I’ll start off by saying that I wasn’t a big fan of the first Pikmin title. Yes it was innovative and fun, though the fun didn’t last very long. The game had a 30-day limit in order to complete the game, which gave me a rush to beat it, which I didn’t like. I wanted to take my time on the game, though there wasn’t really a chance to do so. I was hoping that the next Pikmin title would be without a limit, and I could roam the Pikmin planet without any worries. It so happens that Pikmin 2 delivers what I desired. Captain Olimar returns from the Pikmin planet and arrives on this home planet. Once he arrives, he finds out that his employer, Hocotate Freight, has been driven into bankruptcy and is in debt of 10,000 pokos. Olimar now must return to the Pikmin planet and collect 10,000 pokos worth of treasure. He is also accompanied by his assistant, Louie. There are many new features about Pikmin 2, and one of my favorites is that there is NO 30-day limit! You may now take your precious time collecting Pikmin and not worrying about what day it is. Though, the day still goes by, so you must do whatever you can before sunset. Another new feature is Louie assisting you in your journey. You are able to switch between Louie and Olimar and do separate tasks within the day. It is very useful in some occasions. There are new modes featured in Pikmin 2, which include multiplayer action. At first I was kind of surprised a Pikmin title would feature a multiplayer addition, though after playing it with my little brother, it can be tons of fun! The multiplayer is a split-screen battle with your friend that includes a set of rules. You and your Pikmin can either collect four marbles OR steal your opponent’s marble to win the game. There are enemies included in the levels just incase you want to fill up on your Pikmin. One of the fun parts of playing multiplayer is seeing your Pikmin go against your enemy’s Pikmin. Another feature included in Pikmin 2 is Challenge Mode, which is where you are on a time limit and must collect as many items and key to continue to the next floor. I must say it IS challenging! One of the most popular features of Pikmin 2 is the introduction of two new Pikmin. There is the all new purple Pikmin, which are 10 xs stronger than the regular ones. They are very useful in picking up items and boss battles, though they are very slow when it comes to commanding them. Another new Pikmin type is the white Pikmin, which are immune to poison. They aren’t very useful, as they are very weak as well. Though, they are the only ones to get rid of the poison, so make use of them! The graphics in Pikmin 2 are pretty much similar to the first Pikmin game. It isn’t quite perfect, though it’s very decent. The water effects are very well done, and so is the environment. Some of the creatures look somewhat goofy, though it’s the creation of Miyamoto, so what can we expect! The sound in the game is a bit more serious than the first one. The tunes are a bit more relaxing also. The one thing that hasn’t changed is that the Pikmin start chanting and singing, which is cute. I don’t know exactly what language Olimar and the others speak, but it surely is weird. Overall, Pikmin 2 is an excellent game that deserves more credit. Many people look at it and right away recognize it as a “kiddy game.” Despite how the Pikmin look, this game is loads of fun! I would recommend it for people who were fans of the first, and even the ones who hated the first! This game has all the elements of the first and adds more spice to it, which makes it such a wonderful experience. It may be more difficult than the first, but it surely is worth going through. Pikmin fan or not, get this game!
The original Pikmin game was released in 2001 around the Gamecube launch. It was another masterpiece in sense from the maker of Zelda and Mario. However the series had a lot of potential and the series could be improve... Read Full Review
Pikmin 2 is an exciting, quirky game for the GameCube. Some describe it as a real-time strategy game, but it doesn't really fit the description of any genre. It leans toward action/adventure/strategy, but it's hard to sa... Read Full Review
