User:DrTapeworm/Pikmin 1 Beta Investigation

There are two known prototypes of Pikmin, both of which are known from trailers and ingame footage. The earliest prototype is shown in the first trailer, and we will refer to that one as the 2001 Trailer version. It is very different from the final. The second is more complete than 2001T, but it contains a few interesting tidbits as well. It will be known as the Enemy reel version as footage for it was used for the enemy showcase at the end of Pikmin.

2001 Trailer Version
The trailer begins with the title card appearing over four small videos of gameplay. The top right shows Pikmin carrying strawberries into the onions. These strawberries were reused for Pikmin 2 as treasures. The bottom right shows that destroyable barriers were added early on in the game.

The screen changes to footage of Olimar plucking a blue Pikmin. The HUD is different, and it is day 1 even though Olimar is in a sandy area similar to the Forest Navel.

MEET THE PIKMIN
Olimar is running around with the same blue Pikmin, around some Pellet Posies. We then see him with various groups of Pikmin, in different areas.

CRISIS OF THE PIKMIN
Olimar and the Pikmin are being chased by a Red Bulborb in an area resembling the Forest Navel. This area is a test level, most likely reused and edited as the Impact Site, judging by the tree trunk in the back behind the bulborb. (It is the one in the Impact Site with the geyser and the big pellets.) Cut to a wollywog attacking some Pikmin in a very early build of the Distant Spring. The Pikmin make different noises. Cut back to the bulborb, it's making different noises. Cut to a strange white Snagret, a fiery Blowhog and several Dwarf Bulborbs. The Dwarf Bulborb's idle animation is different, they seem to look straight instead of down. Apparently, they changed the animation much later in development as it is seen in the Enemy reel version as well.

ORGANIZE THE PIKMIN
We're back at the Forest Navel area again, and we see the Pikmin cutting down Pellet Posies, which die in a spectacular show of fireworks unlike the final. The Pikmin make scared sounds when thrown, instead of the "Wa-hoo" from the final. More beta strawberries! One thing of notice is when the Pikmin bring back the massive pellet. There's 110 Pikmin on the field, breaking the limit! The 100 pikmin limit must of been added later on. The rest is just Pikmin being called and organized.

GLORY OF THE PIKMIN
The Pikmin attack a Bulborb, killing it and bringing it back to the Onion. They then defeat a Wollywog. Slow motion footage of a wollywog death is shown. Here's where it gets interesting. When the wollywog hits the ground, three Pikmin ghosts rise from underneath it, which means the crushing glitch was an intended feature that was (sloppily) taken out from the final. Olimar's light is different, in some spots he's walking around with no health. The Pikmin walk around, into a sandy arena. The expected Beady Long Legs appears when they walk into a different arena.

Enemy Reel Version
This one is more complete, with areas straight from the final, but there are many differences. The first thing is that the HUD is different, closer to the final but still different.

The bridges are noticeably an ugly bright neon seafoam green. Changed for good reasons! There's normal Bulborbs in the Distant Spring, which looks a bit different as well! The bulbears were most likely later additions to the game. What's a Puffstool doing in the Forest of Hope? I don't remember a bridge there, either. I guess they made it harder by removing the bridge and forcing you to get blue Pikmin for it. Right before the Beady Long Legs appears, some Pikmin attack a bomb gate and bring it down. That's a strong Puffy Blowhog, they're already strong in the final but this is absurd! An early screenshot shows the Armored Cannon Beetle in the Forest Navel, with ugly low-poly mushrooms on the walls. The Snagret is blue instead of white, like the final. The Mamuta and Goolix appear in areas they're not supposed to. The Dwarf Bulborbs still have the animations from the 2001 Trailer version.