Summary
The long-awaitedPikmin 4is finally here, and it seems like Nintendo wanted to refresh the concept a bit again. After two unique RTS titles followed the same set of characters,Pikmin 3andPikmin 4replaced them with entirely new ones. While the gameplay stayed mostly the same, players got to experience a new cast of lovable characters. This has been a fantastic breath of fresh air for the series, but some fans also yearn for a return to the characters of old.
Pikmin 4may let players customize the protagonist for the first time ever, butseries mascot Captain Olimarstill plays a small role. The brand-new crew of the Rescue Corps only crash-land because Olimar crashes before them. It seems like Nintendo cannot make aPikmingame without him, but it has mostly forgotten about Louie. While he may make a brief appearance as a side character, futurePikmin4DLC needs to put this character in the spotlight again.
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Pikmin 4 Should Shine a Light on the Franchise’s Funniest Menace
While Captain Olimar may appear inevery singlePikmingame, his sidekick Louie has only had a major appearance in two games. Louie was first introduced asPikmin 2’s second playable character, and players seemed to fall in love with him instantly. At first glance, some may think he is remarkably similar to the series mascot, but he could not be more different.
Louie may be one of the wildest and strangest characters in thePikminuniverse.At the start ofPikmin 2, he is one of Hocotate Freight’s newest employees and was responsible for the company’s debt. His actions forced the company to sell off Captain Olimar’s ship and were the inciting incident for the entire plot. While this already makes Louie look far less competent than Olimar, players soon discovered that there was even more going on behind the scenes.
Louie may have some of the same skills as Captain Olimar, but he is far less helpful. While Olimar’s field notes helped players get through the game, Louie’s were often humorous and told players how to eat the creatures they discover. Players also learned that he falsified his first mission report, and he was forced to survive on his own after Captain Olimar accidentally abandoned him atthe end ofPikmin 2. While it is unclear what exactly happened during this period, Louie was somehow named the King of Bugs.
Louie’s mischievous behavior would get even wilderduring the events ofPikmin 3. After players saved him, he mistook their rescue for a kidnapping and ended up stealing the ship while the other characters were sleeping. He landed the ship in one of the game’s regions, stole all the crew’s juice, destroyed a wall, and ran away. After players explored this newly unlocked area, they discovered Louie again and proceeded to tie him up inside the ship. Apparently, he was abandoned on this new planet and the main characters had little interest in saving him.
Louie once again appears inPikmin 4, but he does not do much here. He gives players various quests to collect food for him, but there is no new story involving his dangerous behavior. It seems strange that a prominent character like this would simply get relegated to side character status. Hopefully, future DLC can give this wacky character something more to do.
Louie may be a menace, but he is one of the funniest characters in thePikminfranchise. His dastardly behavior is always a joy to witness, and some players have branded him one of the evilest characters in the universe. IfPikmin 3 Deluxecan expand upon the story with new adventures, then there is nothing stoppingPikmin 4from replicating that with new Louie-centric side stories.
