News: Pikmin May Shrink Down to DS Page 1

Pikmin May Shrink Down to DS

02.03.2009

Pikmin May Shrink Down to DS on Nintendo gaming news, videos and discussion

Former project leader for Pikmin, Shigefumi Hino, reckons the DS could be a suitable platform for Pikmin.

GameSpot recently spoke to Hino on all things Pikmin, and one of the questions that popped up was whether or not the series would work on the DS..

GS: While many assume a new Pikmin would be a perfect fit for the Wii, do you think a Pikmin game would work on the Nintendo DS?

SH: As Nintendo DS has its own unique advantages, it would be possible to create a gameplay-control mechanism which would be good for and unique to Pikmin.

Be sure to check out our Pikmin: New Play Control review for our verdict on the Wii port.

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Echoes221 02.03.2009#1

That could work. The graphics wouldn't particularily suffer either since it's top down. If they make this, I would consider buying it.

JoshSL 02.03.2009#2

I'd definitely love to see it happening.

Actually strangely enough, this memory jumped out at me after reading this: I remember in an old thread we posted our dream games, and someone (I think it was Frazzle?) posted "Pikmin DS", with a cover that was probably drawn on MS Paint or something Smilie

I hope it'd be sprite based, that's the only way I can see so many Pikmin on screen at once, and I'd love to see how Pikmin is pulled off in 2D.

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Im_Neutral 02.03.2009#3

Echoes221 said:
That could work. The graphics wouldn't particularily suffer either since it's top down. If they make this, I would consider buying it.

They were my thoughts exactly. The thing is, after seeing super mario 64 DS...the DS could probably recreate Wii Pikmin..to some level graphically. Developers are just lazy, but id consider buying this, if they can recreate GTA and still make it look as good as it does..dont see why they cant with this.

JoshSL 02.03.2009#4

Running 100 character models on screen would probably be incredibly taxing for the DS, I'm really not sure it could do it.

Sprites I think it could handle, I mean look at Revenant Wings.

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Keven 02.03.2009#5

Please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please , please, please! Smilie

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Mandown 02.03.2009#6

He sounds positive about the idea, which for any fan like myself is great to hear, I have wondered if this may ever happen. I have also wondered what Miyamoto-san thoughts are, after this I can only assume that Miyamoto-san must be equally postive about the idea of the game coming to DS. For all we know, it could already be in development given the way Nintendo work.

I think that if it were to happen, throwing in some compatibility with the third game on Wii would be good for the game, to mix things up and force new gameplay concepts. I can think of a few ways in which the DS could be utilized for all manner of new stuff. Aside from that, I think the slight increase in DSi screen size would certainly help a Pikmin game on DS.

Echoes221 02.03.2009#7

The way they could do it is like elebits for the DS, the sprites are basically EXCATLY the same!
Imagine, circling groups with the stylus and tapping enemies to attack, using the D-Pad to select different ability pikmin, or mix them all together.

~phil 02.03.2009#8

You know what? i've never actually played a Pikmin game before. I have picked it up on the Wii, though...

A DS version could work. Look at Animal Crossing, for instance.

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Super Sonic 02.03.2009#9

I think that this would work on the DS. If Nintendo were good peopel they would give a little demo of Pikmin 3 Smilie

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Kiyo23 02.03.2009#10

Pikmin on DS would be really awesome, though I don't know if Pikmin 3 would be better on DS then for Wii, I'd quite like to have another Pikmin game with similar style to the gamecube ones, and I don't really see that happening on DS, I reckon a different story would be good though.

JoshSL 02.03.2009#11

Absolutely do not want Pikmin 3 to be on DS, unless Pikmin 4 was on Wii instead. Pikmin and Wii are a great combination, and I can\'t think of any better game to showcase an excellent graphical style for Wii. Just look at the GC titles, they hold their own even today.

Even a spin off, sidestory or in between would be more than good enough for a DS game.

( Edited 02.03.2009 14:50 by SuperLink )

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Darkflame 02.03.2009#12

It wouldnt be Pikmin 3 on the DS, it would be A Pikmin game on the DS silly.
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"Running 100 character models on screen would probably be incredibly taxing for the DS, "

Youd do it as sprites overhead if nesscery.

Allthough if the background was just textured in layers, there probably is enough power left over for 100 3D pikmin to be drawn. (lets say given the screen size, you can probably do them 20 polys each, thats 2000 polys....even the ds can do that)

I think the issue is probably more path finding and screenspace issues.

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keith 03.03.2009#13

I don't know about this... Pikmin was one of those games that used nearly every single gamecube button. The stylus would probably replace the cursor, but what about everything else? You'd only have access to the D-pad and the L-trigger, which would have to be mapped to B (call) or A (throw/contextual).

They'd have to implement some pretty funky gestures, and there's a high chance it'd end up awkward and clunky like Phantom Hourglass. Not to mention camera controls! It would have to be fully 2D, which would destroy much of the pikmin experience. Besides, how could the DS possibly render 100 creatures at once on its low resolution display?

And there'd be no way to replicate the function of the C-Stick.

Not to mention that historically all of the DS ports have been disappointing. Zelda and Metroid especially. I am so angry about Zelda and Metroid.

If Pikmin DS does happen, I'm willing to bet that it won't be anything like real pikmin and that it'll suck major bulborb balls.