WhilePikmin 4will feature some co-op capabilities, the game will not have a full-blown co-op campaign likePikmin 3 Deluxedid. ThePikminfranchise has long featured multiplayer and co-op modes, butPikmin 3 Deluxetook things to the next level.
Pikmin 3 Deluxe, the enhanced Switch port of the former Wii U exclusive, gave fans the chance to play through the entire story campaign in co-op with a friend.Pikmin 3 Deluxe’s co-op mode was one of its main selling points and earned the game a great deal of critical acclaim. Considering how popular the full-fledged co-op mode was inPikmin 3 Deluxe, many fans assumed thatPikmin 4would bring co-op back. The latest overview trailer forPikmin 4confirms that the new game does technically have co-op, but not to the extent thatPikmin 3 Deluxedid.
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In the latest overview trailer forPikmin 4, Nintendo touches on the game’s co-op modes. Instead of the second player controlling their own captain and leading their own group of Pikmin, they instead are relegated to a cursor on the screen that can throw pebbles at objects and enemies. The co-op partner inPikmin 4can also throw items on the ground to help out player 1. Needless to say, this is a massive step back when compared to thekind of co-op offered byPikmin 3 Deluxe, and it’s no doubt going to disappoint some fans of the franchise.
Pikmin 4has some multiplayer capabilitiesoutside the main story mode for fans to check out as well, but it’s unlikely to make-up for the lack of a proper co-op campaign.Pikmin 4players can work together against the CPU in the Dondori Battle mode. They can also face each other for some versus multiplayer if they’d like. This is more in line with the multiplayer offered by pre-Pikmin 3 Deluxegames, so it’s hard not to look at it as a step back for the franchise.
Luckily, anyone worried aboutPikmin 4can try the game out for themselves before launch. Nintendo has released aPikmin 4playable demothat’s available to download on the Switch eShop right now. Unlike most other demos, progress made in thePikmin 4demo actually carries over to the full game, so that way anyone that tries it out won’t have to start over from the beginning if they decide to buy the final product in July.
