Area Hints (Exploration Notes)

The Area Hints Category is a category from the Exploration Notes menu in Pikmin 3. It holds ten Data Files with special tips for each area of PNF-404. The files are written from Captain Olimar's point of view, and are scattered around the map and sometimes hidden. For each area in the game, there are two Area Hint Data Files to go with it.

Data Files

A legacy of the past

"We discovered the remains of what appears to be an underwater structure. Perhaps we can restore it so that we may cross to the opposite shore. Louie is here, but we would still need someone else's help to do this..."  -Captain Olimar

• Area: Garden of Hope

• Location: Once Louie escapes, go in the opposite direction to the Blue Onion. You will find it on a buried pot next to a Flukeweed. 

Closed Path

"In a dark place where I could barely see my own feet, I discovered a familiar plant. If I recall correctly, they're called Bloominous Stemples, and they bloom under a strong light. Is there anything nearby capable of generating such a light?" -Captain Olimar

• Area: Formidable Oak

• Location: Right near the Bloominous Stemples in the cave after the 1st Arachnode. 

Great partner

"It seems like two people working together could use this mushroom to reach the other side. But for some reason, Louie and I just can't get our acts together. I wish I had a more reliable partner. Sigh... I wonder how my wife is doing back on Hocotate." -Captain Olimar

• Area: Twilight River

• Location: Right outside the Burrowing Snagret's arena, near a Lilly Pad and an Electric Gate. 

Parting gift

"We've found a snow sculpture in this frozen tundra. It looks like the face of a middle-aged man--one that I know all too well. The more I look at it, the more I think it looks like the president of Hocotate Freight. Especially that nose..." -Captain Olimar

• Area: Distant Tundra

• Location: Near the Arctic Cannon Larva on the highest portion of the hill. Either carefully walk down to it or throw a leader on the short ledge it is located on. 

Shortcut

"If I can break down this wall, I'll be able to cut through this labyrinth and save myself some time. I wonder if there are any Bomb Rocks around..." -Captain Olimar

• Area: Formidable Oak

• Location: Behind the Reinforced Wall at the beginning of the cave. You can either use Bomb Rocks, or destroy the Crystal Nodule past the first Arachnode. If you take option 2, make sure you have Bomb Rocks, or else the Mysterious Life-Form will trap you. 

The cliff-top mystery

"What a superb view! Hm...what is that over there? I need to get a closer look. Those Yellow Pikmin seem to be good at accessing those hard-to-reach places..." -Captain Olimar

• Area: Tropical Wilds

• Location: From the landing site, go west through the rock wall. Go through the hole and circle back to the north. Throw two leaders up on the ledge. Switch leaders and follow the path east. Throw a leader up on the ledge and switch leaders again. Go north to the top of the tree stump.

To future visitors

"I consider myself to be a hardened veteran of planetary exploration now. With so many battles under my spacebelt, I no longer have need for this little item. I've since buried it nearby. Hopefully somoene will be able to get use out of it." -Captain Olimar

• Area: Twilight River

• Location: Right outside of the Snagret's arena, and below the ledge on which the Blonde Impostor is located. It is in the very end of the left side of the river in the second area. 

To the survivors

"Looks like someone took a tumble here in the fresh snow... Perhaps someone else is stranded here! If anyone is reading this, there are several electrical contraptions in this area. I've buried something here in the snow. Hopefully it's useful!" -Captain Olimar

• Area: Distant Tundra

• Location: Near Charlie's Crash Site, which is the opposite direction of the Vehemoth Phosbat's arena. 

With one more person...

"We're picking up a strong singal, but we can't seem to actually reach it. If we had a third party, we might be able to, but I just got an out-of-office message from the boss. He probably doesn't get much reception at the beach. We're kind of on a beach, too... but it's not quite the same." -Captain Olimar

• Area: Tropical Wilds

• Location: In the area of the Swooping Snitchbug and the Dapper Blob. It is on a little cliff in the area. 

With three of us...

"Quite the discovery! If only I had a little more help other than Louie to get this mechanism going! I really wish the boss would answer us. Just because he's the president of Hocotate Freight doesn't mean he can just be on vacation all the time! Or is that exactly what it means?" -Captain Olimar

• Area: Garden of Hope

• Location: In the area with the Astringent Clump and the Zest Bomb, involving some Elevator Platforms. The file is past the Electric Gate.