the tracks have no known official names.

Leitmotifs
These are small gestures that reappear throughout the game suggesting ideas or setting moods.

Menus
The menus of the game have looping music beds that play the environment presented in the menu. Normally that environment has a spatial view of PNF-404, so the menu themes in this game especially adhere to presenting a suggestion of space and spaceships (the main menu being the exception).

The main theme of the game, heard in the title screen. This fluent, swirling demonstration of the music program's aptitude continues the tradition of main themes being waltzes, although this one is the longest and most complex of the three. A harp and glockenspiel are most prominent with the melody (a transformation of the Pikmin 2 motif into a scalar gesture), along with one grand flourish in the harp when the melody returns. Strings provide harmonies and interest using pizzicato and small divisi solos. Finally, the small sounds kalimba and marimba distinguish this as a Pikmin theme. The whole theme definitely plays the natural beauty of PNF-404; when it concludes, birdsong and rushing water sounds fade in, while the ensemble drones quietly around F major and its progression, a few instruments playing the Pikmin 2 motif here and there.

Heard in the day selection menu and saved game selection menu. The mood of this composition switches drastically from the main menu's, as the spatial view of PNF-404 and the focus on the Koppaite explorers demands a theme regarding Koppai. As such, the music is highly synthezised, with drones in synth string bass, oscillating harmonic accents, and spacey background sound effects over a bed of very shimmery overtone sounds and one panning drum-machine cowbell. The melody in this ballad-like drone is difficult to make out, but it begins as a development of the Pikmin 2 motif. One of the instruments playing the melody (especially discernible at the end of the loop) is a cymbalesque synthesizer that first debuted in Pikmin in The Distant Spring's theme. It will recur throughout the music of this game; it is a sound unique to the Pikmin series.

Heard after the S.S. Drake takes off at the end of a day, during the day results menu. This theme is a remaster of the "today's report" theme of the previous two games. The bass-string drone is much more prominent in this version, which shows off the tune's progression of harmonies over a C bass. Also to note in this new version is a new oscillating chip-tone sound effect that accrues volume at the end of each measure. Some of the instruments in the mix have undergone a makeover, most particularly the arpeggiating instrument that in the first two games was more prominent; in this version it is a sound with low attack, making it sound like it is dragging. The main melodic instrument is still the same, however; it plays the separation of the spaceship from the natural ground environment.

Heard inside the S.S. Drake during the area selection menu. Perhaps the most synthetic theme in the game, this track entirely plays to the technology and environment of the S.S. Drake's interior. A simple melody in a sine-wave synthesizer plays as pad strings and rotary synthesizers evolve beneath it. An echoing drum machine eventually enters the mix, along with some sound effects that might resemble spaceship computer sounds. When addressing "space" themes in this game, sound effects that rise or fall chromatically seem to be popular; they occur in a majority of the menu themes.

Heard in the Mission Mode menu. This menu has a spatial background, but the menu itself does not necessarily suggest space. Thus the theme is not synthesized to the same degree as the S.S. Drake theme, for example. A synthetic bass, elaborate percussion, and chromatic sound effects form the foundation, but a rousing string section, trumpets, and glockenspiel and xylophone dominate the melody. These more recognizable instruments aid the excitement of preparing for a Mission Mode stage.

Heard in the Side Stories menu. This theme shares the same chord progression as the Mission Mode menu and Bingo Battle menu themes, but is at a slower pace, and has instrumentation very similar to the day selection menu theme. This makes it a hybrid of the menu themes of Story Mode and the alternative game modes, emphasizing how the Side Stories are a hybrid of the 2 game styles. The theme also has a strong drumbeat and many light percussion elements in the background to add to the theme of space. This theme is exclusive to Pikmin 3 Deluxe.

Heard in the Bingo Battle menu. This menu is very similar to the Mission Mode menu; in fact, this theme is the same theme, in the same key, merely played with half-time percussion. This time however, a fanfare announces the theme, and it is accented by trumpets, a tuba, a military percussion, again over a synthesized music bed and sound effects. The whole mood still captures the space background, but feels much more like an appropriate preparation for battle.

Heard during the results menu of a Mission mode stage, regardless of the results themselves. This is the Challenge Mode results theme from ; nothing was changed about it before it was used in this game. Using complex gestures in synthesized bass, marimba, and snare drum, this composition definitely conveys the relay of information. The melody, in a different meter and over a different harmonic progression, is the main motif from the "today's report" menu theme, again stating that this menu is the end of the mission.

Heard during the results menu of a Side Stories mission. This shares some similarities to the Mission Mode results theme, such as the strong snare drum rhythm and the sound of the bass synth, and shares some similarities to the saved game selection menu theme from Pikmin and Pikmin 2, such as the ostinato in the background and some of the sound effects. The melody, played on a brass-like synth, prominently uses the. Interestingly, The President indicates that he composed the song in the dialog box when the player gets a platinum medal. This theme is exclusive to Pikmin 3 Deluxe.

Cutscenes
Most of the cutscenes of the game have pre-rendered soundtracks, as they are usually a specified length. The theatrical cutscenes have a Hollywood-style orchestra to perform them, plus electronics. Meanwhile, the in-game cutscenes can sometimes have a looped theme, since dialog occurs over the cutscene that requires player input to progress. These cutscenes can be performed by a wide range of ensembles and electronics, as they all have varying moods and contexts to convey.

Heard after selecting the game from the Wii U menu, when it is loading. A theme rather dissimilar from anything else in the game, this quiet theme merely wanders in a simple waltz using instruments that are similar to real instruments but that have synthesized distinctions. The percussion is bottle-like, the melody is ocean-harp-like, and the string drone late in the tune is violin-like, but they all have intended differences from the real sound. This theme is not in Pikmin 3 Deluxe.

Heard during attraction mode, or when a new game begins. The first-ever narrator in the series (voice of Julian Macfarlane) reads the following passage, which contains key elements that change the soundtrack.

Before the passage begins, a dramatic percussion hit silences the audience, with a quiet A in bass strings immediately disconcerting the mood. After the galactic date, a synthesized bass joins this A, bringing overtones into the passing drone. Only when the narrator introduces Koppai does this texture change. Pad strings and a small gesture in a triangle wave follow the appearance of the planet, and tremolo strings in an F-Lydian chord accent the name "Koppai". The next sentence begins with a low tam-tam, and reverb from the previous gesture morphs into an organ-like synthesizer, violins playing open notes, and a small gesture in marimba accent Koppai's predicament, although focusing more still on its introduction. This fades into reverb; at "another planet", a new texture arrives. As it plays the technology of space travel and SPEROs, it is entirely synthesized, and quite major. Reverberant strings bring it down, however, clogging this initial texture until "to their dismay", when the whole texture ends on C minor and falters away. At "the final vessel", the music suddenly builds into a major orchestral sting, with full strings, horns, and timpani. The texture is by no means "miraculous" sounding; its dissonant blaring around D minor leaves the mood of PNF-404 very ambiguous. But this thins out to a simple triumphant counterpoint in pad strings when "they mobilize". At "Koppai's last hope", the theme gains power from a trumpet, and loses reverb to become more coherent. As the narrator pauses, a drum machine, timpani, and tambourine accent the space travel scene. A trumpet toots the triumphant "Koppaite motif", under a quiet chip-tone texture. A harp flourish sweeps out this beat at "nears its end". The music is now continued in the orchestra, but it quickly spirals into dissonant whole-tone harmonies as "they initiate the landing sequence". Percussion mounts the tension until the big release at "something goes horribly wrong", when the resolving high D sustains in violins over decaying cellos. It all fades, and when the three leaders plummet to PNF-404, only a lone shimmering drone in F returns. The final gesture is an echoing synthesized Pikmin 2 motif, in a sustained chord context. Unlike the prologue in the previous game, this ending is much more ambiguous, the major turnaround only suggesting the title of the game and not the fate of the Koppaites.

Heard after Captain Charlie awakens in the Distant Tundra, and being rescued from the Vehemoth Phosbat. This brief fanfare is heroic, but the clapping beat behind it decreases its power and seems to encapsulate it on a small scale. This seems like the theme that Charlie would have chosen to introduce himself, powerful but easily understood.

Heard when something Pikmin-related is discovered, such as a new Onion. This is a remaster of the "peculiar discovery" theme from the previous game, beginning with a small percussive gesture when a leader first notices something. The marimba from the previous game is now a tremolo guitar, and the flute is now a synthesizer; the theme appears to be a more modernized, streamlined version of the previous rendition, playing both the Pikmin and the futurism of the new Onion design.

Heard when in a tutorial on how to control Pikmin or throw leaders. This small theme is entirely synthesized, with lo-fi percussion and a wah-guitar-like sound providing bass and harmony. The melody is very repetitious, and the loop is only so long, accenting the brevity but sealing in the effectiveness of the tutorial.

Heard when Charlie is attacked by the Vehemoth Phosbat. In a horror-film-like turn, high and horn cluster chords put Charlie in a suspenseful environment. When he realizes the horror behind him, the music swells to a high-contrast cluster, but without any accent for a jump-scare; instead an ocean harp glissando leaves Charlie's story unfinished.

Heard when Alph wakes up in the pool of water in the Tropical Wilds. A mainly whole-tone texture accents Alph's awakening, with strings, a music box, and a clarinet playing the main gesture. A vibraphone and one other instrument travel the whole-tone scale, eventually closing into the early "Alph's Crash Site" theme. This other instrument is a cicada-like sound, which will also be present in the Tropical Wilds theme.

Heard when Alph finds a lone Red Pikmin and it runs away. The babyish sound of the celeste and synthesizer in this cue accent the smallness, perhaps the silly or cute look of the Pikmin to Alph. However, tremolo strings build the tension for when the Pikmin is scared and runs away, leaving Alph and a solo clarinet rather confused.

Heard when an important non-Pikmin item is discovered, such as the first piece of fruit or the KopPad. This is a new rendition of the success theme, with more prominent flutes with vibrato playing the "success" motif, and a clearer sound in the harmony and bass, thanks to an acoustic guitar sound. Percussion is also added in this rendition, another element adding to the satisfying conclusiveness of this tonal motif.

The fanfare then continues into a looping section, which is a new rendition of the success theme's loop, although thinner, and with a softer percussion mix and melodic instrument. All of the synthesizers used here are once again very adept at conveying a "space explorer" mood.

Heard when a new type of Pikmin is plucked or found. Again, a mixture of synthesizers and small natural instruments introduce the Pikmin, this time with a decoration of the Pikmin 2 motif. One should notice how the melodic synthesizer detunes at the end of the cue, leading into the dialogue about new Pikmin.

The simple and playful loop that follows has an easy melody and not very many instruments; it allows the player and the leader to adjust to a new type of Pikmin. It also plays the characteristics of the Pikmin, such as if a Pikmin is demonstrating its ability during the cutscene. Before it loops, it slows down.

Heard when Alph finds the S.S. Drake. Taking on a more triumphant and orchestral tone than the previous cutscenes, the S.S. Drake is introduced with a fanfare of the "Koppaite" motif, ending on a more ambiguous dominant F chord. Flutes provide small spurts of a harmony that will recur when this motif is used again, landing in a new area.

Heard when Alph first scans for life around the S.S. Drake. This small cue begins with almost a cartoonish mood, with a gracing flute and rhythmic staccato violins slowly descending as Alph's hopes for intelligent life are dashed. The cue ends in a small reprise of the main gesture in Alph's Crash Site, finishing with an uncertain dominant ♭9 E chord. This leads well into the surprise call from Brittany.

Heard during Brittany's first call to Alph. Brittany has a strange synthesized theme in A, built by a cutoff-oscillating saw synthesizer. A simple whole-tone melody on a second synthesizer establishes Brittany as remotely friendly, while the calm drum-machine percussion puts the urgency of her condition at ease. This theme is meant to quell any worry about Brittany's previously unknown fate.

Heard when Alph explains rocketing into orbit at sunset to escape nocturnal predators. When Alph first hears the strange alien calls (of a Whiptongue Bulborb), his panic incites a gesture in high strings and discordant brass. Afterwards an atonal loop plays, with a main synthesized sound and metal percussion that set the mood almost of a horror B-movie. It is clear that the music is trying to convey the strange sounds as the noises of an extraterrestrial being; the atonality suggests that this being means the player harm.

Heard whenever an area is loading at the start of a day (or at a specific time of day), Mission Mode stage, or Bingo Battle. More of a sound than a theme, this progression ebbs from a C fifth drone to C major, using very simple synthesizers and a lot of evolving reverb to break down the complexity surrounding the menus and prepare the player for the new complexity of the gameplay area.

Heard whenever the S.S. Drake lands in an area for the first time, besides the Tropical Wilds and Distant Tundra. This exultant gesture is the "Koppaite" motif at its best, signaled by triangle and timpani and carried by a trumpet section and an array of synthesizers, including one similar to the main synth in the "new Pikmin type" theme. The full, rich harmony of the final note lasts right up until the leaders emerge from their landed ship.

Heard whenever something important needs explaining, such as the Pikmin limit or a new signal showing up in the Garden of Hope. This is a remaster of the "explanation" theme from the previous game; the composition and instrumentation are the same, but now with the technical advancement behind Pikmin 3's music, the gesture is clearer and more realistic. It leads into a loop as the leaders explained what they have discovered.

Heard as a leader explains a gameplay-related discovery. This is a remaster of the "explanation" theme from the previous game; with the technical advancement behind Pikmin 3's music, the gesture is clearer and more realistic. The harmonic progression is different, however: in Pikmin 2 the loop progresses C major, G major, C major, G minor; whereas in Pikmin 3 the progression is only a loop of C major, G major.

Heard when Brittany is spotted lying on the ground in the Garden of Hope. As Brittany was not expected to be found in such a dubious state, the music takes an atonal turn, with a horror-film-style buildup (and tambourine rattle) to a six-hit release in synthesizer and strings, in a way resembling the style of the "Final Floor!" theme of the previous game. One can also hear the first instance of a in the Pikmin series.

Heard when Alph calls Brittany and she awakens. This reprise of Brittany's theme adds a piano-glockenspiel hit to the beginning (a friendly tone to calm concerns about Brittany's state) and a new piano-esque melodic synthesizer to the mix. This increases the complexity of Brittany's theme, perhaps representing how much closer the player is to rescuing her.

Heard when the Medusal Slurker is first encountered, holding Rock Pikmin. This is a calmer, smaller-scale version of the boss introduction cue in the same game, suggesting a much smaller mini-boss. A baritone saxophone and bass clarinet form the only bass power, so besides the contrast of high and low registers this cue is not designed to generate much worry about the might of the enemy. The four-note accent is the same sound used to introduce a Pikmin suffering.

Heard when the crystal wall blocking Brittany is destroyed. Brittany is introduced with a small gesture, like Charlie was. But her gesture is resoundingly major and high-spirited, in high-register flute triads and glockenspiel arpeggios. Afterwards, a loop plays over Brittany's dialog that is much more natural than most of the other cutscene soundtracks up to this point. A harp, pizzicato violin, and quiet violin section play a subtle melody in A♭ sus, culminating in a very wholesome sound. The theme is almost enhanced by the cicadas droning in the background.

Heard when the S.S. Drake recovers something important, such as the first piece of fruit or the Data Glutton. This theme highly resembles the "collected treasure" theme of the previous game, except instead of a "Hocotatian" motif in a natural-instrument ensemble, this new synthesized melody is the latter half of the "Koppaite" motif. The new bit tailors off into the classic loop from the previous game, however, with remastered synthetic drones but with the same old instrument to play the "end of day" motif and its accompaniment.

Heard when a day ends. This is a remaster of the "end of day" theme from the previous game; all of the original instrumentation is intact, but the reverb has more depth and the whole piece generally sounds crisper. Unlike the previous game, Pikmin 3 has no alternative "end of day" themes depending on how productive the day was, despite seemingly being intended to, originally.

Heard when a non-Red Pikmin suffers fire for the first time, and when a non-Blue Pikmin is drowning for the first time. This four-note gesture is the same that introduces the Medusal Slurker, albeit without the second cymbal crash. The theme may be distressing, but the small ensemble and high xylophone and synthesizer put the distress on the very small scale of the Pikmin.

Heard when a leader explains what to do when a Pikmin is on fire or drowning. This loop is rather coherent, with a distinct resolution of D to G from E♭, according to the bass clarinet. However, one synthesized texture underneath this resolution is detuned with itself, making it sound unpitched and disconcerting. Certainly, the contrast in registers here is enough to suggest something wrong, and something urgent.

Heard whenever a leader loses all their HP. This is a new rendition of the "leader is down" theme of the previous game, featuring the same composition but with a few differences. The synth bass in the previous game is replaced with a marimba sound, and the whole texture fades into a synthesized filter at the end. These changes, including making the whole theme less melodic and less prominent, can reflect that one leader being downed is less of an urgent problem with three leaders to begin with. However, Pikmin 3 does not supply different versions of this theme based on how many leaders are left.

Heard whenever a Pikmin extinction occurs, when a player loses all Pikmin. This is a new rendition of the "Pikmin extinction" theme of the previous game, except many instruments have been removed to diminish the scale of the mood down to the three lone leaders. Now, only a penny whistle, a classical guitar, and a marimba score the loss of all Pikmin, certainly making the cue more solitary yet still conveying the forlorn yet hopeful mood well. The marimba and the classical guitar sounds particularly show off the advancement of the programs used to make music in the series.

Heard when a day ends with no juice remaining. A decelerating clock tick and baritone saxophone chime in to bring the playthrough's events to a sluggish close. Based on the whole-tone tendencies, the comical jaw-harp-like harmony, and the detuning timpani hit near the end, the introduction to this theme seems to be playing more to mocking the failure of the player than to the doleful fate of the Koppaites. It seems that its brevity was intended to sound anticlimactic, perhaps to give the player more hope and indirect encouragement to continue.

The loop that follows is drastically different from the cue right before it. More of a collection of sounds, this loop uses space and register very adeptly, filling it with far-fetched and unrecognizable textures. Each sound on its own is triadic, or at least tonally coherent, but together they all mold together into a juxtaposition of modes, providing a background music bed. The looseness of this theme can be explained by its anomalous purpose: this theme has to score the game after the game is over.

Heard when the S.S. Drake prepares to land in the Distant Tundra, but loses Brittany. To note is that at the beginning of this rendition of the "land in new area" theme that the cymbal crash is missing. It instead accents the S.S. Drake hitting an obstacle and losing Brittany. This perfect synchrony also includes the final note being a half-step higher than usual, to give the theme a whole-tone, ambiguous feel. Afterwards, a saw-wave synthesizer and descend chromatically to aurally follow Brittany on her fall into the cave.

Heard after Captain Charlie escapes the Vehemoth Phosbat, and is talking with the other leaders. This small loop repeats Charlie's previous motif with a vocal-like synthesizer and over a simple straight-ahead beat. Again, the beat puts the theme in more understandable context, and gives both the theme and Captain Charlie more associated character.

Heard when Louie calls the leaders in the Twilight River. Louie's theme has many different sounds all providing confusing whole-tone passages. Together they create a very complex and comical loop, with many different streams that are difficult to follow. One element remains constant though: a Wurly-keyboard-esque sound consistently plays the 7th and 2nd scale degrees on the off-beat. This rigid gesture will be important when Louie's theme is reprised; it provides the basis for the general mood of urgency.

Heard when Louie is brought back to the S.S. Drake, both times. This cue harkens back to the "collected special treasure" theme from the previous game. The composition is the same, but the instruments are radically more synthesized and the rhythm is more pronounced by a drum machine. The "Koppaite" motif was used for all important items before this; since Louie is a Hocotatian; the "Hocotatian" motif is referenced. It should be noted that what seems like a small noise from Louie during the cue can also be heard. After the cue, the same "collected treasure" loop plays, a theme for the analysis of important objects.

Heard the morning Louie escapes in the Garden of Hope, when the leaders discover he is missing. This is essentially the last reprise of Louie's theme, with a few elements adding extra power to intensify the feeling of having no juice left. Instead of the Wurly synthesizer, violas and violins provide the texture bed for the other confusing gestures. Overall, they make the loop sound less elaborate, but more important, as the scale of the ensemble and the mood is augmented.

Heard when Captain Olimar is discovered at the top of the Formidable Oak. Now a full orchestra and electronics are prepared to score all scenes containing the Plasm Wraith. The surprise of finding Olimar is intensified by harsh whole-tone strings, a cymbal slide, and a quiet reversed sample of an ocean harp. The strings hold on a high E to sustain the suspense of finding out the Plasm Wraith's next move. This tension is not easily released, however, as evidenced by the following loop.

Heard when the leaders explain finding Olimar. Only a celeste and a voice-like synthesizer play here, creating a very eerie lullaby mood. Given the context of the Plasm Wraith looking over Olimar, this piece is remotely fitting but still extremely tense. The tension built from the previous cue is not released here, as the music takes an almost opposite judgment to the leaders about the situation. The calmness and thinness of this piece is not referenced again, as the Plasm Wraith is never this calm again.

Heard when Olimar is initially released from the plasm ball the Plasm Wraith forms. A sweep up the strings and a horn blare establish the terrifying contrast that characterizes the now hostile Plasm Wraith. The orchestral power subsides as Olimar is left alone, with only violins holding E and F together to augment the suspense of the moment. This held note quickly evolves into a new loop.

Heard when the leaders explain how to handle carrying Olimar. From the initial held note this new loop appears, controlled by cellos and a. The violins waver in their notes slightly, which certainly makes the mood off-putting, but what really drives the tension home is the alien synthesizers that play. A ping-like sound and a synth bass play bits of the Mysterious Life-Form's theme, which at the moment sounds very strange but which will soon sound familiar. In fact, it could be said that the Mysterious Life-Form's theme releases the tension accrued and sustained by this theme.

Heard when the Mysterious Life-Form materializes inside the Formidable Oak. This is the most in the game, beginning with the reversed sample of an ocean harp (to establish something wrong) and growing into a huge, rich, looping cluster of tension. High strings randomly rise while a horn cluster settles them, eventually just leaving a loop of low strings and horns playing imperceptibly together. The whole loop sounds like one sound, but it is a very rich texture that actually alienates the Mysterious Life-Form. The dissonance of this cue makes the Mysterious Life-Form seem more monstrous, and less adherent to anything else in the game.

Heard when Olimar is saved; the cutscene occurs this way no matter how much fruit was recovered. It begins with the Koppaites meeting Olimar, who is immediately characterized by the true "Hocotatian" motif played resoundingly in trumpet (and later echoed in a horn section and a flute). The bold texture for Olimar contrasts with a softer, thinner texture for the awestruck Koppaites, in harp, thumb piano, and flute. This friendly texture stays for the remainder of the scene, as Olimar and the Koppaites exchange friendly dialog. One other element receives musical attention: the cosmic-drive key: its appearance is almost comically chimed by a bell and the same choir used as a sound effect in the KopPad. When the S.S. Drake lifts off, an immediate orchestral theme erupts with full strings and up-beat horn textures. An electronic drum kit kicks in with a cymbal crash and a synthesized texture plays the S.S. Drake accelerating into the atmosphere. Next comes an orchestral elaboration of the "Koppaite" motif, which only becomes richer and more victorious with time. When the leaders look back at the Pikmin from the air, the texture suddenly thins out to solo strings playing molto expressivo. The texture builds as more strings and a enter the mix, until it all metamorphoses into a predominant version of the Pikmin 2 motif, sung by Pikmin over strings. The orchestral texture barges back in to repeat this texture as an extended dominant, until the final resolving F major caps the whole scene's fade to black. As the S.S. Drake leaves PNF-404 in the next scene, the music slows to an ostinato of quiet violins and basses, while woodwinds and cellos voice a gesture dissimilar to any motif; it is clearly building up to something. This something is a resolution in G major, with mainly a trumpet and crotales voicing what resembles an inversion of the "Koppaite" motif, followed by a simple scalar gesture in strings and glockenspiel. This repeats three times before the next orchestral hit, when Charlie tells Alph to prepare cosmic drive. The orchestra builds in the dominant key as the sound of cosmic drive intensifies, even switching to strange substitute harmonies, perhaps in the style of. Finally, cosmic drive begins, and the orchestra hits several times in a whole-tone key of G, augmenting the weirdness of this science-fiction concept. A final triplet of hits from the whole orchestra plays before the S.S. Drake disappears in a flash; the music simply stops at this point, leaving one with the view and the aural nature of the void of space.

The epilogues all feature the same music bed, with the narrator from the prologue narrating a different message based on how much fruit was recovered. The music is a loop not unlike a fanfare for a medal ceremony, with military percussion and rhythm underlaying a harmonic texture in strings and some woodwinds. Even a few spacey melodic sound effects join in to thicken the texture. Overall, this piece focuses on playing to the conclusion of the game, so it works over each message.

Heard after any of the epilogues, when the game is complete. This is by far the most varied of the credit sequences in the PS undefined. Each scene in the credits' background has a different environment and different actions from the Pikmin, and the music adeptly scores each scene, while developing itself. The scenes are listed chronologically:
 * (0:00) Blue Pikmin are walking through rain in the Tropical Wilds while Yellow Pikmin take shelter under a stump. As the credits have just begun, the texture is very thin, with only a and pizzicato violin establishing the waltz and the first gesture.
 * (0:17) Blue Pikmin are idling in water in the Garden of Hope. The first gesture repeats with glockenspiel, harp, and bass pizzicato added. This adds complexity and development, before the gesture is briefly set aside for some more detailed scores.
 * (0:34) A Red Pikmin attempts to chase a Yellow Spectralids in what is more clearly the Garden of Hope. Here the music takes a sidestep and scores this small scene with instruments from the Garden of Hope's theme, including an accordion and banjo. Its underlying development still exists, as can be heard in the underlying low clarinets and strings. At this point, the music is swung rather than a straight waltz.
 * (0:52) Several Pikmin watch as other Pikmin slide down the larger ice slide in the Distant Tundra. The music switches a new passage in a deceptively different key using the tuned gongs, jingle bells, and synthesized pad from the Distant Tundra's theme. This may sound like an entirely different turn, but the orchestra bassoon and strings can still be heard building behind it.
 * (1:08) Pikmin idle in tulips, until they begin hiding from back to front. The frontmost Yellow Pikmin does not notice the threat, and nearly gets eaten by the revealed Whiptongue Bulborb. The Pikmin rise out of the tulips one by one, and watch the Whiptongue Bulborb leave until a Blue Pikmin is caught by a Swooping Snitchbug. This long scene has two parts. The first is a buildup to the Bulborb's attack, in gracing woodwinds, piano, and snare drum. The texture becomes increasingly thick and accelerates until the Bulborb's attack is accented by a cymbal crash and timpani hit. The Bulborb's failure and departure characterized by the bassoon gesture from the Twilight River theme, the Pikmin begin rising from their tulips with whole-tone harp and glockenspiel. As each one rises, they make a small noise, and the high-register waltz texture plays their scale. As more of them rise, they begin to make noises in rhythm, and even start to sing the Pikmin 2 motif, until a gesture in piano and strings abruptly accents the Swooping Snitchbug capturing the Blue Pikmin, ending the scene.
 * (1:50) A camera pan-through shows many different Pikmin in the Twilight River practicing singing the Pikmin 2 motif and eventually harmonizing to the song. There are just enough Pikmin shown in the scene for all the voices in the tune, and their voices are wavering and arrhythmic enough to sound more like an ensemble of non-professional singers than an instrument. This is also the first instance of Pikmin harmonizing together, getting more and more accurate as the piece progresses and deceptively becomes more and more orchestral. By the end of this scene, a trumpet and full strings accompany the Pikmin. As a fun secret in the credits, the final Pikmin shown, a Blue Pikmin on a branch, appears to be conducting the song. It waves its arms and makes noises that resemble, "Two, three..." as a conductor might gesture in a such as this.
 * (2:15) A camera zooms out from a passageway in the Tropical Wilds to reveal a large amount of Pikmin sitting on various perches, becoming a chorus of harmonizing Pikmin. The orchestra reaches its climax here, with a cymbal crash and grand enharmonic substitution chords from the Pikmin. As the texture thins out to a final E major chord in horns, the Pikmin voices disperse as the Pikmin 2 motif is repeated one more time and a half. At this point the scene fades to black, and the final scene of the credits does not contain music (save for the sustain of the final note in the last scene). Since this scene is a cliffhanger for the canonical story, it is played in complete silence to seal in the questions raised by it.

Heard before Flower Garden, Inside Forest, River, and Tundra. When a mission is started in Olimar's Assignment, an expedition log video from Olimar is played out. Although each one features different sound effects and dialogue, they all share the same music. The music is simple and sparse, featuring light woodwind and percussion instruments playing a simple melody with a sparse harmonic background. Most notes are played staccato and generally only 1 note plays at a time, and this sparse style emphasizes the simple goal of the missions: to collect treasure. This theme is exclusive to Pikmin 3 Deluxe.

Heard after the results screen for Tundra. While this has a similar instrumentation to the survey themes of the other areas, the effect is very different, and designed to build suspense. Parts of the cutscene have low woodwinds playing slow scales down and up while pizzicato strings play dissonant intervals above, creating a sinister feel. Other parts feature long tremolo string notes playing tight chords that slowly move upwards, a suspenseful sound used elsewhere in the game to introduce bosses. The strings grow in volume towards the end of the cutscene, before dramatically stopping when the screen fades to black. This theme is exclusive to Pikmin 3 Deluxe.

Heard during the end of Olimar's Assignment, after the Oak Survey video. This short looping theme is very different to the cutscene before it, and mainly features a slow C/G to Gmaj7 chord progression played on various synthesizers. The style of snare drum heard in the results menu themes is also found here. The second half of the loop features a slow melody played on a flute, and a small amount of dissonance in the chords. This theme is exclusive to Pikmin 3 Deluxe.

Heard during the ending cutscene of Olimar's Comeback. The first part of the theme contains long and epic-sounding chords to emphasize the lift-off of Olimar and Louie. The second part of the theme is composed by Babi, also featuring her own live voice performance. It retains the style of the Side Stories gameplay themes, and contains sparse notes between piano, percussion, strings, and some additional Pikmin voice samples. This theme is exclusive to Pikmin 3 Deluxe.

Areas
Like the previous games, Pikmin 3 has dynamic themes for its areas. Depending on certain parameters of in-game events, different mixes or versions of the theme play. These parameters are:
 * Enemy mix: If a leader or Pikmin are within the detection of an enemy, an intense percussion track will be added to the mix, always containing timpani, crash cymbals, and a collection of bells like cowbells. Sometimes a snare drum is included.
 * Task mix: If Pikmin are performing a task to overcome an obstacle, such as destroying a gate or carrying fragments, a unique complement to the music will be added, normally covering a lower register.
 * Carrying mix: If Pikmin are carrying anything (including pellets and enemy corpses), a unique complement to the music will be added, normally covering a higher register.
 * Afternoon version: The theme that plays at the beginning of the day is considered by this article to be the normal theme of the area. As the Sun Meter reads noon, the music fades out for the bell chime and then comes back in with a new intro. Usually, the theme is the same before and after noon, but for the Garden of Hope, the two are different. For the other areas, the links in this article are only to the afternoon intro, since the following themes are the same as morning.
 * Sunset version: Once the HUD warns the player to collect all stray Pikmin before sunset, the music changes to a thinner, calmer remix of part of the original theme. This completely replaces the original theme, and does not feature any of its own enemy, task, and carrying mixes, unlike the sunset themes in the previous games.
 * Weather version: If it is raining in the Garden of Hope, Tropical Wilds, or Twilight River, a completely different theme will play with its own enemy, task, and carrying mixes. If it is snowing in the Distant Tundra, a different version of that area's theme will play.

A new feature of Pikmin 3 is that these parameters are global; the active leader does not need to be nearby a gameplay event for it to trigger a musical adaptation. This actually makes music a helpful gameplay element, for example alerting the player as to when Pikmin not on screen are in danger with the enemy mix. Also, when the active leader is hiding, the music will fade out.

It should be noted that, unlike in the articles for the previous games' soundtracks, there is no instrument listed in bold. This is because the area themes in this game are very atmospheric; either many instruments take different parts of the melody or the melody is not clearly defined.

Alph's Crash Site
As Alph first discovers Red Pikmin, this music plays over the basic tutorial of Pikmin gameplay. The melody is simple and scalar and the toy piano sound adds to its toy-like mood, suggesting humble beginnings, even infancy. The elements in the level are expertly arranged so that the music develops in a satisfying way, which may somewhat aid the understanding of gameplay. A few parts of the melody and its context echo bits of The Impact Site's theme.

Instruments
 * Main version: Piccolo, clarinets, glockenspiel, muted, toy piano, detuned melodica, and jingling and hi-pass synthesizers.
 * Enemy mix: Timpani, crash cymbals, and bell collection.
 * Task mix: Baritone saxophone, metal tom drum, conga, and rotary organ.
 * Carrying mix: Celeste/bell synthesizers.

As this theme only occurs during day 1 where weather is always sunny and there is no time limit, there is no weather, afternoon, or sunset version of this theme.

When Alph first wakes up after watching the S.S. Drake crash, there is a brief musical cue followed by part of this theme (without melodica) played until Alph can be controlled. After this, the theme does not return until the Red Onion is freed.

Garden of Hope
The Garden of Hope's theme is a beautiful representation of the season of spring. The textures are soft (the harp gestures especially delicate) and the melodic instruments and dynamics smoothly transition between each other. Interestingly, the Garden of Hope is the only area to have a different theme for the afternoon. The structure is the same, but different instruments surface and the chord progression changes in several areas. The afternoon theme also has an, rather than a small separate intro.

Instruments
 * Main version: Flute, pan flute, clarinet, bassoon, marimba, accordions, harp, glockenspiel-like synthesizer, and violins and violas.
 * Enemy mix: Timpani, snare drum, crash cymbals, and bell collection.
 * Task mix: Hand drum, djembe, shaker, vocal synthesizer, and pizzicato cellos.
 * Carrying mix: Celeste and music box.
 * Weather version: See Rain.
 * Afternoon version: Same as main version, but piccolos, a full use of banjo, and pizzicato basses are added.
 * Sunset version: Piccolos, pan flute, clarinet, accordion, celeste, glockenspiel-like synthesizer, and violins and violas.

On day 2, the music will not begin until Pikmin are called out of the Onion.

Distant Tundra
The Distant Tundra's theme takes a lot of inspiration from the Valley of Repose's theme, mainly in gestural rhythms. However, this piece is a lot looser, with bouncy gestures, strange harmonic progression, and changing meter (although it always keeps its pulse) that all still carry the beauty of the frozen landscape. One secondary melodic instrument, the organ-like synthesizer, sounds remarkably similar to the one used in the Perplexing Pool's theme.

It does not rain in the Distant Tundra; its weather equivalent is snow, prompting a new version of the theme on any day that it is snowing; this theme is actually a passage longer than the main version.

Instruments
 * Main version: Celeste, pad synthesizers, and organ-like synthesizers.
 * Enemy mix: Timpani, snare drum, crash cymbals, and bell collection.
 * Task mix: DX electric piano, and pizzicato cellos and basses.
 * Carrying mix: Calliope, calliope-like synthesizer, and sleigh bells.
 * Weather version: Gamelan, pad synthesizers, and organ-like synthesizers.
 * Afternoon version: Same as main version.
 * Sunset version: Glockenspiel (long attack), thin handbell-like synthesizer, and pad synthesizers.

It always snows on the first day Alph and Brittany arrive in the Distant Tundra. In the weather version, the calliope-like synthesizer is replaced with an accordion.

Tropical Wilds
The Tropical Wilds's theme follows a strategy employed by a few cave themes in the previous game: being overcomplicated so that the player's mind is directed away from the music. Using a large varied ensemble with complicated patterns of call-and-response, the theme actually directs attention to gameplay, rather than to the scenery and detail. The mind can only stream so much information at once, so it prioritizes this complex area's terrain and the elements within it. Thus, the music here could indicate a turning point for the difficulty of the game.

Instruments
 * Main version: Kalimba, cowbell,, cicada-like synthesizers, fifes, udu, mallet-like synthesizer, bass , steel drum, accordion, and shaker.
 * Enemy mix: Timpani, snare drum, crash cymbals, and bell collection.
 * Task mix: Conga, triangle, tube drums, pad and bass synthesizers, contrabass flute, and guitar-like synthesizer.
 * Carrying mix: Gong and celeste synthesizers.
 * Weather version: See Rain.
 * Afternoon version: Same as main version, but the intro contains bass accordion.
 * Sunset version: Fifes, modified celeste, marimbaphone, udu, cowbell, and accordion.

Twilight River
Twilight River's theme has the most defined swing rhythm of all the area themes in the game, bringing this theme closest to a jazz genre. Its meter is very free, but its chord progression is very distinct and follows a nice pattern of 5-1 resolution, albeit with a great number of odd turns that make the whole texture more interesting. This piece also demonstrates some very well-rendered instrument sounds, particularly the acoustic guitar and strings. The whole piece blends very well together; its leisurely mood complements the peaceful atmosphere, while its hidden complexity complements the gameplay intensity at this point in the game.

Instruments
 * Main version: Bassoons, handbells, shaker, acoustic guitar, accordions, pad synthesizer, and violin (also playing ) and viola.
 * Enemy mix: Timpani, snare drum, crash cymbals, and bell collection.
 * Task mix: Congas, talking drum, synth bass, and vocal synthesizer.
 * Carrying mix: Glockenspiel-like synthesizer, and log drum.
 * Weather version: See Rain.
 * Afternoon version: Same as main version, but the intro contains a glockenspiel.
 * Sunset version: Soprano bassoons, celeste, glockenspiel, accordions, and violin.

Formidable Oak
The Formidable Oak's theme, which is more an ambience than a theme, is all designed to build a high level of tension for the events in the interior, using unrecognizable sounds and minimalism. Since there are no enemies, obstacles, or fruits in the exterior area, there are no enemy, task, or carrying mixes; it also has no afternoon version. However, rain causes a rather dramatic change to the ambience, making it a definable theme with rhythm. The bass drops an octave lower, and a deceptively cheerful theme plays over the unnerving texture, in a style very similar to The Final Trial's theme.

Instruments
 * Main version: Timpani, bamboo marimba, snare drum, pad/modulating sine synthesizer, distorted modified vocal synthesizer, filtered noise, and basses.
 * Weather version: Same as main version, plus glockenspiel, celeste, modified kalimba, and a new melodic vocal synthesizer.
 * Sunset version: Detuned chorused glockenspiel, bamboo marimba, celeste/wind chime sample, and distorted modified vocal synthesizer.

There is also a specific theme for the sunset during rain. It is the same melody from the normal weather version, but shared between the detuned glockenspiel and celeste/wind chime sample, making it the thinnest theme in the game.

Caves
Every cave in the game, besides those in the Formidable Oak, use this theme. Time still passes in caves, but the theme does not recognize the afternoon or sunset, and no changes occur due to weather outside. The theme itself is minimalist but still rather complex, directing attention to navigating the cave rather than admiring its ambience. One of the instruments used here is the cymbalesque synthesizer from the first game, a sound unique to the Pikmin series.

Instruments
 * Main version: Piano, tam-tam, "cymbalesque", pad synthesizers, vocal synthesizer, and sitar-drone-esque synthesizer.
 * Enemy mix: Electronic drum kit.
 * Task mix: Hi-hat, electronic piano, sawtooth synthesizer, ping-like chordal synthesizer, and cave-drop sound effect.
 * Carrying mix: Music box.

Rain
This theme occurs whenever it is raining in an area other than the Formidable Oak, and it expertly captures the mood set by the rain. The steadiness of the piano texture puts the theme more in the background to gameplay events, but rain acts the same way, so the theme works very well. Since rain lasts all day, this special theme has its own mixes for gameplay events.

Instruments
 * Main version: Marimba, Hang drum, electronic drum kit (including echoed woodblock and tablas), reversed cymbal roll, piano (forward and reversed).
 * Enemy mix: Timpani, snare drum, crash cymbals, and bell collection.
 * Task mix: Fretless bass, shaker, modified tablas, and sampled distorted piano.
 * Carrying mix: Guitar-like synthesizer.
 * Afternoon version: Same as main version.
 * Sunset version: Celeste, Hang drum, electronic drum kit, piano, and accordion.

Bosses
Boss themes have to build a lot more tension than normal gameplay themes, so they normally incorporate more orchestral textures with specific sounds that produce great intensity. A feature of most of the boss themes in this game, as in the previous game, is that the boss' actions determine changes or cues in the music. Except for the final boss' case, a boss theme will only play in the boss' vicinity, since the theme's dynamism is generally controlled by the boss and not the player.

Main bosses
For the Armored Mawdad, Sandbelching Meerslug, Scornet Maestro, and Quaggled Mireclops, the transition from area theme to boss theme occurs in this way: between the main game area and the boss arena is a passageway in which the area music fades into the sound of heavy wind the closer the player is to the arena. In the arena, the boss theme can begin out of silence.

Heard during a boss introduction cutscene; this particular intro is for the Scornet Maestro. There are two parts to the boss battle intro: A subtle tension-building ambience built on atonal strings and contrabassoon when the boss is beginning its appearance, and a hyper-tense stinger in full orchestra when the boss reveals its aggressiveness. As the Scornet Maestro's intro sequence is particularly long, the subtle parts plays twice; also, the intensity of its harp-beak sound effect changes with the intro's intensity.

The common boss theme. A powerful orchestra sound with blaring brass in low registers and resounding strings and brass in high delivers a high-contrast, high-dissonance thrill of a theme. Compared to the previous game's boss theme, this theme has freer percussion, now hammering out an irregular 7/8 time signature. The loop itself is not very long, because this theme normally does not last long before seamlessly transitioning into a different cue, prompted by the bosses' actions; once the cue is finished, this theme resets. Those actions and the cues they trigger are listed in the table below.

Heard during a boss' characteristic attack. The extremely low registers of the normal boss theme drop out here, implying an added stress to this cue. The augmented chords in brass, woodwinds, and xylophone here also imply a sense of mystery to what the boss is planning, since the boss battles are rather dynamic.

Heard if Pikmin were captured during a boss attack, or during an especially dangerous attack. The extremely low registers return here, along with a heavy bass drum hit and dramatic rips in the horns. The high woodwinds and strings play a piercing punctual texture, almost as if expressively crying for help. This song also plays in Occupational Hazards.

Heard during a chance to attack the boss while it cannot retaliate. With the full orchestra playing full-throttle in 4/4 meter, the music suddenly becomes emphatically major, with hints of the Pikmin 2 motif played in a new xylophone-like synthesizer, along with woodwinds and the xylophone. This theme can only happen if no Pikmin are in immediate danger at the time.

There are also several small cues based on the transition between these three sub-themes and the main boss theme. There is one for Pikmin dying during a boss attack, two for the end of a boss attack (one in which Pikmin died and one in which Pikmin were safe), one for a boss shaking off Pikmin, and a specific one for the Quaggled Mireclops smashing its body into the ground (it is an attack, but it is too short for the attack theme).

For the end of a boss battle, see the Vehemoth Phosbat section below.

Vehemoth Phosbat
The Vehemoth Phosbat has a unique boss theme, since its arena is not merely designed for engaging it in combat. Its battle is more of a puzzle to begin with, and moreover, it occurs in darkness, adding an element of mystery and suspense. The theme is still somewhat dynamic, but certainly less so than other main bosses.

The passageway to the Vehemoth Phosbat's cave still fades out the area music, but it stays silent until the player reveals the boss using the electrode. Then the boss battle intro plays, but the normal boss music does not follow.

Heard at the beginning of the battle, when no electrodes are activated. Played rather like a horror film or fantasy soundtrack, this eerie detuned theme makes the invisible boss all the more ominous. Although a beat is added, the Vehemoth Phosbat drawing near adds a spooky texture that alludes to the noises heard when Charlie was first captured. This added texture can be heard here.

Heard after any of the smaller electrodes are activated. Orchestral textures are added, but not in the normal boss manner. Many of the sounds present here are still detuned, or have somewhat alien qualities, to make the Vehemoth Phosbat appear more otherworldly and to increase the horror-like tension. Once again, when the Vehemoth Phosbat nears, it superimposes its odd texture over this, increasing the overall discordance of the theme. This added texture can be heard here.

Heard when the largest electrode is activated, making the Vehemoth Phosbat vulnerable. This cue sounds a bit more like a normal boss cue, with booming brass and percussion, but the unusual horror-element instruments are still present, further separating this boss from others.

Heard during the battle after the largest electrode is activated. This piece sounds like the Vehemoth Phosbat's theme and the normal boss battle theme spliced together; it contains melodic gestures and rhythmic structures from both. The boss' unique texture and detuned orchestra is present, but so is the rigid military percussion and string and brass patterns. Since the battle is now about combat in the light rather than strategy in the dark, this theme is effective at bringing the Vehemoth Phosbat back from the shadowy archetype of a dark, unseen threat to a real, tangible boss that can be defeated.

Heard when any boss is defeated; this extended version is for the Vehemoth Phosbat. Unlike the previous game that took a major upon beating a boss, this game's boss theme chugs to a rather dissonant halt. In this extended version for the Vehemoth Phosbat, violins continue after the main cue is finished, slowly and continually ascending as the boss tries to fly away. This small gesture builds the final tension for the Vehemoth Phosbat's collision with the large light bulb, which truly ends the battle.

Mysterious Life-Form/Plasm Wraith
The final boss of the game has two forms, with two very different themes. These two boss themes do not function like the normal boss themes; there is little (although still significant) dynamism that the boss can trigger. Also, since the Formidable Oak is entirely designed for this boss battle, the boss theme is global, and the second phase of it completely replaces the Formidable Oak's theme.

Heard in the Formidable Oak's interior, while the Mysterious Life-Form is giving chase. While this composition is all about building tension, it also needs to build a mood of futility, as the Mysterious Life-Form is invincible and garners a great deal of control over the environment. Thus this piece has a very atonal gesture, the Plasm Wraith's motif, that repeats in two synthesizers. Over this, a theremin solos, creating an avant-garde but still highly tense environment. The futility comes from the fact that this intensity level is kept no matter how far the player manages to get from the Mysterious Life-Form, in a way saying that it will always catch up. An added sense of urgency also comes from the constant pounding of bass and tenor drums, along with the off-rhythm triangle-like percussion.

Heard when the Mysterious Life-Form is close to Olimar. This theme is extremely tense, perhaps the most tense in the game. In addition to the alien texture heard before, the percussion has been beefed with metal sheets, a polyrhythmic metal bar (perhaps the tensest element of them all), and dissonant staccato notes in basses. A new aleatoric texture has settled over the theme, as if the mood were not dissonant enough. The clutter is enough to give the Mysterious Life-Form a real element of fright, and certainly enough to spell out the danger it poses to the Koppaites and Olimar.

Heard when the Mysterious Life-Form is escaping with Olimar inside of it. Now the tension and dissonance of the theme has backed down a little, but the Plasm Wraith's motif is still there and now a full orchestra is playing the urgency of rescuing Olimar. Fast brass stabs and string gestures articulate the commotion of quickly battling the Mysterious Life-Form, while percussion still pounds on to the same rhythm as before. In addition, a strange choir-like sound can be heard in the background, similar to the ambient noise heard in the Formidable Oak's theme. If Olimar is freed, the theme will return to its normal state (far from Olimar) until the Mysterious Life-Form rematerializes, after which it can get close to Olimar once again.

Heard when the leaders and Olimar make it out of the Formidable Oak's interior. This is the transition between phases of the boss battle, and although the first phase was tense, this transition cutscene needs to show that it is over. It does this with small iterations of the "Hocotatian motif", a motif that is major standing alone but in this context is made an atonal gesture. It does offer a small mood of victory over the Mysterious Life-Form, but then the boss appears with its motivic instruments and figures until it transforms into the Plasm Wraith, its appearance accented by a blast of low horns and trombones. After this, the Plasm Wraith absorbs all its excess plasm to become larger, and an ostinato in strings builds new tension for the impending phase of the battle, during which leaders and Pikmin are on the offensive side. Since the player is given power to combat the boss, the texture is of natural instruments and not alien synthesizers associated with the Mysterious Life-Form.

Heard during the battle with the Plasm Wraith, anywhere in the Formidable Oak. This climactic theme features a very eclectic collection of instruments and textures. It seems to contain sections: the first is an orchestral section of string ostinatos while an organ synthesizer and Hang drum play small repetitive gestures; the whole sound is very dramatic and carries a close intensity to the normal boss battle theme. Soon the Plasm Wraith's motif arises, and attaches to nearly all of the orchestra until every instrument plays it in unison. After 5 iterations (the fifth including percussive accents), the orchestra holds on an altered dominant chord, with a harp glissando and dissonant string flourish. The theme then switches to a new section of less intensity, featuring smaller-scale instruments and a thinner overall texture. Bassoons and cellos have a legato melody, followed flute and saxophone, until strings finish it off and the texture builds back up to full-orchestra steam. This tension allows it to come full-circle to the rich accents at the beginning of the theme.

This is the extent of the theme; neither the Plasm Wraith's actions nor the player's actions instigate any dynamic change to the theme. While it does not score a dynamic battle as effectively as the other, more dynamic themes, its rigidity could be considered more climactic and certainly ultimate to the game, similar to the final boss theme in Pikmin.

Heard when the Plasm Wraith gives up its inner cube, which reveals Olimar and ends the game. This cutscene begins with one last iteration of the Plasm Wraith's motif in synthesizer and then in horns. It stops on an F midway through the horn iteration however, indicating the immediate end of the boss's threat. This F is sustained in high tremolo violins, and suddenly switched into a B♭ major dominant context as the cube begins to open. The orchestra chimes in with more major harmony and trilling woodwinds and arpeggiating synthesizers, until Olimar is fully revealed with a grand orchestral four-note gesture in the C Lydian mode. The music then cuts, leaving the echo of synthesizers, before the conclusion begins.

Mid-bosses
Mid-bosses in Pikmin 3 are smaller bosses in the game that are larger and stronger than most enemies but that do not contain an important plot element. These are the Shaggy Long Legs, Burrowing Snagret, and Bug-Eyed Crawmad (the Baldy Long Legs does not trigger mid-boss music because it does not appear in story mode). They get their own theme that plays whenever the active leader is near, similarly to how boss themes worked in the previous games. The theme itself is a new rendition of the previous game's boss battle theme. The new theme is less brass-centered, with the melody in strings and a few muted horns instead. The percussion and synth bass are also more articulate.

The mid-boss themes also include new renditions of the same cues used in Pikmin 2 for boss attacks and defenses, as well as a new rendition of the ending. However, the attack preparation and long attack tracks are absent from this game.

Mission Mode
Mission Mode in Pikmin 3 is considered non-canonical, and as such the music does not necessarily reflect the normal compositional style in the main game. The themes used here are not to address the scenery of a particular environment, they are meant to encourage gameplay and strategic thinking. At times they can be simpler so as not to clutter up the Mission Mode experience, or at other times they can be very complex in order to direct the player to the game rather than the music. Either way, the music still changes dynamically based on Pikmin battling enemies, carrying items, or overcoming obstacles. So even if the music does not direct a lot of attention, it can still help categorize what is going on in a Mission Mode stage. The themes of Mission Mode play continuously throughout a stage, and transpose up one half-step and accelerate at one minute remaining.

The theme for Mission Mode stages 1-10, in both "Collect treasure!" and "Battle enemies!". The bed under which the melody plays is familiarly inspired from the Awakening Wood; the melody itself is a variation and elaboration of the Pikmin 2 motif on penny whistle. The general texture adheres mainly to aerophones: brass and woodwinds, and seems rather thin. But it does not stay this way long before an enemy, task, or treasure mix fades in; in fact, this naked theme, after a few associations, can warn the player that their time is not being used efficiently. At one minute left, this theme's tempo accelerates to exactly 120 bpm, meaning it is synced with the clock (when the clock counts down from 0:10 it will be in time with the music). This synchrony is easily broken using the KopPad's Go here! function, since the music still plays while gameplay is paused.

The Fortress of Festivity has a unique theme. It appears to be the same theme as that of Mission Mode levels 12-15, but with new instrumentation to reflect the holiday theme. Several different bells, handbells, and glockenspiels replace the normal penny whistles and synthesizers that make up the usual theme.

Heard in Mission Mode stages 12-15, in both "Collect treasure!" and "Battle enemies!". This quaint theme again has penny whistle playing the majority of the melody, which is another variation and elaboration of the Pikmin 2 motif. One important element to note about this theme and its counterpart is the sense of scale that the mood creates. Without consistent bass and with small noises scattered about a very thin texture, the whole mood feels on the small scale of Pikmin and leaders as they traverse the rather recognizable environments of stages 11-15. The small scale and quietude of the piece seem almost ironic, backdropped against the very complex stages. But this theme's simplicity also allows it to stand by, secondary to focal gameplay.

Heard when a Mission Mode stage is completed, with a platinum medal. A grand flourish of brass, woodwinds, and percussion brings about this victorious rendition of the Pikmin 2 motif. It works especially well with under one minute left in stages 1-10, or with over one minute left in stages 12-15, since those are both in the same key of F#.

This theme plays when the player is in after hours mode in any Mission Mode stage. Reflecting how after hours takes place after sunset, when the time for the stage has already ended, most of this theme is a simple and sparse version of the main Mission Mode theme for stages 1-10, featuring parts of the same melody on the same instrument, but with a very sparse accompaniment on mallet percussion and plucked strings. After a minute has passed, the theme changes significantly to be more of a waltz, featuring longer notes and more diverse chords. The theme eventually loops back to the start, and has no dynamic elements. This theme is exclusive to Pikmin 3 Deluxe.

Side Stories
As with the other modes, the Side Stories of Pikmin 3 Deluxe feature unique music. The music is notably nonchalant, with a focus on complimenting and characterizing the duties of Olimar and Louie, rather than the design or scenery of the levels the player will be exploring. The songs are shared across multiple days, and will play for the entire duration of the level. Like in Mission Mode, these songs also feature additional mixes that will be added when the player is performing certain actions, and the music will transpose up one half-step and speed up when there is one minute remaining.

Unlike the other music in the game, these songs were recorded live and produced in part by the Tokyo-based production company GRANDFUNK INC. Since the Side Stories were introduced in Pikmin 3 Deluxe, all themes in it are exclusive to that release.

Heard during Flower Garden and Inside Forest. Like all Side Stories gameplay themes, this theme is very varied, moving between many short sections with few common themes. It features a melody on flute or accordion, and backing parts are sparse and high-pitched. The rhythm is generally simple and on-the-beat, though the working mix features triplets on woodblocks, which contrasts greatly with the rest of the music. The resulting atmosphere is light and playful, and this sets the scene for Olimar's return to PNF-404.

Heard during River and Tundra. This theme centers around a guitar pattern that moves between 2 chords at a time in a 6/8 time signature. A motif on accordion and violin repeats throughout the song but varies significantly based on the underlying chords. A section of the song slows down and speeds up a few times. The effect of this is to create a much more laid-back and relaxed theme, which fits with the simple mission of Olimar's Assignment.

Heard during Pikmin Reunion, Creature Hunting, and Land, Sea, and Sky. This theme has several contrasting sections, but a constant rhythm of short notes plays throughout most of the song. One section prominently features a repeating melody on xylophone, while another features a guitar pattern with the Pikmin motif on top, while another features long notes with crescendos and decrescendos played on strings and accordion. The motif in question specifically seems to reference the melody that plays at the end of Live as a Pikmin from the first Pikmin game. The treasure mix contains various synthesizers, including the cymbalesque synthesizer from The Distant Spring's theme.

Heard during First Part Found, Team Monster Hunt, and Channel Gone Dry. This theme features frequent changes of instrumentation, and lots of movement up and down scales. It shows the varied nature of gameplay in the Side Stories, as all 3 levels it plays in have very different objectives. A hint of The Final Trial's theme is in this song.

Heard during Looking for Louie and Big Fruit Carnival. This theme features far stranger harmony than the previous Side Stories themes, mostly in the form of a background pattern on saxophones that often features unexpected and dissonant chords, yet it also includes things like a simple C major scale. It also includes the Pikmin motif, and legato chromatic melodies on low woodwind instruments. The great harmonic variety in this theme means that the player can rarely expect what will come next, similar to the Side Story missions themselves.

Heard during Another Part Found and The Ship Restored. This theme is extremely similar to The Final Trial's theme, at some points almost sounding like an exact remake. This is fitting given the objective of both missions it appears in: to collect ship parts. It also signifies nearing the end of the story, and foreshadows that a final boss will be encountered soon.

Heard during the final boss fight of Olimar's Comeback, during The Ship Restored. This theme is very chaotic, with constant percussive notes creating an exciting feel, fitting for a final battle. Elements of the song are a direct homage to the first Pikmin game, having segments of the main theme and instruments from The Forest Navel's theme. The latter is likely a reference to the Beady Long Legs, a similar arachnorb that is found in that area. Each time the golden Shaggy Long Legs' hair is torn off, one of several cues will play, not unlike Pikmin 3's mini-boss theme. Additionally, a different cue will play when each arachnorb appears and is defeated. The musical cue used for the first arachnorb when it appears bears a striking resemblance to the musical cue played after defeating Titan Dweevil in Pikmin 2. Here is a list of all cues and themes that play during this track:
 * First arachnorb appears
 * Main theme
 * Shaking off Pikmin
 * First arachnorb defeated (ends with second arachnorb appears theme when the second arachnorb is present)
 * Second arachnorb appears (first arachnorb defeated theme playing)
 * Second arachnorb appears (first arachnorb defeated theme not playing)
 * Destroyed hairball 1
 * Destroyed hairball 2
 * Destroyed hairball 3
 * Second arachnorb defeated

Bingo Battle
Bingo Battle in Pikmin 3 has quite a different compositional style from the rest of the game, appropriately for this non-canonical mode. The themes used here certainly suggest battle but in a very friendly sense; the modes and keys are all major and the music all reflects the small scale of the Pikmin, the leaders, and the fight itself. The main Bingo Battle themes and the One Away! theme are dynamic by one parameter. If Pikmin are carrying their opponent's Victory Macaroon, they will start chanting the name of the planet to which their team leader belongs. "Koppai!" on the first two beats for Alph; "Hocotate!" on the last two beats for Olimar (which can cause an overlap if the song is in 3/4). This also occurs if Pikmin are carrying the item their team needs to score a Bingo, which is only heard during the One Away! theme. The chants may occur individually as well as simultaneously.

Heard as a battle is beginning, when the bingo cards appear. The small cue is entirely synthesized and very simple; the tension it builds for the bingo cards is there but not extreme by any regard. The appearance of the cards is accented by a synthetic horn section fall. A also plays in the back, which is the same background instrument used in the title screen music of Pikmin.

Heard in the Shaded Terrace, Stagnant Sea, Twisted Cavern, Arid Metropolis, Blooming Terrace, Parched Brook, Buried Pond, and Sandbox Kingdom. This quirky theme has a catchy melody in pizzicato violin, rare in the game but appropriate for establishing a sort of "Bingo Battle" motif. The texture resembles a matured Alph's Crash Site theme, but certainly borrows inspiration from The Impact Site's theme. The theme is very clean and not very complex, and it does not build tension for a battle, but rather stands aside for the battle and plays the scenery of the small-scale environment.

Heard in the Rusted Labyrinth and Corroded Maze. This theme has a highly mechanical mood, based on its almost entirely metal percussion and servo-like melodic synthesizer. And yet, the underlying beat is not mechanical, but electronic; its small sounds aid the whole texture sounding small, as with the Mission Mode theme for stages 12-15. The synth bass gives the piece a little more solidity and contrast than the other Bingo Battle themes, and the many different metal percussion sounds keep the piece interesting (there is one unique hit that only plays the beat before the theme loops).

Heard in the Jigsaw Fortress and Jigsaw Colosseum. This piece unmistakably takes inspiration from the "railroad" sublevel theme in Pikmin 2. Above the thin electronic beat are synthetic and sampled sound effects that sound like they are played on toys: a party horn and cash register bell can both be heard. The majority of high-register squeaks and bells makes the whole theme seem very small and contained, and the rigid gameplay reflects the perfectly square rigidity of the environment.

Heard whenever a player is one item away from a bingo. This is a more intense version of the "nature" Bingo Battle theme, that plays regardless if the stage is nature-themed or not. The theme is certainly meant to sound ridiculous, with bass melodica in bass and rotary organs providing harmony and melody over a polka-esque beat. This will continue to play even if the item needed to win is no longer available; it will only stop if the triggering player's bingo card is shuffled such that the one-away condition stops.

Heard when the battle has gone on for eight minutes; Cupid's Grenades stop spawning and Lucky Marbles start spawning. The intro cue to this theme seems to have a style that would fit in Mario Kart Wii, given that it is completely synthesized and based on chord/bass substitution. After the intro, the music thins out to a simple, electronic percussion beat with shaker, in order to stop playing the environment and begin playing the anticipation for the battle's end. To note is that the intro will always play, but the looping track will only play if One Away! is not already playing – if a player becomes one-away while this is playing, this track will stop in favor of One Away!

Heard when one player gets a bingo and the battle ends. Again, this cue and the loop afterwards are entirely synthesized and entirely major, and qualities and high registers of the synthesizers give off a small sense of scale. During the loop, a sine-wave-like synthesizer plays the main melodic motif from the nature-themed stages, now in a 4/4 meter.

Minor jingles
These small jingles indicate specific in-game events, but do not interrupt gameplay. Their musical cues give them more character.

Heard when an obstacle, such as a gate or bridge, is overcome. This jingle is very similar to the previous game's obstacle jingle in that its structure resembles the. In this game however, it has a noticeable echo, helping with the feeling of the sound being global.
 * Obstacle removed :

The Sun Meter makes various noises at quarterly increments throughout any day. At a quarter and three fourths through the day, the Sun Meter will briefly jump with a handbell ringing sound and a church bell chime, to accent the significant amount of time that has passed. At noon, the handbell and a two-note (A and F) chime on church bells play. Close to sunset, the HUD will display the message to gather stray Pikmin, accented by the whistle sound and church bells playing a chime similar to the  half-hour chime, which in Japanese schools represents the beginning or end of a period. Inside of a cave, all of these chimes slightly modulate in pitch.
 * Daytime chimes :

Heard when a Pellet Posy grows into a flower and pellet. A glockenspiel plays a unique inversion of a C sus 4 chord, no matter the size or color the pellet becomes. This little jingle gives the Pellet Posy more character than being a simple gameplay tool. This jingle can be most easily heard in the Distant Tundra, especially at the moment Brittany first emerges from the cave containing Yellow Pikmin.
 * Pellet Posy flower :

Trivia

 * If a group of 20 or more Pikmin of one type are idle for long enough, they will begin to sing along with the area theme.
 * If the leaders have 20 of each type of Pikmin following them, the Pikmin will sing the main theme to Pikmin 3. If the leaders have all types of Pikmin but have a group of 100 of only one type, the Pikmin will sing the main theme discordantly and unorganizedly.
 * If the three leaders are moving without any Pikmin, they will occasionally sing the "Koppaite" motif, with the single lyric "Koppai", possibly meaning the motif is an anthem of sorts.
 * A small glitch occurs when a day ends while the player looks at the radar (with the "play" button active, meaning time still passes). The music is put through a hi-pass filter and compressor whenever the map screen is active, making the music sound like it comes from small radio speakers. This filter was not programmed to turn off without player input, so it will remain over the "end of day" theme if it is active at the day's end (although the "today's results" theme will be normal).
 * In the "sunset" variant of Pikmin 3 title screen, if the player waits for the music to end, they will hear different sounds from the "daytime" variant. Along with birds, cicadas can be heard chirping, and even a sheep can faintly bleat. It is unknown whether this is supposed to be a real sheep, or instead a sheep-like enemy, because both are never seen anywhere else in the series.