Pikmin Bloomhas been available worldwide for a few weeks, giving players time to wander their neighborhoods, pluck Pikmin, and spread flowers.Niantic’s second Nintendo-themed AR gameis pleasant and serves more as an exercise tool than other ventures likePokemon GO, but as a resultPikmin Bloomis missing a lot of the group challenges that make its contemporaries appealing. Still, players will unlock one cooperative activity at level 15: challenges.
Pikmin in their original games have a few key characteristics. They are sentient plant-like beings with color-coded abilities who get plucked from the ground, can grow flowers over time or by drinking nectar, and as a collective are able to lift heavy objects or beat down obstacles and enemies.Pikmin Bloom’s early hoursfocus more on the prior elements; growing Pikmin, feeding them nectar, and carrying items. Challenges offer a window into combat mechanics that don’t break the game’s more casual nature, it’s just a shame players need to invest so much to unlock this system considering its merits helpPikmin Bloomstand out.
RELATED:Pikmin Bloom is More Exercise Tool Than Game, and That’s Great
Unlocking Pikmin Bloom’s Mushroom Challenges
As previously mentioned, challenges unlock once aPikmin Bloomplayer reaches level 15. Each level up requires certain criteria, often a combination of growing Pikmin and walking a specific step count - though some levels also serve as tutorials for mechanics like expeditions.Expeditions are a solo activityamounting to players sending their Pikmin out to collect items discovered during a walk. The only real cooperative thing inPikmin Bloomthrough level 14 is planting flowers with other players, which is the same as planting flowers alone but with multiple Miis skipping along together.
After getting to level 15, mushrooms appear all over the world map in key locations (likePikmin Bloom’s Big Flowers or equivalents such asPokemon GO’s PokeStops and Gyms). While within a certain distance of these clusters, players can send their Pikmin to clear them away akin to Spotcaps and Kingcaps inPikmin 3 Deluxe. The number and strength of Pikmin sent determines how quickly the challenge is completed, but no matter what it will offer rewards.
Three challenges can be taken on each day inPikmin Bloom, with players able to receive up to three (or secretly four) stars based on how fast the mushrooms are cleared. The rewards are special postcards that include one’s challenge results, which can be traded with friends like any other; as well as fruits that become nectar for unique flower types. Up to five players at a time may take part in any given challenge, mushroom clusters respawn periodically, andPikmin Bloom’s “Help” page says users can weigh the odds in their favor by using Pikmin with specific colors, flowers, and those with higher friendship values and decor.
RELATED:What Harry Potter: Wizards Unite’s Shut Down Says For Pikmin Bloom
Pikmin Bloom’s Challenges Appear Too Late
It’s not entirely fair to comparePikmin BloomwithPokemon GOgiven they have different intents as “games,” butPokemon GO’s Gym model is a good way to demonstrate whyPikmin Bloom’s challenges falter.Pokemon GOplayers can take on Gyms as soon as they reach level 5, which gives them the chance to claim land that represents their team (Mystic, Valor, or Instinct), and ultimately serves as a clear reason why it’s important to train powerful Pokemon.
Pikmin Bloom’s mushroom challenges are similar in a lot of ways, as they encourage a community of players to gather and accomplish goals that become easier by “training” ones Pikmin via other systems like expeditions. UnlikePokemon GO’s Gyms, challenges inPikmin Bloomare friendlier toward the game’s more exercise-focused audience because Pikmin can be left behind to work independently.
It would only make sense for challenges like mushrooms to appear in the game earlier. While starting at level 15 gives players the chance to have stronger Pikmin from the get-go, it delays access to a showcase of the game’s collective mechanics with rewards that benefit other systems like rare nectars, not to mention all future level ups allow players to send more Pikmin into challenges and better their odds. Niantic suggests there will be more than just mushrooms, and it’s easy to imaginePikmin Bloom’s equivalent ofLegendary Pokemon encountersbeing a David and Goliath battle against monsters like Bulborbs. Hopefully the game is able to stick this landing, though it may have helped some players stay invested longer if they saw this possibility earlier.
Pikmin Bloomis available now on Android and iOS devices.
