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Pikmin 4 is a fascinating blend of classic gameplay mechanics and new concepts and ideas. With new types like Ice Pikmin and the tremendously unique Glow Pikmin, things are really starting to shake up. It's also the first Pikmin title to feature every type of collectible Pikmin variety.
While it all may seem familiar to veteran fans of the series, there are enough new concepts to give anyone a few questions. Even if they're small questions, like how many levels there are. We've gathered those questions here, found the answer, and organized them into clean, easy-to-read entries. Best of luck, Rescue Recruit!
How Many Areas Are In Pikmin 4?
There are a total of six areas to explore, not including the Rescue Command Post. Some places are larger than others. And with anywhere from four to eight cave systems in each area, there's a massive amount of ground to cover. Some areas, like the Serene Shores, will change throughout the day. At noon, the high waters of the shores will wash away with the tide, lowering the levels and allowing for more land-based travel.
Is There A Time Limit In Pikmin 4?
Yes and no. There is a limited amount of time you can spend on a level at a time, represented by a day-night cycle. You need to return to your ship before dusk, since that's when the monsters get violent. Alternatively, when doing night expeditions, you have to last until sunrise.
However, unlike the first game in the series, you can take as many days as you want to play. The original Pikmin was limited to a 30 day span of time before life support ran out. That's not a concern here, and you can revisit previous locations as many times as you want.
Help! The Blue Onion Is Stuck In The Water!
Whether you dropped the Blue Onion in the Sun-Speckled Terrace into the water along the path or encountered the submerged Onion in the Serene Shores, there's nothing to worry about. You can get them out by collecting some Blue Pikmin from other sources and sending them out to collect the Onion from the water.
If you need Blue Pikmin and don't have the ability to propagate more, use Oatchi's scent tracker to help locate where Blue Pikmin can be found. They will lead you to the nearest cave system with wild ones. If there aren't any, you may need to travel to the next area and search there.
When Does Pikmin 4 Take Place?
In the series timeline: It's not inherently clear. It sounds like an alternate telling of Olimar's first crash landing on the planet, though it could be an unrelated crash to the first game, and the details were left introductory to appeal to new players. This may be a new crash that takes place after the events of Pikmin 3, or it may be a new adaption to the story.
Since PNF-404 appears to be some kind of version of our own planet Earth, then it appears to be an abandoned and forgotten version of Earth from the early 2000s. The technology we come across aligns with this theory, with an indeterminate amount of time since humankind had disappeared and now. This is a popular fan theory, but it's not been confirmed by Nintendo or any in-game lore.
What Does The Screw In The Ground Do?
Generally speaking, whenever you can target something, it's for a reason. In a few locations throughout the game, you might find a screw, driven fully into the ground, that you can target. And yet, your Pikmin don't do anything when thrown at it. Why?
Truth is: the screw doesn't do anything. It's intended to be an anchor point. If you need your Pikmin up a ledge or across a platform where the screw is, you target the screw and throw. It's simply intended to make it easier to aim in that spot, nothing more.
Is Pikmin 4 A Reboot?
As mentioned in the timeline entry above, it's not exactly clear if this is a reboot of the original story, or a new one taking place elsewhere in the timeline. Olimar's story in Pikmin 4 sounds similar to the first game, and he makes no mention of having crashed here in the past, but certain details are new, like the inclusion of Moss, and the idea that he was still on the planet after collecting all the parts.
So the short answer is: Maybe? It seems like it.
What Is The Hero's Hideaway Safe Bunker Code?
In Hero's Hidewaway, you encounter a wall safe that Olimar appears to be using as a safe bunker. It's locked by a three digit code. To find the code, you have to locate the three playing card treasures throughout the map, and connect the suit to the number. The dials, having a suit symbol on them, tell you the order.
If you just want to know it outright: it's the 3 of Hearts, 2 of Diamonds, and 4 of Clubs; or 324 in order.