Pikmin 3 Deluxe made me more understanding.

Due to the small number of Wii U players, the original Pikmin 3 was overlooked by many, even though it was published specifically for the Wii U in 2013 and received excellent reviews all around the globe. As a result, many consider it to be an underappreciated cult masterpiece. When Pikmin 3 Deluxe arrived on Switch earlier this year, it was a nearly flawless remaster and a fantastic introduction to the franchise for both new and seasoned fans.

In the exquisitely designed stages of Pikmin 3 Deluxe, players form friendships with little extraterrestrial animals known as Pikmin to use in various situations. The game is a real-time strategy puzzler. I had very little to no prior experience with Pikmin; the most I knew was that Olimar had thrown weird-looking monsters at enemies in a few different Smash Bros. games. I had no idea how much responsibility I would have for the Pikmin life I utilized to finish each level and vanquish opponents.

There are a ton of disgusting animals in each level, such the disgusting Baldy Long Legs and the malformed Dwarf Bulbear (though I do have a thing for the somewhat cuter Whiptongue Bulborb), all of whom are frantically attempting to devour every single one of your cherished Pikmin friends. A subtle scream reverberates throughout the environment each time a monster eats a Pikmin, and a detailed end-of-level panel details the precise number of Pikmin that perished while you were exploring.

Split-screen cooperative mode is how I spent the majority of my time playing Pikmin 3 Deluxe, and it's not a game for the timid. I would hear the devastating sound of a Pikmin cry emanating from the other player who had handled their Pikmin's life carelessly while I hurried about the map taking care of my own business and protecting my priceless Pikmin. This is where the endearing shift started.

I started outlining the true value of the Pikmin to my co-op partner after a few levels of death and devastation. The campaign has five distinct Pikmin varieties, each of which has unique abilities that we discussed in our review of Pikmin 3 Deluxe: "Yellow Pikmin can be thrown higher and conduct electricity; grey 'rock' Pikmin can smash fragile barriers and enemy skulls; pink Pikmin can fly; blue Pikmin can swim." Red Pikmin are excellent fighters and resistant to fire. Puzzle-solving skills may come to a full standstill if you lose a lot of Pikmin, and exploring the area alone might be quite lonely.

In addition to being devoted companions and helpful allies, Pikmin will sing the game's theme song if you manage to collect 20 of each kind as you race about completing objectives. This will uplift your spirits and provide an even cuter incentive to keep your tiny pals alive.

Together with my partner, I tried to collect as many Pikmin as we could while ensuring the safety of our present group. This made the Pikmin 3 Deluxe campaign more enjoyable, but it also made the game harder since we had to redo stages if we lost too many players. The game changed from being a lighthearted diversion to a celebration honoring a mythical species.

Although the campaign had come to an end, Pikmin 3 Deluxe undoubtedly left a lasting effect. We said our sad goodbyes to the colorful friends we had met along the road as it concluded. I will always adore the ant-like aliens, and I will always love them.