Pikmin 4's big release day is almost upon us, but some fans of the series are a lot less excited than others. We've been steadily getting more information about the game via the latest Nintendo Direct and a recent batch of previews, which have led fans to discover that Pikmin 4's co-op mode is a lot less robust than its predecessor Pikmin 3 Deluxe. Understandably, they're not best pleased.
First shared by u/Zame2000 on the Pikmin subreddit, the Pikmin 4 website explains that you can play the game in co-op, though your gaming partner won't have a character to control. Instead, they'll be able to use an on-screen pointer to fling rocks at enemies and use items, similar to the co-op mode seen in other Nintendo titles like Super Mario Galaxy.
If you think that sounds pretty pants, then you're not the only one. Plenty of fellow Pikmin fans are voicing their disappointment in the Reddit thread you can find embedded below, especially when Pikmin 3 Deluxe had such an enjoyable co-op story mode. Fans such as u/miimeverse have called the move a "gigantic regression for the series", while others like u/Vxssler and u/bobshallprevail are upset that they can't play this new Pikmin game after introducing their friends and loved ones to the series with Pikmin 3's co-op.
To make matter worse, Pikmin 4 even has a helpful dog companion called Oatchi who helps you throughout the game, something that could have easily been reworked as a playable character for those that wanted a co-op experience. Granted, it probably takes a lot of effort and planning to have funs level that will accomodate more than one player, but it's quite frustrating when there's a built in companion ready and waiting.
Still, at least Pikmin 4 is shaping up to be a pretty fun game, even if the co-op mode is sorely lacking. That's what early impressions of the game are telling us anyway, as previews for Pimin 4 went live earlier today. If you want to know what we think of the game so far, you can read our preview by Jade King here, who describes the game as "the Pikmin you know and love, but refocused for a new generation."
If you're looking at all the Pikmin hype and are wanting to try the series for the first time, you'll be pleased to know that both Pikmin 1 and 2 were shadow dropped on the Nintendo Switch during the latest Nintendo Direct, meaning every game is now playable on the system.