Pikmin 3 first Wii U title announced at Nintendo's E3 press conference

Pikmin 3 was the first Wii U title announced at Nintendo’s E3 press conference this morning. Shigeru Miyamoto took the stage to explain how this new Pikmin is “a deeper game in a time when gamers are said to moving toward lighter games.”

Calling it a strategic management game, he explained that the player would now control up to four leaders and new types of Pikmin, such as Rock Pikmin. He also added that Olimar, the leader from the past two games, would not be among these four, and the reason for this “is a secret.”

Miyamoto explained that while the Wii Remote and Nunchuck would be compatible with Pikmin 3, the Wii U Gamepad would be the optimal method of control, allowing for greater strategic deployment of the four leaders and their Pikmin. Players will also be able to aim their Pikmin’s attacks, guiding them toward enemy weak points.

The Nintendo legend ended by mentioning a Challenge Mode that will be playable on the E3 show floor. Challenge mode has players commanding Pikmin to collect as much fruit as possible in a limited amount of time, with the option to watch a replay afterwards.

With challenge mode, multiple leaders, and the special features enabled by the Wii U Gamepad, Pikmin 3 is looking like a challenging gaming experience with real strategic depth. Check back for more on this story and all the big reveals from Nintendo's E3 press conference as this story develops.