A Big Fat Review of Pikmin



This is a thorough exploration of Pikmin, originally for the Nintendo GameCube.

This video was edited by the exceptionally talented @KanesTheName!!!
https://twitter.com/KanesTheName

Intro art by Ciro!
https://ciro.art
https://twitter.com/cirodisegna

Technical wizardry made possible by @PikHacker!
https://twitter.com/PikHacker

If you like what I do, please consider supporting me on Patreon!
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Pikmin 3 “Rain” Mix by @XularusXIII

Additional footage credits:

@ZackScottGames
Super Mario 3D Land
Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon

@longplayarchive
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask
Super Metroid
Luigi’s Mansion

@packattack04082
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
Super Mario Odyssey

@xRavenXP
Donkey Kong Country

@ZeldaMasterLuke
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

@NitroRad
Anodyne

@Yoshiller
Pikmin (Wii)

@GameRiot
Age of Empires 2

@PikaspreyBlue
Stardew Valley

@stephenplays
Pikmin 2

@MasaeAnela
Pikmin 3

@theRadBrad
Shadow of the Colossus (PS4)
The Last Guardian

0:00 Introduction
6:11 Story and World
23:22 Gameplay
54:49 Meet the Pikmin
1:21:15 Emotional Connection and Difficulty
1:38:13 The Impact Site
2:01:07 The Forest of Hope
2:38:03 The Forest Navel
3:07:23 The Distant Spring
3:33:56 The Final Trial
3:47:33 The Stragglers
3:58:50 Final Analysis

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49 thoughts on “A Big Fat Review of Pikmin”

  1. Well it took me a couple days, but I finally finished the video. I have never played a Pikmin game, but this video was very good and has convinced me to get the "PC version" of Pikmin.

    Gotta be honest though; when I saw a 4 hour Arlo video on Pikmin, I was expecting a series review, not just one game lol

    Reply
  2. I don't usually post comments, but I wanted to say that I'm really hyped for a new era of arlo in which we get a 3+ hour video review on a game sometimes.
    Love the content Arlo!

    Reply
  3. In response to 3:42:25, Pikmin 2 does show the idea of Pikmin being self-reliant in a couple cases. Red Pikmin are shown attacking a Dwarf Red Bulborb by themselves. Blue Pikmin are also found attacking Wogpoles by themselves. Maybe it doesn’t show them going out at night or whatever but I think the Pikmin 1 ending does carry over to Pikmin 2 at least.

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  4. The way yellows toss bombs, you can time the throw so that they will toss the bomb into the Emperor's mouth before he lashes out his tongue sparing the yellow and still getting the stun off. The timing is tricky though.

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  5. Minute 2:30:00 and… Yes, I also built that first bridge literally always before realising it didn't work if i didn't have blues by the time hahahahaa but i needed to complete everything, collect every pellet and kill every enemy to be satisfied xD

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  6. Really surprised you didn't talk more about the 30-day limit. Honestly, I bounced off the game because of it. Now that I know more about this game I know it's generous. But the first time I played, saw that there was 30 days and 30 parts, I was like, ok, if I get one part a day I'll be good. But then the first time I didn't recover a part in a day… I immediately felt like I was behind and was so stressed I stopped playing entirely.

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  7. 51:18 This. The satisfaction in making as many Pikmin as possible and collecting every beast is fantastic. I’m intrinsically motivated, so I am the opposite as you when it comes to things like Luigi’s Mansion and the money. I love gathering and don’t need scarcity to feel motivated. In fact I become irritated and lose motivation when games do that. Pikmin though, with the missions, timed day cycle…somehow is addicting for me. Nintendo seems to have addicted both the intrinsically motivated and extrinsically motivated player in the same way and I want to give them a standing ovation for it. Seriously. The older I get the more I want a setting for most games that says intrinsic or extrinsic, which will give small changes for the game played to make the game better for each of our types. I will always be amazed at how Pikmin succeeded in its formula working for both types of players overall.

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  8. I will say the mere detail of the dwarf bulborbs using a distress call when under attack will wake up the snoozing Spotty Bulborbs, as well as a difference in sfx depending on the system? I think? Idk… I played pikmin on other tvs and things and it’s like the noises the bulborbs make go from RAAARRGH to squeaks. Idk…

    Also I’m throughly convinced the skulls and spine at the distant spring belong to bulborbs/bulbears. They even have the signature rear fangs!

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  9. 1:13:45 – I kind of love the way the game also lampshades the goofy nature of pikmin at times.

    Day 9 generic log – "Occasionally, when I look behind me, I make some very amusing discoveries. The Pikmin all seem to follow me in the same fashion, but there are always individual specimens that end up performing the wrong actions. I suppose if there are, capable Pikmin, there must also be clumsy, dim Pikmin as well. That is the natural way of things."

    Day 12 generic log – "At times, these seemingly emotionless Pikmin act with a blind urgency. For instance, the Pikmin who so tirelessly dig up grass… What could be driving them to do so? Is it merely the promise of a sweet taste of nectar? Or is it some base instinct that is beyond my capacity to understand? Will I ever know?"

    Iridescent Flint Beetle log – "This creature's hypnotic reflective body is quite hard, giving it a good defense against Pikmin attacks. Why, then, do the Pikmin chase it in such a frenzy? I wonder if it will undergo any change if I hit it directly with Pikmin…"

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  10. Fun fact Arlo when I was younger a Swooping Snitch bug would keep attacking my Pikmin and it freaked me out so much when I was younger cause I couldn't figure out how to kill and get rid of it. I finally eventually built up the courage to learn to simply just point and aim at it in the air but it was still enough to make me rage quit for months.

    Reply
  11. The way you described fighting the final boss is so disappointing.
    I always use the bomb rock method, precisely because it is the right way. Doing anything else means that more Pikmin will die to the tongue and stomp attacks. It's a guarantee that this will happen without the stun mechanic. Which means, if you really don't want your Pikmin to die, you choose the method that will sacrifice the least amount.

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  12. I'm finally done watching the whole video. I loved it! I can't wait for your BFR (Big Fat Review) on other Pikmin games! And of course, I can't wait for the release of Pikmin 4 :p Good job with the video!

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  13. The original Pikmin came out when I was like six so I even thoughI loved it, I could never beat it! I was maybe too young to understand organization and time managment and that "rare" bad ending was the only one I ever knew. By the time I was old enough to pick up the sequel, I was kinda too scared to because to me, this was a hard game. It nice though, being much older now and hearing how other people handled the game and all the little bits I never got to discover for myself. I really want to get back into the game and possibly the rest of the series and I think this long review is the push I need.

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  14. 50:34 It’s because that body is the spoils of your accomplishment. Kind of like winning a competition with a reward of $20, but not getting it. Sure, you proved you’re better by winning, and not getting $20 isn’t a big deal, but it’s still a loss because something you were promised was taken away/not delivered.

    Reply
  15. When I saw how long this was, I assumed it would be an review of the ENTIRE Pikmin series. Imagine my surprise when 2 hours in, we're just getting started on the Forest of Hope.
    But I love it

    Reply

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