Title screen

In Pikmin games, the title screen is the hub for most other menus, so it doubles as the main menu. From it, the player can continue to the main story mode, play an alternative game mode, or open various other menus. This menu is presented upon booting up the game, but after some other minor screens. If the player does not press anything on the menu, they will be taken to the attraction mode cutscenes in the first two games or the opening cutscene in Pikmin 3.

Pikmin[edit]

Title screen
Provides access to	Saved game selection menu, Options menu, Challenge Mode menu
Music	Main Theme

In Pikmin, the screen fades in to some tree's leaves passing by the camera. As the camera goes down, it eventually stops near the ground, where the flowers of some Pikmin can be seen, spelling out the game's name. The words "PRESS START" ("PRESS " in New Play Control! Pikmin, "PRESS " in Pikmin 1 (Nintendo Switch)) then appear below that, and, in the bottom, the copyright information.

After pressing the requested button (although also works in the GameCube version), a menu with three options appears: "Start", "Options", and "Challenge Mode", with the last one only being there if Challenge Mode has been unlocked. The first option takes the player to the saved game selection menu, the second one to the options menu, and the third one to the Challenge Mode menu.

Pikmin 2[edit]

Title screen
Provides access to	Saved game selection menu, 2-Player Battle menu, Challenge Mode menu, Options menu, High scores menu, Bonuses menu
Music	Title screen

In Pikmin 2, the screen fades in to show the camera moving down a tree's trunk, with some enemies roaming around it. When it gets to ground level, it stops, showing some white-flowered Pikmin spelling out "PIKMIN" with their leaves, and to the right, some pink-flowered Pikmin spelling out "2". At this point, "PRESS START" ("PRESS " in New Play Control! Pikmin 2, "PRESS " in Pikmin 2 (Nintendo Switch) ) appears below the Pikmin, and in the bottom of the screen, the copyright information.

After pressing the button (although can also be pressed in the GameCube version), a menu with the following options appears:

• BEGIN: Starts the game, by taking the player to the saved game selection menu.
• 2-P BATTLE: Enters the 2-Player Battle menu.
• CHALLENGE MODE: Enters the Challenge Mode menu, but only after it is unlocked in the main game mode.
• OPTIONS: Enters the options menu.
• HIGH SCORES: Enters the high scores menu.
• BONUSES: Enters the bonuses menu.

This menu comes in four seasons, picked at random each time:

• Spring: The tree is a cherry blossom tree. There are no creatures on it, and the ground is filled with foliage.
• Summer: The tree's branches have several leaves, and the trunk has Dweevils and Ravenous Whiskerpillars roaming around. The Dweevils incorrectly use the same texture as the Ravenous Whiskerpillar. The ground has a varied assortment of flowers and plants.
• Autumn: The tree's leaves are all orange and red, and the tree itself has no creatures wandering about. The ground has several fallen leaves and a few plants.
• Winter: The tree has no leaves, but has Cloaking Burrow-nits walking through it and Swooping Snitchbugs flying by. The ground is mostly covered in snow, and has a few plants, also covered in snow.

There are a few Easter eggs in this screen, activated by pressing some buttons. The Pikmin also behave according to a group of algorithms called Boids, which simulate how birds flock together in real life.^[1]

Pikmin 3[edit]

Title screen
Provides access to	Day selection menu, Mission Mode menu, Bingo Battle menu
Music	Title screen

In Pikmin 3, the screen fades in to show a detailed portion of PNF-404, on a forest-like location. The lighting is randomly selected to be either day lighting or evening lighting. A tree trunk can be seen in the distance, and a river takes most of the attention of the scene. Occasionally, Pikmin of varying types are seen moving about in the distance. The game's logo gradually fades in, and the message "PRESS  / " appears. After any of those buttons are pressed or the touchscreen is tapped, the three menu bubbles appear. On the bottom left, there is a small copyright message, and on the bottom right, the version number. The menu has 2 lighting options: day and evening.

The "Story" button leads to the day selection menu, the "Mission" button to the Mission Mode menu, and the "Bingo Battle" button to the Bingo Battle menu. The "Mission" button will have an eShop icon coming out of it if there is downloadable content available, regardless of it being purchased already or not.

Animation comparing the title screen and the Awakening Wood.

Interestingly, the terrain shown on this menu bears a striking resemblance to the Awakening Wood's western corridor. The trunk stump and the surrounding area closer to the screen matches with the small open space where the Geographic Projection can be found. The river path further beyond matches all the way with the path south of the treasure in the Awakening Wood. Finally, at the end of the path, there is a curved tree. This is almost exactly the same tree with the Snagret Hole. This can be best seen using a model editor for both pieces of terrain, since the water and perspective don't allow one to see the connection very clearly.

Pikmin 3 Deluxe[edit]

The menu is noticeably changed in Pikmin 3 Deluxe. The logo is expanded to contain the word "Deluxe", and and must first be pressed to advance to the main page of the menu.

The copyright date was changed from "© 2013 Nintendo" to "© 2013-2020 Nintendo". A new "recommended" icon appears over story mode when starting up the game from a new save. The main page of the menu, now more spread out, contains all 3 buttons from the Wii U version: "Story", "Mission", and "Bingo Battle", arranged in 2 rows with the Story button being on its own row. The "Side Stories" game mode has been added in between the "Mission" mode and "Bingo Battle". As all DLC is included within the base game, the hovering eShop icon over the Mission icon was removed. Below the buttons is a grey box containing a description of the current mode. It is also now possible to open the pause menu from this menu with the button, unlike the Wii U version.

In addition, various speech-bubble icons can appear on the top left of buttons. The "Recommended" icon recommends that mode, while the lock icon indicates that that mode cannot be played yet. The position of these icons changes depending on where the player is in Story Mode and the Side Stories.

• Upon first playing the game, there is a "Recommended" icon above the Story button and a lock icon above the Side Stories button.
• After beating the second boss in Story Mode, the "Recommended" icon will move to the Side Stories button and the lock icon will disappear.
• If Olimar's Assignment is completed before Story Mode, the "Recommended" icon will move back to the Story button.
• After Story Mode is completed, the "Recommended" icon will move to the Side Stories button.
• After both Side Stories are completed, the "Recommended" icon will disappear.

In the demo, an extra button appears to the right of the Story button, labeled "Nintendo eShop". This one is bright orange at all times and has a shopping bag icon beside it. It redirects to the Pikmin 3 Deluxe listing on the eShop.

To note also is that if the player hasn't started Story Mode yet, trying to enter Bingo Battle will show a warning recommending Story Mode for newcomers instead, and for the player to confirm if they want to continue onto Bingo Battle.

• 

  The menu as it initially appears.

• 

  The menu in the demo.

• 

  The pop-up that appears to newcomers trying to enter Bingo Battle.

Pikmin 4[edit]

Title screen
Provides access to	Story Mode, Dandori Battle, Gallery (after Louie has been rescued)
Music	Title screen

The alternative title screen.

The main menu for Pikmin 4 is very basic, only showing clips of the Sun-Speckled Terrace from promotional footages. After completing the Rescue Olimar mission, there is a random chance of the title screen zooming out of an in-universe TV, revealing a group of Pikmin and a sleeping Oatchi on a table in a house-like environment. Surrounding them is a tipped-over paper bag overfilled with Face Wrinklers, a white plant pot, a stack of books, and various cookies on a plate, where a few Pikmin picks it up. A Bulborb eventually comes and attacks the group, waking up Oatchi and ran away with the Pikmin. After a few seconds, the Pikmin returned to the table and Oatchi goes back to sleep. If the title screen zooms out this way, the screen on said TV never progresses beyond the initial clip of a White Spectralids sitting on a flower.

There are three options that can be chosen:

• Story: This take the player to the saved game selection menu.
• Dandori Battle: This enters the Dandori Battle.
• Gallery: Takes the player to the Gallery, which is unlocked after rescuing Louie on any save file.

Hey! Pikmin[edit]

Title screen
Provides access to	Saved game selection menu
Music	Title screen

The main menu in Hey! Pikmin is very basic. The top screen shows the game's logo on top of an animated background, with a copyright notice on the bottom. The bottom screen says "Use the stylus and tap!" (US English) or "Touch to begin!" (EU English) in yellow text on a blue gradient background with sparkle effects, and the text "Press to return to the HOME Menu." in a dark blue rounded box below. Tapping anywhere on the bottom screen will open the saved game selection menu, and doing nothing will play the introduction cutscene after 20 seconds.

Trivia[edit]

• The Pikmin 2 main menu uses far more than 100 Pikmin at a time. The numbers are as follows:^[2]
  • "PIKMIN 2": 92 Red Pikmin make up the "P" and "N". 60 Yellow Pikmin make up the "K" and second "I". 84 Blue Pikmin make up the first "I" and "M". 18 Purple Pikmin and 19 White Pikmin make up the "2". Total of 273 Pikmin.
  • "Nintendo": 94 Red Pikmin make up the "N", "t", and "d". 54 Yellow Pikmin make up the two "n". 74 Blue Pikmin make up the "i", "e", and "o". Total of 222 Pikmin.
  • "ピクミン2^?": 68 Red Pikmin make up the "ピ" and "ン". 42 Yellow Pikmin make up the "ミ". 32 Blue Pikmin make up the "ク". 18 Purple Pikmin and 19 White Pikmin make up the "2". Total of 179 Pikmin.

References[edit]