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Pikmin 2 trumps the original in every conceivable way

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 169 / 172
Date: August 08, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Pikmin 2 is the sequel to the mildly popular Pikmin. While Pikmin's core gameplay was really solid, I didn't find there to be much of a compelling reason to collect the various items, and finish the game. Moreover, the time limit meant that once my 30 days ran out, I did not feel like going back and playing through the game again just to try and beat it. That said, Pikmin 2 has none of these flaws, it is a true AAA title, and a game that any gamer should own.

The Pikmin

The key difference in the Gameplay this time around is the inclusion of two all new Pikmin. While the red, blue, and yellow Pikmin are featured again in this game, the stars of the show are really the all new purple and white Pikmin. Each of your Pikmin has a different elemental attribute (save the purple ones, they rock without it): red is fire, blue is water, yellow is electricity, and white is poison. Each of these Pikmin is immune to their respective element whereas others are weak against it. This opens up many new possibilities for puzzle solving, as you often find a wall that is imbued with a certain element, and you don't have the color required to break it down. Beyond that each has their own "special ability": red is stronger in battle, blue can walk through water, yellow can reach high places, and white poison enemies after being eaten as well as having the ability to detect hidden treasure. While these various abilities are all quite useful in solving different puzzles and opening up new areas, the star of the show is really the purple Pikmin. These guys are huge. Each one counts for ten Pikmin when carrying items, and can easily handle any monster in battle. If you throw a purple Pikmin directly on top of a small enemy it will kill it instantly. These guys are your new heavy offensive units.

The twist to this situation is that you cannot spawn white and purple Pikmin in the same way you create the rest of them. You can only create these new colors of Pikmin by throwing differently colored Pikmin into purple or white flowers thus transforming them. Each flower can only transform five Pikmin before it withers up. This means that preservation of these units is much more important, as you cannot merely go around and find flowers and gather more of your helpful purples and whites. You are always limited in the number that you have, and much constantly be on the lookout, lest you lose your precious purple guys. Of course, making matters even more difficult is the fact that these transformation flowers can only be found in another new addition to the game, the caves.

Caves

The caves are another delightful new addition to the Pikmin series. Caves are multi-tiered levels in which you must delve deeper and deeper finding items and fighting off enemies in order to reach the bottom. The great thing about the caves is that the time meter stops while you are in one, so you can really take your time without having to worry about getting your Pikmin back to the ship before nightfall. Also, you can save between each level in a cave making it easier to retry your mistakes if you happen to lose 20 Pikmin because you just weren't watching your back. Caves are the only places where you can change your Pikmin into white and purple, so every time you find one is like a godsend. However, you must be careful not to bring too few of the other colors with you, lest you reach a point where you have no yellows left, and you can't get past the electric traps blocking your way (or some such similar situation).

Of course the best part of the caves is the new addition of the bosses. These are huge unique enemies that can single handedly rip through your Pikmin armies if you aren't careful. Strategy is really required in dealing with these guys, as I have found myself losing 50+ Pikmin in boss battles. The coolest thing about the bosses though, is that once you beat them you will get upgrades. These upgrades take the form of such things as an item detector and a fireproof suit. All in all, the caves are a welcome addition to the game. They help to liven things up a bit, and break you out of the routine of searching the overworld for various items.

Enemies

The enemy variety in this game is truly impressive. There are so many new enemies, and each of one them is exquisitely modeled. Some of these enemies will tower as high as more than a hundred Pikmin, and are extremely threatening. Some can be easily killed by 1 or 2 Pikmin, whereas others will take all of your might to defeat, making there a broad range of wild creatures which you encounter. Enemies include such terrifying things as monsters that burrow under the ground with only their eyes (which happen to look like flowers) peering out, and which will pop up and loom over your Pikmin eating countless numbers if you are caught off guard.

The aforementioned bosses are truly a sight to behold. From a giant worm which kills your Pikmin by rolling over them, to a huge mechanical spider which stomps your troops to death, there is a lot to be afraid of. These bosses are capable of taking out up to twenty Pikmin in one blow, so you must constantly be watching out.

In addition to this, is the pleasant inclusion of a sort of terrarium in between levels in which you can examine any of the various enemies which you have already vanquished. You can view them in their natural habitat and throw PikuPiku carrots at them to see their attack patterns. This a nice little inclusion, and the lens blurring while using the terrarium helps it really feel like you are hiding in the bushes watching these enemies.

Items

The items in this game are really far cooler than the ship parts in the previous one. Each item is superbly modeled and looks surprisingly similar to its real world counterpart. I hope Nintendo was getting money from advertisers for this game, as there is an intense amount of product placement present. Items are so varied, that it is always neat to see what you will dig up next. Oftentimes they are as mundane as a bottle cap (7-up and Dr. Pepper caps are both included), but sometimes they are as cool as a gorilla skull or a jar of Kiwi shoe polish!

Of course, much like the enemies, in between levels, you can view the items you have collected which really allows to see just how well modeled they are. The lighting in this item viewer is really nice, and adds a softness to the picture, making it feel more realistic.

Co-op Mode

Co-op mode is a welcome addition to the game. It adds a whole lot of replay value, and really helps to make the game even more fun than it would be otherwise. Co-op mode consists of a bunch of challenge levels which can be played with one or two players (although I fail to see why you would ever do these one player). These challenges are constructed much like the caves in single player mode. Each challenge consists of multiple levels where you try and collect as many items as you can, and you must find a key to get to the next level of the challenge. There is a time limit however, so get used to failing on some of the harder levels.

This mode is a whole lot of fun, and, seeing as there are 30 levels, lasts for at least 8 hours, possibly more if you are going to try to go for perfects on every level. I for one am glad Nintendo decided to fill this game with as many options as they could. It really shows that they put time into this game.

Gameplay

Ok, this is where the game really shines. Much of the core gameplay remains constant from the first iteration in the series. However, there are so many new additions to the formula that it really does feel like a whole new game. This game is much more relaxed than the first one because of the abandonment of the 30 day time limit. It is really easier to let yourself go and just get immersed in the game and the challenges you face. New powers like the red and purple juices allow you to boost your Pikmin's speed and attack and also petrify enemies for short periods of time. This adds another element of strategy, as you must identify the key situation in which to use your difficultly won juices for their optimal effect.

The varying attributes of the Pikmin are a great change from the first game. Much more planning is needed in figuring out how to access different areas and collect various items. Beyond that the purple and white Pikmin are just really cool. They look awesome, and are remarkably useful in many different situations. This doesn't mean that you neglect your other Pikmin, they are necessary for accomplishing your goals. But perhaps you might love the purple and white ones just a little more.

The new boss battles are really fun; and it is great to get rewarded for defeating them by not just getting money, but actually upgrading your character in some way.

Graphics

Graphically this game looks great. There is just so much going on at once, with each Pikmin appearing to act independently of his companions. Sure there are some muddy textures here and there, but the items are superbly modeled, and the creatures so well animated, that this is something that is easy to overlook.

The coolest part of this game graphically is just watching your hordes of Pikmin move around from various angles. They just look so cool when walking around; it is something that can only be adequately described by playing the game. Each Pikmin seems to have a mind of his own. Some appear to be stupider than others and will constantly fall behind and wander off on their own, causing you to curse them (and sometimes feed them to a wandering creature). It is touches like this though, that add character to the game, and make you love your Pikmin army even more.

My Verdict

BUY THIS GAME! This is one of the most truly enjoyable gaming experiences I have had in a long time. There is just so much to do in this game. It is miles above its predecessor, so anyone who even vaguely enjoyed that game will love this one. This is a game that has not received much hype lately because the flash factor is not as high as something like RE4 or the new Zelda, but that doesn't mean it should be ignored. Pick this one up as soon as it hits US stores. You will not regret it.

Pikmin/Crack

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 53 / 56
Date: September 04, 2004
Author: Amazon User

When I first fired this little sequel up, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I had never played the original, but felt compelled to give this incarnation a go. And I haven't really been able to stop guiding my little multi-colored aliens around since that fateful afternoon.

I don't have much to complain about, if anything, but I'll get to that later. First though, I talk about the obsession.

What started as a scavenger hunt in the snowy landscape of the first level, became a compulsive drive to collect every piece of the wonderful looking treasures. Be it a ripe, red strawberry, a little jar of Carmex chapstick, or a heart shaped diamond, everything in the diverse levels looks great. Even the water, which sadly claimed the lives of 54 pikmin early on in the game. I might as well cut in here with the negativity, my only problem with this game was temorary when it lasted. See, having never played the first game, I didn't know Pikmin couldn't swim, well, all but the blue ones. I wish there would have been a bit of a warning. But I guess that's my fault for never playing the original. I do have to admit though, watching the adorable, tiny red creatures drown was a bit amusing.

Which brings me to the sound of the game, which is great. Your little rainbow of workers hum as they carry the bodies of viciously beaten enemies back to the ship. And another thing I found to be quite entertaining was the music that the camera stick produces when you move it around. You use it to guide the Pikmin as a group, and every direction has a different melody, leaving you just rotating the little yellow stick to produce background music for the humming song of your workers.

Now, about the workers. There are five different Pikmin in the game, red, yellow, and blue, which all return from the original, with the addition of two new ones. The purple pikmin, which are slower in running, yet have the strength of ten regular pikmin when carrying stuff. And the white pikmin, who are very small, fast, and poisonous. Which comes in handy for bosses that eat pikmin, just take a group of white ones out there and poison the [guy] to death. You'll find that they are quite potent. Every Pikmin, except purple, has an immunity. Red, fire. Blue, water. Yellow, electricity. And white, poison. This brings a bit of strategy to the table, which is always welcome in my book. You also have the ability to control two characters simultaneously in the game. Olimar and Louie, who are searching the mysterious planet (Earth) for treasures so they can repay the debt their boss has found miself in. 10,000 bucks, which makes the single player experience last plenty long. And after you get tired of the single player game, you can move over to the challenge mode, which you can do with 1 or 2 players. And then there is a 2 player mode where you can challenge a friend to be the best Pikmin laborer of the neighborhood.

Now you can take my advice and buy this game immediately, or be a jerk and let thousands of helpless aliens die on the shelves of unloving retail stores. The choice is yours, so make it quick.

My ratings (on a scale of 1-5)
Graphics-5
Control-4.5
Sound-5
Overall-5

BEST GAME IN THE WORLD

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 18 / 22
Date: March 28, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Look, ladies and gentleman, do u like strategy? Do you like killing mutant infested evil enimies? Do you like gathering and collecting? well, nintendo's got the game for you. The first Pikmin (also 5 stars) is probably the best ONE-PLAYER game on the Gamecube. But something bothered me. It was only a one-player. I couldn't play with my friends. BUT NOW I CAN! In Pikmin 2, there is not only a cooperative mode, (where we work together to kill the mutant infested evil enimies)but there is also an Arena mode. In this new mode we compete to get the most Pikmin by killing eachother and backstabbing eachother. Sounds like fun to me! Also, there are 2 new kinds of Pikmin. Not only are there the old:

Red-Resist Fire, Do most damage
Yellow-Hold bomb rocks, be thrown high, Resist electricity
Blue-Travel in Water

But now, there are also 2 new pikmin
!
White-Poisonous to enimes
Purple-Heaviest, Can be thrown onto enimes and kill them.

So, in conclusion, ladies and gentleman, if you are a kid, this game rules becasue you get to kill those mutant infested evil enimies. If you're an adult, this game will actually make your child think (a little) and strategize, as well as problem solve, and critical think.

Bottom Line: BUY THIS GAME
(WHEN IT COMES OUT!)

[probably June 1st, but it's gonna get delayed again, i just know it]

I will love everything except...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 13 / 67
Date: December 04, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I love Pikmin. I beat the first one like 30 times and half of those in 9 days. i showed to my friends. 2 out of 3 liked but the outlier i didn't. think would because it's not his type of game. Anyway, i know this game will be the best ever. it says it has a random dungeon generator. That is the coolest. Unlimited exploration that changes every tim you beat the game. I don't know how they could program that into a disc to make the gamecube randomly generate levels. That's just so utterly impressing. i also like the new additions of purple and white pikmin. i think that will help and yet add a new twist to the game and sometimes be even more confusing than the first since you will have to balance out proportions of how many of each kinsd of pikmin to get when getting parts. I hope the levels are mostly like the forest naval.The distant spring was overdone and the(i do not mean too large) the forest of hope was just too homy and hilly green looking yet i liked all of them. i think the game will mostly look like forest naval though since all the screenshots look just like it and the description of it is that it is a dungeon which is where the dungeon generator comes in to play. I cant wait. I have enormous gratitude for nintendo for making this two player. A lot of people that don't like the game probably would if it was two player. i love this game already.
The part i don't like is the elimination of the 30 day time limit. although it did make it harder than it already was i think it was a necessary addition to the game. it made you keep going and really made you think about what you had to do each day to get enough done. Although, as long as it keeps track of the day number in the game i shouldn't have a problem with it. I also kind of thought that the game was a little short. you would have to plan your days out to get it under 30 days and under 10 hours of gameplay, but if you don't it will take you awhile to get even one day over because you need atleast one part per day.I hope the new one is atleast a little bit longer.
This will probably be the first game i will ever buy the day it comes out.

>>>The only experience in the world<<<

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 10 / 11
Date: May 29, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I am feeling very very postive for Pikmin2 after I bought this one several weeks ago in Japan and played since then. One of the most important but small changes is limit of days to finish all the tasks. There used to be 30 days limit, but as there is no limit on time(or days to finish) anymore, you can play this game in your way. In addition, new underground stages are adding new good aspects to this game. Main character name "Orima" must have come from "Mario". You can play with freinds as well. While I play Pikmin2, I can feel tastes and qualities that only Nintendo can develop but any others in the world cannot. I like to roam around in this beautiful and strange world and find out new items or just to increase many Pikmins. Recommended to anyone. To have credentials to tell something about videogames, you need to have Pikmin2 experience.

Hey, look at me be some rambling idiot

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 12
Date: September 05, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Hey guyz, I really loved the first game. It was so good, but not the time limit, that was LAME. But this game looks even better than number one. There are 2 people in it, olimar and some other guy, so you can control more pikmin at one time I think. And it has a 2 player mode. I HAVE NOT PLAYED IT YET, but it looks good, and I liked the first one, so I suggest you spend 50 bucks on it, even though I have not played it and have no idea what i'm talking about.

PEOPLE!!! If you have not played the game, don't bloody review it. No one cares what you think the game is GOING to be like, people care about what the game IS like. It's that simple. The point of reviews on amazon is so people who KNOW WHAY THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT can give helpfull pointers and facts about the gameplay and whatnot. If you have not played the damn game, then you don't know what you are talking about. The features are listed at the top of the page, don't just repeat them. Acctually review the game. Good lord. Oh, and that above review, was sarcastic. ARG. And no, I have not played the game, so yes, i'm a hipocrite, HOWEVER, i'm just pointing out, that you are all idiots. Unless you really have played the game and the proceded to write a review, and thus, if that is the case, then you have my thanks, FOR NOT BEING A BABBLING IDIOT.

Sorry abou the last, here is a real one

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 9
Date: September 07, 2004
Author: Amazon User

So, sorry, but my first "review" if you will, was just a rant, but it's true though.
HOWEVER, here is a real review of the game, as I have now purchased it. Ahem:

As many people have pointed out, the two key diferences in the game are this: New
Pikmin, and no time limit. There is a time limit on the days, but just not on the number of
days you can be on Earth. But the sun dial is still there. One thing that I have noticed the
most about P2 is that there really is more stradegy involved. In the first one, it was pretty
straight forward what you had to do. In the second one however, there just seems to be a
little bit more room to explore and to figure new things out. This may be because of the
lack of stress caused by a day limit and Louie, you new recruit. But, really, the game is not
to much unlike the old one, just better really. I think that Pikmin had alot going for it, it
just was not very developed. P2 picks that up and works with it. Overall there is just more
to the game. In essence, it's the same game, just expanded. So, if you liked the first one,
give this a try. I would not say buy it, because as with the first one, it's short. But if your
just looking for a fun little romp, it's very much worth renting. Buy it if you like going
back and re-doing things, and trying to beat scores and whatnot. I can't say much about
the multiplayer, as I have not tried it yet. But, there you go, a honest review.

Neinamen (they won't let me do more than one, but the other one had a good point to it)

looks like best game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 12
Date: June 13, 2004
Author: Amazon User

People have been waiting for so long that they can't wait until agust 30 2004 thats when its coming out i checked 10 different websites and thats what they all say. Plus to make it better there is co-op (2 people playing at the same time) and 2 new colored pikmin. Plus the old ones to.

Red- can stand fire
Yellow- can hold bomb rocks and can stand electrity
Blue- can swim
white- poisinous
purple- they are fat and can esily kill things when you throw them on your enemy.
I beat pikmin and pikmin 2 looks even better i heard every time you beat it the levels change but i'm not sure? I'f you like pikmin you'll love pikmin 2.

P.s. Buy this game

It's Out! Yay!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 8
Date: August 31, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Yes I have been reading the information for so long and now I can see if it is real.

~Spoilers!~
Warning!Spoilers!
Don't read unless you want to.
You have been warned!

Here are some stuff of the Pikmin info to what I know.

Pikmin color:Red
Info:The red Pikmin is the strongest or second strongest Pikmin.
Looks:Has a nose! *smiles*
Special:Fire has no effect/or low damage one these Pikmin.

Pikmin color:Blue
Info:Can swim.
Looks:Has a mouth.
Special:Can swim and can breathe under water also has gills not noticable.

Pikmin color:Yellow
Info:Can carry bombs,but there are no bombs in this game.
Looks:Has ears.
Special:Electricity or lightening has no effect/or does low damage to them.

Pikmin color:White
Info:Is poison Pikmin.
Looks:Has red eyes.
Special:Is poisonous. And poison has no effect.

Pikmin color:Purple/violet
Info:Is heavy.
Looks:Is fat and wide.
Special:When thrown at enemies it will do a lot of damage.

Secrets

New Character:For Third Player
Name:Shyacho
How to unlock:Collect 10,000 pocos to save Hokotate Intergalactic Delivery, then choose to continue.
Origin: Unknown
Job:Hokotate Inergalactic Devilvery<Same as Louie and Olmar>

Hidden Movie:
Name:Louie's Dark Secret
How to unlock:Complete all 30 Challenge Mode Arenas obtaining pink flowers (ie no Pikmin deaths).

New/Changes

Change:No time!
Comment:YAY!!!

Change:Co-op in story.
Comment:That's good since I like co-op

Change:Vs
Comment:Yay!

~Spoilers ended~

I really want that game since I've heard that it is really good so I'm going to get it ASAP. I think that I will have a great time.

My kids absolutely love it

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 9
Date: September 23, 2004
Author: Amazon User

My kids loved Pikmin and are even more crazy about Pikmin 2. They love the new Pikmin colors and enemies. We love it as parents because it's not just mindless battles and violence. They do have to think and use the map to find the Pikmin and the parts. I recommend this for anyone.

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