Crossovers with Pikmin
This article is a stub. Please consider expanding it to include any missing information. Specifics: missing info about shared history, especially info in the Super Smash Bros. series.
| Pikmin | |
|---|---|
 Wordmark for the Pikmin franchise used since 2022. | |
| First installment | Pikmin (2001) |
| Latest installment | Pikmin 4 (2023) |
Pikmin is a sci-fi video game franchise created and published by Nintendo. The mainline Pikmin titles are top-down real-time strategy games in which the goal is most often to leave the planet the titular Pikmin reside on, PNF-404. This is done by leading large squads of the Pikmin to defeat enemies, collect valuable objects, and explore the environment.
As Pikmin was created with heavy involvement from Shigeru Miyamoto, both it and the Super Mario franchise have had much shared history. References to each other are frequent, and several core elements to the Pikmin franchise are directly inspired by Super Mario, such as its main characters.
Recurring crossover subjects[edit]
Pikmin[edit]
- Main article: Pikmin
Pikmin are the titular creatures of the Pikmin franchise. They are small, plant-like creatures that appear in a variety of shapes, colors, and sizes. In their home series, Pikmin are the key focus of gameplay, as the player must grow them, pluck them, send them to fight predators, and use those predators' corpses to grow more Pikmin. In the Super Mario franchise, Pikmin primarily appear as Easter eggs suiting their small forms. They are frequently hiding in tall grass or flower beds.
Captain Olimar[edit]
- Pikipedia article: Captain Olimar
Captain Olimar is a deep-space freight driver who acts as the main protagonist of the first two Pikmin games, as well as making large appearances in later Pikmin titles. Olimar's appearance is generally based on Mario, as they both have brown hair, large round noses, and a red color scheme. Olimar's name is also derived from Mario's, as his name in Japanese, オリマー, is a reversal of Mario's, マリオ.
History in the Super Mario franchise[edit]
Luigi's Mansion[edit]
A trailer for Pikmin is included in Luigi's Mansion in the settings menu, under an option labeled "View a Pikmin™ Movie".
Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour[edit]
Pikmin have a chance of appearing from flowerbeds in Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour when hit with golf balls.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door[edit]
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door includes Punies, characters that resemble Pikmin in several ways. They are small creatures with antenna-like appendages who are individually weak, but when several of them follow behind Mario they can join together to take down huge waves of enemies. 101 Punies can follow behind Mario at one time, similarly to how at-most 100 Pikmin can follow behind Olimar.
WarioWare series[edit]
WarioWare: Smooth Moves[edit]
WarioWare: Smooth Moves features the microgame Pikmin 2 based on the Pikmin installment of the same name. The aim of the microgame is to crush several Pikmin by rolling an Empress Bulblax over them.
WarioWare: D.I.Y.[edit]
WarioWare: D.I.Y. includes Pikmin, based on the first game in the Pikmin series. The player controls Captain Olimar and must tap the screen at the correct time to throw a Pikmin onto a nectar blob.
WarioWare Gold[edit]
WarioWare Gold reuses the Pikmin 2 microgame from WarioWare: Smooth Moves, where it plays much the same. In addition, Wario's amiibo Sketch allows the player to scan in either a Captain Olimar or Pikmin amiibo to have them be crudely drawn by Wario.
WarioWare: Get It Together![edit]
WarioWare: Get It Together! features a new Pikmin 2 microgame, with the aim to knock Pellets off of their Pellet Posies.
WarioWare: Move It![edit]
WarioWare: Move It! introduces a third microgame based on Pikmin 2. The gameplay in this one involves plucking Pikmin from the ground as Olimar. When playing in multiplayer, P2 controls Louie, the second playable character introduced in Pikmin 2.
Super Mario series[edit]
Super Mario Galaxy[edit]
Within the Space Junk Galaxy of Super Mario Galaxy, a red-and-white rocketship with two windows can be visited. While not an exact replica, as it has differing proportions, no speaker, and a slightly different pattern, a Nintendo representative stated that this is Olimar and Louie's ship from Pikmin 2 at an E3 2006 showcase.[1]
Super Mario Maker[edit]
- Main article: Costume Mario § List of costumes
| # | Image | Costume | Unlock method(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51 |  |
Captain Olimar | Clear 100 Mario Challenge on Expert setting or harder or Use any Olimar amiibo |
Olimar's voice from Pikmin 2 can be heard, and the "Course Clear" fanfare is replaced by the tune that plays after obtaining an important item in Pikmin 3. If the player presses  , Olimar will blow on his whistle.
|
| 52 |  |
Pikmin | Clear 100 Mario Challenge on Easy setting or harder or Use any Pikmin amiibo |
Pikmin sound effects can be heard, the "lose a life" tune is replaced by the Pikmin's own death cries, and the "Course Clear" fanfare is replaced by the tune that plays after obtaining an important item in Pikmin 3. Pressing causes the red and blue Pikmin to mature into flowers. When underwater, all three of them are encased in a bubble.
|
Mario Kart 8 / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe[edit]
Mario Kart 8 deluxe includes 19 unlockable racing suits that can be used by Mii racers when an appropriate amiibo is scanned. One of these suits is the Pikmin Suit, unlocked by scanning a Captain Olimar or Pikmin amiibo. The suit is based on Olimar's spacesuit as it appears in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, with a mostly yellow suit, red gloves, and three "buttons" along the right side of the chest. The helmet is a mostly original design, with a Red Pikmin clinging onto the back. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe brings back the Pikmin Suit with the same unlock conditions.
Yoshi's Woolly World / Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World[edit]
Yoshi's Woolly World and its Nintendo 3DS port feature the amiibo Hut, where several amiibo can be scanned to unlock Yoshi patterns. Olimar is one of these patterns, in which the Yoshi's saddle represents Olimar's backpack, and the spines are colored red, yellow, and blue respectively each with their own eyes to represent Red Pikmin, Yellow Pikmin, and Blue Pikmin respectively.
Super Nintendo World[edit]
Super Nintendo World is primarily based on the Super Mario and Donkey Kong Country franchises, but also features several small cameos from Pikmin. The Universal Hollywood App also features the "Pluck Out Pikmin" badge, which is granted by using the binoculars to observe one of these groups of Pikmin on Mount Beanpole.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie[edit]
A glass statue of a Red Pikmin appears very briefly in The Super Mario Bros. Movie in the home of the BrKLnCouple.
History in the Pikmin franchise[edit]
Pikmin series[edit]
Pikmin[edit]
Pikmin does not have any direct references or content from Super Mario, but does make allusions to the series. The game is the introduction of Captain Olimar, who is based heavily on Mario. The game's most prominent enemy, the Spotty Bulborb, bears visual similarity to a Super Mushroom. Both have large, round rear sides that are red with white spots, and smaller, tan front sides with a pair of large eyes. Similarly, the Beady Long Legs greatly resembles a Scuttlebug as they appear in Super Mario 64, as both have four long spindly legs, a marbled red-and-yellow color scheme, and large, perfectly spherical body sections.
Pikmin 2[edit]
Pikmin 2 introduces treasures to the franchise, which are contemporary human objects that appear as massive ancient artifacts to the games' protagonists. Several of these treasures reference the Super Mario franchise.
- Growshroom is a brown mushroom whose name and notes suggest anyone who eats it will grow massively in size. This is in reference to the behavior of the Super Mushroom.
- Decorative Goo and Master's Instrument are a tube of paint and pastel stick respectively, and are branded as "MARIO PAINTS" in the North American and European versions of the game, in reference to Mario Paint.
- Flame of Tomorrow is a box of matches labeled as "BOWSER BREATH BRAND" in North American and European versions. The side of the box also reads "TEL 555-TROOPAS", in reference to Bowser and Koopa Troopas respectively.
- Unspeakable Wonder is a golden crown which heavily resembles the one worn by Princess Peach.
- The Key is a large stylized golden key modeled after Keys as they appear in Super Mario World.
In addition, Pikmin 2 introduces the character of Louie, who acts as a second playable character and work partner to Captain Olimar. Much like Olimar is based on Mario, Louie is based on Luigi as he is taller, slimmer, and has a similarly derived Japanese name, ルーイ, based on ルイージ.
The Master's Instrument
The Flame of Tomorrow
The Unspeakable Wonder
The Key
Pikmin 3 / Pikmin 3 Deluxe[edit]
The opening cutscene of Pikmin 3 and its Nintendo Switch remaster reuses the "walking" sound effect from Mario Bros. to indicate the movement of the S.S. Drake through space. Additionally, the area Twilight River is mainly composed of two large sections which are connected by a large pipe, which is covered in green moss that makes it resemble a Warp Pipe.
Pikmin 4[edit]
Pikmin 4 once again features treasures as a major collectable., with a few also referencing the Super Mario franchise.
- The Cookie of Nibbled Circles, Cookie of Prosperity, Vanishing Cookie, Love's Fortune Cookie, and Hearty Container, are a set of five cookies directly based on five of the six main Yoshi Cookies from Yoshi's Cookie.
- Mechanical Harp (Lullabies) is a music box that plays a rendition of Piranha Plant's Lullaby from Super Mario 64. Schnauz's notes directly mention "a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth" like that of a Piranha Plant.
- Micromanagement Station is a Game Boy Micro, specifically the Famicom-themed model released for the 20th anniversary of Super Mario Bros. The Happy! Mario 20th logo with Mario's sprite from Super Mario Bros. is included.
- Creativity Conduit is an SNES mouse. The treasure's name along with Schnauz's and Olimar's notes reference a sense of creativity and relation to drawing, an allusion to the accessory's use in Mario Paint.
The back of the Micromanagement Station
The five cookies part of the Sweet Tooth Series
Pikmin Short Movies[edit]
Pikmin Short Movies are a collection of three animated shorts based around Pikmin. The longest short, Occupational Hazards, features a scene where several Pikmin climb through several metal pipes in a construction site. At the other end, a Yellow Pikmin emerges holding a red mushroom resembling a Super Mushroom, as a green pipe above them begins shaking and making noises as coins get shoved out, culminating in a Red Pikmin emerges covered in dust that resembles Mario's cap, nose, and moustache, accompanied by a Warp Pipe sound effect. The Red Pikmin preforms a classic "Mario jump" as the first seven notes of Ground BGM from Super Mario Bros. plays.
Hey! Pikmin[edit]
Hey! Pikmin reintroduces treasures from Pikmin 2, with a greater emphasis on human-made creations, including Nintendo games.
- Inevitable Tragedy is a cartridge for Super Mario Bros., appearing as a Nintendo Entertainment System cart in North America and Europe, and a Family Computer cart in Japan. The treasure's English name and notes refer to the artwork's depiction of Mario falling into lava.
- Tempting Vision is a Game Boy cartridge for Super Mario Land. Olimar's notes refer to the Gao, Gunion, and Tatanga's ship in the artwork.
- Enduring Partnership is a Game Boy cartridge for Donkey Kong Land. The treasure's name and notes
Hey! Pikmin includes amiibo functionality, which allows the player to scan in various Pikmin, Super Mario, Animal Crossing, and Splatoon amiibo into the game wherte they can be collected as treasures. 15 amiibo from the Super Mario series are compatible.
- Colossus in Suspenders - Mario amiibo
- Priceless Artifact - Gold Mario amiibo
- Great Man - Silver Mario amiibo
- Unsung Hero - Luigi amiibo
- Memento of Love - Princess Peach amiibo
- Incomprehensible Life-Form - Yoshi amiibo
- Fashion Mystery - Rosalina amiibo
- Fearsome Boss - Bowser amiibo
- Gaudy Goon - Wario amiibo
- Powerful Pencil-Pusher - Donkey Kong amiibo
- Barrel of Laughs - Diddy Kong amiibo
- Anatomical Enigma - Toad amiibo
- My Princess - Princess Daisy amiibo
- Insensitive Lout - Waluigi amiibo
- Fanged Marshmallow - Boo amiibo
Pikmin Bloom[edit]
As a reward for linking a Nintendo Account account to Pikmin Bloom, the player receives the "Mario Hat" Special Decor Pikmin, which is a Blue Pikmin wearing a Mario Cap keychain as a hat. This Special Decor Pikmin was also available for a limited time from Special Spots at Nintendo New York and Nintendo Tokyo.
[edit]
Animal Crossing series[edit]
Both Super Mario and Pikmin have had several funiture and clothing items in the Animal Crossing series. In Animal Crossing: New Leaf, both series have funiture items in the Nintendo Set.
Nintendogs[edit]
The Secondhand Shop in Nintendogs features a Bulborb figure, as well as a ? Block. Several other Super Mario references are featured in the game.
Nintendo Land[edit]
Nintendo Land features Mario Chase, Yoshi's Fruit Cart, Luigi's Ghost Mansion, and Donkey Kong's Crash Course based on the Super Mario series, as well as Pikmin Adventure based on the Pikmin series. Beyond being in the same collection, Pikmin Adventure in particular also includes several Super Mario elements, such as ? Blocks and Coins as major intractable elements, and Super Mushrooms and Fortresses appear as decorative elements in some stages.
Nintendo Monopoly[edit]
The 2010 version of Nintendo Monopoly includes the S.S. Dolphin (referred to as "Pikmin Rocket") as a token. The third railroad in the same version is also an Onion.
Tetris 99[edit]
Tetris 99 has themed based on several Super Mario titles, as well as one based on Pikmin 4.
References[edit]
- ^ "In one area, you can actually go to Olimar and Louie's ship from Pikmin 2 and you can run around on it." – May 11, 2019. Super Mario Galaxy (working title) Gameplay Movie (3:00). Retrieved March 3rd, 2025 from Gamespot.
