Pikmin: Infection in Progress

Pikmin: Infection in Progress is a Pikmin game that takes place a year after the events of Pikmin 3. The game features the President as its main protagonist, who's first debut took place in Pikmin 2. The game features advanced technology that allows the game's creatures to interact with each other. Some of the interactions may be hostile, docile, or even involve two different species working together to defeat a threat. Pikmin: Infection in Progress contains a sense of realism not fully experienced in past Pikmin games, along with it taking place in an apocalyptic environment caused by the infection. Areas contain creatures, hazards, and obstacles that only add to the sense of realism the game possesses. Realistic, high-definition graphics and models only add to the realism further.

Plot
It was a slow and lonely night at Hocotate Freight. Captain Olimar was out on an expedition, and Louie had been fired because of his crimes. The President sat as his desk, counting his coin for hours with nothing else to do. He then made the sudden realization that he had stored a telescope deep in his office trunk for just an occasion. The President quickly jumped out of his seat and scrambled over to a large wooden chest in the corner of his office to retrieve his telescope. Slowly opening the creaky lid of the trunk, the President rummaged through his dusty belongings until he finally came upon the device. He carefully retrieved the telescope from the old chest and set it up swiftly. The sight of the telescope beckoned to him, calling him over to peer into it. The President reminisced having joined his employee Captain Olimar on the quest to find his co-worker Louie years before. He recalled seeing the extraordinary lifeforms present on the Distant Planet that he longed to visit in the near future. The President was greatly tempted to take a peek at PNF-404 to witness its current status. He lifted up the telescope to his eye, and what he saw made him gasp audibly. What had once been the colorful Planet of the Pikmin was now nothing short of a memory. The previously vibrant green surface of the planet is now pale and gloomy. Once vivid oceans are now dark and thick with pollution. Ultimately, a thick fog hovers over the dreary atmosphere. What once was the Pikmin Planet was no more, and had to be saved. The President quickly donned his protective space suit and darted out of the building in a desperate attempt to save the Distant Planet before it was too late to recover what beauty it had once possessed. He quickly boarded The Ship, and set course towards the decaying planet.

Can the President stop whatever is polluting the Pikmin Planet for good, or will the infection prove to be too much?

Controls
The Wii U Gamepad screen has a minimap identical to Pikmin 3's. Above table based off of the controls table for Pikmin V.

Modes
Story Mode: Venture forth as the President to banish the dreaded plague that ravages the Pikmin Planet.

Nightmare Mode: Plays through exactly as Story Mode does. However, enemies have stronger attacks and increased health. Pikmin are more likely to become infected as well, with a one in five chance of infection instead of a one in ten chance of infection.

Infection
Gameplay is somewhat different from past Pikmin games in that Pikmin can become infected, aside from the seven Red Pikmin found at Withering Terrace which are invulnerable to it. When a Pikmin is created, there is a 1/10th chance (1/5th chance in Nightmare Mode) that a Pikmin will become infected and hostile towards every being it encounters. They are told apart from normal Pikmin because of their dead leaf, chewed bud, or wilting flower atop the stems on their heads.

Wildlife Interaction
Another distinct difference from other Pikmin games is that creatures will interact with each other if they are close enough. For example, in Fungal Grotto, Mushroom Pikmin can sometimes be witnessed mounting and riding Adapted Blowhogs, although they cannot control their mounts. Infected Scientists are typically accompanied by a small group of Infected Pikmin that can be thrown and commanded by their leaders. Other creatures have either hostile or docile reactions to one another.

Pikmin Weight
Pikmin have weight mechanics when thrown onto an enemy that are not seen in any other Pikmin game, classified by three distinct weight levels: light, medium, and heavy, and affects combat dramatically. White Pikmin are classified as light weight. Red Pikmin, Blue Pikmin, and Yellow Pikmin are all classified as medium weight. Purple Pikmin are classified as heavy weight. Each Pikmin has a certain weight threshold that will pin an enemy down for a longer time, with Purple Pikmin having the highest possibility of completely immobilizing a creature.

Onion Merging
As seen in Pikmin 3, Onions fuse during the night when the President takes off in The Ship at the end of the day. Once two Onions are discovered total, they will fuse and act as a single Onion. Eventually, all five Onions in the game will fuse and act as an extremely compact Pikmin storage device.

Areas
Because of the infection, all exterior areas have become polluted, and the wildlife altered. All exterior areas have a dreary, cloudy atmosphere. Arctic areas like Noxious Expanse have thick fog that severely hinders vision. Caves like Fungal Grotto have multitudes of fungi growing within them because of the infection, although the water inside isn't as polluted as exterior pools, and would be safe to enter if they were not so chilly.

Overrun Laboratory
Although it once served as a secret research base for Hocotations, Koppaites, and Pikmin nestled deep within the depths of The Forest Navel, the infection still seeped in. The Overrun Laboratory can be accessed from deep within Fungal Grotto through a large busted blast door. Scientists and Pikmin that have fallen victim to the infection can be found outside of the Overrun Laboratory in small quantities, and many more can be found inside. Very few signs of life other than the zombified inhabitants can be found inside, although a secret boss can be fought and defeated. No Pikmin are discovered here.

Fungal Grotto
Fungal Grotto, previously known as The Forest Navel from Pikmin 1, also possessed trivial defense against the infection. Fungi, such as the Spotcap and Common Glowcap, have grown rampant throughout cavern due to the infection's unique properties. Mushroom Pikmin are only naturally encountered here as well. Yellow Pikmin are found here.

Noxious Expanse
Previously known as the Distant Tundra from Pikmin 3, the Noxious Expanse has also proven itself inferior against the infection. What used to be its freezing and clear waters are now polluted. Not only do the waters of the Noxious Expanse seem increasingly frigid, but the water is now murky and hazardous to all but the infected. Noxious Expanse is not entirely desolate, however; victims of the infection continue to wander the arctic wasteland, endlessly searching for their next victim. The most powerful Pikmin, Purple Pikmin, are found here.

Polluted Creek
Originally known as Twilight River from Pikmin 3, the Polluted Creek has fallen into incredible disrepair due to the infection. The clear river that once carried luscious green Lily Pads and had banks that thrived with life are now little more than a distant memory. The river is dark and still, the Lily Pads are rotten and deteriorating, and the plant life on the riverbank are as rotten as its altered inhabitants. Blue Pikmin are found here.

Toxic Barrens
Previously known as Tropical Wilds from Pikmin 3, Toxic Barrens has also grown submissive to the infection. What used to be its fresh and clear waters are now polluted and dreary. The once sunny atmosphere that accompanied this location is also absent; a heavy fog constantly lingers overhead. What used to be the exotic wildlife are now nothing more that mindless zombies patrolling the shores on the Barrens. White Pikmin are found here.

Withering Terrace
Once known as the Garden of Hope from Pikmin 3, Withering Terrace is the initial breeding ground for the cryptic Ujadani. Mutated beasts wander within the once fascinating foliage. Withering Terrace is the first area the President lands, and discovers a group of Red Pikmin that are both immune to the infection and terrified.

Trivia

 * Pikmin: Infection in Progress is one of the only fanon Pikmin games that portrays the beloved President as its heroic protagonist.
 * This is because Captain Olimar was sent out into an unrelated expedition, and Louie had been fired from Hocotate Freight because of the crimes he had committed during the events of both Pikmin 2 and Pikmin 3.
 * It is in this game that the President is shown to have enough of an interest in the Pikmin Planet to have a will to save it.
 * Pikmin: Infection in Progress is also one of the only fanon Pikmin games other than Pikmin: Attack of the Breadbugs in which the protagonist is able to help Pikmin carry objects, if possible.
 * Pikmin: Infection in Progress is the only fanon Pikmin game created by Cheepy-Cheepy to have actual illustrations, provided by Neocraftz1553.