Lock-on
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Lock-on (or "lock on",ロックオン?, lit.: "Lock On", (sometimes called "Auto Target Lock"[1][2] inPikmin 4) is a combat and exploration mechanic inPikmin 3 andPikmin 4. This feature makes the action focus on a certainenemy,obstacle or other object. This allows players to maneuver around it and not lose its sight, making attacking easier. In the Wii U release ofPikmin 3, locking-on also allows the player to obtain the target's name and to order the Pikmin army tocharge.
Lock-on is achieved by getting thecursor near enough to an object that can be locked on to, and pressing the corresponding button when the game indicates that locking on is possible. Unlike other Nintendo games that have lock-on functionality (e.g.Metroid Prime), the player does not need to hold the button in order to keep it. Moving far enough away from the target will also cancel the lock-on automatically.
This mechanic works differently inPikmin 3 andPikmin 3 Deluxe.
Pikmin 3[edit]
To lock-on, the player must be close enough to an object, and must move thecursor to it. At that point, the cursor will change, and the player must then hold
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/
for roughly half a second so that the scan's lock takes place. Once locked-on, briefly tapping the same button again cancels the lock-on.
Once locked-on, thecamera zooms in and focuses on the object, and rotates to follow it around. While locked on, manual camera controls are disabled.Dodging will make the leader and Pikmin roll around the object, as opposed to rolling in a straight line left or right. With the GamePad or Wii U Pro Controller, holding the lock-on button will place the cursor on top of the target that started the lock-on, and keeping it held will keep the cursor there.
Visuals[edit]
When the cursor is on top of something that can be locked, it changes from being a simple circle with a dot projected on the terrain, to a circle with three triangles pointing inward, facing the screen. Once the player begins holding down the lock button, the cursor also changes aspect to indicate how much more the player needs to hold the button down for so that the lock takes place. This isn't very useful, since locking on takes a fraction of a second.
While scanning, the left and right portions of the screen darken, two curved lines appear near the darkened areas, and some textual information is shown on some corners of the screen. The bottom-right corner of theHUD shows the object's name surrounded by some text in theinterstellar alphabet that translates to "Space library lite" "Simple dictionary in the PIPAD" "Just has the names". The top-left corner displays an icon of the same button used to trigger lock-on, but with the string "Cancel Lock-On" afterwards: this indicates that the button can be pressed again to cancel. The bottom-right corner shows that issuing adismiss in this state (
/
/) makes the Pikmin partycharge at it. With Stylus mode, the dismiss button on-screen also changes caption to read "Charge".
Pikmin 3 Deluxe[edit]
To lock-on, the player must move thecursor close enough to an object, which will cause an indicator to appear above said object. The player can then press
to lock on there. Unlike the original game, the lock-on is instant.
Once locked-on, the movement controls and the camera will remain the exact same, but thecursor will be stuck on the object. That said, if gyro controls are enabled, the cursor can be moved a small distance around the locked object. If there is another object that can be locked-on to in the vicinity, the indicator will appear above it, and pressing the lock-on button again will change the focus to that one instead. This can be repeated for as long as there are objects to lock-on to, and once the player runs out, the lock-on mode ends. Lock-on can also be stopped prematurely by pressing thewhistle button.
When locked-on, thecharge mechanic works almost the same as normal, but the Pikmin will ignore any other nearby objects and focus on the locked-on one instead, andWinged Pikmin andBlue Pikmin will be able to fly or swim up to where it is. While locked-on, holding down thethrow button will make the leader hold the Pikmin or leader for a second, before throwing Pikmin in rapid succession automatically, until the button is released. Any item that can be carried will also display itsweight and current carrier count when the player locks-on to it.
Visuals[edit]
The indicator that shows that an object can be locked-on to is a light blue triangle above the object, pointing down at it. If the cursor is locked-on, it changes from its usual look to a reticle with four triangles pointing inward. If the leader moves far enough away that it's impossible to throw, but not so far that the lock-on mode is cancelled, the reticle becomes bigger, the triangles turn to lines, and the whole cursor turns blue.
Certain objects will also show a prompt above them saying "Lock On", along with the required button, when the indicator shows up.
Pikmin 4[edit]
InPikmin 4, the lock-on system used is very similar toPikmin 3 Deluxe, though the cursor now automatically locks-on to objects within throwing distance. In cases of there being multiple objects that can be locked-on to, the object closest to thecursor will be chosen. Objects being carried by Pikmin will not be locked-on to. Pressing will lock the cursor to the currently locked-on object. Like inPikmin 3 Deluxe, pressing while locked-on will cycle through nearby targets.
Lockable targets[edit]
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To do: verify if and when Olimar/Louie are identified as Hocotatians, "???", or their actual names. |
Only some objects in the game can be locked-on to. Some targets allow the cursor to lock-on to a specific location, like aBulborb's eyes or back, or a section on theArmored Mawdad.
Although hard, it is possible to lock-on to some objects that are normally too far away to allow a lock-on. This can be done with theStellar Extrusion on theTropical Wilds: by positioning the camera such that the fruit appears on one of the top corners, it is possible to put the cursor there, and lock-on. However, shortly after the lock takes place, it will be canceled automatically given the large distance.
The following is a list of objects that can be locked-on to:
All enemies
All fruits
All gear:- Plants and fungi:
- Obstacles:
- Other:
- Olimar (only when unconscious in story mode)
- Louie (only when unconscious in story mode andMission Mode and is identified asHocotatian)
Egg
Nectar
Ultra-Spicy Nectar
Phosbat Pod
Mireclops crystal
Elemental plasm- 1 pellet
- 5 pellet
- 10 pellet
Lucky Marble- Victory Macaroon
Nuggets- Floor screws (only exist inPikmin 3 Deluxe)
Notes:
- The following objects display "???" in story mode, before they are identified by the crew:
- All fruits
- All gear
- Objects that Pikmin return to to get more of, usually in piles, can only be locked-onto in their original resting places. When they are, it focuses on the entire pile and is labeled in plural, even if only one object remains. This applies to:
Dusk Pustules
Dawn Pustules
Fragments
Hay- Nuggets
- TheVehemoth Phosbat can not be locked-onto while it is invisible, even though the player can still point at its faint silhouette.
- Locking-onto aScornet in theScornet Maestro battle will instead lock-onto the actual boss. Similarly, locking-onto an independent group of Scornets will instead focus on the center of the swarm. It will also display "Scornets", in plural.
- Although the legs, feet, bottom, and head of theQuaggled Mireclops can be locked-on, its grassy top cannot. When it is dead, only its head can be locked-onto.
History[edit]
In aprerelease version ofPikmin 3 the lock-on screen appeared much more different and simpler.
Prior toversion 2.0.0 ofPikmin 3, the pieces of text on the left corners of the screen didn't exist. They were added with the update, in order to make it easier for players to know how to cancel the lock-on and how to charge.
Older appearance images[edit]
- Prerelease
ThePyroclasmic Slooch locked-on.
TheSkitter Leaf locked-on.
TheSkutterchuck locked-on.
Acrystal wall locked-on.
- 1.0.0
TheShaggy Long Legs locked-on.
Aseesaw block locked-on.
Gallery[edit]
TheWhiptongue Bulborb locked-on inTropical Wilds.
TheSkeeterskate locked-on inDistant Tundra.
TheArctic Cannon Larva locked-on in Distant Tundra.
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
 Japanese | ロックオン? Rokkuon | Lock-on |
 Chinese(traditional) | 鎖定 | |
 Chinese(simplified) | 锁定 | |
 French | Verrouiller un cible | Lock a target |
 German | Kamera fokussieren | Focus Camera |
 Italian | Agganciare | Grasp |
 Korean | 조준 jojun | Aim |
 Spanish | Fijar objetivo | Fix objective |
| Controls |
|---|
| Charge •Dismiss •Dodge •Jetpack •Lie down •Lock-on •Pluck •Punch •Spray •Swarm •Throw •Whistle |
- ^“When the Auto Target Lock cursor finds the target you want, press to manually lock onto that target. Press again to unlock or switch targets.” – Rose Shepherd, 29th Captain in theRescue Journal
- ^“Use
to move the cursor to the desired Auto Target Lock target.” – The Auto Target Lock option in theControl Guide