Hocotate Freight
The interstellar freight company whose employees rely on Pikmin to salvage their missions.
Hocotate Freight is the employer of Captain Olimar, the main protagonist of the Pikmin series. The company is introduced in the original Pikmin (2001) when Olimar, an employee, becomes stranded on the planet PNF-404. In Pikmin 2, the company is revealed to have been placed in debt after Olimar's co-worker Louie lost a shipment of gold "Pikpik" brand carrots to a "ravenous space bunny". The President of Hocotate Freight also appears as a playable leader in Pikmin 2.
Quick Facts
- Key personnel
- Captain Olimar
- Louie
- The President
- First appearance
- Pikmin (2001)
Lore & Background
The Hocotate Freight Company is based on the planet Hocotate, home to Captain Olimar, his family, and his co-workers. Olimar flies a rocket ship known as the S.S. Dolphin, a reference to the GameCube's developmental code name. In Pikmin 2, Olimar and Louie work alongside The President to repay the company's debt. The company's operations frequently bring its employees to the Earth-like planet PNF-404, where they encounter and command Pikmin. In Pikmin 3, Olimar and Louie appear again, becoming integral to the plot, though they are not playable in the main story. In Pikmin 4, the main character is a customizable rookie member of the Rescue Corps, not Hocotate Freight, but Olimar and Louie both appear later in the story, with Louie taking a more antagonistic role.
Reader's Guide
Hocotate Freight is the company that employs Captain Olimar, Louie, and The President. Their primary mission is to retrieve items and treasure from the planet PNF-404 to repay debts or repair their ship. The company's employees rely on Pikmin to overcome obstacles, fight hazardous fauna, and collect items. In the original Pikmin (2001), Olimar must find parts for his ship. In Pikmin 2, the goal is to collect treasure to pay off the company's debt. The President of Hocotate Freight is a playable leader in Pikmin 2. In Pikmin 3, Olimar and Louie appear as non-playable characters whose logs provide advice. In Pikmin 4, Olimar is playable in the Olimar's Shipwreck Tale side story, while the main story focuses on the Rescue Corps.
Origins of Captain Olimar and Hocotate Freight
Captain Olimar is an employee of the Hocotate Freight Company, introduced in the original Pikmin (2001). He flies a rocket ship known as the S.S. Dolphin. He has a wife, son, and daughter. His Japanese name, Orimā, is a direct syllabic anagram of Mario. In Pikmin 2, his co-worker Louie is introduced, who placed the company in debt after losing a shipment of gold "Pikpik" brand carrots to a "ravenous space bunny". The President of Hocotate Freight also appears as a playable leader in Pikmin 2. In Pikmin 3, Olimar and Louie appear again, becoming integral to the plot, and are playable in Bingo Battle Mode and downloadable mission levels. In Pikmin 3 Deluxe, they are playable in the Olimar's Comeback side story. In Pikmin 4, Olimar is playable in the Olimar's Shipwreck Tale side story.
Evolution of Pikmin Varieties and Abilities
The first Pikmin game featured three colors: Red, Yellow, and Blue. Red Pikmin are immune to fire, Blue Pikmin can move through water thanks to their gills, and Yellow Pikmin can be thrown higher and can carry bomb rocks. In Pikmin 2, Yellow Pikmin lost their ability to carry bomb rocks in exchange for being immune to electrical hazards. White and Purple Pikmin were introduced: White Pikmin are the fastest, resistant to poison, and can spot buried objects; Purple Pikmin are stronger and heavier, with a stunning shockwave. Pikmin 3 introduced Rock Pikmin, which can break crystalline materials and cannot be crushed or impaled, and Winged Pikmin, which can fly. Pikmin 3 also adjusted abilities: Yellow Pikmin are tied with Rock Pikmin for fastest digging; Blue Pikmin can swim; White Pikmin have the lowest attack strength; Purple Pikmin have second highest attack strength. Pikmin 4 introduced Ice Pikmin, which can freeze enemies and water, and Glow Pikmin, which are immune to all elements and used in night expeditions. Pikmin 4 readjusted abilities: bomb rocks are now items; Rock Pikmin can be crushed; Purple Pikmin's shockwave stun returns.
Strategic Gameplay Mechanics and Time Management
The Pikmin games focus on exploring the planet PNF-404 and controlling a crowd of Pikmin. Game time is divided into individual days, each consisting of approximately 13 minutes. The player is encouraged to accomplish as much as possible before sunset, when monsters come out. Because individual Pikmin are small and weak against most predators, the player must direct them appropriately to ensure successful retrievals, avoid dangers, and tend to obstacles and predators. Pikmin are stored in their respective Onions for safety after sunset, as they are vulnerable to nocturnal predators. The Onions also play a vital role in reproduction: when food is delivered, the Onion propagates seeds, which grow and are plucked as fully developed Pikmin.
Franchise History and Platform Expansion
The Pikmin series features four main entries and two spin-offs. The first two, Pikmin (2001) and Pikmin 2 (2004), were released for the GameCube and later ported to the Wii as New Play Control! titles in 2008 and 2009. Pikmin 2 was re-released in the Nintendo Selects series in 2012. Both titles were remastered for the Nintendo Switch in 2023 as Pikmin 1+2. Pikmin 3 was released for the Wii U in 2013, with an enhanced port for the Switch, Pikmin 3 Deluxe, released in 2020. The first handheld game, Hey! Pikmin, was released for the Nintendo 3DS in 2017. Pikmin 4 was released for the Nintendo Switch in 2023. The mobile spin-off Pikmin Bloom was released for iOS and Android in 2021. Pikmin Finder, an augmented reality browser-based mobile game, was released in 2023.
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Elsewhere in Pikmin
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