The Distant Spring

The Distant Spring is the fourth area in. It is set in a huge wetland, with sandy and grassy terrain, many lakes and islands, and several hollow tree stumps. It contains 10 ship parts and is unlocked by collecting 12 ship parts in the previous areas. The enemies in this area are challenging and are often found in water, with several Spotty Bulbears, Water Dumples, and Yellow Wollyhops. This area was re-used in as the Perplexing Pool.

The Distant Spring tends to become slightly more dangerous as days pass; for instance, Dwarf Bulbears will begin appearing after the fifteenth day, and more Swooping Snitchbugs and Puffy Blowhogs will also slowly appear. Inexperienced players may wish to complete this area before this point.

An optional boss, the Smoky Progg, can be fought if this area is visited before the sixteenth day. While one of the most dangerous enemies in the game, defeating it will grant a pearl that can be turned into 100 Pikmin at an Onion, the most out of any enemy.

General layout
The Distant Spring is the largest area in the first Pikmin game. Water covers a great portion of the area. In the center lies the landing site, along with several hollow tree stumps. To the north is a small pond where the #2 Ionium Jet and the Chronos Reactor can be found. To the east, there is a wall maze with the UV Lamp, blocked by a small path filled with Spotty Bulbears, Puffy Blowhogs, and Dwarf Bulbears. To the west are the areas with the Gluon Drive, Zirconium Rotor, and Pilot's Seat, which are located in large tree stumps. Finally, to the south lies a small river with some islands where the Smoky Progg (before day 15) and the Interstellar Radio (inside a Puffy Blowhog) can be found. There are several Water Dumples in this area.

In this area, bomb-rocks in groups of 5 (though sometimes 4 appear instead) are found in giant skulls; the creatures they once belonged to being as of yet unknown. One of them is inside a hollow tree stump guarded by a Spotty Bulbear near the landing site, and another one in the beach where the Massage Machine is found. There is another skull near the pool with Wogpoles to the West.

In the main story mode, the area is laid out with Spotty Bulbears, Dwarf Bulbears, Yellow Wollywogs, and Water Dumples. After day 4, two Swooping Snitchbugs survey the area, looking for Pikmin to capture and throw into the ground.

In Challenge Mode, Spotty Bulborbs are found all over the land area, instead of Spotty Bulbears. Pearly Clamclamps are also found in different locations, and two Puffstools walk around in different areas.

Landing site
This section is normally clear of any creatures in the area unless the Smoky Progg is out and about or the nearby Puffy Blowhog involves itself in the undertakings of Captain Olimar and his Pikmin. Shearwigs close to the landing site also prove to be a nuisance but they are easily disposed of.

Smoky Progg's islands
Directly south of the landing site is a cluster of small islands that surround the egg of the Smoky Progg, a secret boss that can only be fought on or before day fifteen.

The Northeast
Practically the entire northeastern portion of The Distant Spring's central landmass is heavily congested by the area's native wildlife, primarily Spotty Bulbears and Dwarf Bulbears. Extreme caution should be exercised whilst exploring this hostile territory, for one wrong move can result in heavy Pikmin casualties.

Ship parts

 * Immediately beside the landing site is a ledge. Guiding Pikmin along this ledge leads to the part.
 * Near the landing site, going straight from the Dolphin, is a bridge leading to a beach containing a Spotty Bulbear, two skulls containing ten bomb rocks total, a blue Candypop Bud and this part.
 * Going into the vast water, past the Smoky Progg egg are several Water Dumples and a Puffy Blowhog. The Blowhog has the part.
 * Going past the two Bulbears and two Blowhogs behind the Dolphin leads to a river that has bridges on both sides. The part on the other side of these bridges.
 * Beyond the reinforced gate near the landing site is a complex structure, found to the right. The part is at the end of the series of ledges that form a path.
 * Beyond the Gluon Drive is a gate guarded by two Yellow Wollywogs. Destroying this gate allows access to this part.
 * There are three tree trunks opposite the Zirconium Rotor. This part is located inside one of the trunks.
 * Near the landing site are a series of large tree trunks that can only be accessed from the opposite side. Inside the one nearest the landing site is an Armored Cannon Beetle that has the part.
 * Traveling in a straight line from the reinforced wall beside the landing site leads to this part, atop a tall ledge. Both a blue and yellow Candypop Bud are located nearby.
 * Directly beside the Chronos Reactor is this part, sitting atop a stone structure.

Obstacles

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 * &times; 1
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 * &times; 7

Tools

 * &times; 3
 * &times; 3 (2 of them become one bridge after being built.)

Other

 * Rubble &times; 2

In Challenge Mode
The Distant Spring is the hardest stage in Challenge Mode, giving the player 18 minutes and 54 seconds to reach a maximum score of 752 Pikmin. While it is theoretically possible to reach this score, no human has reached it, with the highest recorded score being 728. The reason for its difficulty is the large number of dangerous enemies compared to the other Challenge Mode stages, and the fact that most enemies drop randomly-colored pellets which have to be carried to the right Onion to get the most Pikmin.

Trivia

 * The enemy reel shows The Distant Spring having different enemies, ship parts, and being more plain, without the hollow tree stumps. This is most likely a prototype version leftover.
 * In the Formidable Oak, the area where the Plasm Wraith is fought in has a pattern on the floor similar to the pattern of the ground where the Smoky Progg's egg is found.
 * The theme of the Serene Shores in Olimar's Shipwreck Tale is partially based on that of The Distant Spring.