S.S. Dolphin Crew

Lore & Background

The S.S. Dolphin Crew operates under the Hocotate Freight Company. Captain Olimar is the most notable leader, introduced in the original Pikmin. In Pikmin 2, Louie and The President (Olimar's boss) are also playable leaders. The crew relies on Pikmin—intelligent, loyal, multicolored, plant-animal hybrids—to perform tasks such as retrieving items, overcoming obstacles, and fighting hazardous fauna. Game time is divided into individual days of approximately 13 minutes, with the player encouraged to accomplish as much as possible before sunset, when monsters come out. Pikmin are stored in their respective motherships called "Onions" for safety after sunset, as they are vulnerable to nocturnal predators. Onions also play a vital role in Pikmin reproduction: when food like prey or pellets is delivered, the Onion propagates seeds that grow into fully developed Pikmin.

In Their Own Story

The airlock hissed open, releasing the scent of damp earth and sweet nectar that clung to the alien atmosphere. Olimar adjusted his visor, checking the oxygen levels while Louie fumbled with the cargo manifest nearby. Below them, a sea of colorful bulbs swayed in the breeze, hiding dangers beneath vibrant petals. They had one more day to find enough fruit before the ship's fuel ran dry, and the silence of the forest was heavy with unspoken risks.

Reader's Guide

The S.S. Dolphin Crew operates under the banner of Hocotate Freight, a corporation dedicated to interplanetary exploration and resource acquisition. Their primary leadership falls to Captain Olimar, whose strategic decisions dictate the survival and success of every mission. While Olimar commands the operation from the ground, he is rarely alone during expeditions. Louie serves as the steadfast second-in-command, often managing logistics or providing comic relief amidst high-stakes danger. In later entries, additional explorers join the fray, but the core dynamic remains rooted in this partnership. Their goals shift between repaying corporate debts and discovering edible resources to sustain their journey home. Relationships with the native Pikmin are symbiotic rather than hierarchical; the crew protects the plants while commanding them for labor. This bond defines the faction's unique position as temporary inhabitants who rely on cooperation rather than conquest. Ultimately, they represent humanity's small but persistent reach into the unknown cosmos.

Did You Know?

• The S.S. Dolphin's name is a reference to the GameCube's developmental code name.
• Captain Olimar's Japanese name, Orimā, is a direct syllabic anagram of Mario, another iconic character created by Shigeru Miyamoto.
• Olimar has a wife, son and daughter, as mentioned in the source.
• Louie placed the Hocotate Freight Company in debt after losing a shipment of gold 'Pikpik' brand carrots to a 'ravenous space bunny'.
• The S.S. Dolphin Crew's missions take place on an Earth-like planet named PNF-404.