When I first saw the “dog” mechanic in Pikmin 4, I was skeptical that it would even work. After playing Pikmin 4, I want the dog modded into every game before it. Yes, that dog, adorably named “Oatchi,” is arguably the start of the game. Not only does it look cute: it also heavily factors into the storyline of the fourth main iteration, and it’s one of the most useful game mechanics I’ve experienced in a long while.
It took very little time to get acclimated to how the little pup worked, and before long I was riding along with him, sending him on odd jobs while I split up my Pikmin force. Dandori (the art of organization, essentially) is a huge part of the game’s philosophy and level design, and Oatchi slots perfectly into that ethos. As someone you’re able to independently operate alongside of the different types of Pikmin, it’s a blast to discern what jobs he’s best for, and what upgrade tracks you want to tackle first. “Build potential” is not something I ever thought I’d be tinkering with in a Pikmin game, but here we are. Did I mention Pikmin 4 rules and you should play it?
I love it when Nintendo gets weird
All of Oatchi’s glory is reflected in a new promo titled “Oatchi, the Space Dog of Tomorrow,” which you can view below. Expect lots of old-school sci-fi references, not unlike most of Bethesda’s Fallout marketing. It’s also not a bad way to see what the game actually entails, and what Oatchi does in-game.
